Addressing socio-environmental conflicts: assessment of pesticide drift in the Félix U. Camet neighborhood through participatory sampling

Abstract

Peri-urban areas often experience tensions and conflicts related to the use of pesticides in agricultural activities, leading to environmental pollution and health problems for residents. This study presents the experience of a participatory sampling initiative aimed at evaluating exposure to pesticides in a peri-urban

neighborhood in the General Pueyrredón district of Buenos Aires, Argentina to support organizational actions and promote advocacy efforts. Participatory methodologies were used at several stages, including diagnosis, sampling planning and design, analysis and dissemination of results. The initial diagnosis helped to uncover a shared history of environmental and health claims in the neighborhood. A total of 23 samples were collected during five rainfall events between December 2019 and March 2020, and glyphosate was detected in 27.6% of analyses. These findings indicate that residents are exposed to pesticides through the air, potentially affecting their health. It underlines the importance of critical science and its potential to change power dynamics in the territory, while citizen science is brought into question. The study argues for environmental and epistemic justice to step up participation and advocate for a healthy environment and the right to health.