Children today are sicker than they were a generation ago. The past few decades have seen a rapid rise in the consumption of synthetic pesticides. The world now uses about 2.3 million tonnes of pesticides every year, which is 50 times more than in 1950. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture and food, homes, schools, gardens and public places exposes millions of children and adults worldwide to the harmful effects of these toxic chemicals, and consequently to some debilitating and life-long health problems.