Five European Union agencies have issued a joint warning about the agricultural use of azole fungicides, saying they could compromise treatment effectiveness for patients with fungal infections.
The extensive use of azole-based fungicides in agriculture, alongside their presence in human medicines, may increase antibiotic resistance in patients treated for aspergillosis, according to a report released on Wednesday by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Data shows that between 2010 and 2021, approximately 120,000 tonnes of azoles were sold in the EU for non-medical purposes, with about 119,000 tonnes used as pesticides, the report said.
Aspergillosis, caused by the common aspergillus fungus, can lead to severe lung infections, particularly in people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. The fungus’s spores are commonly found in decaying leaves, heating and cooling systems, and insulation materials.
The joint assessment by the European Food Safety Authority, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, European Chemicals Agency, European Environment Agency, and EMA highlighted specific risks in environments where azole fungicides are present, such as agricultural waste and freshly cut wood.
The agencies recommended new approval requirements for azole fungicides and called for research into innovative fungicides that would not interfere with human antifungal treatments.
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