Pesticides and Cancer
January 10, 2012
Pesticides and Cancer
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture and there are concerns that they could increase the risk of cancer. Studies conducted have suggested pesticide exposure can increase the risk of;
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL),
Leukaemia,
Prostate cancer and
Brain cancer
Other hormone related cancers
Although studies have suggested there is a link; research is ongoing and there are no definitive answer that pesticides ‘cause’ cancer. The studies conducted suggest that exposure could ‘increase the risk of’ Cancer.
The Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring Trust (CHEM Trust) have recently published a Study reviewing the role that pesticides play in some cancers. The Study has found that there is a ‘dramatic’ increase in a range of occupational and childhood cancers when there have been exposure to pesticides.
The report also warns that farm workers are at a higher risk of developing certain cancers due to exposure to pesticides through their work. There is also evidence to suggest that farming and/or pesticides may be linked with several other cancers. The following is a non-exhaustive list;
• bladder, stomach,
• pancreatic,
• lung,
• multiple myeloma,
• Hodgkin’s disease,
• colo-rectal cancers,
• ovarian,
• oesophageal cancer,
• breast cancer and testicular cancer.
The report says environmental factors 'must be partly to blame' for massive increases in the incidence of certain cancers. Over time the instances of cancer have increased and researches say that environmental factors must have some impact.
Problems with the evidence
The scientific evidence on pesticides and cancer is still uncertain and more research is needed within before any definitive link can be established. Numerous studies have been done and they all seem to share common problems:
• They usually involve a small number of people increasing the likelihood that the results are down to chance
• it is difficult to work out the amounts of pesticides that people were actually exposed to. Information is taken from the type of job a person does or from those suffering with cancer. There is no distinct measure of exposure
• There is a wide variety of pesticides and it is not clear which, if any, affect the risk of cancer.
• The results from different studies are not consistent. Some suggest that pesticides increase the risk of cancer but others do not.
The potential link between pesticides and cancer is continually being investigated and research projects are ongoing. At mercury Legal LLP we intend to keep our website updated of recent developments within this area.
If you have developed cancer which you think may be linked to coming into contact with pesticides during your employment please contact us at Mercury legal LLP, all of our cases are taken on a ‘No win no fee basis’.
