Study Shows Link Between Farming and Breast Cancer

Growing up on a farm sounds so idyllic. Shearing the sheep, picking fresh tomatoes, spraying the fields with noxious chemicals. OK, so maybe not that last one. But unfortunately, using pesticides is an all-too-common practice, even on some family farms.

A new study joins a growing body of evidence showing just how profound of an effect pesticide use can have on human health. Researchers Jim Brophy and Margaret Keith from the University of Windsor found that women with a history of farming had a greater risk of developing breast cancer. The scientists began the research project with the intent of finding groups with heightened cancer risks because of their jobs, figuring the most common group would be male industrial workers. "To our surprise, the biggest group we had were women with breast cancer who had a history of farming," Brophy told a reporter at QMI Agency.

Researchers believe chemicals and pesticides are to blame for the increased breast cancer rates in female farm workers. Some pesticides and farm chemicals are carcinogens, while others mimic estrogen. Chemicals that mimic estrogen are linked to cancer and other diseases, particularly if exposure occurred during childhood. Many of the women in the study group said they helped out on family farms at young ages.

A lot of support for organic, chemical-free farming comes from environmentalists, who tout the practice's benefits for land, water, and wildlife. And they're right--cutting back on chemical-use greatly benefits the flora and fauna. But this study is yet another example of how eliminating toxins can improve human health, especially in children. If exposure to estrogen-mimicking chemicals during childhood can cause breast cancer later in life, clearly we're dealing with some potent toxins. Those kinds of chemicals shouldn't be near our cucumbers, much less near our children.

Photo credit: Schmidt via Wikimedia Commons