A/HRC/34/48 16. Studies in developed countries show that annual acute pesticide poisoning affects nearly 1 in every 5,000 agricultural workers. 15 Globally, however, it is unknown what percentage of farmworkers experience acute pesticide poisoning owing to a lack of standardized reporting. Poor enforcement of labour regulations and lack of health and safety training can elevate exposure risks, while many Governments lack the infrastructure and resources to regulate and monitor pesticides. 16 17. The exposure risk of children engaged in agricultural work is particularly alarming. Although little data are available, the International Labour Organization estimates that about 60 per cent of child labourers worldwide work in agriculture, and children often make up a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce in developing countries. Their increased sensitivity to the hazards of pesticides, the inadequacy of protective equipment and their lack of experience may leave them particularly exposed. 17 18. Seasonal and migrant workers are also more vulnerable, as they may work temporarily at various agricultural sites, multiplying their exposure risk to pesticides. Language barriers may further prevent these workers from understanding labels and safety warnings, they may experience poor working conditions without access to adequate safety equipment and they may have difficulty accessing medical care and compensation for pesticide-related diseases. Workers may also have little control over the types of pesticides used. Communities living near agricultural lands 19. Those living close to industrial agricultural lands and plantations may also be at grave risk of pesticide exposure. Aerial pesticide spraying is particularly dangerous, as chemicals can drift to nearby locations. Communities may be forced to reside closer to pesticide use areas owing to financial or other constraints, and the malnutrition that may accompany extreme poverty can exacerbate the adverse health effects of toxic pesticides. For example, low levels of protein, resulting in low enzyme levels, enhance vulnerability to organophosphate insecticides.18 20. Examples of exposure owing to proximity to plantations include Costa Rica, where children living close to banana plantations were found to be exposed to high levels of insecticides.19 In India, inhabitants of the Padre village in the State of Kerala, located near cashew plantations, were found to suffer from high rates of illness and death that have been linked to the highly hazardous pesticide endosulfan; disability rates among inhabitants are reportedly 73 per cent higher than the overall rates for the entire state.20 21. During the 1970s, the pesticide DCBP was used extensively on banana and pineapple plantations around the world. 21 In Davao, the Philippines, where the pesticide was used in the 1980s, high levels of sterility were scientifically proven to have resulted from exposure. Other conditions, including cancer, asthma, tuberculosis and skin disease, 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 6 International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, From Uniformity to Diversity: A Paradigm Shift from Industrial Agriculture to Diversified Agroecological Systems (2016), p. 29. Eddleston, “Pesticide poisoning in the developing world”. Gaafar Abdel Rasoul and others, “Effects of occupational pesticide exposure on children applying pesticides”, Neuro Toxicology, vol. 29, No. 5 (September 2008), pp. 833-838. Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, response to the questionnaire on pesticides and the right to food, p. 4. International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, From Uniformity to Diversity , p. 29. Pesticide Action Network, response to the questionnaire on pesticides and the right to food, p. 1. Environmental Justice Atlas, “Farmworkers poisoned by DBCP (Nemagon), Philippines”, available from https://ejatlas.org/conflict/philippine-farmworkers-poisoned-by-dbcp-pesticide.