France – the magazine Health and work reveals that the majority of protective suits for workers exposed to pesticides and carcinogens are not hermetic and therefore dangerous.

A note by the Ministry of Labor is concerned about the lack of tightness of protective suits. It had launched a campaign of surveillance of these products for protection against liquid spray (type 3) or direct spray (type 4 ) and airtight.

The results of this campaign show that nine of the ten models tested from six different manufacturers do not comply with European standards. Eight are of a leak. The tests carried out showed that six of the combinations do not provide any protection. The Ministry explains that the clothes are designed to withstand one or more specific substances, but not with mixtures of these substances often used.

Protection against CMRs (carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive) is particularly important in agriculture industry and construction. The risk of developing cancer, to undergo genetic mutations and exposure to toxic substances for reproduction increases to 99% in case of contamination through the skin and non respiratory. An ineffective combination seriously endangers workers.

These results raise the question of the utility of the massive use of pesticides and fungicides in agriculture.