Daily News Archives
From April 26, 2005

New Study on Cancer Mortality of Pest-Control Workers
(Beyond Pesticides, April 26, 2005) In a recent study published in April issue of the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, researchers looked at the relationship between rates of cancer deaths and exposure to pesticides. The study, "Cancer mortality among municipal pest-control workers," followed the lives of pest-control workers from 1979-2000, and compared their mortality rates to a regional population.

Pest control workers are exposed daily to a variety of chemicals. All of the pest-control workers in this study where similarly exposed to formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, insecticides, and rodenticides. Consult Beyond Pesticides' fact sheets to see the variety of health problems associated with insecticides and rodenticides. The study determined the long term effects in pest-control workers who had died through epidemiological analysis.

The results of the study showed that for pest control workers with more than 20 years of employment there was a significant excess of cancer deaths. Overall, the research concluded a statistically significant excess of cancer deaths in the pest-control worker population, especially those with longer employment.

Long term pesticide exposure has been implicated in a variety of health problems: cancer, birth defects, infertility, brain damage, other health problems. See our daily news archives for the most recent health information. This current study confirms the growing weight of evidence that supports the detrimental health effects of using these chemicals.

TAKE ACTION: Reduce pesticide exposure by educating yourself and your community about the possible health impacts of using pesticides and adopting safe and effective alternatives. To find least toxic pest-control services try our safety source for pest management.