Evidence relating to the negative health impacts of pesticide exposure is mounting rapidly. New findings reported at the European Respiratory Society annual meeting in September 2007 showed adults in contact with pesticides are at higher risk of developing respiratory problems. An EU study on Parkinson's disease found that low level exposure may increase the chances of developing the condition - which now affects 1% of EU citizens aged over 60. And scientists in Canada have found evidence linking pesticides with cancer, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

While EU food safety regulations set maximum pesticide levels, current risk assessments don't take into account the long-term impacts of exposure to multiple pesticides residues.