The use of pesticides is three to four times more frequent in these three islands than in France, reveals a study on Monday, June 28. Areas where the precautions for use and disposal of products are poorly observed.
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A study conducted by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses), published this Monday, June 28, reveals the importance of raising public awareness of the risks that pesticides used at home can represent. Carried out from February to July 2015 with 608 households in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion, the survey reports that pesticides are used a lot there and that the instructions for use are not always respected.
Expired products now banned
The Pesti-Home study concerns pesticides available for sale to individuals, which includes plant protection products used to protect plants, biocidal products to control insects or rodents and antiparasitic drugs, for example against lice and ticks.
As in hexagonal France, the use of pesticides is very widespread in overseas territories. Aerosols or sprays are the products most frequently used in the three islands studied, which could be explained by the tropical climate favoring the proliferation of insects. The use of pesticide products is thus three to four times more frequent there than in hexagonal France.
In Guadeloupe and Martinique, nearly 80% of unused and expired products are thrown in the trash instead of being taken to the recycling center, compared to 60% in Réunion. Plant protection products the purchase of which may go back 10 years or more were found among the respondents. About a quarter of the products found in households in Martinique and Guadeloupe, and 20% in those in Reunion, are now prohibited for sale. A risk for the environment, but also for health: certain pesticides are recognized as probable carcinogens.
Precautions for use and disposal not respected enough
According to the study, the precautions and recommendations for use of the products are not always read or respected. ANSES therefore recalls the recommendations for the use of pesticides:
- Read the precautions for use and follow them (room ventilation, wearing gloves, observing the recommended dose, etc.).
- Deposit products that have been stored for a long time and contain prohibited substances in a recycling center.
- Respect the conditions of conservation and use of the products.
ANSES “invites individuals to eliminate stagnant water points which constitute spawning grounds“ insects and recommends that manufacturers provide consumers with more readable and clear information on the composition of pesticide products.
The results of the ANSES study on the use of pesticides at home concerning the French territory were published at the end of 2019.
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