A recent study has identified links between common weed killers and prostate cancer, raising concerns about the safety of everyday lawn care products.
The findings come after a $2.25 billion jury ruling against Bayer AG, maker of Roundup, for not warning consumers about potential cancer risks.
Researchers published their report in Cancer, analyzing nearly 300 pesticides and finding that 22 were linked to prostate cancer. Four of these chemicals—including trifluralin and thiamethoxam—were also associated with a higher likelihood of death from prostate cancer.
The study, led by Dr. Simon Soerensen of Stanford University, examined pesticide data from 1997 to 2006 and compared it with prostate cancer diagnoses from 2011 to 2020, reflecting the disease’s slow progression.
Dr. Soerensen noted that the study does not prove causation but suggests “geographic variation” in prostate cancer rates across the U.S. His team’s analysis shows that 19 of the 22 identified pesticides had not previously been linked to prostate cancer, underscoring the need for caution in pesticide use.
Many of the chemicals in question are found in products like Roundup, which contains glyphosate, a known endocrine disruptor. Roundup also includes 2,4-D, previously linked to liver and kidney damage and a higher risk of lymphoma.
The study’s findings coincide with Bayer’s ongoing legal challenges.
In January, a Pennsylvania jury ordered the company to pay $2.25 billion to John McKivinson, who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup for two decades. The court deemed Monsanto, Bayer’s subsidiary, “reckless” in failing to warn of potential health risks.
Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men in the U.S., is a growing public health concern.
Symptoms can include urinary difficulties, blood in urine or semen, and, in advanced cases, bone pain and weight loss. While only a small percentage of cases are fatal, rates and deaths from the disease are projected to increase significantly by 2050.
As pesticide use grows, with nearly 5.86 billion pounds used globally by 2020, there is mounting concern over the long-term health effects of these substances.
Despite Bayer’s reassurances of Roundup’s safety, experts urge caution and advocate for more research into pesticide exposure and cancer risks.