Silent Invaders: Pesticides, Livelihoods and Women’s Health

Silent Invaders deals with the ubiquitous overuse of pesticides, which has led to unsustainable farming practices, imperiling the health of workers, consumers and the environment. The effects of these “legal toxic products” are studied from the perspective of women, as in some countries, particularly in the South, women make up 85 per cent or more of pesticide applicators. The volume covers a broad range of issues, from health to the need for regulation, to action that has been taken so far. It contains thirty-two essays written by authors from many nations, including India, and covers topics such as the Union Carbide gas leak at Bhopal twenty years ago (essay 29). The issue of pesticides is of particular interest at the moment due to the Centre for Science and Environment’s reports on the presence of pesticide in mineral water and soft drinks.