Bestrijdingsmiddelen grote killer in Bangladesh

A farmer spraying pesticide in northern Kurigram District. Pesticide-related poisoning is a major cause of death in Bangladesh

DHAKA, 18 January 2010 (IRIN) - An annual government survey of Bangladesh’s health situation has found that pesticide-related poisoning is a leading cause of death, underscoring a major health concern. The 2009 Health Bulletin, which compiles health statistics from 2008, recorded 7,438 pesticide-related poisoning deaths at more than 400 hospitals nationwide amongst men and women aged 15-49.

BANGLADESH: Pesticide poisoning takes its toll

Of the deaths, direct pesticide poisoning accounted for 8 percent of the fatalities, preceded only by respiratory failure at 11 percent, said the bulletin. The report was released in December 2009; the previous year’s Health Bulletin did not cite any pesticide-related poisoning deaths.

Muhammad Abul Faiz, professor of medicine at Dhaka’s Sir Salimullah Medical College, said that of the 933 poisoning cases admitted to that facility in 2008, 38 percent were due to pesticide. The use of chemicals for growing vegetables was a major factor in the pesticide-related deaths, said Faiz, previously director-general of health services for the government.

"Farmers apply pesticides on their crops without taking proper protective measures. They expose themselves to highly poisonous pesticides. They inhale substantial amounts of the pesticides they spray to kill insects in their crops," Faiz told IRIN.

Farmers apply pesticides on their crops without taking proper protective measures. They expose themselves to highly poisonous pesticides. "Others get poisoned because they do not properly wash their hands and faces after spraying pesticides," he said.

That is bad news in a country where 75 percent of the civilian labour force - estimated at 56 million - is directly or indirectly engaged in the agriculture sector.

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