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.
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