Survey exposes Philippines rice research body
death stalks the workers of the International Rice Research Institute (irri) in Philippines. Because more than four decades of experiments and intensive studies have let loose a toxic trail. This alarming revelation came recently after an independent medical survey was conducted on former employees of irri. Several instances of fatalities and illnesses due to exposure to pesticides and chemicals surfaced among past and present workers of the institute, which is regarded as a premier rice research body. The findings are all the more unpalatable for irri since it was established to "help poor farmers in developing countries grow more rice