Fruit Stand in Costa Rica

The environment and people have been adversely effected by the use of agrochemicals on pineapple and banana plantations.  Residents of Milano go about their daily lives cooking, bathing, and cleaning using water contaminated with bromacil.  This is due to a pineapple plantation once owned by FruteX, but is now owned by the multinational corporation Del Monte.  Pineapple growers claim they need to follow strict guidelines on pesticide use from the European Union and the United States, because they produce most of their pineapples for export.  According to the EPA, drinking water is safe with up to .7 micrograms per liter of bromacil in the water.  A water analysis conducted by the University of Costa Rica Center for Investigation in Environmental Contamination found that Milano’s water tank contained up to 3.47 micrograms per liter of bromacil.  This is roughly 5x more than EPA standards.  Residents have experienced skin problems, headaches, and muscle aches, along with spontaneous abortions, and congenital malformations.  Milano is not the only town affected: El Cairo, Luisiana, and La Francia all acquire clean water from tanker trucks.  This has a monthly cost of roughly $27,000.  After eight years, over $3,000,000 has been spent on trucks delivering water to these four communities.