Land for planting, harvesting and sickness? Agricultural production, pesticides and disease in Goiás, Brazil (2000 to 2013)

Abstract

This article discusses the expansion of agribusiness in the state of Goiás, Brazil, the use of toxic agrochemicals or pesticides, and the resulting ailments contracted by the local population between 2000 and 2013, with emphasis on five municipalities located in the microregion of Ceres (Goianesia, Itapaci, Uruana, Rialma and Barro Alto). The approach employed in this study consisted of bibliographical research, an exploratory analysis of the data, and a non-parametric descriptive and statistical analysis. The findings reveal marked urban expansion in the aforementioned municipalities in the state of Goiás from 2000 to 2013, a shrinking Cerrado biome, and augmented agricultural productivity of sugarcane, corn and soy, accompanied by an increase in the number of poisoning victims, suicide attempts using pesticides, neoplasms and congenital malformations, according to data recorded in public health information systems.