One in eight men is diagnosed as having prostate cancer during his lifetime. Now, remarkably for the first time, researchers have linked such a risk of developing prostate cancer from certain pesticides, some twenty-two common kinds.
They showed the linkage between pesticide exposure and prostate cancer among men in the research by the Stanford University.
So what foods are at risk? Well, those pesticides tend to rain most heavily on some of the most significant crops in the United States, such as soybeans, wheat, corn, and oats.
Link between Pesticides and Prostate Cancer
The study, the foods mainly affected by the link, and things associated with it to prevent its occurrence are what we are going to break down in this blog. Let's go inside.
1. Study Linkages of Pesticides and Prostate Cancer.
The study tracked pesticide use in the United States between the years 1997 and 2006 and compared this information to the cancer rates during 2011 and 2020.
The bases for their finding are shocking. For one, it recorded states as discovered among men who were exposed to twenty-two specific pesticides.
While their cases were compared in a certain way to other men who either had never been or minimally were exposed to these suspected carcinogens.
Most importantly, nineteen of these pesticides have never been associated with cancer in any study.
2: What Does It Mean for You?
Everything from cereal and snack bars to plant-based milks and so on includes these grains. According to studies by the EWG, Environmental Working Group, strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes accounted for more than 90% of the samples that reported at least two pesticides in the testing.
These fruits and vegetables, largely staples of our diets, may be impregnated by chemicals that can lead to serious health risks, including prostate cancer.
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According to the study, some pesticides such as 2,4-D, linuron, and carbaryl are already known to be harmful, as they have been linked to cancer in previous studies.
3: Which Pesticides Are Linked to Cancer?
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The most troubling thing is that nineteen of the pesticides have never been linked before to prostate cancer. These include such chemicals as cloransulam-methyl, thiamethoxam, and even the infamous weed killer glyphosate, found in Roundup.
And the researchers also learned that four of these pesticides were linked with an increased risk of dying from prostate cancer.
With such large numbers, it is worth every effort identifying every possible risk factor. This study gives new evidence about how exposure to pesticides a critical risk factor in the incidence of prostate cancer might be, and particularly so with other environmental and genetic factors.
Some of the crops most at risk for pesticide contamination will include soybeans, oats, corn, and wheat. Indeed, for instance, fourteen of them were found to treat soybeans, and ten used to treat oats.
Do not be misled-there is a lot of corn planted in America that is not eaten directly, but even this warrants caution about processed food.
4: Why Is This Important?
Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men in the United States. Over 288,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023, with about 35,000 men succumbing to it.With such large numbers, it is worth every effort identifying every possible risk factor. This study gives new evidence about how exposure to pesticides a critical risk factor in the incidence of prostate cancer might be, and particularly so with other environmental and genetic factors.
5: The Most At-Risk Crops
Do not be misled-there is a lot of corn planted in America that is not eaten directly, but even this warrants caution about processed food.
For instance, in an earlier EWG study, glyphosate was found in 71 out of 73 oat-based products, among them most popular breakfast cereals and snack bars, eating the last of it in 2018.
Subsequently, a re-examination in 2023 established that glyphosate was still present in about 30% of oat products tested.
First off, rinse your fruits, veggies, and greens with clean water to remove as much pesticide residual as possible. Washing with clean distilled water will not remove the pesticide entirely, but at least it will deflate the harmful chemical value on the food.
Another nice option is to buy organic fruits. That is because organic farming, in general, does not rely on applying synthetic pesticides. Watch out for the EWG's annual Dirty Dozen list for the fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated with pesticides while at the store.
Especially for the high-risk produce such as strawberries, spinach, and grapes, buying organic foods minimizes pesticide exposure.
This study tells a story of an important association between exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer, yet researchers insist that more studies will be needed to understand better the long-term impacts.
6: What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Another nice option is to buy organic fruits. That is because organic farming, in general, does not rely on applying synthetic pesticides. Watch out for the EWG's annual Dirty Dozen list for the fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated with pesticides while at the store.
Especially for the high-risk produce such as strawberries, spinach, and grapes, buying organic foods minimizes pesticide exposure.
7: What The Study Looks into and What Comes Next
As the first author of the paper, Dr. Simon Soerensen says, "These findings indicate that pesticide exposure could have an effect on geographical variations in prostate cancer cases across the U.S., but further studies are needed.
As scientists continue collecting facts to get a bigger picture into the situation, let's be well-informed on what we consume and possible risks surrounding it.
If you appreciated this video, give it a thumbs-up, a share, and subscribe to enjoy more health news and information.
As scientists continue collecting facts to get a bigger picture into the situation, let's be well-informed on what we consume and possible risks surrounding it.
If you appreciated this video, give it a thumbs-up, a share, and subscribe to enjoy more health news and information.
Let us know in the comment section what steps you are taking to reduce pesticide exposure in your life! Stay informed, stay healthy, and see you in the next video.
References:
- Stanford University Study on Pesticides and Prostate Cancer, published in the journal Cancer (2024).
- Environmental Working Group (EWG) Annual Reports on Pesticide Residue in Food (2018, 2023).
- World Resources Institute Report on U.S. Corn Consumption (2020).
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on 2,4-D and Other Pesticides.
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Overall-Health