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One of them, a case-control study, showed an elevated risk in individuals whose adipose tissue contained substances that are now banned.
“The association between pesticides and pancreatic cancer exists. It is of low magnitude but robust, concerning cumulative pesticides and three substances: Mancozeb, glyphosate, and sulfur in spray form,” said Mathias Brugel, MD, hospital practitioner at Basque Coast Hospital Center in Bayonne, France, during his presentation.
Regarding the four other liposoluble substances associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer in the second study, “their use has been banned since the 1990s, but they are still present in soils and in the air,” Dr. Brugel told this news organization.
For example, in Reims, France, the assessment of air quality by ATMO Grand Est revealed the presence of banned pesticides in the air, he added. However, Dr. Brugel stressed that a cause-effect relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk for pancreatic cancer cannot be established with these studies.
Incidence Rising Constantly
The incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma has been increasing steadily for more than 30 years. In France, nearly 16,000 new cases were reported in 2023, which represented an annual increase of about 2%. According to the National Cancer Institute, “pancreatic adenocarcinoma could become the second leading cause of cancer mortality by 2030.”
“This increase in incidence is particularly strong in France compared with other Western countries. The causes are still poorly understood. One might wonder whether environmental factors like pesticides are involved,” said Dr. Brugel.
Known to have a mechanism of action favoring oncogenesis, pesticides are suspected of being responsible for the rise in certain cancers, especially given their extensive use in France. In total, around 300 substances are authorized, and 65,000 tons are applied each year, making France the largest consumer of pesticides in Europe.
“Contamination is ubiquitous, meaning they are found in soil, water, air, and in individuals,” said Dr. Brugel. According to a study by the Institute for Scientific Expertise Research, pesticide residues were detected in 64% of hair samples taken from French volunteers.
The literature increasingly reported data suggesting a link between pesticide exposure and the development of certain diseases like cancer. A 2021 document by Inserm notably confirmed the strong presumption of a link between occupational pesticide exposure and pathologies such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate cancer.
High-Incidence Zones
To explore the link between pesticide exposure and pancreatic cancer, Dr. Brugel and his colleagues conducted the EcoPESTIPAC and PESTIPAC studies, the results of which were presented at this year’s conference.
In EcoPESTIPAC, researchers conducted a national ecological regression by dividing the entire French territory into 5529 spatial units. The number of pancreatic cancer cases per spatial unit per year (disease-mapping) was determined using the National Health Data System.
Nine chemicals, including glyphosate, were included, thus covering half of pesticide purchases in France. The cumulative quantity of pesticides, regardless of molecule, was also examined. Pesticide exposure was estimated by the median ratio between pesticide purchase and agricultural area per spatial unit over an 11-year period from early 2011 to the end of 2021.
Mor than 134,000 cases of pancreatic cancer were reported during this period. The analysis revealed three high-incidence zones located around Paris, in central France, and in the Mediterranean basin, while spatial units in the western region showed the lowest incidences.
The heterogeneous distribution of the disease suggests the involvement of risk factors, said Dr. Brugel. After adjusting for confounding factors such as smoking, the study showed an increased risk for pancreatic cancer associated with the cumulative quantity of pesticides and three specific substances: Sulfur in spray form, mancozeb, and glyphosate.
Risk Increases
A dose-response relationship was evident. For an increase in pesticide use of 2.5 kg/hectare over 11 years, the risk for pancreatic adenocarcinoma increased from 0.9% to 1.4%. “The increase is relatively small, but one must not forget that this risk applies to all of France,” said Dr. Brugel. Indeed, the risk appeared homogeneous across the entire territory.
This was the first study to explore this link at the national level. Although the association between the four identified factors and pancreatic risk was robust, the study had some limitations. It relied on the quantities of pesticides purchased to estimate the quantities used, Dr. Brugel pointed out.
The second study, PESTIPAC, was a case-control study conducted at the Reims University Hospital to explore the association between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fat and urine.
