< Back to all clusters
[HEALTH] · India, Burkina Faso · 5 sources

started · updated

Global pesticide poisoning affects 46% of farmers annually

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health reveals that approximately 46% of the world's 934 million farmers and agricultural workers suffer from unintentional acute pesticide poisoning every year. Researchers estimate that between 402 and 433 million cases of acute intoxication occur annually, resulting in roughly 11,000 deaths.

The impact is most severe in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. India accounts for nearly 60% of the annual deaths related to these poisonings. Burkina Faso reports the highest national rate, with approximately 84% of its agricultural workforce affected.

Global pesticide consumption has doubled since 1990, reaching 3.8 million tonnes in 2023. The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) notes that while developed nations in Europe and North America have lower rates due to strict regulations, toxic substances banned in those regions are often exported to developing countries. Researchers and the United Nations have called for urgent action to phase out highly hazardous pesticides to protect agricultural workers and their families.

Entities

Burkina Faso · Frontiers in Public Health · India · Pesticide Action Network · United Nations · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.