Pesticides pose cancer risks similar to smoking, finds research

New Delhi: A recent study warns that pesticides, crucial for boosting crop yields, may pose cancer risks similar to smoking. Published in the journal Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, the research highlights that people living in areas with intensive agriculture face significant exposure to pesticides, even if they are not directly involved in farming.

"In our study, we found that for some cancers, the effect of agricultural pesticide usage is comparable in magnitude to the effect of smoking," Isain Zapata, associate professor at the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado, US.

"We present a list of major pesticide contributors for some specific cancers, but we highlight strongly that it is the combination of all of them and not just a single one that matters," Zapata emphasised.

The study, which analysed data from the US Geological Survey on 69 different pesticides, underscores that exposure often involves a mix of chemicals rather than a single substance. Researchers found that this cumulative exposure could increase cancer risks, particularly for diseases like non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia, and bladder cancer.

This large-scale evaluation marks a critical step in understanding the public health impact of pesticide use. Comparing it to smoking, a well-known risk factor for cancer, the study suggests that the effects of pesticides in agricultural regions can be similarly alarming.

Geographic factors also play a crucial role, with regions heavily engaged in agriculture, such as the Midwest, showing higher associations between pesticide exposure and cancer rates. The findings aim to raise awareness about the widespread risks associated with pesticide use, urging broader considerations beyond direct agricultural activities.

Agencies