A review of pesticide exposure and cancer incidence in the agricultural health study cohort

Abstract

We reviewed epidemiologic evidence related to occupational pesticide exposures and cancer incidence in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) cohort. Studies were identified from the AHS publication list available on a Medline/PubMed database search in March 2009. Findings related to lifetime-days and/or intensity-weighted lifetime-days of pesticide use are the primary focus of this review, because these measures allow for the evaluation of potential exposureresponse relationships. Most of the 32 pesticides examined were not strongly associated with cancer incidence in pesticide applicators. Increased rate ratios and positive exposureresponse patterns were reported for 12 pesticides currently registered in Canada and/or the United States. Exposure misclassification is also a concern in the AHS and may limit the analysis of exposureresponse patterns. Epidemiologic evidence outside the AHS remains limited with respect to most of the observed associations, but animal toxicity data support the biological plausibility of relationships observed six pesticides. Continued follow-up is needed to clarify associations reported to date. In particular, further evaluation of registered pesticides is warranted.