A new study has found that exposure to agricultural pesticides could significantly increase the risk of developing certain cancers, potentially equaling the danger posed by smoking.

The research published in a Swiss research journal found that even non-farmers living in areas with heavy agricultural activity are exposed to many pesticides.

The study revealed that in such environments, the impact of pesticide use on cancer incidence rivalled that of smoking, particularly for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia, and bladder cancer.

“In our study, we found that for some cancers, the effect of agricultural pesticide usage is comparable in magnitude to the effect of smoking,” said an associate professor at a University 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,” they emphasised.

The study included data on 69 pesticides from the US Geological Survey, acknowledging that people are generally exposed to a “cocktail” of pesticides rather than just one.

This comprehensive evaluation marks the first large-scale study to assess cancer risk from a population-based perspective, comparing it with a well-established risk factor like smoking.

They noted the importance of considering the broader impact of pesticide use, including geographic factors. For example, regions like the Midwest, known for corn production, showed more pronounced associations between pesticide exposure and cancer incidence.

The study aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by pesticide use, even for those not directly involved in agriculture.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)

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