Pesticides Potentially as Bad as Smoking for Increased Risk of Certain Cancers

An abundance of literature shows links between pesticide use and increased risk for various types of cancer. However, unlike smoking, most people’s exposure to these harmful toxins is too small to pose a threat, which may explain why many seem less concerned. However, a study published in June found that pesticides can introduce the same risk of cancer as smoking, especially in communities with heavy agricultural production. “If you live in a high-exposure community, you’re getting the same harmful effects as smoking,” said Isain Zapata, the study’s corresponding author and associate professor at Rocky Vista University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado....