Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
Pesticides suspected of being carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction can no longer be dispersed within 10 meters of dwellings. Is this nevertheless sufficient to preserve the health of populations? Dr Alice Desbiolles, epidemiologist and Public Health doctor, answers us.
On March 21, the government decided: it issued an order prohibiting the spreading of certain pesticides within ten meters of homes – instead of 5 previously. This decision, which follows a recent injunction from the Council of State, concerns phytosanitary products classified as CMR2, ie those suspected of being carcinogenic, toxic or mutagenic.
An “emergency” situation
The decree in question, published in the Official Journal on Tuesday March 21, 2023, imposes an incompressible distance of 10 meters around dwellings for the treatment of phytosanitary products classified as CMR2.
These are products”containing a substance suspected of being carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction“, who were not until now concerned by the safety distances imposed three years ago by the government around the houses.
For so-called CMR1 products, whose harmfulness is proven, use is prohibited within a wider perimeter, 20 meters around homes.
It was the Council of State which had estimated that it was necessary to take into account the safety distances around the houses.
And for good reason: seized by environmental organizations such as Future Generations and France Nature Environnement, the Council had noted in its decision the “seriousness of the consequences of the partial non-performance in terms of public health” And “the resulting particular urgency“.
Cancer, Parkinson’s disease and cognitive disorders
Many experts and associations nevertheless believe that this decision remains “insufficient“.
Indeed, a collective expertise of inserm which dates from 2021 confirms the strong presumption of a link between exposure to pesticides and six pathologies: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis.
“Other studies suggest a link between exposure of residents living near agricultural land and Parkinson’s disease, and also between residential proximity to pesticide application areas (radius < 1.5 km) and behavior suggestive of disorders autism spectrum in children“, believes Alice Desbiolles. “However, these studies have significant limitations related to the detailed assessment of exposure or the absence of individual data, which makes the level of presumption low..
Nevertheless, “these data call for a minimum precautionary principle regarding the exposure of populations and professionals to these substances. As such, the distance of 10 meters does not seem sufficient“, concludes the epidemiologist.