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August 19, 1988, Vol 260, No. 7 >
ARTICLE | August 19, 1988

Cancer Risk of Pesticides in Agricultural Workers FREE

[+] Author Affiliations

This report was presented to the AMA House of Delegates at the 1987 Interim Meeting as Council on Scientific Affairs Report B. The action of this report was adopted as amended.

This report is not intended to be construed or to serve as a standard of medical care. Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all of the facts and circumstances involved in an individual case and are subject to change as scientific knowledge and technology advance and patterns of practice evolve. This report reflects the views of scientific literature as of December 1987.

Reprint requests to Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, 535 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL60610 (William R. Hendee, PhD).


JAMA. 1988;260(7):959-966. doi:10.1001/jama.1988.03410070087034
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References

This report discusses some of the inherent limitations of cancer studies in animals and humans and presents a qualitative carcinogen risk assessment of a number of pesticides based on the judgment of national and international authorities who have reviewed the available experimental and epidemiologic evidence. A large number of pesticidal compounds have shown evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity in animal and in vitro screening tests, but no pesticides—except arsenic and vinyl chloride (once used as an aerosol propellant)—definitely have been proved to be carcinogenic in man. Resolution 94 (1-86), which was referred to the Board of Trustees, calls for the American Medical Association, through its scientific journals and publications, to alert physicians to the potential hazards of agricultural pesticides, to provide physicians with advice on such hazards for their patients, and to urge that these substances be appropriately labeled. This report addresses the potential carcinogenicity of pesticides by review of the available literature.

(JAMA 1988;260:959-966)

