Pesticides Exposure Cancer Risk: In our daily life, many types of chemicals can be present in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. One of these important chemical groups is pesticides, which are used in agriculture to protect crops from insects and diseases.
Recently a new international research has increased the concern. According to this study, the risk of developing certain types of cancer can increase by 150 percent in people living in areas where pesticides are used heavily. This report is being considered a serious warning regarding environmental health and the effects of chemicals.
What does the new study say?
This research has been published in the journal Nature Health. It has been told that people are exposed to not just one but many pesticides simultaneously. Earlier studies were done by looking at each chemical separately, but in real life we live under mixture exposure i.e. the combined effect of many chemicals. This study has analyzed this situation keeping this situation in mind, which makes it more important than earlier research. The South American country Peru was chosen for this study.
Why was Peru chosen?
Agriculture is done on a large scale in the South American country Peru. Different types of environmental zones exist. Social and economic inequalities are high. Therefore, Peru was chosen for this study. In such a situation, research here found that rural and tribal communities are most affected. Many people were found to be affected by about 12 different pesticides simultaneously. This level was very high in many places.
How was the analysis done in the research?
Scientists studied 31 commonly used pesticides. Tracked their spread from 2014 to 2019 and compared them with health data of more than 1.5 lakh cancer patients from 2007 to 2020, the research found that areas with higher levels of pesticides also had more cancer cases. The special thing is that the pesticides that were studied have not yet been considered carcinogenic under WHO. Despite this, their combined effect was seen to have serious effects on health.
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What is the effect on the body?
According to research, pesticides affect the body gradually. These interfere with the normal functioning of cells. Can weaken the body’s immunity in the long run. The liver is most affected by this. These changes are not visible immediately, but over time can cause serious diseases. In today’s time, safety testing of chemicals usually tests each chemical separately and sets safe limits for it, but the problem is that in real life people are exposed to many chemicals simultaneously.
What else was told in the research?
Research also suggests that climate changes such as El Niño may affect the use and spread of pesticides. This may further increase the amount of these chemicals in the environment. Although this study is based on Peru, its findings can be applied worldwide because in many countries where agriculture is carried out on a large scale, the use of pesticides is common. Rules and monitoring are not the same everywhere. Therefore it can become a global health concern.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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