Pesticides and Childhood Cancer

Having a background in pediatric oncology, I am always interested to find out the links, risks and possible causes of childhood cancer. In two recent studies, scientists researched over 25 million children up to the age of fourteen. In these studies, scientists found that there were elevated risks for several types of cancer in those children living in areas with increase pesticide use. Elevated risks of cancer were found for Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumor, renal carcinomas, Ewing's sarcoma, thyroid cancers, and malignant melanoma. Organic produce and foods dramatically reduce the exposure to pesticide use. It's a point to think about for sure. For more information, you can look up the research articles:

S.E. Carozza et al., "Risk of Childhood Cancers Associated with Residence in Agriculturally Intense Areas in the U.S," and

H.R. Andersen et al., "Impaired Reproductive Development in Sons of Women Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides during Pregnancy," Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 116, No. 4, April 2008.

I believe that it's always important to be aware so that you can make educated choices in your individual lives.