The impact of pesticide use in the mental health of Brazilians: A scoping review

Using pesticides causes much harm to human health and degradation in the environment. Hence, this study aimed to describe the relationship between pesticide use and psychiatric disorders in the Brazilian population. Method: This scoping review encompassed articles published between 2006 and 2016. The following descriptors were used: pesticide use; pesticide exposure; mental health; psychiatric disorders; psychological health; madness; mental illnesses; nerve diseases; psychopathology. A total of 17 articles were selected – eight descriptive studies, seven cross-sectional studies, one cohort study, and one ecological study. Approximately 84% of the studies showed a positive association between pesticide exposure and mental disorders. About 66% of the studies showed the relationship between contact with pesticides and suicide rates. The silent danger of pesticide poisoning can lead to the development of health problems, such as immune, hematological, hepatic, and neurological problems, congenital malformations, among others. These eventually can (and usually do) trigger psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, which consequently contributes to the high suicide attempt rates. It was found that the association between mental health impairment and pesticide exposure is a public health issuegenerally affecting various Brazilian states.