How has the Uruguayan government responded to the agrochemical health crisis in the rice industry?

The government has banned several highly dangerous agrochemicals, but experts say more needs to be done to improve record-keeping, train healthcare professionals, and raise awareness among workers, employers, and policymakers.

What is the status of Julio de los Santos' case, the landmark case of occupational illness from pesticide exposure?

De los Santos' case has transcended borders, and he is waiting for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to assess it and refer it to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for reparation.

Home / Health / Uruguayan Rice Industry Grapples with Agrochemical Health Crisis

Uruguayan Rice Industry Grapples with Agrochemical Health Crisis

Q: What is the impact of agrochemicals on Uruguayan rice workers?

Researchers have found elevated levels of respiratory illnesses, cancer, and congenital abnormalities in rice-producing communities due to the frequent use of herbicides and insecticides, including aerial spraying.

31 Oct

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Summary

Widespread agrochemical use in Uruguay's rice industry causing health issues for workers
Landmark case of worker Julio de los Santos diagnosed with occupational illness from exposure
Lack of regulation and monitoring of pesticide use in the sector

Uruguayan Rice Industry Grapples with Agrochemical Health Crisis

As of October 2025, Uruguay's rice industry, a key driver of the country's economy, is grappling with a growing health crisis stemming from the widespread and ill-controlled use of agrochemicals. The issue came to the forefront in the case of Julio de los Santos, a 50-year-old worker who, in 2018, was diagnosed with an occupational illness caused by exposure to pesticides.

De los Santos' ordeal is a landmark in Uruguay, where the rice sector once represented a sustainability model for Latin America. However, researchers, trade unionists, and workers have now raised concerns about the industry's failure to monitor and protect the health of its employees. Studies have found elevated levels of respiratory illnesses, cancer, and congenital abnormalities in rice-producing communities, often linked to the frequent use of herbicides and insecticides, including aerial spraying that sometimes ignores legal buffer zones.