HOME HELP CONTACT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Full Text Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bassil, K.L. Articles by Kerr, K.J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bassil, K.L. Articles by Kerr, K.J. Related Collections Résumés de recherche

Cancer health effects of pesticides

Systematic review

C. Vakil, MD CCFP FCFP
Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont

M. Sanborn, MD CCFP FCFP
Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont

D.C. Cole, MD MSc FRCPC
Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto

J.S. Kaur, MD
Associate Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn

K.J. Kerr, MD DIP ENV HEALTH
Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto

Correspondence to: Dr Catherine Vakil, Family Medicine Centre, Queen’s University, 220 Bagot St, Kingston, ON K7L 5E9; e-mail cv4{at}post.queensu.ca

OBJECTIVE To review literature documenting associations between pesticide use and cancer.

DATA SOURCES We searched MEDLINE, PreMedline, CancerLit, and LILACS to find studies published between 1992 and 2003 on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and 8 solid-tumour cancers: brain, breast, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancer.

STUDY SELECTION Each title and abstract was assessed for relevance; disagreements among reviewers were resolved by consensus. Studies were assessed by a team of 2 trained reviewers and rated based on methodologic quality according to a 5-page assessment tool and a global assessment scale. Studies rated below a global score of 4 out of 7 were excluded.

SYNTHESIS Most studies on non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia showed positive associations with pesticide exposure. Some showed dose-response relationships, and a few were able to identify specific pesticides. Children’s and pregnant women’s exposure to pesticides was positively associated with the cancers studied in some studies, as was parents’ exposure to pesticides at work. Many studies showed positive associations between pesticide exposure and solid tumours. The most consistent associations were found for brain and prostate cancer. An association was also found between kidney cancer in children and their parents’ exposure to pesticides at work. These associations were most consistent for high and prolonged exposures. Specific weaknesses and inherent limitations in epidemiologic studies were noted, particularly around ascertaining whether and how much exposure had taken place.

CONCLUSION Our findings support attempts to reduce exposure to pesticides. Reductions are likely best achieved through decreasing pesticide use for cosmetic (non-commercial) purposes (where children might be exposed) and on the job.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Agarwal, R. Gupta, A. Bhaskar, A. Sharma, S. Thulkar, and L. Kumar Synchronous Presentation of Multiple Myeloma and Lung Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., December 10, 2008; 26(35): 5814 - 5816. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sanborn, K.J. Kerr, L.H. Sanin, D.C. Cole, K.L. Bassil, and C. Vakil Non-cancer health effects of pesticides: Systematic review and implications for family doctors Can Fam Physician, October 1, 2007; 53(10): 1712 - 1720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]