Title |
Use of genetically modified crops and pesticides in Brazil: growing hazards
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Published in |
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, October 2017
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DOI | 10.1590/1413-812320172210.17112017 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Vicente Eduardo Soares de Almeida, Karen Friedrich, Alan Freihof Tygel, Leonardo Melgarejo, Fernando Ferreira Carneiro |
Abstract |
Genetically modified (GM) crops were officially authorized in Brazil in 2003. In this documentary study, we aimed to identify possible changes in the patterns of pesticide use after the adoption of this technology over a span of 13 years (2000 to 2012). The following variables were analyzed: Pesticide use (kg), Pesticide use per capita (kg/inhab), Pesticide and herbicide use per area (kg/ha) and productivity (kg/ha). Contrary to the initial expectations of decreasing pesticide use following the adoption of GM crops, overall pesticide use in Brazil increased 1.6-fold between the years 2000 and 2012. During the same period, pesticide use for soybean increased 3-fold. This study shows that the adoption of GM crops in Brazil has led to an increase in pesticide use with possible increases in environmental and human exposure and associated negative impacts. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 13 | 14% |
United States | 9 | 9% |
India | 6 | 6% |
Japan | 2 | 2% |
Canada | 2 | 2% |
Germany | 2 | 2% |
South Africa | 2 | 2% |
Brazil | 2 | 2% |
Netherlands | 2 | 2% |
Other | 8 | 8% |
Unknown | 48 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 86 | 90% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 5 | 5% |
Scientists | 3 | 3% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 59 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 10 | 17% |
Student > Master | 7 | 12% |
Student > Postgraduate | 5 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 5% |
Researcher | 3 | 5% |
Other | 7 | 12% |
Unknown | 24 | 41% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 12 | 20% |
Chemistry | 4 | 7% |
Environmental Science | 3 | 5% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 3 | 5% |
Engineering | 3 | 5% |
Other | 10 | 17% |
Unknown | 24 | 41% |