Home pesticide use tied to child cancer risk

Children exposed to insecticides at home may have a slightly increased risk of developing leukemia or lymphoma, a new review finds.
The analysis, of 16 studies done since the 1990s, found that children exposed to indoor insecticides had an elevated risk of developing the blood cancers. There was also a weaker link between exposure to weed killers and the risk of leukemia.
The findings, reported online Sept. 14 and in the October print issue of Pediatrics, do not prove that chemical pesticides directly contribute to the cancers. And if they do, researchers said, several questions remain.
"We don't know 'how much' exposure it takes, or if there's a critical window in development," said senior researcher Chensheng (Alex) Lu, an associate professor of environmental exposure biology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
"Is the window during pregnancy? Or even before pregnancy?" Lu said. "That will take a much deeper investigation."
Despite the questions, Lu said he thinks it's wise to act now, by limiting babies' and children's exposure to chemical pesticides -- especially the indoor insect killers that this study linked to leukemia and lymphoma.
Childhood cancer is, fortunately, rare: In the United States, just under 10,400 children younger than 15 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year, the American Cancer Society estimates.
Leukemia and lymphoma -- two types of blood cancer -- are among the most common childhood cancers.
But unlike adult cancers, which arise after decades of lifestyle choices and environmental exposures, most childhood cancers "just happen," said Dr. Ziad Khatib, a pediatric oncologist at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami.
"We think most cancers in children are due to chance," said Khatib, who was not involved in the study.
But as the new review shows, he said, a number of studies have found an association between pesticides and certain childhood cancers. Plus, it's biologically plausible that the chemicals could contribute to cancer in certain vulnerable children, Khatib added.
Health Day

Home pesticide use tied to child cancer risk

Children exposed to insecticides at home may have a slightly increased risk of developing leukemia or lymphoma, a new review finds. The analysis, of 16 studies done since the 1990s, found that children exposed to indoor insecticides had an elevated risk of developing the blood cancers. There was also a weaker link between exposure to weed killers and the risk of leukemia. The findings, reported online Sept. 14 and in the October print issue of Pediatrics, do not prove that chemical pesticides directly contribute to the cancers. And if they do, researchers said, several questions remain. We dont know how much exposure it takes, or if theres a critical window in development, said senior researcher Chensheng (Alex) Lu, an associate professor of environmental exposure biology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Is the window during pregnancy? Or even before pregnancy? Lu said. That will take a much deeper investigation. Despite the questions, Lu said he thinks its wise to act now, by limiting babies and childrens exposure to chemical pesticides -- especially the indoor insect killers that this study linked to leukemia and lymphoma. Childhood cancer is, fortunately, rare: In the United States, just under 10,400 children younger than 15 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year, the American Cancer Society estimates. Leukemia and lymphoma -- two types of blood cancer -- are among the most common childhood cancers. But unlike adult cancers, which arise after decades of lifestyle choices and environmental exposures, most childhood cancers just happen, said Dr. Ziad Khatib, a pediatric oncologist at Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami. We think most cancers in children are due to chance, said Khatib, who was not involved in the study. But as the new review shows, he said, a number of studies have found an association between pesticides and certain childhood cancers. Plus, its biologically plausible that the chemicals could contribute to cancer in certain vulnerable children, Khatib added. Health Day