Some key elements:
France is number one in pesticide (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and parasiticides) usage in Europe, right behind the USA and Japan worldwide
-more than 2 Billion Euros are spent on pesticides each year by farming operations
-traces of pesticides can be found in most rivers and underground aquifers
-pesticide residues can even be found in your blood and fat tissues, and maternal milk... Despite the fact that there is no proof as of today that these traces can cause illness, the health risks related to repeated exposure to these poisons are very well documented
Alternatives do exist. From the 20th till the 30th of March, the 9th annual Pesticide Action Week will be the best time to get to know about them.