France, April 25 -- French health authorities have warned that some widely used pesticides are putting human health at risk - especially the developing brains of unborn babies and very young children.

The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) raised the alarm on Thursday after reviewing research into links between pesticides and serious illnesses.

It asked independent experts to assess the risks, using data from a 2013 report by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), updated in 2021.

The review looked at how pesticides - including those used in farming, homes and veterinary care - are connected to disease.

The experts cross-referenced known links between pest...