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Cancer risks associated with agriculture: epidemiologic evidence
Basic Life Sciences
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Farmers face higher risks for certain cancers, including leukemia, due to occupational exposures. Ongoing studies investigate links between agricultural practices, pesticide use, and cancer development in farming communities.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Farmers exhibit elevated risks for cancers of the lymphatic and hematopoietic systems, stomach, prostate, brain, and skin.
- Occupational roles such as mechanic, carpenter, welder, pesticide applicator, and veterinarian expose farmers to various hazardous substances.
- While leukemia shows the strongest association with farming, specific causative agents remain unidentified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between farming occupations and increased cancer risks.
- To identify specific agricultural exposures, such as pesticides and herbicides, linked to cancer development.
- To clarify the role of agricultural factors in the etiology of various cancers, including leukemia, lymphomas, and brain cancer.
Main Methods:
- Case-control interview studies are underway to gather detailed information on farm practices and pesticide usage.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring studies on leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Minnesota and Iowa.
- A new study in Kansas focuses on soft-tissue sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, specifically examining herbicide exposure in wheat production.
Main Results:
- Evidence is strongest for the association between farming and leukemia risk, though the specific agent is unknown.
- Leukemia excesses in poultrymen and dairy farmers suggest potential zoonotic virus involvement.
- Associations with crop production point towards pesticide usage; herbicide exposure is a particular concern for soft-tissue sarcomas and lymphomas.
Conclusions:
- Further epidemiologic studies are urgently needed in the U.S. to confirm findings from international reports, particularly regarding herbicide exposure and cancer.
- Ongoing case-control studies aim to elucidate the role of specific agricultural exposures in the development of various cancers.
- Clarifying the link between farming, pesticide/herbicide use, and cancer is crucial for implementing targeted prevention strategies.