Genetically Modified Cotton and Farmers' Health in China
- 19 July 2004
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Vol. 10 (3) , 296-303
- https://doi.org/10.1179/oeh.2004.10.3.296
Abstract
This study provides the first evidence of a direct link between the adoption of a genetically modified (GM) crop and improvements in human health. Estimation of the impact of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton adoption on pesticide use from data from a survey of cotton farmers in northern China, 1999-2001, showed that Bt cotton adoption reduced pesticide use. Assessment of a health-production function showed that predicted pesticide use had a positive impact on poisoning incidence. Taken together, these results indicate that the adoption of Bt cotton can substantially reduce the risk and the incidence of poisonings.Keywords
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