Cancer risk doubles for Iowa, NC pesticide applicators who used carbaryl

9 months ago

Pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina who frequently used carbaryl have a higher risk of stomach, esophageal, tongue, and prostate cancers.
The study is the first to link carbaryl to stomach cancer, adding to previous findings of its association with other cancers.
Carbaryl, often sold under the brand Sevin, is used on farm crops and in home gardens to kill insects like aphids, ants, fleas, and ticks.
The research analyzed data from the Agricultural Health Study, focusing on pesticide use and cancer registries in Iowa and North Carolina.
Applicators with the highest exposure to carbaryl had double the risk of stomach cancer and significantly higher risks for other cancers.
Carbaryl may react with nitrates and nitrites to form cancer-causing compounds and has been shown to damage DNA.
Europe banned carbaryl in 2007 due to cancer concerns, but it remains widely used in the U.S.
The EPA is updating labels on carbaryl products to reduce environmental harm after findings of risks to endangered species.
Advocates criticize the continued use of carbaryl despite mounting evidence of health risks, particularly for farmworkers.

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