The use of pesticides in agriculture has been a long-standing practice aimed at increasing crop yields and reducing pest infestations.
However, a growing body of research suggests these chemicals may have a dark side, posing significant health risks to humans and the environment at large.
A recent nationwide study in the US revealed that the cancer risk linked with pesticide exposure is comparable to that of smoking.
The results were published in the Journal Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, highlighting the need for greater awareness and understanding of the health concerns associated with pesticide use.
The senior author of the study, Dr, Isain Zapata, an associate professor at Rocky Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado, said, " We found that for some cancers, the effect of agricultural pesticide usage is comparable to the effects of smoking."
He explained that even people who are not farmers but residents in areas with heavy agricultural production are equally exposed to the health concerns posed by the use of pesticides because the chemicals have become a part of their environment.
From the research, it was revealed that in areas with high use of agricultural pesticides, the link between the use of pesticides and cancer rates was similar to that of smoking.
For instance, in regions where more crops are grown, like the Midwest, known for crop production, the link between pesticides and cancer will be more pronounced.
Also read: Lead and Uranium Can Affect the Brains of Vaping Teenagers
The health concerns related to the use of pesticides span across cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and bladder cancer.
Pesticides are mostly used in combinations, not individually. The research noted that it is unlikely that one pesticide alone is responsible for cancer risk. Instead, it is more significant with a combined use of various pesticides.
Zapata said, " 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.
Farmer sprays pesticide | Pixabay
This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate cancer linked to exposure to pesticides at a national level.
Previous studies had not examined the entire scope and compared it with a well-understood cancer risk factor like smoking.
Dr. Isain said, " It is difficult to explain the magnitude of an issue without presenting any context, so we incorporated smoking data."
One of the goals of this study is to make people, even those who are not frequently exposed to pesticides, think about the broader problems associated with pesticide use.
"Every time I go to the supermarket to buy food, I think of the farmer who was part of making that product. These people regularly put themselves at risk for my convenience, and that plays a role in my appreciation for that product.
It has definitely had an impact on how I feel when the forgotten tomato in the fridge goes bad, and I have to put it in the trash,” Dr. Isain shared.