The toxicological classification of pesticides in 2011 in Portugal

Abstract

The very deficient information from the Portuguese Pesticides Regulation Authority (AFN) and the pesticides suppliers about toxicological classification of pesticides has occurred since 2005 and is confirmed by this study concerning the 306 active ingredients (a.i.) authorized in 2011. The systematic smaller number of a.i. with dangerous toxicological classifications adopted by AFN in contrast with EFSA is always present and, in special: in 8 a.i (62%) of 13. most toxic (T, Cat 1, 2, R46, R60, R61) for EFSA, ignored by AFN; on Acute Toxicity of22 a.i. Very Toxic by EFSA but by AFN only 2 (9%) and of 45 a.i. Toxic with 91% by EFSA but only 25% by AFN; and in 53 a.i. classified R63,EFTAconsider46(87%)and AFN only 29 (55%). It is surprising the diversity of classification criterions of 124 a.i. of Carcinogenicity (41% of 306 a.i.), being classified by: EPA – 69%; EFSA – 46%; and AFN – 40%.