John Gibbons: Pesticides — the global hazard that is harming farmers' health here and now

Some 44% of farm workers worldwide are being poisoned by pesticides, and a UCC research team is now studying a possible link between such biocides and Parkinson's disease

Industrialised agriculture's role in the modern extinction event is well known. (for instance, 63% of Ireland's bird species in decline).  Less well known is the rate at which biocides are also harming farmers' health. Stock picture: iStock

It is a little known but alarming fact that, every year, 44% of farmers and farm workers worldwide experience poisoning by pesticides.

That means 385m people are affected, 11,000 of whom die annually, while tens of millions live with the long-term health impacts of this exposure.