With annual sales of over 30 billion US dollars, the pesticide industry is big business. But while manufacturers say they try very hard to encourage 'responsible use' of their chemicals, every year more than 25 million cases of pesticide poisoning are reported - with nearly all the victims in developing countries.

'Toxic Trail' uncovers the scale of the problem by following the flow of chemicals from their manufacturers in Thailand across the open border into Cambodia where they are posing a serious threat to human health and the environment.

Cambodia's chemical reaction

Multinational companies disclaim responsibility for what happens to their products in Cambodia since they have no formal operations there, leaving the responsibility to the Government. But after decades of civil war, the impoverished Cambodian Ministries are struggling to build regulatory capacity in an attempt to control illicit trade and use of pesticides. But they're no match for the massive commercial pressure coming from both east and west.

With 85% of Cambodians reliant on agriculture for their livelihood, the market for pesticides here is enormous. Many farmers believe that pesticides are a miracle ally in the war against pests and the country's recently opened borders are a highway for these products. But few of Cambodia's poorly educated and impoverished farmers realise how dangerous these chemicals are.

Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos, and Mevinphos, all classified as 'extremely hazardous' by the World Health Organisation and banned or restricted in many developed countries are sold freely, and widely used by poor farmers across Cambodia with no safeguards whatsoever.

'Normal use' in the field is a far cry from the 'safe use' touted by chemical companies, and farmers are literally bathing in toxic cocktails.

Proper protective gear for the use of such hazardous chemicals, even if available, would cost a farmer more than a year's income - and even the minority who are literate cannot read the safety warning labels printed in Thai or Vietnamese. As a result, after spraying, farmers often report 4 or more symptoms of pesticide poisoning.

Farming: what's your poison?

The World Health Organisation has identified 50 category 1A formulations or 'extremely hazardous' chemicals.

Methyl parathion, a widely used organo-phosphate, seriously affects the nervous system if applied without due care. Minor symptoms include irritability, insomnia and nausea, whilst more serious poisoning will cause vomiting, staggering, ataxia, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and excessive fatigue.

For most of Cambodia's farmers, chemical poisoning is a way-of-life.

People-friendly farming

The Community Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is helping farmers understand more about pesticides and their acute health effects. Coupled with the work of local NGOs, like Cambodia's CEDUC organisation, they're spreading the word on the ground and helping farmers understand the risks involved in using pesticides.

Toxic Trail II

Next week, in Toxic Trail II, we find out what the pesticide companies have to say and see how farmers are developing more eco-friendly solutions for themselves.