Consequences of Herbicide Use in Rural Environments and Their Effect on Agricultural Workers
Ana Paola Balderrama-Carmona, Norma Patricia Silva-Beltrán, Luis Alberto Zamora Alvarez, Norma Patricia Adan Bante, Edgar Felipe Moran Palacio
Abstract
The herbicides are used frequently to fight the proliferation of weeds. The use of herbicides correlates with an improvement in agricultural yield, but the harm to the health of human populations is well established and has been demonstrated in numerous scientific studies. In many developing countries, farmers build their own homes, and this, along with the application of herbicides in their fields, increases their exposure, through both contact with skin and respiration. It is scientifically proven that herbicides cause infertility, kidney problems, endocrine disruption, apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and neurotoxic effects. Such diseases impact the quality of those affected, and naturally the contaminated environment negatively affects human health. This chapter focuses on revising the most relevant studies regarding the health effects on agricultural workers living in rural environments due to herbicide contamination and how to sustain the herbicide use.