REFERENCES

1 +
Calabrese EJ: Principles of Animal Extrapolation . New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1983;.
2 +
Calabrese EJ:  Animal extrapolation: A look inside the toxicologists' black box . Environ Sci Technol 1987;;21:618-623.
3 +
Ames BN, Magaw R, Gold LS:  Ranking possible carcinogenic hazards . Science 1987;;236:271-290.
4 +
Clive D:  Genetic toxicology: From theory to practice . J Clin Res Drug Dev 1987;;1:11-41.
5 +
Tennant RW, Margolin BH, Shelby MD, et al:  Prediction of chemical carcinogenicity from in vitro genetic toxicity assays . Science 1987;;236:933-941.
6 +
Travis CC, Richter SA, Crouch EAC, et al:  Cancer risk management: A review of 132 federal regulatory decisions . Environ Sci Technol 1987;;21:415-420.
7 +
Is Your Drinking Water Safe? publication 170 35-61-OPA. Washington, DC, Environmental Protection Agency, 1985;.
8 +
 You and your drinking water . EPA J 1986;;12:7.
9 +
Long S:  House passes fiscal 1988 funding bills . C&EN 1987;;65:20.
10 +
 EPA steps up its pesticide reregistration effort . Chem Week 1987;;140:9.
11 +
Guralnick L: Mortality by Occupation and Cause of Death , vital statistics special report 53(3). US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1963;.
12 +
Saftlas AF, Blair A, Cantor KP, et al:  Cancer and other causes of death among Wisconsin farmers . Am J Ind Med 1987;;11:119-129.
13 +
Delzell E, Grufferman S:  Mortality among white and nonwhite farmers in North Carolina, 1976 to 1978 . Am J Epidemiol 1985;;121:391-402.
14 +
Wiklund K, Dich J, Holm L:  Testicular cancer among agricultural workers and licensed pesticide applicators in Sweden . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:630-631.
15 +
El Zayadi A, Khalil A, El Samny N, et al:  Hepatic angiosarcoma among Egyptian farmers exposed to pesticides . Hepatogastroenterology 1986;;33:148-150.
16 +
Weisenburger DD:  Lymphoid malignancies in Nebraska: A hypothesis . Nebr Med J 1985;;70:300-305.
17 +
Blair A, White DW:  Leukemia cell types and agricultural practices in Nebraska . Arch Environ Health 1985;;40:211-214.
18 +
Sharp DS, Eskenazi B, Harrison R, et al:  Delayed health hazards of pesticide exposure . Ann Rev Public Health 1986;;7:441-471.
19 +
Coggon D, Pannett B, Winter PD, et al:  Mortality of workers exposed to 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:448-454.
20 +
Hardell L, Sandstrom A:  Case-control study: Soft-tissue sarcomas and exposure to phenoxyacetic acids or chlorophenols . Br J Cancer 1979;;39:711-717.
21 +
Eriksson M, Hardell L, Berg NO, et al:  Softtissue sarcomas and exposure to chemical substances: A case-referent study . Br J Ind Med 1981;;38:27-33.
22 +
Hardell L, Eriksson M:  Soft-tissue sarcomas, phenoxy herbicides, and chlorinated phenols . Lancet 1981;;2:250.
23 +
Hardell L:  Relation of soft-tissue sarcoma, malignant lymphoma and colon cancer to phenoxy acids, chlorophenols and other agents . Scand J Work Environ Health 1981;;7:119-130.
24 +
Hardell L, Eriksson M, Lenner P, et al:  Malignant lymphoma and exposure to chemicals, especially organic solvents, chlorophenols and phenoxy acids: A case-control study . Br J Cancer 1981;;43:169-176.
25 +
Hardell L, Johansson B, Axelson O:  Epidemiological study of nasal and nasopharyngeal cancer and their relation to phenoxy acid or chlorophenol exposure . Br J Ind Med 1982;;3:247-257.
26 +
Wiklund K, Holm L:  Soft-tissue sarcoma risk in Swedish agricultural and forestry workers . J Natl Cancer Inst 1986;;76:229-234.
27 +
Vineis P, Terracini B, Diccone G, et al:  Phenoxy herbicides and soft-tissue sarcomas in female rice weeders . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;13:9-17.
28 +
Pearce NE, Smith AH, Howard JK, et al:  Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and exposure to phenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, fencing work and meat works employment: A case-control study . Br J Ind Med 1986;;43:75-83.
29 +
Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, et al:  Agricultural herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and softtissue sarcoma . JAMA 1986;;256:1141-1147.
30 +
Colton T:  Herbicide exposure and cancer . JAMA 1986;;256:1176-1178.
31 +
Sterling TD, Arundel AV:  Health effects of phenoxy herbicides: A review . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:161-173.
32 +
Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, et al:  Herbicides and colon cancer . Lancet 1985;;1:1277-1278.
33 +
Weininger RB, Davis G, Hawks CD:  Herbicides and cancer . JAMA 1987;;257:2292.
34 +
McLaughlin JK, Malker HSR, Stone BJ, et al:  Occupational risks for renal cancer in Sweden . Br J Ind Med 1987;;44:119-123.
35 +
Vainio H, Hemminki K, Wilbourn J:  Data on the carcinogenicity of chemicals in the IARC monographs programme . Carcinogenesis 1985;;6:1653-1665.
36 +
National Toxicology Program: Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens: Summary 1985 , publication NTP 85-002. US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1985;.
37 +
Börzsönyi M, Török G, Pintér A, et al:  Agriculturally-related carcinogenic risk . IARC Sci Publ 1984;;56:465-486.
38 +
Toxicology of Pesticides , interim document 9. Copenhagen, World Health Organization, 1982;.
39 +
Moses M:  Diseases associated with exposure to chemical substances: Pesticides , in Last JM (ed): Maxey-Rosenau Public Health and Preventive Medicine , ed 12. East Norwalk, Conn, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1986;.
40 +
Reuber MD:  Carcinogenicity and toxicity of malathion and malaoxon . Environ Res 1985;;37:119-153.
41 +
Shu HP, Paustenbach DJ, Murray FJ:  A critical evaluation of the use of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and tumor promotion data in a cancer risk assessment of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin . Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1987;;7:57-88.
42 +
