All articles tagged with #pesticide exposure
A major study links real-world pesticide mixtures in Peru to about a 150% higher cancer risk, based on environmental exposure mapping and cancer registry data, and suggests early cellular changes precede cancer—calling for updated risk assessments that account for chemical mixtures and environmental factors.
A Nature Medicine study identifies DNA methylation fingerprints in tumors from people under 50 that link exposure to the weed killer picloram to higher rates of colorectal cancer. Glyphosate shows a weaker signal, but the researchers caution the study is observational and cannot prove causation; factors such as smoking, diet, obesity, and gut bacteria are also being explored as potential contributors. More research is needed to confirm picloram’s role.
A USC-led study found that Americans under 50 who have never smoked and eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may have a higher lung cancer risk, possibly due to environmental pesticide exposure. The study used diet quality scores and did not measure pesticides directly; researchers urge further testing of biological samples to confirm exposure and assess the role of specific pesticides.
A USC-led study presented at AACR found that non-smoking Americans under 50 who follow healthier diets may have a higher risk of lung cancer, possibly due to environmental pesticide exposure from non-organic produce. The research notes a higher incidence among young women in this group and calls for direct pesticide measurements in patients and further study to confirm the link and identify specific factors.
A Peru-wide study links exposure to 31 pesticides with about a 150% higher cancer risk in high-exposure areas, using six-year environmental dispersion models and national cancer registry data (2007–2020). Indigenous and rural communities face greater exposure, averaging 12 pesticides. Early molecular analyses suggest pesticides disrupt liver function and cellular identity long before cancer develops, indicating non-genetic pathways to cancer and challenging traditional single-chemical risk assessments. None of the chemicals are currently WHO-classified as known human carcinogens. The findings call for considering real-world chemical mixtures and environmental factors like climate shifts in prevention and policy.
A single in utero exposure to the fungicide vinclozolin in rats increased disease risk across 20 generations, with severity climbing in later generations, implying heritable epigenetic changes that could illuminate the roots of chronic diseases in humans and inform preventative medicine; study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A peer-reviewed Environmental Working Group study using USDA residue data and CDC NHANES biomonitoring finds that consuming more high-residue fruits and vegetables correlates with higher pesticide biomarkers in urine, indicating diet is a major driver of exposure and highlighting gaps in monitoring and potential regulatory implications for protecting vulnerable groups.
A UCLA-led study links long-term chlorpyrifos exposure to about a 2.74-fold increase in Parkinson's disease risk, based on 829 PD cases and 824 controls using California pesticide-use data and residence/work addresses; animal models show dopamine neuron loss and alpha-synuclein buildup with autophagy disruption, which can be mitigated by stimulating autophagy, supporting a likely causal link while noting many factors influence PD and that chlorpyrifos use persists in the US.
A UCLA Health study links long-term residential exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with more than a 2.5-fold increase in Parkinson’s disease risk. Animal tests show chlorpyrifos damages dopamine neurons and triggers brain inflammation via autophagy disruption, suggesting autophagy restoration as a potential therapeutic angle. Despite declines in the U.S., past exposure and ongoing use elsewhere mean monitoring and further research on pesticide-related neurodegeneration are warranted.
New studies suggest a possible link between pesticide exposure and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, with three specific pesticides—atrazine, lindane, and simazine—identified as main contributors to the elevated risk. Efforts to understand this connection face challenges in establishing causation and mitigating risks associated with pesticide usage, posing significant health threats to agricultural workers and communities residing near farmlands.
A study by the Environmental Working Group found that 80% of Americans tested positive for chlormequat, a pesticide linked to reproductive and developmental health risks, with higher levels detected in 2023 than in previous years. The chemical, banned from use on food crops in the US, was found in popular oat-based products and is allowed in imported foods due to EPA regulations. Concerns have been raised about potential health impacts and the need for stricter regulations on pesticide use.
Fort Collins plans to conduct its fifth round of pesticide spraying to reduce the number of mosquitoes potentially carrying West Nile virus. The spraying will take place in the city's northern area and residents are advised to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed for 30 to 60 minutes after spraying. The decision to spray is based on the vector index, which estimates the levels of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes. As of Tuesday, there have been 36 cases of West Nile virus in Colorado, with an increase in cases compared to last year.