The study included 26 patients with pancreatic cancer who had abdominal surgery that allowed for adipose tissue sampling (minimum 10 g). Urine was collected in the morning on an empty stomach.
A control group was formed by including 26 other patients who underwent surgery for a benign abdominal condition such as gallstones or hernia, thus allowing for the same sampling. Individuals in both groups were matched for age and body mass index, two risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Banned Substances
In total, 345 substances were searched for using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Analyses revealed the presence of five banned substances in all patients, while nine substances were found in half of the samples.
“Contamination is very widespread, both in patients with pancreatic cancer and in the controls,” said Dr. Brugel. Consequently, for this study, between-group comparisons of substances present in all individuals could not be performed.
After adjustment, an association with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer was nonetheless observed with four liposoluble substances: 4,4-DDE, mirex or perchlordecone, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor. All four substances are herbicides that have been banned for at least 30 years.
The study also aimed to assess the effect of pesticide presence in the body on survival after pancreatic cancer. The results showed no significant difference for overall survival or progression-free survival.
“Pesticides are a credible candidate to explain the increase in the incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma,” said Dr. Brugel. However, “if associations between pancreatic cancer and pesticides exist, they remain poorly understood, and it is difficult to establish clear causality.”
Further large-scale studies will be needed to confirm these associations. An evaluation of the general population’s exposure to banned substances also appears justified, according to the researchers.
This story was translated from the Medscape French edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
One of them, a case-control study, showed an elevated risk in individuals whose adipose tissue contained substances that are now banned.
“The association between pesticides and pancreatic cancer exists. It is of low magnitude but robust, concerning cumulative pesticides and three substances: Mancozeb, glyphosate, and sulfur in spray form,” said Mathias Brugel, MD, hospital practitioner at Basque Coast Hospital Center in Bayonne, France, during his presentation.
Regarding the four other liposoluble substances associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer in the second study, “their use has been banned since the 1990s, but they are still present in soils and in the air,” Dr. Brugel told this news organization.
For example, in Reims, France, the assessment of air quality by ATMO Grand Est revealed the presence of banned pesticides in the air, he added. However, Dr. Brugel stressed that a cause-effect relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk for pancreatic cancer cannot be established with these studies.
Incidence Rising Constantly
The incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma has been increasing steadily for more than 30 years. In France, nearly 16,000 new cases were reported in 2023, which represented an annual increase of about 2%. According to the National Cancer Institute, “pancreatic adenocarcinoma could become the second leading cause of cancer mortality by 2030.”
“This increase in incidence is particularly strong in France compared with other Western countries. The causes are still poorly understood. One might wonder whether environmental factors like pesticides are involved,” said Dr. Brugel.
Known to have a mechanism of action favoring oncogenesis, pesticides are suspected of being responsible for the rise in certain cancers, especially given their extensive use in France. In total, around 300 substances are authorized, and 65,000 tons are applied each year, making France the largest consumer of pesticides in Europe.
“Contamination is ubiquitous, meaning they are found in soil, water, air, and in individuals,” said Dr. Brugel. According to a study by the Institute for Scientific Expertise Research, pesticide residues were detected in 64% of hair samples taken from French volunteers.
The literature increasingly reported data suggesting a link between pesticide exposure and the development of certain diseases like cancer. A 2021 document by Inserm notably confirmed the strong presumption of a link between occupational pesticide exposure and pathologies such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate cancer.
High-Incidence Zones
To explore the link between pesticide exposure and pancreatic cancer, Dr. Brugel and his colleagues conducted the EcoPESTIPAC and PESTIPAC studies, the results of which were presented at this year’s conference.
In EcoPESTIPAC, researchers conducted a national ecological regression by dividing the entire French territory into 5529 spatial units. The number of pancreatic cancer cases per spatial unit per year (disease-mapping) was determined using the National Health Data System.
Nine chemicals, including glyphosate, were included, thus covering half of pesticide purchases in France. The cumulative quantity of pesticides, regardless of molecule, was also examined. Pesticide exposure was estimated by the median ratio between pesticide purchase and agricultural area per spatial unit over an 11-year period from early 2011 to the end of 2021.
