A report with more than a thousand pages on the investigation of an alleged 2021’s intoxication, in municipality of Buriti, was now concluded and reveals that the tests of blood samples from people and soil and water in the area made at that time did not show pesticide residues, while it was found that the irritation on the skin of the residents was due to an outbreak of scabies

The State Police of Maranhão (Northeast region of Brazil) concluded that there was no contamination or intoxication by pesticides in the case involving an alleged irregular aerial application in April 2021.The event took place in the rural area of the Municipality of Buriti, in the northeast of the state, when residents complained that a pesticide applied by aircraft to a nearby field would have caused skin burns, in addition to headaches, vomiting, dizziness and other symptoms. Investigations focused on the communities of Valença and Araçá, where at the time experts collected soil and water samples and residents underwent blood tests. In in all laboratory tests, the results were negative for toxic substances.

Police Inquiry No. 82498/2021-DPCBA, with 1,028 pages distributed in five volumes, was sent last February 3rd (almost two years after the incident) to the judge of the District of Buriti and the State Public Prosecutor’s Office, who must analyze the entire process. In the report, police chief Josemar Lima da Rocha also apologized for the delay in closing the process – according to him, for the lack of personnel and equipment to follow up on all the cases at the Buriti Police Station.

SAFE DISTANCES

According to the Police report, the investigations proved that aerial applications in the two crops served at the time by aviation were carried out 7,600 meters and 2,800 meters from homes in the region. Well above the distances of 250 and 500 meters from the safety lanes provided for in Brazilian legislation for agricultural aviation in environmentally sensitive areas. And the only case of pesticide application near a residence in the region occurred by land spraying.

In addition, according to investigations, after the alleged incident, an infectologist and other professionals from the Deputy Secretariat of the State’s Primary Care and Health Surveillance Policy also visited the affected families. And they found that the skin lesions on people were actually caused by an outbreak of scabies, indicating drug treatment and prophylaxis guidelines for the problem.

POSITIONING

At the time of the case, the Brazilian Union of Agricultural Aviation (SINDAG) issued a statement demonstrating concern about the case, but reinforcing the importance and safety of agricultural aviation for the treatment of crops in the country. The document highlighted the rules that exist for the activity in Brazil – ranging from installations to field work, including the technical training of all its personnel. Emphasizing the fact that the aerial tool is the easiest to be inspected by the authorities and considering that the risks and necessary care in the application of pesticides are the same for all types of equipment in the field.

The SINDAG reinforced the Brazilian ag aviation industry’s commitment to transparency and his continuous technical improvement work in the sector. Also seeking constant dialogue with society to clarify the work done by agricultural aviation and combating prejudice against the activity.

At the same time, the statement underlined the importance of waiting for the assessment of the facts by the competent authorities. In order to maintain technical rigor in discussions about what really happened and how to correct (or even punish) any operational failures. Also to avoid distortion of the debate by political interests, which would be detrimental to sustainability and security in the field.