Study: Almost Half the World’s Farmers Are Poisoned by Pesticides Each Year
This story was originally published by The Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Almost half of the world’s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every single year, a study has found. Using publicly available data from 2006-2023, the study, which was commissioned by Pesticide Action Network, found there to be an estimated 402 million to 433 million cases […]
An alarming study reveals that nearly half of the world's farmers are poisoned by pesticides each year, according to a report commissioned by Pesticide Action Network. The study, utilizing data from 2006 to 2023, estimates that unintentional acute pesticide poisoning affects 402 million to 433 million farmers and farm workers annually.
This equates to roughly 46 percent of the global farming population, with southern Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa experiencing the highest rates. In Burkina Faso, nearly 84 percent of farmers and workers were reported to have suffered from poisoning. The study also found that about 11,000 deaths occur annually due to pesticide poisoning, with India accounting for nearly 60 percent of these fatalities.
The report's authors call for immediate action, including the implementation of a UN recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides. Despite efforts to highlight the dangers of pesticides, their use has continued to rise, with 3.8 million metric tons used in 2023, a doubling since 1990. The study did not consider the impact on 84 million children working in agriculture or long-term health effects, focusing solely on acute poisoning.
Génon Jensen, executive director of the Health and Environment Alliance, expressed concern over both the acute and chronic health impacts of pesticide poisonings. The report also suggests a potential link between pesticide exposure and the development of Parkinson's disease, a progressive disorder affecting brain function.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
