Pesticides and the South African population

Legislation which has a bearing on pesticides, and its current implementation by the State departments of Agricultural Technical Services and Health, are discussed. Organophosphate compounds account for about 80% of all deaths from pesticides and for about 60% of non-fatal cases of intoxication. In South Africa, levels of lipophilic organochlorine compounds in human adipose tissue are generally well under the world average and are demonstrating a progressive downward trend.