Protect Farm Workers
A US National Cancer Institute study found that farmers exposed to herbicides had a six times greater risk than non-farmers of contracting cancer. In California, reported pesticides poisoning among farm workers has risen an average of 14% a year since 1973 and doubled between 1975-1985. Field workers suffered the highest rates of occupational illness in the state. Farm worker health also is a serious problem in developing nations, where pesticides use can be poorly regulated. an estimated million people are poisoned annually by pesticides.
