Global Pesticide Poisoning Crisis and Japan's New Speed Limit Initiative > 월드뉴스

Almost half of the world’s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year, according to a study commissioned by Pesticide Action Network. The research, utilizing publicly available data from 2006 to 2023, estimates that there are between 402 million and 433 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning among farmers and farm workers annually. This figure represents approximately 46% of the global farming population of 934 million. Southern Asia has the highest estimated number of poisonings, followed by Southeast Asia and East Africa. Burkina Faso has the highest national incidence, with nearly 84% of farmers affected. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, reports around 11,000 deaths each year due to pesticide poisoning, with nearly 60% occurring in India. Jayakumar Chelaton, executive director of Pesticide Action Network India, emphasized the need for immediate action, advocating for the phasing out of highly hazardous pesticides. Despite global awareness of pesticide dangers, usage has increased, with 3.8 million tonnes reported in 2023, doubling since 1990. Dr. Sheila Willis from Pesticide Action Network UK stressed the importance of providing farmers with safer alternatives. The study did not assess the impact of pesticide exposure on the 84 million children working in agriculture or the long-term health effects of pesticide exposure. Concerns regarding chronic exposure and its links to diseases like Parkinson's were also highlighted by health experts.

Japan has reduced the speed limit on residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h to enhance pedestrian safety. This new regulation, effective from Tuesday, targets narrow urban streets lacking center lines or speed limit signs. Approximately 870,000 kilometers of roads, which make up about 70% of the country's general roads, fall under this new limit. Authorities aim to address the persistent risk of accidents involving children and older pedestrians, despite an overall decline in traffic fatalities, which reached a record low of 2,457 last year. The number of serious accidents involving vulnerable populations on residential roads has remained steady at around 300 annually since 2021, with a slight increase noted in 2025. The introduction of "zone 30" areas in 2011, which were limited to certain streets and school routes, led to a 30% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries. Data from the national police agency indicates that the mortality rate for pedestrians in accidents with vehicles traveling at or below 30km/h is less than 1%, significantly increasing with higher speeds. Yoshinobu Kusunoki, the police agency’s commissioner general, urged drivers to exercise heightened caution on roads shared with pedestrians and cyclists.