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Decades of pesticide use in the French Caribbean associated with high prostate cancer rates
Guadeloupe and Martinique face some of the world’s highest prostate cancer rates, linked to decades of chlordecone pesticide use on banana plantations. Despite known risks since the 1960s, chlordecone was used from 1972 to 1993, contaminating soil and water for generations. Today, an estimated 90% of the population still carries traces of the toxin in their blood.
A French court recently ordered compensation for 11 victims, but many affected residents feel neglected, struggling with health issues and financial hardship. Fishing bans and soil contamination have disrupted local economies, forcing changes in farming and diets.
Chlordecone’s persistence in the environment continues to threaten public health, disproportionately impacting plantation workers and their families. Critics argue the French government has been slow to address the crisis, leaving many without adequate support or compensation for the lasting damage caused by the pesticide.
24-03-2025