THE PARADOX OF IRRIGATED FRUIT CULTURE: SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN THE PETROLINA-JUAZEIRO HUB
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52832/jesh.v6i2.678Keywords:
Agribusiness, Chronic Exposure, Environmental Justice, Exposome, SemiaridAbstract
The rapid expansion of irrigated fruit production in the Petrolina–Juazeiro hub has positioned the Brazilian semiarid as a strategic agro-export region, while simultaneously intensifying socioenvironmental inequalities and occupational health risks. This paradox reflects a development model in which economic gains coexist with diffuse and often invisible forms of exposure. This study aims to analyze the socioenvironmental and health impacts associated with irrigated agribusiness, focusing on the interaction between chemical exposure, water dynamics, and territorial vulnerability. An integrative literature review was conducted using international and regional databases, complemented by grey literature. A total of 216 records were initially identified and subjected to systematic screening and eligibility procedures. The analysis was structured around three axes: biochemical-clinical, socioeconomic, and geoenvironmental. The results indicate that pesticide exposure in the region is chronic, cumulative, and mediated by environmental and social factors. Evidence shows associations with genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and underreported chronic diseases, alongside labor precariousness and gender inequality. Contamination pathways extend through soil and water systems, amplifying exposure beyond occupational settings. The discussion reveals that these dynamics are embedded in a broader framework of environmental injustice, where risks are unevenly distributed and structurally produced. The interaction between climate conditions, irrigation systems, and chemical use intensifies exposure, supporting the conceptualization of a chemical-hydric exposome. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for integrated regulatory approaches, improved surveillance systems, and policies that address cumulative exposure and territorial inequalities in semiarid agro-export regions.
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