Mor than 134,000 cases of pancreatic cancer were reported during this period. The analysis revealed three high-incidence zones located around Paris, in central France, and in the Mediterranean basin, while spatial units in the western region showed the lowest incidences.
The heterogeneous distribution of the disease suggests the involvement of risk factors, said Dr. Brugel. After adjusting for confounding factors such as smoking, the study showed an increased risk for pancreatic cancer associated with the cumulative quantity of pesticides and three specific substances: Sulfur in spray form, mancozeb, and glyphosate.
Risk Increases
A dose-response relationship was evident. For an increase in pesticide use of 2.5 kg/hectare over 11 years, the risk for pancreatic adenocarcinoma increased from 0.9% to 1.4%. “The increase is relatively small, but one must not forget that this risk applies to all of France,” said Dr. Brugel. Indeed, the risk appeared homogeneous across the entire territory.
This was the first study to explore this link at the national level. Although the association between the four identified factors and pancreatic risk was robust, the study had some limitations. It relied on the quantities of pesticides purchased to estimate the quantities used, Dr. Brugel pointed out.
The second study, PESTIPAC, was a case-control study conducted at the Reims University Hospital to explore the association between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fat and urine.
The study included 26 patients with pancreatic cancer who had abdominal surgery that allowed for adipose tissue sampling (minimum 10 g). Urine was collected in the morning on an empty stomach.
A control group was formed by including 26 other patients who underwent surgery for a benign abdominal condition such as gallstones or hernia, thus allowing for the same sampling. Individuals in both groups were matched for age and body mass index, two risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Banned Substances
In total, 345 substances were searched for using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Analyses revealed the presence of five banned substances in all patients, while nine substances were found in half of the samples.
“Contamination is very widespread, both in patients with pancreatic cancer and in the controls,” said Dr. Brugel. Consequently, for this study, between-group comparisons of substances present in all individuals could not be performed.
After adjustment, an association with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer was nonetheless observed with four liposoluble substances: 4,4-DDE, mirex or perchlordecone, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor. All four substances are herbicides that have been banned for at least 30 years.
The study also aimed to assess the effect of pesticide presence in the body on survival after pancreatic cancer. The results showed no significant difference for overall survival or progression-free survival.
“Pesticides are a credible candidate to explain the increase in the incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma,” said Dr. Brugel. However, “if associations between pancreatic cancer and pesticides exist, they remain poorly understood, and it is difficult to establish clear causality.”
Further large-scale studies will be needed to confirm these associations. An evaluation of the general population’s exposure to banned substances also appears justified, according to the researchers.
This story was translated from the Medscape French edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
One of them, a case-control study, showed an elevated risk in individuals whose adipose tissue contained substances that are now banned.
“The association between pesticides and pancreatic cancer exists. It is of low magnitude but robust, concerning cumulative pesticides and three substances: Mancozeb, glyphosate, and sulfur in spray form,” said Mathias Brugel, MD, hospital practitioner at Basque Coast Hospital Center in Bayonne, France, during his presentation.
Regarding the four other liposoluble substances associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer in the second study, “their use has been banned since the 1990s, but they are still present in soils and in the air,” Dr. Brugel told this news organization.
For example, in Reims, France, the assessment of air quality by ATMO Grand Est revealed the presence of banned pesticides in the air, he added. However, Dr. Brugel stressed that a cause-effect relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk for pancreatic cancer cannot be established with these studies.
Incidence Rising Constantly
The incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma has been increasing steadily for more than 30 years. In France, nearly 16,000 new cases were reported in 2023, which represented an annual increase of about 2%. According to the National Cancer Institute, “pancreatic adenocarcinoma could become the second leading cause of cancer mortality by 2030.”
“This increase in incidence is particularly strong in France compared with other Western countries. The causes are still poorly understood. One might wonder whether environmental factors like pesticides are involved,” said Dr. Brugel.
