An estimated one to five million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year, resulting in several thousands of fatalities, including children, while children face higher risks from pesticides than adults and need greater protection against these chemicals, particularly in developing countries.
These findings were made in a joint report on "child pesticide poisoning information for advocacy and action", published by FAO, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The report said that pesticide poisoning was a serious health problem that disproportionately affects infants and children.
The number of children affected was unknown, but likely to be large, based on the experience of many countries.
According to the report, most of the poisonings take place in rural areas of developing countries, where safeguards typically were inadequate or lacking altogether.
Although, developing countries use 25 percent of the world's production of pesticides, they experience 99 percent of the deaths due to pesticide poisoning. Children face a higher risk from pesticides because they might be more susceptible than adults or more greatly exposed than adults.
Children's behaviour, playing and ignorance of risks result in greater potential for exposure. Malnutrition and dehydration increase their sensitivity to pesticides. Currently around 200 million children were suffering from malnutrition.
The report also said that poverty could put children in potentially high-risk situations. Children of poor families work on farms where pesticides were used. Without protective gear, they handle pesticide, and in the process exposing themselves to hazardous chemicals.
"In many developing countries, the marketing and advertisement of pesticides was often uncontrolled or illicit. Misbranded or unlabelled formulations, including ready-made solutions in soft drink bottles and other unlabelled liquid containers, were sold at open stands. Low retail prices promote pesticide use but weak legislation and inadequate law enforcement fail to control risks," it added.
To reduce pesticide poisoning, FAO, UNEP and WHO urged to reduce and eliminate possible sources of pesticide exposures to children at home and at work, to reduce the use of agricultural pesticides through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), to train healthcare providers on the recognition and management of pesticide poisoning, to provide training for people on how to use pesticides judiciously and how to prevent exposure, to run information and education campaigns via TV and radio programmes, and to reduce the risks associated with the use of pesticides through a comprehensive lifecycle approach, ie addressing all aspects of pesticide management from manufacturing until use or disposal following the FAO International Code of Conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides.