Germana Carillo Intensive agriculture and pesticides potentially increase cancer risk to a similar, if not greater, extent than smoking. In a new study, researchers have correlated cancer rates in different geographic regions based on pesticide use
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Is exposure to pesticides as dangerous as smoking when it comes to cancer risk? A new scientific study suggests it might be. According to the research, those living in areas with intensive farming practices, particularly near cultivated fields, may face a higher risk of certain cancers due to pesticide exposure, possibly more so than from smoking.
Study findings on pesticide exposure
Published in the journal Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, the study found a strong link between environmental pesticides and various cancers, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
The researchers utilized demographic and geographic data from various sources, including the CDC, the Department of Agriculture, and the US Geological Survey, to investigate the correlation between cancer rates and pesticide use across different regions in the United States. As noted by the study’s authors, this type of research, known as an ecological study, is designed to identify general trends rather than establish a causal link.
“In our study, we discovered that for certain cancers, the effect of agricultural pesticide use is comparable in magnitude to the effect of smoking,” explains lead author Isain Zapata from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Rocky Vista University in Colorado. “Yet, we accept that a person who isn’t a farmer but lives in a community with heavy agricultural production is exposed to many of the pesticides used nearby. These chemicals become part of their environment.”
Specific cancers linked to pesticides
The strongest associations found by the researchers were between pesticides and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and bladder cancer. These cancers showed more significant links to pesticide exposure than to smoking.
But which pesticides are most responsible for these cancers? Interestingly, there’s no single culprit.
“Because pesticides are not used one at a time, it’s unlikely that the true cause is a single chemical. Although some pesticides are questioned more frequently than others, all, especially in combination, can have an impact,” the researchers explain.
A comprehensive evaluation of pesticide risks
For this reason, the study included data on 69 pesticides provided by the United States Geological Survey.
The researchers emphasize that their study represents the first comprehensive assessment of cancer risk from a population-based perspective on a national level.
“Until now, no large-scale study had examined the broader picture and contextualized pesticide use as a cancer risk factor alongside smoking, which is a well-established risk,” the study concludes.
