Banana Industry Workers in Costa Rica Face Health Risks from Pesticide Exposure
Workers in banana plantations endure significant health challenges due to pesticide exposure, prompting scrutiny of living conditions and labor regulations.
A recent report highlighted the precarious living and working conditions of banana plantation workers in Sixaola, Talamanca, Costa Rica, emphasizing the problems caused by exposure to pesticides.
Costa Rica ranks as the fourth largest exporter of bananas worldwide, with an annual production of approximately 2.4 million tons, primarily shipped to the United States and Europe.
Many workers in this industry are Indigenous people from the Ngäbe-Buglé ethnic group, originally from Panama.
They reportedly live in inadequate wooden shacks, which have significant damage and require constant repairs, contrary to the social development promised by the agro-industrial production model.
Marcial Chaverri, the general manager of the National Banana Corporation (Corbana), responded to the report by asserting that it contained inaccurate data, generalizations, and biased claims.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) announced that it has intensified inspections related to labor rights and occupational health standards.
However, it did not specifically address the concerns raised in the report regarding pesticide exposure.
Fernando Ramírez, a researcher from the Regional Institute for Toxic Substances Studies (IRET), stated that despite the land area for agriculture remaining stable, the use of pesticides has been increasing annually, with nearly 100 kilograms of pesticides applied per hectare each year.
One of the widely used pesticides is Mancozeb, which is banned in 29 countries but accounts for over one-third of the total pesticide usage in Costa Rica.
According to Ramírez, 80% of the pesticides utilized in the country are categorized as highly hazardous by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The tropical climate allows for year-round banana production, necessitating continuous pesticide application.
Ramírez highlighted that contemporary formulas are more concentrated than those used two decades ago, with aerial spraying of insecticides now common.
Current regulations require evacuation of the fields during aerial spraying.
However, errant applications still occur, exposing workers despite advances in GPS technology.
Workers expressed concerns, noting that foremen sometimes miscalculate the targeted areas for aerial applications.
The report indicated significant health risks for workers, who frequently lack proper protective equipment due to high temperatures and their remuneration structure, which ties pay to productivity.
Daily wages approximate $20. Consequently, workers often forego protective gear, which they perceive as a hindrance to productivity.
Health repercussions reported by workers include vision problems such as cataracts, with some having experienced blindness attributed to pesticide exposure.
Studies from public universities over the past 30 years have identified neurological damage affecting approximately 100,000 banana workers and indirect employees, along with other health complications such as developmental disorders in children living nearby, thyroid alterations in pregnant women, and various acute ailments.
Marcial Chaverri claimed that multinational production is governed by international certification bodies such as Rainforest Alliance, GlobalGAP, and SCS Sustainably Grown, ensuring compliance with EU pesticide standards in export markets.
However, Ramírez cautioned that due to the delay between harvesting and market arrival, detectable residues in Europe may not be present, leading to potential oversight of pesticide application practices in Costa Rica.
Despite allegations of unsafe practices, Corbana asserts that companies mandate the use of personal protective equipment and have attempted to relocate families to better housing, though some have resisted.
Chaverri defended aerial spraying practices, citing government regulations that enforce compliance with health standards.
In 2024, there were only five reported cases of pesticide poisoning within the banana industry, according to Corbana, who described aspects of the French publication as alarmist and inaccurate.
The Ministry of Labor indicated that inspections in banana plantations increased by 150% between August 2022 and August 2024, during which 719 violations were flagged, focusing primarily on labor contract adherence and occupational health issues.
Costa Rica ranks as the fourth largest exporter of bananas worldwide, with an annual production of approximately 2.4 million tons, primarily shipped to the United States and Europe.
Many workers in this industry are Indigenous people from the Ngäbe-Buglé ethnic group, originally from Panama.
They reportedly live in inadequate wooden shacks, which have significant damage and require constant repairs, contrary to the social development promised by the agro-industrial production model.
Marcial Chaverri, the general manager of the National Banana Corporation (Corbana), responded to the report by asserting that it contained inaccurate data, generalizations, and biased claims.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) announced that it has intensified inspections related to labor rights and occupational health standards.
However, it did not specifically address the concerns raised in the report regarding pesticide exposure.
Fernando Ramírez, a researcher from the Regional Institute for Toxic Substances Studies (IRET), stated that despite the land area for agriculture remaining stable, the use of pesticides has been increasing annually, with nearly 100 kilograms of pesticides applied per hectare each year.
One of the widely used pesticides is Mancozeb, which is banned in 29 countries but accounts for over one-third of the total pesticide usage in Costa Rica.
According to Ramírez, 80% of the pesticides utilized in the country are categorized as highly hazardous by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The tropical climate allows for year-round banana production, necessitating continuous pesticide application.
Ramírez highlighted that contemporary formulas are more concentrated than those used two decades ago, with aerial spraying of insecticides now common.
Current regulations require evacuation of the fields during aerial spraying.
However, errant applications still occur, exposing workers despite advances in GPS technology.
Workers expressed concerns, noting that foremen sometimes miscalculate the targeted areas for aerial applications.
The report indicated significant health risks for workers, who frequently lack proper protective equipment due to high temperatures and their remuneration structure, which ties pay to productivity.
Daily wages approximate $20. Consequently, workers often forego protective gear, which they perceive as a hindrance to productivity.
Health repercussions reported by workers include vision problems such as cataracts, with some having experienced blindness attributed to pesticide exposure.
Studies from public universities over the past 30 years have identified neurological damage affecting approximately 100,000 banana workers and indirect employees, along with other health complications such as developmental disorders in children living nearby, thyroid alterations in pregnant women, and various acute ailments.
Marcial Chaverri claimed that multinational production is governed by international certification bodies such as Rainforest Alliance, GlobalGAP, and SCS Sustainably Grown, ensuring compliance with EU pesticide standards in export markets.
However, Ramírez cautioned that due to the delay between harvesting and market arrival, detectable residues in Europe may not be present, leading to potential oversight of pesticide application practices in Costa Rica.
Despite allegations of unsafe practices, Corbana asserts that companies mandate the use of personal protective equipment and have attempted to relocate families to better housing, though some have resisted.
Chaverri defended aerial spraying practices, citing government regulations that enforce compliance with health standards.
In 2024, there were only five reported cases of pesticide poisoning within the banana industry, according to Corbana, who described aspects of the French publication as alarmist and inaccurate.
The Ministry of Labor indicated that inspections in banana plantations increased by 150% between August 2022 and August 2024, during which 719 violations were flagged, focusing primarily on labor contract adherence and occupational health issues.
