Exposure to certain pesticides may increase farmers’ cancer risk as much as smoking, according to a new study. Researchers have identified 69 pesticides, four of which are commonly used in India, that are linked to increased cancer rates.

The study found that the effect of pesticide exposure for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and bladder cancer was more significant than that of smoking, a well-known cancer risk factor.

“We emphasize that it is important to use not just one, but a combination of several pesticides,” said senior author Isain Zapata, associate professor at Rocky Vista University.

The study, published in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, lists 69 pesticides, such as 2,4-D, acephate, metolachlor and methomyl, that are commonly used in India to protect crops from pests and weeds.

Researchers analyzed cancer rates from 2015-2019 using data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They found that cancer risk varied according to the type of crops grown in different regions.

For example, parts of the western US showed higher cancer rates for all cancers, especially bladder cancer, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is due to different agricultural practices. These areas generally produce more fruits and vegetables than the midwestern regions.

This study, conducted in the US, is the first to compare the risk of cancer caused by pesticide use and smoking. The researchers stressed that people are usually exposed to not just one but several pesticides.

“In fact, exposure to a mixture of pesticides in an area is a significant factor in the spread of pesticides,” Zapata said. Detailed information on the use of these 69 pesticides can be obtained from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

However, this study has its limitations. The authors declare that this research was conducted “in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.”

(With inputs from PTI)