Rall D:  Carcinogenicity of p-dichlorobenzene . Science 1987;;236:897-898.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Calabrese EJ: Principles of Animal Extrapolation . New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1983;.
2 +
Calabrese EJ:  Animal extrapolation: A look inside the toxicologists' black box . Environ Sci Technol 1987;;21:618-623.
3 +
Ames BN, Magaw R, Gold LS:  Ranking possible carcinogenic hazards . Science 1987;;236:271-290.
4 +
Clive D:  Genetic toxicology: From theory to practice . J Clin Res Drug Dev 1987;;1:11-41.
5 +
Tennant RW, Margolin BH, Shelby MD, et al:  Prediction of chemical carcinogenicity from in vitro genetic toxicity assays . Science 1987;;236:933-941.
6 +
Travis CC, Richter SA, Crouch EAC, et al:  Cancer risk management: A review of 132 federal regulatory decisions . Environ Sci Technol 1987;;21:415-420.
7 +
Is Your Drinking Water Safe? publication 170 35-61-OPA. Washington, DC, Environmental Protection Agency, 1985;.
8 +
 You and your drinking water . EPA J 1986;;12:7.
9 +
Long S:  House passes fiscal 1988 funding bills . C&EN 1987;;65:20.
10 +
 EPA steps up its pesticide reregistration effort . Chem Week 1987;;140:9.
11 +
Guralnick L: Mortality by Occupation and Cause of Death , vital statistics special report 53(3). US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1963;.
12 +
Saftlas AF, Blair A, Cantor KP, et al:  Cancer and other causes of death among Wisconsin farmers . Am J Ind Med 1987;;11:119-129.
13 +
Delzell E, Grufferman S:  Mortality among white and nonwhite farmers in North Carolina, 1976 to 1978 . Am J Epidemiol 1985;;121:391-402.
14 +
Wiklund K, Dich J, Holm L:  Testicular cancer among agricultural workers and licensed pesticide applicators in Sweden . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:630-631.
15 +
El Zayadi A, Khalil A, El Samny N, et al:  Hepatic angiosarcoma among Egyptian farmers exposed to pesticides . Hepatogastroenterology 1986;;33:148-150.
16 +
Weisenburger DD:  Lymphoid malignancies in Nebraska: A hypothesis . Nebr Med J 1985;;70:300-305.
17 +
Blair A, White DW:  Leukemia cell types and agricultural practices in Nebraska . Arch Environ Health 1985;;40:211-214.
18 +
Sharp DS, Eskenazi B, Harrison R, et al:  Delayed health hazards of pesticide exposure . Ann Rev Public Health 1986;;7:441-471.
19 +
Coggon D, Pannett B, Winter PD, et al:  Mortality of workers exposed to 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:448-454.
20 +
Hardell L, Sandstrom A:  Case-control study: Soft-tissue sarcomas and exposure to phenoxyacetic acids or chlorophenols . Br J Cancer 1979;;39:711-717.
21 +
Eriksson M, Hardell L, Berg NO, et al:  Softtissue sarcomas and exposure to chemical substances: A case-referent study . Br J Ind Med 1981;;38:27-33.
22 +
Hardell L, Eriksson M:  Soft-tissue sarcomas, phenoxy herbicides, and chlorinated phenols . Lancet 1981;;2:250.
23 +
Hardell L:  Relation of soft-tissue sarcoma, malignant lymphoma and colon cancer to phenoxy acids, chlorophenols and other agents . Scand J Work Environ Health 1981;;7:119-130.
24 +
Hardell L, Eriksson M, Lenner P, et al:  Malignant lymphoma and exposure to chemicals, especially organic solvents, chlorophenols and phenoxy acids: A case-control study . Br J Cancer 1981;;43:169-176.
25 +
Hardell L, Johansson B, Axelson O:  Epidemiological study of nasal and nasopharyngeal cancer and their relation to phenoxy acid or chlorophenol exposure . Br J Ind Med 1982;;3:247-257.
26 +
Wiklund K, Holm L:  Soft-tissue sarcoma risk in Swedish agricultural and forestry workers . J Natl Cancer Inst 1986;;76:229-234.
27 +
Vineis P, Terracini B, Diccone G, et al:  Phenoxy herbicides and soft-tissue sarcomas in female rice weeders . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;13:9-17.
28 +
Pearce NE, Smith AH, Howard JK, et al:  Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and exposure to phenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, fencing work and meat works employment: A case-control study . Br J Ind Med 1986;;43:75-83.
29 +
Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, et al:  Agricultural herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and softtissue sarcoma . JAMA 1986;;256:1141-1147.
30 +
Colton T:  Herbicide exposure and cancer . JAMA 1986;;256:1176-1178.
31 +
Sterling TD, Arundel AV:  Health effects of phenoxy herbicides: A review . Scand J Work Environ Health 1986;;12:161-173.
32 +
Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, et al:  Herbicides and colon cancer . Lancet 1985;;1:1277-1278.
33 +
Weininger RB, Davis G, Hawks CD:  Herbicides and cancer . JAMA 1987;;257:2292.
34 +
McLaughlin JK, Malker HSR, Stone BJ, et al:  Occupational risks for renal cancer in Sweden . Br J Ind Med 1987;;44:119-123.
35 +
Vainio H, Hemminki K, Wilbourn J:  Data on the carcinogenicity of chemicals in the IARC monographs programme . Carcinogenesis 1985;;6:1653-1665.
36 +
National Toxicology Program: Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens: Summary 1985 , publication NTP 85-002. US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1985;.
37 +
Börzsönyi M, Török G, Pintér A, et al:  Agriculturally-related carcinogenic risk . IARC Sci Publ 1984;;56:465-486.
38 +
Toxicology of Pesticides , interim document 9. Copenhagen, World Health Organization, 1982;.
39 +
Moses M:  Diseases associated with exposure to chemical substances: Pesticides , in Last JM (ed): Maxey-Rosenau Public Health and Preventive Medicine , ed 12. East Norwalk, Conn, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1986;.
40 +
Reuber MD:  Carcinogenicity and toxicity of malathion and malaoxon . Environ Res 1985;;37:119-153.
41 +
Shu HP, Paustenbach DJ, Murray FJ:  A critical evaluation of the use of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and tumor promotion data in a cancer risk assessment of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin . Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1987;;7:57-88.
42 +
Rall D:  Carcinogenicity of p-dichlorobenzene . Science 1987;;236:897-898.

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