The Pesticides in Libya: Health Impacts, Regulatory Gaps, and Pathways to Sustainable Management

Abstract

Libya's agricultural sector is growing in importance, but pesticide misuse threatens both public health and the environment. This review examines the status of pesticides used in Libya. This review synthesizes data from existing Libyan studies on pesticide residues in food and groundwater, farmers’ safety practices, and clinical data. A review of studies showed significant levels of pesticide contamination in different food and groundwater samples. This suggests that human health in Libya could be affected. Farmers in Libya exhibit low adherence to safety practices. However, regulatory enforcement in Libya remains weak because of political instability and limited resources, leaving farmers and consumers unprotected. Pesticide contamination is prevalent in Libya, and the chronic exposure to certain herbicides is raising, endangering human health. In addition, there is a lack of hospital records of pesticide-exposed cases; therefore, it is recommended to have firmer monitoring, more farmer education programs, and alignment with international standards. It also highlights the necessity of hospital records of pesticide-related illnesses.