Pesticide poisoning affects 402 million farmers annually, study finds

pesticide poisoning agricultural health global pesticide consumption farmer safety public health study

A study published in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that between 402 and 433 million farmers and agricultural workers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning annually. This represents approximately 46% of the global agricultural population of 934 million people. The research, commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network, estimates that pesticide exposure leads to roughly 11,000 deaths each year.

Global pesticide consumption has doubled since 1990, reaching 3.8 million tonnes in 2023. While Europe is the only major region to report a decrease in consumption due to strict regulations, other areas face rising risks. South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa are identified as the most heavily affected regions. Specifically, Burkina Faso has the highest national poisoning rate, with nearly 84% of its farmers affected annually.

In Europe, Southern Europe remains the most impacted sub-region, with a 32% poisoning rate and over 1.5 million annual cases. In Germany, legal challenges are mounting; the Deutsche Umwelthilfe has filed a lawsuit against the approval of certain herbicides due to concerns regarding chemical residues and health risks.

Entities

Burkina Faso · Deutsche Umwelthilfe · Europe · European Food Safety Authority · Frontiers in Public Health · Pesticide Action Network · Pesticide Action Network Germany · Susan Haffmans · World Health Organization

Claims

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

[● 13 SOURCES] Global annual pesticide consumption doubled since 1990, reaching 3.8 million tonnes in 2023. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Approximately 46% of the global farming population of 934 million people is affected by pesticide poisoning each year. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Europe is the only major region to see a decrease in pesticide consumption since 1990 due to strict regulations. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +8 more
[● 12 SOURCES] Southern Europe is the most affected sub-region in Europe, with a 32% poisoning rate and over 1.5 million annual cases. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +7 more
[● 12 SOURCES] Burkina Faso has the highest national poisoning rate, with nearly 84% of farmers affected annually. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +7 more
[● 13 SOURCES] A study published in Frontiers in Public Health reports annual pesticide poisoning rates. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Between 402 and 433 million cases of acute pesticide poisoning occur annually among farmers and farmworkers. es.euronews.com · n1info.hr · www.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.diken.com.tr · +8 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The study estimates approximately 11,000 deaths annually associated with pesticide poisoning. www.diken.com.tr · valori.it · www.vidarural.pt