A substance has been found in water sources in Parana state; researchers say it kills honeybees and affects blood pressure and the reproductive system.
Europe is in chaos. Alarming news, headlines, debates, farm closures, arrests. He is at the center of an unprecedented crisis involving one of the continent’s main agricultural products: eggs. The pesticide fipronil has contaminated more than 17 European countries. Several studies point to the dangers of this pesticide for animals and humans. In Brazil, it is in huge demand.
Fipronil affects the central nervous system of animals and monocultures considered pests, such as cattle and corn. The crisis in the egg supply chain was caused by the alleged use of fipronil, purchased in Belgium, by the Dutch company Chickfriend to disinfect poultry. In Europe, fipronil is banned from use in animals entering the human food chain. According to El País Brasil, consumption of contaminated products can cause nausea, headaches, and stomach pain. In more severe cases, it can also affect the liver, kidneys, and thyroid gland.
Science has not established that animals and humans are at equal risk. Scientists and ANVISA itself claim that the level of pollution for humans is zero or moderate. Some researchers hold the opposite view.
According to Elin, the results of the study indicate that the pesticide may have long-term effects on male sperm. Although it does not affect the fertility of animals, the researchers say the pesticide may affect the reproductive system. Experts are concerned about the possible impact of this substance on the human reproductive system:
He launched the “Bee or Not?” campaign to promote the importance of bees to global agriculture and food supply. The professor explained that various environmental threats are linked to colony collapse disorder (CCD). One of the pesticides that can trigger this collapse is fipronil:
The use of the insecticide fipronil undoubtedly poses a serious threat to bees in Brazil. This pesticide is widely used in Brazil on various crops such as soybeans, sugar cane, pastures, corn and cotton, and continues to cause massive bee deaths and serious economic losses for beekeepers, as it is extremely toxic to bees.
One of the states at risk is Paraná. A paper by researchers from the Federal University of the Southern Frontier says that water sources in the southwestern part of the state are contaminated with the pesticide. The authors assessed the persistence of the pesticide and other components in rivers in the cities of Salto do Ronte, Santa Isabel do Sea, New Plata do Iguaçu, Planalto and Ampe.
Fipronil has been registered in Brazil as an agrochemical since mid-1994 and is currently available under several trade names produced by different companies. Based on available monitoring data, there is currently no evidence that this substance poses a risk to the Brazilian population, given the type of contamination observed in eggs in Europe.
Post time: Jul-14-2025