According to a recent study published in Pediatrics, the use of certain pesticides at home might increase the risk of childhood cancer. In this analysis, scientists studied the potential links between the exposure to household pesticides and . To their surprise, they found that children exposed to indoor pesticides has 47 larger percentage of suffering from leukemia in the juvenile than those who never touched pesticides. And the risk of getting lymphoma is 43% more.

 

Chen Shenglu, author of this study, said “remember the design and manufacture of pesticides is to kill pests.” Parents should avoid the exposure of those chemicals to children. In the analysis, scientists studied children’s exposure to three types of pesticides: indoor and outdoor pesticides and herbicides. Study participants included nearly 1,200 children suffering from cancer. Investigators also found that compared with children who have not been in contact with pesticides, children exposed to the herbicide in adolescence are more likely to suffer from leukemia and they have 26 higher percentage.

 

Previous studies have shown that the impact of pesticides or herbicides on the health of children is much more than on adults. Children’s bodies may be particularly vulnerable, because their immune systems are not mature and therefore may provide less protection than the adults’. Compared to adults, children’s ability to detoxify the body may be weak. The study also showed that when exposed to pesticides at home or school, the respiratory, gastrointestinal nervous and endocrine systems have a acute poisoning response.

 

The researchers believed that, as the use of pesticides (and herbicides) in the society is increased, the development of public health policy should be to minimize the children’s exposure to toxic pesticides and other harmful substance. At the same time, the researchers suggested that parents, teachers and doctors should be aware of the label information of common pesticides and be fully aware of the potential harm of those chemicals. We need, spare no effort, to protect children and keep them away from those health risks.