Irrigation schemes have turned Russia’s Aral Sea into a desert. This is considered one of the world’s worst environmental disasters. It is feared that the health of many millions of people living in the region have been badly affected. Raised levels of childhood pneumonia, respiratory diseases, anaemia and infant mortality are already evident.

A team of English scientists suspected that dust blowing off the dried out farmlands might be to blame and took samples. They found that, although systematic spraying is no longer carried out, the dust contained high levels of the organophosphate pesticide phosalone.

Ed.- The implications for areas like over-farmed East Anglia in the UK are obvious. The case for responsible, mixed agriculture, rotation and organic farming is made yet again.