Developing World Still Struggling With Obsolete Pesticides

The cotton fields of sub-Saharan Africa hold a deadly secret—thousands of tons of obsolete pesticides are buried out of sight but slowly taking a toxic toll on the region’s people and environment.

Chemical poisoning is a serious problem in Africa, where many agricultural pesticides and herbicides that can’t be used in Europe or the U.S. are still readily available. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that old or abandoned pesticides are often stored outdoors in leaking containers, or buried, eventually seeping into the soil and water.

United Nations data show that pesticides are responsible for an estimated 200,000 ...