The Social (In)Visibility of Pollution Generated by the Application of Agrochemicals in the Irrigated Rice Production: Synthesis of a Study Concerning Risk Perception of Rural Communities Located in the Coastal Zone of Santa Catarina State

Abstract

From the point of view of the ecosystem approach to health, this paper presents a reflection on the severalrisks posed by the uncontrolled use of chemical substances in the realm of food production in theBrazilian coastal zone. More precisely, it presents the main conclusions of a study of risk perceptions ofirrigated rice production in two watersheds located in the central southern coast of Santa Catarina State.The methodology used in this study took into account an ecotoxicological analysis (to measure part ofthe objective components of the situation of risk), followed by a diagnosis of risk perceptions to guidethe analysis of the social actors’ testimonies (stakeholders) involved in natural resource management:local residents, rural workers and government agents. The collected evidences suggest that local residentsseem to be aware of, yet indifferent about the negative effects to human health – and other living creatures– arising from the dominant patterns of irrigated rice cultivation. However, the structural factorsresponsible for the reproduction of this type of agro-ecosystem remain either diffuse or invisible. Thisgap has been systematically reinforced both by the government agents at various scales of the coastalzone management system and by the means of mass communication. Among the rice farmers an attitudeprevails that systematically minimizes the risks of intoxication, and the government agents tend toreproduce the same pattern of perception and reasoning as the entrepreneurs linked to the internationalsystem of production and dissemination of agro-chemicals. Facing these challenges, the authors suggesta more incisive application of the precautionary principle in the field of integrated and participativecoastal zone management, in order to counteract the ideology of economic growth “at any cost” thatviolates the inalienable right of the local communities to live healthily in a healthy environment, and to follow the ecodevelopment path.