Botswana's offer still stands: Germany can have 20,000 elephants.
Botswana's president renews his offer: 20,000 elephants for Germany. The debate over hunting trophies nearly caused diplomatic tensions in 2024. Here's what's behind it.
Pesticides can apparently cause harm to users. In this case, farmers who handle certain substances.
Pesticides are part of everyday life in agriculture. They secure yields, keep fields free of weeds and pests. They are essential in modern agriculture. Improper use is often criticized for various reasons. Experts warn that daily exposure to certain substances could have more far-reaching consequences than previously thought. A recent US study provides evidence that could concern farmers: 22 commonly used pesticides are suspected of increasing the risk of prostate cancer. Four of them are even associated with higher mortality. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men.
Are pesticides an underestimated risk factor?
The causes of prostate cancer are not fully understood. Risk factors include age, genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, lifestyle, diet, and obesity. However, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine now focuses on a previously overlooked cause: pesticides. Researchers found evidence that contact with certain substances can significantly increase the risk of prostate cancer over many years. For their study, researchers analyzed long-term data on pesticide applications in the US. They had a list of 295 different active ingredients, including those approved in Europe and Germany. The period between contact with the substance and later illness was set at ten to eighteen years. This is realistic because prostate cancer usually grows very slowly.
22 pesticides linked to prostate cancer
Researchers found a clear link between 22 pesticides and the occurrence of prostate cancer. These include ten herbicides, several fungicides and insecticides, and a soil fumigant. Three pesticides were previously associated with prostate cancer. Besides well-known substances like 2,4-D (also used in Germany), new names appeared, such as the herbicide glyphosate, which was reauthorized in the EU despite criticism. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sees "no unacceptable risks," but also notes data gaps, such as in relation to dietary risks. Even more alarming: four pesticides not only showed an increased risk of illness but also a link to increased mortality. These include the herbicides Trifluralin, Cloransulam-methyl, and Diflufenzopyr, as well as the insecticide Thiamethoxam.
Significance for agriculture and health protection
Many of the substances studied are also used in Europe (sometimes restricted), although not all are approved in Germany. Nevertheless, the research shows that handling pesticides is not risk-free, and the long-term health effects should not be underestimated. This poses a clear call to action for people with regular, intensive exposure to such substances, such as farmers. Environmental exposures like these could explain regional differences in disease frequency. "The study shows how important it is to examine environmental exposures, such as the use of pesticides," says Dr. Simon John Christoph Soerensen from the Stanford University School of Medicine, the lead author of the study.
France recognizes prostate cancer as an occupational disease
In France, prostate cancer has already been recognized as an occupational disease in certain cases, especially among farmworkers who have come into contact with pesticides. The French Ministry of Agriculture announced in December 2021 that prostate cancer related to pesticide exposure is now recognized as an occupational disease. This recognition allows affected workers in France to receive financial support. This is primarily due to cases in the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique, where the pesticide Chlordecone was extensively used on banana plantations. Health data from France shows a significantly increased exposure to the substance in these regions. A study found that Chlordecone was detected in the bodies of 90% of the adult population. Additionally, Guadeloupe and Martinique have one of the highest prostate cancer rates in international comparison.