A recent study commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network has revealed that nearly half of the world’s farmers experience unintentional acute pesticide poisoning each year. Using publicly available data from 2006 to 2023, researchers estimate that between 402 and 433 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur annually, based on a global farming population of 934 million. The highest rates of poisoning were found in southern Asia, followed by southeast Asia and east Africa. Within these regions, Burkina Faso in west Africa had the highest national incidence, with nearly 84% of farmers and farm workers reporting pesticide poisoning. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, also found that about 11,000 people die each year from pesticide poisoning, with nearly 60% of these deaths occurring in India. The researchers are urging "immediate action," including the implementation of a UN recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides. Despite global efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of pesticides, their use has continued to increase. In 2023, nearly 3.8 million tonnes of pesticides were used worldwide—double the amount from 1990. The study did not examine the long-term health effects of pesticide exposure or the impact on the estimated 84 million children working in agriculture. Acute pesticide poisoning, as defined in the study, refers to any illness or health effect experienced shortly after exposure. In a separate development, Génon Jensen, the executive director of the Health and Environment Alliance, stated there is "overwhelming evidence" that Parkinson’s disease is influenced by environmental factors, with growing research linking pesticide exposure to its development. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that causes damage to parts of the brain, leading to issues with movement and balance. The global burden of Parkinson’s is increasing, and in countries like France, Germany, and Italy, it is now recognized as an occupational disease among farmers. Farmers and farm workers are typically exposed to pesticides during preparation and application, as well as when handling treated crops, contaminated equipment, or clothing. At a webinar hosted by Friends of the Earth Europe earlier this year, Rendert Algra shared his belief that his Parkinson’s disease was linked to the pesticides he used while working on his family’s farm in the Netherlands. "Being the eldest son, I did all the spraying of pesticides in our fields for several years in a row," he said. Despite being the most comprehensive study on pesticide poisoning to date, the report highlights that current data on pesticide-related poisonings is insufficient. The authors are calling for standardized surveillance and reporting protocols to ensure that pesticide-related poisonings are reliably measured and compared across regions.