2023-10-27 13:50:52
On October 18, INSERM released a study which attracted the attention of all winegrowers and their neighbors(1,2).
Researchers immediately remind us that exposure to pesticides is a public health issue, particularly for children.
They specify that there are studies on the dangers of pesticides in vineyards for pregnant women or for winegrowers.
On the other hand, according to them, this is the first study which analyzes the dangers of the simple presence of vines in children under 15 years old.(1,2).
And what does this publication tell us?
This work was carried out by scientists within the CRESS laboratory, which depends on INSERM. ANSES and INCA, two public organizations, financed the study(1,2,3).
Researchers observed the risk of leukemia in children under 15 years old living near wine plots.
Leukemias are blood cancers that affect bone marrow cells.
These are used in particular to produce the white blood cells necessary for immune defense.(4).
The study was carried out across the entire territory of mainland France.
Researchers studied data from the National Childhood Cancer Registry (RNCE) between 2006 and 2013 and compared two groups of children(1,2) :
- the first counts 3,711 sick children who lived near the vineyards;
- the control group includes 40,196 non-ill children of the same age.
The presence of vines and their surface area were calculated from IGN maps, aerial photos and cadastral data.
The authors of the study come to two conclusions(1,2) :
- the sole presence of vines within a perimeter of 1,000 meters from the home does not constitute a risk of leukemia in children;
- from 1000 meters the more the distance between the vines is reduced, the more the risk of leukemia increases..
Researchers believe that the increase in risk is linked to pesticide spraying.
Winegrower families have known this for a long time…
Unfortunately, the risk associated with spraying is not new.
Since the 1990s, doctors from Montpellier University Hospital have reported the existence of disturbing clinical cases(5).
Children of winegrowers or farmers are born with hare lips and various orofacial malformations.
And already, doctors at the time associated the problem with pesticides(5).
In 1991, a toxico-vigilance network was set up by the Mutualité sociale agricole to record accidents linked to the use of pesticides.(5).
The list of reported accidents is worrying:
- skin problems : allergies, eczemas, poisonings;
- liver and digestive system disorders including vomiting and nausea;
- respiratory symptoms : cough and chest tightness in particular;
- brain damage : dizziness and headaches.
In the longer term, various studies have established links between pesticides and(5,6) :
- brain, prostate or bladder cancers ;
- neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s;
- reproductive disorders : sterility, miscarriages or congenital malformations.
This means that they(7) :
- modify the production of natural hormones;
- replace natural hormones and “mimic” their actions;
- inhibit the action of natural hormones.
This easily explains cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and problems related to reproduction.
How did the winegrowers react when these first results appeared?
They started to protect themselves(5).
They donned cosmonaut outfits and continued to spray large quantities of pesticides(5)…
Changing things takes time
For a long time, the idea that pesticides could be bad was strongly opposed by the majority agricultural unions(5,7).
And that is understandable.
The vine is fragile. It is sensitive to mildew, frost, cold, parasites, etc.(8).
Winegrowers have a difficult job that requires exceptional know-how.
Pesticides, it is easy to understand, are very useful to them.
But should they work at risk of their lives or those of their children?
This is obviously not desirable.
The figures of yesterday and today…
In 2005, France was the 4th largest consumer of pesticides in the world.(5).
In France, we used 95,000 tonnes of pesticides per year(5).
The vineyard used 35% of these pesticides, spread over 850,000 hectares(5).
In 2021, France used around 50,000 tonnes of pesticides per year(9).
Vines covered 800,000 hectares of land, or 3% of the agricultural area, and consumed 20% of the country’s pesticides.(9,10).
These figures show two things:
- Firstly, the efforts made by farmers on pesticides over the last 20 years have been considerable. Their consumption has fallen by half. In addition, the most toxic molecules would no longer be used(5,9).
- But, unfortunately, the consumption of phytosanitary products is still high. 20% of pesticides consumed on 3% of agricultural land remains a very high concentration!
And tomorrow?
The work of the CRESS laboratory at INSERM has not been completed.
Scientists plan to study data from other crops.
And it is very likely that they will find worrying data in fruit growers for example or in other areas(1,2).
If we want to get out of these worrying figures, there are not 36 solutions, we must adopt an agriculture that is more respectful of the living world.
This involves more organic farming and permaculture or agroforestry.
And if you find that the prices are too high – which is sometimes the case – remember another INSERM study which covered nearly 70,000 people in 2018(11,12).
The main conclusion of the researchers was that those who consumed products from organic farming had a 25% lower risk of cancer than those who did not.(8,9).
The data intersects.
Whether we focus on winegrowers, children who live near the vineyards or consumers, the conclusions are always the same: Clean, environmentally friendly agriculture reduces the risk of cancer for everyone!
Naturally yours,
Augustine of Livois
1698562471
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