Arabic version: دراسة تقدّر إصابة نحو نصف المزارعين بالتسمم بالمبيدات

According to The Guardian, a study commissioned by Pesticide Action Network estimates that 402 million to 433 million farmers and farm workers experience unintentional acute pesticide poisoning each year. Using publicly available data from 2006 to 2023 and a worldwide farming population of 934 million, the research estimated that about 46% of farmers are poisoned annually.

The greatest estimated number of poisonings was recorded in southern Asia, followed by south-east Asia and east Africa. Burkina Faso had the highest national incidence, with nearly 84% of farmers and farm workers reported to have experienced poisoning. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, also estimated 11,000 deaths annually from pesticide poisoning, with India accounting for nearly 60% of fatalities.

The authors called for immediate action, including implementation of a UN recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides. They said pesticide use has continued to rise despite efforts to highlight its dangers, reaching 3.8 million tonnes in 2023, double the amount used in 1990. Dr Sheila Willis of Pesticide Action Network UK said farmers should be supported in accessing safer alternatives.

Acute pesticide poisoning was defined as illness or a health effect occurring shortly after exposure. Farmers and workers can be exposed while preparing and applying pesticides, and through treated crops, contaminated equipment or clothing. The study did not assess exposure among an estimated 84 million children working in agriculture or long-term health effects. Its authors said available information remains inadequate and called for standardised surveillance and reporting protocols.