Pesticide and Cancer

Where appropriate, we consider the precautionary principle. The principle states that When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should
be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. This is important when the body of evidence is growing and suggestive, but not yet conclusive.

With respect to pesticides and cancer, the we considered the whole body of evidence and determined that there is a growing and suggestive link.

CCS Position on the ornamental use of pesticides on lawns, gardens and parks

Since ornamental use of pesticides has no countervailing health benefit and has the potential to cause harm, we call for a ban on the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens.

Some key resources that support the link between pesticide exposure and cancer:

•  Bassil KL et al. Cancer health effects of pesticides, Systematic review. Canadian Family Physician, 2007; 53:1704-1711. Available at

http://www.cfp.ca/cgi/reprint/53/10/1704.

Ontario College of Family Physicians, Pesticides Literature Review, 2004.
Available at

http://www.ocfp.on.ca/local/files/Communications/Current%20Issues/Pesticides/Final%20Paper%2023APR2004.pdf

In 2004 the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) reviewed 104 well-designed studies on pesticide exposure and cancer published since 1992. The OCFP concluded that based on the body of evidence there is a positive association between some pesticide exposure and cancer. The association is strongest for occupational pesticide exposure. There are positive associations between pesticide exposure and brain cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. There is compelling evidence linking pesticide exposure and non-Hodgkin�s lymphoma and leukemia. The review also noted that there is evidence on the link between cancer in children and pesticide exposure. The review was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Canadian Family Physician.

•  International Agency for Research on
  Cancer (IARC)

http://monographs.iarc.fr/

IARC has concluded that occupational exposure to pesticides is a probable human carcinogen (class 2A). It has also determined that some pesticides are possible human carcinogens (class 2B). IARC reviews on the human
carcinogenicity of pesticides are important because of their scope and the rigorous process used to conduct them.

•  U.S. National Toxicology Program
  (NTP) 11th Report on Carcinogens, 2005

http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=03C9B512-ACF8-C1F3-ADBA53CAE848F635

The U.S. NTP has classified a number of active ingredients in pesticides as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Its evaluations support the evidence concerning the cancer-causing properties of some pesticides.
 
 The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) also has a position against the cosmetic use of pesticides, "The Canadian Medical Association urges all levels of government to show leadership by refraining from the cosmetic use of pesticides and aggressively employing safer alternatives to the use of chemicals", which can be found at http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/53670/la_id/1.htm