Epidemiological Profile of Exogenous Pesticide Poisonings in the State of Bahia, Brazil
1
Environmental Health Surveillance Coordination, Government of the State of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
2
Postgraduate Program in Ecology: Theory, Application and Values, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
3
Directorate of Surveillance and Attention to Workers' Health, Government of the State of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3827
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Brazil stands out as the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, a consequence of an agricultural development model based on agribusiness and extensive monoculture, with significant repercussions for public health and the environment1-2. Exogenous poisonings (EP) caused by these substances constitute a serious public health problem, being associated with respiratory and neurological disorders and mortality. In the state of Bahia, the expansion of the agricultural frontier intensifies population exposure, requiring effective health surveillance3-4. This descriptive study analyzed the epidemiological profile of EP caused by pesticides in the state of Bahia between 2013 and 2022. Data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Sociodemographic variables (sex, age, race/skin color, and educational level) and clinical variables (toxic agent, circumstance, and outcome) were analyzed. During the study period, 7,728 cases of EP were reported, predominantly among males (53.3%), individuals of Black/Brown race/skin color (48.3%), and children aged 0–4 years (18.4%), indicating domestic vulnerability and inadequate storage practices. The higher occurrence among individuals with low educational attainment (12.1% with incomplete basic education) suggests limitations in access to information and in the appropriate use of protective measures. The main agents involved were rodenticides (44.3%) and agricultural pesticides (34.7%). Suicide attempts represented the main circumstance of exposure (51.7%), followed by accidental exposures (20%). Although 64.5% of cases evolved to recovery without sequelae, 268 deaths (3.4%) were recorded. It is concluded that EP caused by pesticides represent a persistent challenge in Bahia, requiring integrated actions in surveillance, domestic prevention, regulation of use and commercialization, strengthening of mental health care, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices5-6. Reducing the use of agrochemicals, combined with intersectoral policies and climate adaptation strategies, is essential to protect population health and ecosystem sustainability in the state of Bahia.
Brazil stands out as the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, a consequence of an agricultural development model based on agribusiness and extensive monoculture, with significant repercussions for public health and the environment1-2. Exogenous poisonings (EP) caused by these substances constitute a serious public health problem, being associated with respiratory and neurological disorders and mortality. In the state of Bahia, the expansion of the agricultural frontier intensifies population exposure, requiring effective health surveillance3-4. This descriptive study analyzed the epidemiological profile of EP caused by pesticides in the state of Bahia between 2013 and 2022. Data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Sociodemographic variables (sex, age, race/skin color, and educational level) and clinical variables (toxic agent, circumstance, and outcome) were analyzed. During the study period, 7,728 cases of EP were reported, predominantly among males (53.3%), individuals of Black/Brown race/skin color (48.3%), and children aged 0–4 years (18.4%), indicating domestic vulnerability and inadequate storage practices. The higher occurrence among individuals with low educational attainment (12.1% with incomplete basic education) suggests limitations in access to information and in the appropriate use of protective measures. The main agents involved were rodenticides (44.3%) and agricultural pesticides (34.7%). Suicide attempts represented the main circumstance of exposure (51.7%), followed by accidental exposures (20%). Although 64.5% of cases evolved to recovery without sequelae, 268 deaths (3.4%) were recorded. It is concluded that EP caused by pesticides represent a persistent challenge in Bahia, requiring integrated actions in surveillance, domestic prevention, regulation of use and commercialization, strengthening of mental health care, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices5-6. Reducing the use of agrochemicals, combined with intersectoral policies and climate adaptation strategies, is essential to protect population health and ecosystem sustainability in the state of Bahia.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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