Impacts of tobacco cultivation on human health and water pollution in Chapadão do Lageado, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Brazil is the second largest tobacco producer. We investigated the pesticides used by tobacco farmers, their occurrence in the drinking water resources of Chapadão do Lageado (Santa Catarina, Brazil), and the relationship between tobacco cultivation and farmers' health. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was used to quantify pesticide residues in water samples from rivers and wells. Both the handling of pesticides and the handling of the tobacco plant have negative consequences, even if preventive measures are taken. Of the 107 tobacco farmers surveyed, 91.6% reported symptoms related to green leaf disease and 19.6% reported symptoms related to pesticide handling. About 40% of the well water samples contained residues of imidacloprid, sulfentrazone, thiamethoxam and iprodione. In the river water samples, more than 70% had residues of the same pesticides detected in the well water, plus clomazone. Traditional tobacco cultivation and post-harvest management endanger human and environmental health. The harmful effects of exposure to tobacco leaves compound health problems. In areas where tobacco cultivation is a major industry, critical thinking is needed on policies, approaches and tools to address these complex and alarming public health risk situations.