Whilst the EU-Mercosur agreement is causing serious concern amongst European farmers, we must not overlook its potential environmental consequences in South America. Our recent study, which builds on radiometric dating of sediments, has enabled us to reconstruct a history of agricultural pollution in the Uruguayan Pampas. When it comes to pesticides, however, the soil does not forget: for example, DDT – despite having been banned for decades – is still found in sediment sediment accumulated recently in dam reservoirs.
A text written for the general public in French has also been published on “The Conversation“.
