Cocktail effects of herbicides

An American study of childhood cancer rates has looked at the combined effects of exposures to pesticides and herbicides over a 22 year period in Nebraska which has some of the highest cancer rates in the US. Researchers discovered that a 10% rise in exposure to pesticide mixtures was linked to increases in childhood cancer rates, of between 23% and 36%. 

Associations between agricultural exposures were slightly higher for brain and central nervous system childhood cancers, and leukemia. The strongest were between glyphosate, paraquat, and dicamba, all types of herbicide. This is the first study to make the link between multiple exposures and higher childhood cancer risk.  It proves that multiple exposures cause more harm than single substances – not surprising perhaps, but this is the first US study to confirm this long held suspicion.  

Multiple exposure – the Cocktail effect 

The Pesticides Action Network (PAN) have been campaigning for more than 40 years about the harmful effects of multiple, “cocktail” effects of exposure to pesticides and herbicides used to grow our food. PAN publish their Dirty Dozen list each year with guidance on foods with high levels of pesticides and herbicides, and it’s not just fruit and vegetables – glyphosate can also be found in bread and wine. They petition for the restriction of multiple substances, rather than single substances which is where legislation tends to focus, not on the combined effects. This is an important study to highlight combined effects of multiple exposures. 

It comes at a time when Bayer, the owners of the world’s leading manufacturer of glyphosate are considering a sale of the company, in part, according to some commentators, because of the volume of claims against them for carcinogenic effects of exposure to glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide. 

How to reduce your exposure to herbicides and pesticides  

Glyphosate has been detected in 80% of the population so it’s quite hard to avoid entirely, but you can reduce your intake of foods grown with pesticides and herbicides. For anyone concerned, the best advice is to eat cereals, fruit, and vegetables grown organically, without the use of herbicides or pesticides.   

• Take your shoes off at the door to prevent bringing pesticides, herbicides, and other pollutants coming into your home.
• Avoid walking in rural locations when fields are being sprayed at any time of the year.  
• Avoid using domestic weedkillers such as Roundup which use glyphosate as the main ingredient.  
• Visit the PAN to learn more about produce grown with the highest levels of pesticides.   
• Check your area for pesticide and herbicide use. 
• Learn more about glyphosate.  

Image credit: ThamKC

The information on our website should not be used as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.  If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.