The estimate comes from a review by Pesticide Action Network, which is calling for a halt to toxic substances and safer alternatives to combat pesticide poisoning.
More than 400 million farmers and agricultural workers worldwide, approximately half of the total, suffer from acute poisoning from pesticides every year: this is the estimate that emerged from a systematic review published in Frontiers in Public Health by researchers from Pesticide Action Network International, who stress the urgency of intervening to eliminate the most toxic pesticides from agriculture and replace them with safer alternatives.
The review included data on poisonings from 2006 to 2023 from a total of 139 countries: 62 countries analysed across 214 scientific articles and 77 countries included in WHO mortality database data. The majority of studies focused on occupational poisonings, particularly among farmers and agricultural workers. The figure estimated by the review does not account for the 84 million children employed in global agriculture – even more vulnerable than adults to the effects of toxic chemical substances – nor for the rural families who suffer environmental exposure.
Farmers and agricultural workers are exposed to pesticides primarily during the preparation and application phases, as well as when they come into contact with treated crops, equipment or contaminated clothing. They may also consume heavily contaminated food. Acute pesticide poisoning refers to any illness or health effect that manifests shortly after exposure (for example, within 48 hours); the most common symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes. It should be noted that repeated exposure over time, even without necessarily causing immediate symptoms, can lead to very serious conditions.
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The study found that the greatest number of non-lethal poisoning cases occurred in South Asia, followed by Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. The highest national incidence was recorded in Burkina Faso, where nearly 84 per cent of farmers and agricultural workers suffered accidental acute pesticide poisonings every year. The total number of deaths worldwide caused by accidental pesticide poisonings is estimated at around 11,000 per year. Nearly 60 per cent of these cases occurred in a single country, India.
"Systemic shortcomings in data collection have concealed this global health crisis for years. Underreporting of cases remains widespread, due to poor access to healthcare and the lack of clinical training or adequate systems to recognise and record pesticide poisonings," commented Sheila Willis, International Programmes Lead, Pesticide Action Network UK. "Now that the scale of this suffering has come to light, we must support farmers in accessing safer alternatives, thereby protecting their own health and that of their families."
According to Pan Action Network, blaming farmers for the damage caused by pesticides means unfairly placing the entire responsibility on individuals who operate under conditions of severe economic and practical constraints. Farmers working under contract are often legally required to use specific chemical inputs, while growers rely heavily on advice from agrochemical company representatives due to the lack of independent agroecological guidance. Furthermore, personal protective equipment is often too expensive and impractical in hot climates.
Implementing the FAO Council's recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), as well as Target A7 of the Global Framework on Chemicals, which calls for the phase-out of HHPs by 2035, could significantly reduce the incidence of such accidental poisonings, provided it receives adequate support.
Javier Souza Casadinho, regional coordinator of Pan Latin America, stated: "In Latin America, the use of pesticides – including those banned in Europe – has increased dramatically over the past 25 years following the development of monocultures based on the use of genetically modified seeds. Agroecology is the path forward to reduce – and ultimately eliminate – the use of pesticides, while at the same time ensuring the production of healthy food."
"In Africa, women are exposed to greater risks due to their massive involvement in agricultural activities such as weeding and harvesting. They are often without protective equipment, receive no safety training and have no control over resources; this leads to acute and chronic health problems that can also put unborn or breastfed children at risk. Even where protective equipment is available, it tends not to be worn due to the hot climate that characterises the region throughout the year," said Dorah Swai, Pan coordinator for Anglophone Africa.
"We have daily evidence of the acute and chronic suffering of farmers, farmworkers, women and rural communities in our region," explained Sarojeni Rengam, executive director of Pan Asia Pacific. "Yet what is often overlooked is that this is also a region rich in farmers' agroecological knowledge, experience and expertise. Across Asia, communities are demonstrating that sustainable, pesticide-free food systems are not only possible, but are already being practised and strengthened by farmers themselves."
The executive director of Pan India, Jayakumar Chelaton, highlighted how South Asia is bearing an enormous burden, with highly hazardous pesticides such as paraquat involved in devastating poisoning episodes, and how safer, non-chemical alternatives must become the priority in the production of our food.
