- 4.1 billion pounds of pesticides are used throughout the world each year
- 30 times more pesticides are used today than were used in 1945
- 30 percent of insecticides are believed to be carcinogenic
- 60 percent of herbicides are believed to be carcinogenic
- 90 percent of fungicides are believed to be carcinogenic
- 23 of the 28 most commonly used pesticides are believed to be carcinogenic
- an estimated 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are caused by pesticide residues on food
- an estimated 3.5 million cases of acute pesticide poisoning are caused each year in developing nations due to lack of protection during pesticide application
- an estimated 900 plant and insect species have built up resistances to pesticides
Sources:
1-6 — Earth Communications Office
7 — National Academy of Sciences
8 — World Resources Institute
9 — Earth Communications Office
