Some 80 percent of the agrochemicals used in fruit production in Sao Francisco Valley in central Brazil are carcinogenic, Brazilian authorities said Sunday.

According to a study by the state-owned Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, peasants who work in Sao Francisco Valley located between the states of Bahia and Pernambuco are exposed to "unacceptable risks of intoxication."

Though fruit growing with modern technologies has developed into a major trade in the region, it depends on a large quantity of agrochemicals, the foundation said on its website Sunday.

Among the 45 agrochemicals used in the region, 35 were classified as potentially carcinogenic, and three were considered potentially pre-carcinogenic, meaning they could transform into carcinogenic substance, the study showed.

The results showed how the population of such a prosperous region was exposed to the risks caused by the agrochemicals, bio-doctor Cheila Bedor was quoted as saying.

Bedor interviewed 283 peasants aged between 15 and 79 in the valley, with 12 percent illiterate and 64 percent without finishing elementary school.

This increased the risk because they could not read the manuals of the agrochemicals they use, he said.

Bedor urged for a review of the unauthorized use of agrochemicals with high carcinogenic and mutagenic content.

Also an effective policy is needed to record and control the agrochemicals in the region as well as an integrated service organization to supervise the sanity and workers health, Bedor said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)