They would alter the respiration of the cells of fungi, of bees but also of human beings. NGOs and scientists are calling for the withdrawal of several controversial SDHI pesticides widely used in agriculture on Tuesday.
SDHIs (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors) are used to destroy mold that grows on grains or fruits, by blocking a key step in the respiration of fungi. They are also used on the lawns of sports or golf courses. But scientists have warned of their possible dangerousness and a study published in November in the American journal Plos-One revealed that the respiratory process of human cells, bees and earthworms was also affected in the laboratory by these SDHIs. .
A "threat" to the living
The NGOs We want poppies, Future Generations and France nature environment announced Tuesday the sending of a letter asking the Health Security Agency (ANSES) to withdraw the authorization of three products based on SDHI (about 150 authorized in France, the NGOs indicated targeting "latest generation" products). Supported by parliamentarians like Delphine Batho (Génération écologie), Loïc Prud'homme (LFI) or Joël Labbé (EELV), they denounce the SDHIs as a "serious threat to all that is alive", according to Fabrice Nicolino, of Poppies, calling for the "precautionary principle".
In the event of a negative response or non-response within two months of ANSES, they will seize the administrative court to obtain the withdrawal of their marketing authorizations, like a recent decision concerning two accused pesticides. pose a risk to bees.
Several studies in progress at ANSES
At the same time, some 450 scientists called in a forum published by Le Monde to "implement as soon as possible the cessation of the use of SDHI in an open environment", saying that the latest studies "suggest the additional risk in humans from a health catastrophe linked to their use ”.
The boss of ANSES, Roger Genet, for his part estimated that "in the current state of knowledge" the agency had no reason to revoke its authorizations. "Our work continues," he told AFP, while ANSES launched or funded several works on SDHIs. ANSES has also "passed on these new elements" to European authorities, the level of authorization of active substances for SDHIs, underlined Roget Genet.
The union of the phyto-sanitary products industries (UIPP) for its part estimated in a press release that the approach of the NGOs stemmed from a “resolutely excessive reading of the precautionary principle” whereas “that no health signal was identified, to date ".
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