The scope of this aspect of the review was limited to
the effects of pesticides on agricultural workers as a
consequence of their occupation. Agricultural workers
are considered to be at greatest risk of pesticide
poisoning because of their close involvement with
concentrated forms of the toxic substances. Their
exposure to pesticides may be due to pesticide application
tasks (such as mixing pesticides, loading pesticide
sprayers and spraying), or other agricultural tasks (for
example, tending to crops soon after they have been
sprayed). It is recognized that pesticides also present a
hazard to other people, and that not all incidences of
poisoning are associated with an individual’s work. For
example, toxic residues can enter the food chain and be
ingested by any member of the community. However,
other hazards associated with pesticide use were beyond
the scope of the review, and are discussed elsewhere
(see for example Conway and Pretty, 1991).