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Pesticides & Cancer Q&A
What is cancer?
Cells in our body divide in order to form new cells. ln cancer, the cells divide and form new cells without a normal pattern and long after a normal cell would have stopped reproducing. When cancer cells group together to form a mass, the mass is called a tumor. As cancer cells spread through the body, they interfere with healthy cells, making a person sick. Most people with cancer are in their midyears (30 to 40 years age) or older. More than a million people in the United States die from cancer each year, including 1,600 children.
Are cancer rates increasing?
No. Overall cancer rates are declining in the United States. However, some types of cancer, including skin cancer in adults and brain cancer in children, appear to be increasing. Many years of decreasing tobacco use and other lifestyle changes have had a tremendous impact on decreasing the number of people who get cancer. Changes in our behavior toward exposure to the sun are too recent to know if these changes will turn the tide on increasing skin cancer rates. Research on the potential environmental causes of cancer continues.
What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is any natural or synthetic substance that can be used to control or kill pests of any sort, including insects, fungi, rodents, and weeds.
Do pesticides cause cancer?
There are a few specific pesticides that have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory rodents. Pesticides do not cause cancer in people. In 1997, a panel of international cancer experts evaluated over seventy published studies. "The Panel concluded that it was not aware of any definitive evidence to suggest that synthetic pesticides contribute significantly to overall cancer mortality." For additional information see reference 1.
Are environmental levels of man-made pesticides and other synthetic chemicals an important cause of cancer?
No. Population studies and studies of the harmful properties of synthetic pesticides and other industrial chemicals do not support a cause and effect relationship between exposure to low levels of these materials and cancer. For more information, see reference 3.
Do pesticides cause cancer in children?
Pesticide exposure is only one of many potential causes being investigated. To be able to say with confidence that no association exists between pesticides and childhood cancer, the potential for such an association must be thoroughly studied. Many of the studies looking at these questions have been underway since the late 1980s. The findings from these studies are being evaluated and should be available by the end of 1999. Other potential environmental causes of cancer being investigated include infectious agents, maternal diet during pregnancy, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, certain medications, food additives, tobacco, alcohol, heavy metals and air pollution.
I have heard that there are pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. Are those foods safe for children?
Yes. Federal and state governments regulate pesticides. These regulations require the compounds to go through over 120 separate tests before they can be registered for use, and their safety continues to be monitored. Foods continue to be tested when they are taken from the fields and from the grocery market basket. For additional information see the article by Barbara Petersen, "Food safety: A fast shuffle or sound science?" which appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on March 24, 1998 and see reference 2. A panel of cancer experts including members of the American Cancer Society concluded in 1997 that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important in the reduction of cancer risk. For additional information see reference 1.
How can I reduce my child's risk of getting cancer?
The most preventable causes of cancer are those related to exposure to tobacco smoke, overexposure to the sun, and what you eat.
To reduce the high risk of getting cancer:
- Discourage your child from smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Encourage your child to avoid the sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Avoid getting sunburn. When in the sun, wear a hat and use sunscreen.
- Provide your child with a varied diet, including five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
Supplemental Reading (References)
1. Ritter, L., National Cancer Institute of Canada, Ad Hoc Panel on Pesticides and Cancer. "Report of the panel on the relationship between public exposure to pesticides and cancer." Cancer 80(1997): 2019-2033.
2. Gold, L.S., et al. "Pesticide residues in food: investigation of disparities in cancer risk estimates. Cancer Letters 117 (1997):195-207.
3. Ames, B.N., and Gold, L.S. "Environmental pollution, pesticides and the prevention of cancer: misconceptions." FASEB Journal 11 (1997):1041-1052.
Where can I get additional information on pest control and the responsible use of pesticides?
Several organizations regularly provide information to consumers on the safe and responsible use of pest control products. You may wish to contact your local county extension office. Their phone number can be found in the white pages of your local phone book. National organizations that can help include:
National Pest Control Association 703-573-8330
Professional Lawn Care Association of America 770-977-5222
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 202-260-2090
Where can I get additional information on cancer?
For questions about cancer, contact the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
