Pesticide Poisoning Sickens Nearly Half of Farmers Worldwide, Study Finds

An alarming study is shedding light on how pesticides are sickening almost half of the world's farming population. This is what you need to know about this new research that experts are calling a "global public health crisis."

Unintentional Pesticide Poisonings Are Killing Thousands of Farmers Each Year

Farmers around the world are facing a deadly crisis. According to new research published in Frontiers in Public Health, the cases of unintentional, acute pesticide poisoning (UAPP) are rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization (WHO) tracks UAPP cases.

The WHO found that there are an estimated 369,632 cases of UAPP within the farming population every year. What is even more concerning is that 9,182 of these cases end in death.

Farming industry experts warn that these numbers are likely vastly underreported. As such, researchers were able to determine that there are about 402 to 433 million farmers who are inadvertently poisoned every year just doing their job. The estimated number of total deaths blamed on the poisoning is about 11,000 annually.

For context, there are roughly 934 million farmers on this planet. Researchers noted in the study that “this means that an estimated 46% of farmers are being poisoned by pesticides every year.”  The number of UAPP cases was the most prevalent in Southern Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

Although most of the cases are not in the U.S., that does not mean that it is not a problem in the States. Late last year, thousands of U.S. farmers sued the manufacturer of the pesticide paraquat, claiming it triggered Parkinson's disease.

Paraquat is banned in China and the European Union (EU). The product's manufacturer, Syngenta, said that it "rejects the claims of a causal link" between the pesticide and the onset of Parkinson's disease.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Paraquat causes toxic chemical reactions to occur throughout many parts of the body, mostly the lungs, liver, and kidneys." However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it has not found a clear link between exposure to this pesticide and adverse health outcomes, including Parkinson's disease and cancer. 

What is Responsible for the Mass Poisonings in the Farming Industry?

According to Dr. Sheila Willis, Head of International Programmes, “Systemic failures in data collection have masked this global public health crisis." Willis went on to note that "Underreporting remains widespread, driven by limited access to healthcare and a lack of clinical training or systems to recognise or record pesticide poisoning. Now that the scale of suffering has been revealed, farmers must be supported to access safer alternatives to protect their health and that of their families.”

Researchers working on the study said that more preventative measures are needed when working with pesticides. This is particularly true for pesticides that are deemed to be "extremely hazardous" and "highly hazardous." The scientists said that these two classifications “should only be permitted for use by trained persons.” The experts also recommended that employers “should be obliged to provide suitable personal protective equipment.”

Although the number of deaths is considered to be low compared to the prevalence of the illness, the sheer volume of these unintentional poisonings makes it clear that the industry needs to be more focused on more than just preventing fatalities.  Susan Haffmans, Senior Adviser on Pesticides and International Cooperation at PAN Germany, released a statement urging improvements in the tracking system in an effort to prevent more poisonings. Haffmans said, “We can no longer accept that those who work in the fields and grow our food are exposed to harmful pesticides and become sick. The new findings underscore the urgency of promoting chemical-free crop protection and banning highly hazardous pesticides.”

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what's next.