From the content of the article
Pesticides, particularly dangerous. In the desire to have big and beautiful crops, farmers use pesticides, but according to studies, they increase the risk of developing some types of cancer, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder, colon, lung and pancreatic cancer.
The study, published in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, revealed that pesticides used in agriculture, intended to protect crops, have a carcinogenic effect comparable or even stronger than smoking. Chemicals are essential for supporting large-scale agricultural production, but exposure to them poses a major health risk to humans, plants and animals.
“In our study we found that, for some types of cancer, the effect of using agricultural pesticides is comparable in magnitude to the effect of smoking,” said lead study author Isain Zapata, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics at Rocky Vista University in Colorado, USA, notes the source.
Pesticides, essential in agriculture and gardening, are chemicals used to protect crops from pests. Insecticides fight insects, herbicides eliminate weeds, fungicides prevent fungal diseases, nematicides kill microscopic worms, and rodenticides control rodents. They are applied in various forms, such as powders, liquids and granules, and can be dispersed by spraying, direct application or irrigation systems.
Cocktail-ul de pesticide
Farmers, agricultural workers and those living near agricultural land are most at risk of cancer from pesticides used in agriculture. Studies show that exposure to these chemicals, such as glyphosate, atrazine, Metolachlor, Imazethapyr, and dicamba, significantly increases the risk of leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder, colon, pancreatic, and lung cancer. In some cases, the risk of cancer in these areas is comparable or even greater than that associated with smoking.
“Although we have made a list of the main pesticides associated with some specific types of cancer, we emphasize that it is the combination of all of them and not just one pesticide,” added Professor Zapata.
For his part, the doctor Radu Țincu recently said that “the cumulative effect is aimed at their interaction with the human body.”, that is, precisely the cocktail of pesticides that we ingest is dangerous, according to DC News.
“The cumulative effect is dangerous, we can eat lettuce and tomatoes that are contaminated, but we can also eat other fruits that are also contaminated. It’s hard to say a quantity, because we’re talking about a cumulative effect. We don’t just eat a certain fruit or vegetable, nor do the analyzes refer to just a certain type of fruit/vegetable. But the cumulative effect concerns their interaction with the human body. “, explained the head of the toxicology discipline at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine
Cancer risks are complex
“There are many studies that attest to a correlation between low-toxicity exposure to pesticides and the appearance of some forms of cancer, especially in the hematological area: leukemias, lymphomas have been associated with certain exposures of people to pesticides. Also, these substances function as some endocrine disruptors, i.e. they can mimic certain hormones, which can lead to the appearance of certain endocrinological dysfunctions, even more so during the development period, in puberty. Certain menstrual cycle disorders, early puberty can occur, and on the other hand, through this endocrinological mechanism, pesticides can promote the appearance of cancers in some organs that are hormonally regulated: breast, prostate or cervical cancer”, specified the toxicologist.
The study authors emphasized that cancer risks are complex and overall assessments do not necessarily reflect individual risks. The study found that geographic area significantly influences cancer risk, with regions with extensive corn cultivation having the strongest associations between pesticides and cancer incidence.
Source: www.doctorulzilei.ro
