A paper published in Nature Health has explored whether exposure to mixtures of pesticides in the environment may be linked to cancer risk.
The study focused on Peru, where agriculture is widespread and pesticide use varies across regions. Researchers combined environmental data on pesticide use with national cancer records covering more than 150,000 cases between 2007 and 2020. They looked at 31 commonly used pesticides and mapped areas where exposure was likely to be higher.
The researchers reported that regions with higher estimated pesticide exposure also tended to have higher rates of certain cancers. This does not show that pesticides directly cause cancer, but it does suggest a possible link that may warrant further investigation.
Unlike many previous studies that look at one chemical at a time, this research considered exposure to multiple pesticides together, which may better reflect real-life conditions where people are exposed to mixtures rather than single substances.
The study also explored how pesticides might affect the body. By examining liver tissue, the researchers identified changes in how cells function, including disruptions to normal cellular processes. These changes may make cells more vulnerable to other factors involved in cancer development, although this is still an area of ongoing research.
Higher exposure levels were more commonly found in rural and agricultural areas, highlighting potential differences in environmental exposure between populations.
The authors note that the study is based on modelled environmental data rather than direct measurements in individuals, and it cannot establish cause and effect. Other factors, such as lifestyle or access to healthcare, may also play a role in the patterns observed.
The findings add to existing research on environmental exposures and health and suggest that the combined effects of multiple pesticides may be an important area for further study.
Honles, J., Cerapio, J.P., Monge, C., Marchio, A., Ruiz, E., Fernández, R., Casavilca-Zambrano, S., Contreras-Mancilla, J., Vidaurre, T., Condom, T., Zerathe, S., Dangles, O., Deharo, É., Herrera-Zuñiga, J., Pineau, P. and Bertani, S. (2026). Mapping pesticide mixtures to cancer risk at the country scale with spatial exposomics. Nature Health. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44360-026-00087-0.
