PARIS, France (Reuters):

Widespread use of pesticides in banana plantations in the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique has caused a "health disaster", according to the author of a report to be presented to Parliament today.

"It is not too much to say that there has been a real poisoning of Martinique and Guadeloupe," Dominique Belpomme told the daily Le Parisien yesterday.

""The situation there is extremely serious. The scientific studies we have conducted show a health disaster in the Antilles," he said, referring to the islands.