Maternal exposure to pesticides may lead to central nervous system tumors during childhood
Research published in the peer-reviewed journal
Environmental Research suggests that exposure during pregnancy to a wide variety of pesticides may lead to the development of central nervous system tumors during childhood.
And the increased risk of these tumors – estimated as much as twice to 2.5 times higher for some pesticides – occurs even if the mother is not a farmworker, but lived as much as 2.5 miles (4000 meters) away from the field where the pesticides are sprayed, researchers found.
Exposure to certain pesticides, simply through residential proximity to agricultural applications during pregnancy, may increase the risk of childhood central nervous system tumors. Policy interventions to reduce pesticide exposure in individuals residing near agricultural fields should be considered to protect the health of children."