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Table 1. Value (million KSH) of pesticides imported and used in Kenya, 1985-87.
Year
Insecticides and
acaricides Herbicides Fungicides Other Total
1985 127.4 101.8 168.7 13.3 411.2
1986 134.9 121.3 281.3 42.6 580.1
1987 182.3 173.4 357.3 28.1 741.1
Source: Pest Control Products Board of Kenya 1987.
In the Third World, most of the human poisoning and environmental contamination
caused by agrochemicals stems from indiscriminate use and mishandling,
usually due to ignorance of the potential hazards posed by these
chemicals. Labeling of the products and misleading advertisements by pesticide
dealers intensify the problem. As a result, many small-scale farmers use
pesticides that have not been recommended for their specific crops. Others use
concentrated preparations in the belief that they will be more effective against
pests; instead this has led to pest resistance and resurgence of new pests
(Akhabuhaya 1989). The number of resistant arthropod species has risen from
137 in 1960 to 392 in 1980, an average rise of 13 species per year (Youdeowei
1983).
Improper handling and misuse of pesticides continue to cause untold numbers
of poisoning cases in the developing world. Although improper handling
may be due to carelessness, many other factors contribute to the problem:
farmers' ignorance; poverty, which may force the farmers to continue to use
poor and leaky equipment; improper or nonexistent protective clothing; use
of wrong or cheap pesticides; use of the wrong antidotes or none at all; and
poor handling of utensils such as measuring devices and storage containers.
Empty chemical containers are commonly used in the home for storing sugar
and salt and for fetching water or milk.
In developing countries, pesticides are usually stored inside the home, in
rooms that are also used for sleeping and storing food and drinking water.
Small-scale farmers, their families, and particularly children are exposed to a
high risk of acute and chronic pesticide poisoning. Sometimes the chemicals
are used for deliberate poisoning and suicide attempts.
All pesticides are biologically active. Their toxicity affects not only pests but
also all other forms of life in the ecosystem. The situation is much worse in
developing countries, where illiteracy, poverty, and general morbidity rates
are high.
A study of mercury poisoning among children in a rural Kenyan community
found elevated levels of mercury in their blood and chronic mercury poisoning
(Brown et al. 1982). The blood of their family members also contained
elevated levels of mercury. The incidence of mercury poisoning was higher
during rainy seasons. These observations led to the conclusion that agrochemicals,
used haphazardly, may be associated with the high incidence of
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