Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A new international study has found that prolonged exposure to pesticide-heavy environments may increase cancer risk by up to 150 per cent, raising fresh concerns over environmental health safety.
Researchers from institutions including the Institut Pasteur and the University of Toulouse analysed environmental and health data, linking high pesticide exposure to elevated cancer rates.
The study, conducted in Peru, found that individuals in heavily exposed regions faced significantly higher risks, often being exposed to multiple pesticide compounds simultaneously.
Scientists examined 31 widely used pesticides and tracked their environmental dispersion over six years, mapping high-risk zones and comparing them with cancer registry data from more than 150,000 patients.
The findings showed that people living in high-exposure areas were about 150 per cent more likely to develop certain cancers.
Researchers said previous studies often focused on individual chemicals, failing to capture real-world exposure to complex mixtures.
They also warned that climate factors, including El Niño, may influence how pesticides spread and impact human health.
Experts say the findings have global implications, particularly for rural and farming communities, calling for updated regulations, improved monitoring and stronger public health protections.
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Korede Abdullah 
