Health Costs and Externalities of Pesticide Use in the Sahel

Abstract

Indirect costs of using pesticides in southern Niger were estimated and found to be significant. Using farmers' recall in a logit model, the effect of length of pesticide use on respiratory tract problems was demonstrated, as well as the effect of being a member of a village brigade treating pests on dermatological disorders. Health costs, defined as medical expenses plus the value of time lost, were found to increase by $0.46 per farmer for each year of pesticide use, or an average accumulated discounted health cost of US$1.70 per ha treated. Livestock losses due to intoxication were estimated at 0.5% per year for small ruminants and 0.2% for cattle, valued at US$0.33 per treated hectare. Costs of destroying obsolete pesticides were estimated at $0.06 per ha treated.