Pesticides pose cancer risk for farmers same as smoking: Study

Exposure to certain pesticides can increase cancer risk in farmers as much as smoking does, according to a new study. Researchers identified 69 pesticides, including four commonly used in India, that are linked to higher cancer rates.

The study showed that for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, and bladder cancer, the impact of pesticide exposure was more significant than smoking, which is a well-known cancer risk factor.

"We highlight that it is the combination of all these pesticides, not just one, that matters," said senior author Isain Zapata, an associate professor at Rocky Vista University.

The study, published in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, includes a list of 69 pesticides such as 2,4-D, Acephate, Metolachlor, and Methomyl, commonly used in India to protect crops from pests and weeds.

Researchers analysed cancer rates from 2015-2019 using data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC). They



found that cancer risks varied with the types of crops grown in different regions.

For instance, parts of the western US showed higher cancer rates for all cancers, particularly bladder cancer, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, due to distinct agricultural practices. These areas typically produce more fruits and vegetables compared to the midwestern regions.

This US-based study is the first to compare pesticide use with the well-established cancer risk of smoking. The researchers emphasised that people are usually exposed to multiple pesticides, not just one.

"In reality, exposure is to a mix of pesticides within a region," Zapata noted. Details on the use of these 69 pesticides can be found through the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

However, there are limitations to the study. The authors declare that the research was conducted in "the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest."