L.I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety, Ministry of Health, Ukraine (State Enterprise), Kyiv, Ukraine

ABSTRACT. In recent years, there has been a global increase in the use of pesticides across various sectors of the economy. According to the World Health Organization, the number of acute occupational pesticide poisonings worldwide is steadily rising, especially in developing countries, and amounts to approximately 25 million cases annually. In Ukraine, within the structure of occupational diseases, cases of pesticide poisoning are sporadic and account for less than 0.2 %, indicating an imperfect system of diagnosis and registration of such pathologies, which requires improvement and adaptation to European requirements and recommendations.

Aim. To summarize international requirements for the recognition of workplace pesticide poisoning and to assess the compliance of the national system for diagnosing and recognizing occupational and environmentally determined pesticide poisonings with the recommendations of the International Labour Organization.

Materials and Methods. A scientific analysis of regulatory documents of Ukraine and the International Labour Organization concerning the diagnosis and establishment of the link between pesticide-related poisonings and working conditions. An analytical review of scientific publications using abstract databases of scientific libraries such as PubMed, Medline, and full-text databases of scientific publishers including PubMed Central, BMJ Group, and other VIP databases relevant to the research topic.

Results. Occupational pesticide poisoning is a major component of the consequences of pesticide exposure worldwide. The recommendations of the International Labour Organization (2022) regarding the establishment of a causal relationship between pesticide exposure and the development of occupational diseases were analysed. International approaches to determining the toxicological profiles of major pesticide groups, assessing clinical manifestations of acute and chronic exposure effects, and diagnostic criteria for poisonings associated with occupational use of organochlorine and chlorophenoxy pesticides, herbicides, paraquat, coumarin derivatives, and pentachlorophenol are presented. The issue of carcinogenic effects of pesticide exposure among workers is also considered. International approaches to the implementation of preventive measures for occupational pesticide poisoning are summarized.

Conclusions. Acute pesticide poisoning and chronic effects of pesticide exposure remain a persistent global public health problem. In Ukraine, such poisonings have accounted for less than 0.2% of occupational diseases in recent years, indicating shortcomings in the system of diagnosis and registration. In the context of Ukraine’s reintegration processes and accession to the European Union, the system for recognition, registration, and accounting of occupational and environmentally determined diseases, along with its legislative and methodological framework, must be adapted to international requirements and recommendations.

Key words: pesticides, occupational poisoning, environmentally determined diseases, list of occupational diseases.

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Received February, 5, 2025

Review dates February, 19, 2026; February, 24, 2026

Publication date June, 12, 2026