A study published in the Swiss journal Frontiers in Public Health on September 2 estimates that nearly half of all farmers worldwide experience acute, unintentional pesticide poisonings each year. Researchers analyzed 214 scientific papers and data from 62 countries, along with mortality data from the World Health Organization (WHO) for 77 more countries. Their findings suggest that between 402 and 433 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur annually among farmers and agricultural workers, affecting about 46% of the global agricultural workforce, which totals around 934 million people. The regions most affected are South Asia, followed by Southeast Asia and East Africa. In India alone, nearly 169 million non-fatal pesticide poisoning cases are reported annually, affecting over 73% of its 230 million farmers and agricultural workers. The highest rate of pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers was found in Burkina Faso, where 83.8% of farmers and agricultural workers are estimated to be affected. The study also estimates that about 11,000 people die each year from acute, unintentional pesticide poisonings. However, the researchers caution that the same individuals may be poisoned multiple times, meaning the total number of cases does not necessarily reflect the number of unique victims. This complicates the understanding of the true scale of the problem. The researchers highlight significant limitations in the data, noting that some countries have extensive records while others have very little information, often based on a single survey. This lack of consistency may lead to overestimation in some regions and underreporting in others. Factors such as lack of mandatory reporting, diagnostic errors, and limited access to poison control centers contribute to the difficulty in accurately measuring the problem. To address these challenges, the study authors recommend better international coordination in data collection, along with standardized monitoring and reporting systems. They also support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its efforts to phase out the most hazardous pesticides when their risks cannot be controlled. While the exact number of cases remains uncertain, the researchers stress that the existing data are sufficient to justify immediate action, particularly to address the significant health risks faced by agricultural workers who regularly handle pesticides.