Known to have a mechanism of action favoring oncogenesis, pesticides are suspected of being responsible for the rise in certain cancers, especially given their extensive use in France. In total, around 300 substances are authorized, and 65,000 tons are applied each year, making France the largest consumer of pesticides in Europe.
“Contamination is ubiquitous, meaning they are found in soil, water, air, and in individuals,” said Dr. Brugel. According to a study by the Institute for Scientific Expertise Research, pesticide residues were detected in 64% of hair samples taken from French volunteers.
The literature increasingly reported data suggesting a link between pesticide exposure and the development of certain diseases like cancer. A 2021 document by Inserm notably confirmed the strong presumption of a link between occupational pesticide exposure and pathologies such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate cancer.
High-Incidence Zones
To explore the link between pesticide exposure and pancreatic cancer, Dr. Brugel and his colleagues conducted the EcoPESTIPAC and PESTIPAC studies, the results of which were presented at this year’s conference.
In EcoPESTIPAC, researchers conducted a national ecological regression by dividing the entire French territory into 5529 spatial units. The number of pancreatic cancer cases per spatial unit per year (disease-mapping) was determined using the National Health Data System.
Nine chemicals, including glyphosate, were included, thus covering half of pesticide purchases in France. The cumulative quantity of pesticides, regardless of molecule, was also examined. Pesticide exposure was estimated by the median ratio between pesticide purchase and agricultural area per spatial unit over an 11-year period from early 2011 to the end of 2021.
Mor than 134,000 cases of pancreatic cancer were reported during this period. The analysis revealed three high-incidence zones located around Paris, in central France, and in the Mediterranean basin, while spatial units in the western region showed the lowest incidences.
The heterogeneous distribution of the disease suggests the involvement of risk factors, said Dr. Brugel. After adjusting for confounding factors such as smoking, the study showed an increased risk for pancreatic cancer associated with the cumulative quantity of pesticides and three specific substances: Sulfur in spray form, mancozeb, and glyphosate.
Risk Increases
A dose-response relationship was evident. For an increase in pesticide use of 2.5 kg/hectare over 11 years, the risk for pancreatic adenocarcinoma increased from 0.9% to 1.4%. “The increase is relatively small, but one must not forget that this risk applies to all of France,” said Dr. Brugel. Indeed, the risk appeared homogeneous across the entire territory.
This was the first study to explore this link at the national level. Although the association between the four identified factors and pancreatic risk was robust, the study had some limitations. It relied on the quantities of pesticides purchased to estimate the quantities used, Dr. Brugel pointed out.
The second study, PESTIPAC, was a case-control study conducted at the Reims University Hospital to explore the association between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fat and urine.
The study included 26 patients with pancreatic cancer who had abdominal surgery that allowed for adipose tissue sampling (minimum 10 g). Urine was collected in the morning on an empty stomach.
A control group was formed by including 26 other patients who underwent surgery for a benign abdominal condition such as gallstones or hernia, thus allowing for the same sampling. Individuals in both groups were matched for age and body mass index, two risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Banned Substances
In total, 345 substances were searched for using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Analyses revealed the presence of five banned substances in all patients, while nine substances were found in half of the samples.
“Contamination is very widespread, both in patients with pancreatic cancer and in the controls,” said Dr. Brugel. Consequently, for this study, between-group comparisons of substances present in all individuals could not be performed.
After adjustment, an association with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer was nonetheless observed with four liposoluble substances: 4,4-DDE, mirex or perchlordecone, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor. All four substances are herbicides that have been banned for at least 30 years.
The study also aimed to assess the effect of pesticide presence in the body on survival after pancreatic cancer. The results showed no significant difference for overall survival or progression-free survival.
“Pesticides are a credible candidate to explain the increase in the incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma,” said Dr. Brugel. However, “if associations between pancreatic cancer and pesticides exist, they remain poorly understood, and it is difficult to establish clear causality.”
Further large-scale studies will be needed to confirm these associations. An evaluation of the general population’s exposure to banned substances also appears justified, according to the researchers.
This story was translated from the Medscape French edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.