There is no denying the environmental hazards caused by chemical based pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and disinfectants. Although these chemical solutions are necessary to repel or kill the pests, insects, herbs, and other factors that kill or harm the agricultural produce, the number of diseases caused from pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and disinfectants are growing with every other research study.<\/p>\n
Among pesticides, fungicides, disinfectants, and herbicides, the link between pesticides and cancer is often called the love affair. It is because there is sufficient scientific evidence to support \u00a0the occurrence of cancer due to the carcinogens in pesticides. However, the commercial pesticide manufacturing industry has a counter argument that most of the chemicals evaporate in the air during spray. Therefore, the chances of cancer occurrence due to pesticides are impossible. It is essential to note here that no scientific evidence is available to support this argument. In fact, lots of scientific evidences are available against this argument; the most important one notes at least 70% of the chemicals from pesticides are absorbed in the agricultural produce after the spray. Having that said, respiratory absorption is another route of exposure to the carcinogenic pesticides.<\/p>\n
In 2013, the CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians published a research study<\/a>, \u201cIncreased Cancer Burden among Pesticide Applicators and Others due to Pesticide Exposure\u201d. It identifies the different routes of exposure to carcinogenic pesticides i.e. the exposure through food, water, air, sin, and other routes, with increased convincing links to cancer. It states:<\/p>\n \u201cAmong members of the general public who are not applying pesticides, multiple routes of exposure are possible depending on whether the individual is an adult or a child, the location of their residence in relation to pesticide applications, whether a residence was treated with pesticides, the occupations of household members, the volatility of the compound, the persistence of the pesticides in the environment, and several other chemical and physical properties of the pesticides.\u00a0Pesticide applications to the home by a second party can result in both dermal and respiratory exposure. Other common routes of exposure to the general public include drinking water and dietary sources<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the authors, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have a clear link with the following types of cancer:<\/p>\n The commonly known pesticide chemicals that may contribute to cancer include the following;<\/p>\n Prostate Cancer<\/p>\n Adult leukemia<\/p>\n NHL<\/p>\n In 2007, KL Bassil et al published a systemic review of different researches and publications on cancer<\/a>, conducted thorough experimental research to find the link between pesticides and cancer. The findings were eye opening.<\/p>\n Non-Hodgkin lymphoma<\/p>\n A majority of the studies revealed an increased risk of NHL when exposed to different classes of pesticides.\u00a0One joint study found increased hairy cell leukemia and ORs for NHL in men exposed to herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, and also impregnating agents. Increased risk was also witnessed with some individual compounds, such as the herbicides, glyphosate, \u00a0and MCPA.<\/p>\n Leukemia<\/p>\n It studied 8 cases, the results of all were statistically significantly positive. One study conducted on women found an increased OR of 4.4 (95% CI, 1.7 to 11.5) for both, acute myelocytic leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.<\/p>\n A few case-control studies evaluated rates of leukemia in children, who were exposed to pesticides. The shocking study concluded that increased rates of all types (100%) of leukemia were found in children living with parents or guardians, who used insecticides in the garden and on indoor plants, and also among children who were exposed to these chemicals during mother\u2019s pregnancy i.e. the mother inhaled these chemicals when pregnant.<\/p>\n It identifies the following pattern:<\/p>\n \u201cAn interesting laboratory study found a different pattern of chromosomal aberrations, cytologic features, peripheral blood and bone marrow indices, prognosis, and resistance to treatment in leukemia patients who were exposed to pesticides compared with patients who were not<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Chemical carcinogens react within the body in different ways.<\/p>\n The \u201clove affair\u201d between pesticides and cancer came under observation around two decades ago. In 1997, Zahm SH et al published a research study<\/a> on cancer and pesticides. It states:<\/p>\n \u201cEpidemiologic studies, although sometimes contradictory, have linked phenoxy acid herbicides or contaminants in them with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and malignant lymphoma; organochlorine insecticides are linked with STS, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, and, less consistently, with cancers of the lung and breast; organophosphorous compounds are linked with NHL and leukemia; and triazine herbicides with ovarian cancer.<\/em>\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n The scientific consensus on environmental and health changes caused due to pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides has enforced the government to incorporate agricultural regulations. Organic, semi-organic and inorganic foods are a part of these regulations. The common cancer trends among farmers include prostate cancer, colon, lung, bladder, esophageal, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.<\/p>\n The most important step towards cancer prevention due to the aforementioned causes is awareness. Cancer-related AHS fact sheet can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other techniques of reducing the chemical intake should be incorporated such as the following.<\/p>\n With cautious lifestyle, the probability of cancer occurrence can be greatly reduced.<\/p>\n http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.3322\/caac.21170\/full<\/p>\n https:\/\/integrativeoncology-essentials.com\/2013\/03\/pesticides-herbicides-and-cancer\/<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/9498903<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2231435\/<\/p>\n Pesticides and Cancer: The “Love Affair” Continues<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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Cancer Health Effects of Pesticides<\/h2>\n
How Chemical Carcinogens Cause Cancer?<\/h2>\n
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What You Can Do?<\/h2>\n
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References<\/h2>\n