Organophosphate insecticide use and cancer incidence among spouses of pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Abstract

Objectives Organophosphates (OP) are among the most commonly used insecticides. OPs have been linked to cancer risk in some epidemiologic studies, which have been largely conducted in predominantly male populations. We evaluated personal use of specific OPs and cancer incidence among female spouses of pesticide applicators in the prospective Agricultural Health Study cohort. Methods At enrollment (1993–1997) spouses provided information about ever use of specific pesticides, including ten OPs, demographic information, reproductive health history, and other potential confounders. We used Poisson regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for all cancers diagnosed through 2010 for North Carolina and 2011 for Iowa. Results Among 30,003 women, 25.9% reported OP use, and 718 OP-exposed women were diagnosed with cancer during the follow-up period. Any OP use was associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.43). Malathion, the most commonly reported OP, was associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (RR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.63) and decreased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (RR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.99). Diazinon use was associated with ovarian cancer (RR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.43). Conclusions We observed increased risk with OP use for several hormonally-related cancers, including breast, thyroid, and ovary, suggesting potential for hormonally-mediated effects. This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of OP use and cancer risk among women, and thus a need for further evaluation.

Risks and benefits related to alimentary exposure to xenoestrogens

“…This is a very important problem related to food contamination, including also fruits and vegetables, since vegetable fields are principally irrigated by reclaimed water, which often contains considerable amounts of these EDCs (Sidhu et al, 2015). Fruits and vegetable represent also one of the main human exposure sources to organochlorine pesticides, dangerous compounds related with increased risk of developing several hormonally-related cancers (Lerro et al, 2015). The increasing interest in the determination of these chemicals is due to consolidated evidences underlining their role in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as cancer, obesity (Yang et al, 2015), diabetes (Chevalier and Fenichel, 2015) and reproductive pathologies (Kumar and Holt, 2015).…”

Occupation and Thyroid Cancer

“…Other healthcare or medical workers including dentists and dentist assistants, female nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists that may or may not have radiation exposure have been less consistently associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (22–28). Some studies have reported that farmers and agricultural workers experienced an increased risk of thyroid cancer (23, 24, 29, 30), others, however, found no association (17, 18, 26, 31–33). Studies have inconsistently linked teachers, economists, female bookkeepers, sales-women and stenographers, female textile workers, women worked in video display terminals, administrative staff, firefighters, and clerical workers to thyroid cancer risk (17, 22–26, 34–36).…”

Longitudinal assessment of occupational determinants of chlorpyrifos exposure in adolescent pesticide workers in Egypt

“…Exposure to OPs, including CPF, is a public health concern because of the acute detrimental neurological impacts associated with acetylcholinesterase inhibition (Keifer and Firestone, 2007) and the potential of chronic exposures to produce deficits in neurobehavioral performance (Eskenazi et al, 2014; Khan et al, 2014; Rauh et al, 2011; Rohlman et al, 2016). OP exposure has also been associated with increased risk of developing certain cancers (Lerro et al, 2015) and poor respiratory function (Chakraborty et al, 2009; Fieten et al, 2009; Hoppin et al, 2002; Hoppin et al, 2006; Ohayo-Mitoko et al, 2000). These concerns are amplified when considering children and adolescents because they have a higher body surface area to volume ratio, which increases their dermal absorption of toxic compounds (Phillips et al, 1993).…”