Education on pesticide risk exposure to different audiences

MONTAGNA, CRISTINA MÓNICA; SOLEÑO, JIMENA; FERRARI, ANA; LOEWY, MIRIAM; LASCANO, CECILIA; ANGUIANO, OLGA LILIANA

Congreso; XII Congresso Brasileiro de Ecotoxicologia; 2012

Sociedade Brasileira de Ecotoxicologia

The Río Negro and Neuquén Valley in Northern Patagonia, is the most important apple and pear growing region in Argentina. Most orchards are located near cities and many families live a few meters from the productive area. Insecticides are applied to fruit trees mist-blowers contaminating the air, soil, surface and groundwater. Since pesticides are essential for fruit production, the population should be aware of the risk from pesticide exposure and learn how to prevent acute and chronic intoxications. Therefore, our objective is to educate diverse audiences (agricultural workers, teachers, high school and university students, etc) by different audiovisual and graphic material. Besides power point presentations a graphic material, designed according to the audience, is provide free to each participant. The materials include two easy-to-read books with short lines of text accompanied by drawings, an advanced book for university students and teachers, posters and diptychs about critical information and pictograms on pesticide labels, and articles in local magazines devoted to agriculture. On the other hand, a brief television and radio advices are broadcast to the community during the production season. Some of the materials can be downloading from the Pan American Health Organization web page.