Monitoring and minimizing health risks related to pesticides

Publication date: 28/10/2019
Extent: 24 pages

Contributions by: Keith Tyrell, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK), UK; Sheila Willis, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK), UK and University of Cape Town, South Africa; Stephanie Williamson, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK), UK; Davo Simplice Vodouhe, Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture Biologique (OBEPAB) and Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin; and Anthony Youdeowei, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) and University of Greenwich, UK

Chapter synopsis: Pesticide poisoning is a cause of many human deaths, either via deliberate self-poisoning or via occupational exposure. This chapter looks at monitoring exposure to pesticides and how to minimize human health risks related to their use/exposure. Following an introduction, a section on data-collection approaches and limitations is presented. Then follows a section on policy responses to what is a now a global pesticide poisoning crisis. The case of the smallholder cotton farmers in the Republic of Benin is presented. The chapter concludes with a section on recent surveys in Benin conducted by the Pesticide Action Network UK and the Benin Organisation for the Promotion of Organic Farming (OBEPAB). The authors conclude that pesticide poisoning remains a significant problem in low- and middle-income countries causing substantial numbers of deaths and serious illnesses placing a heavy burden on both health systems and economies.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0047.23