New Study is First to Link Pesticides and Death in Kids

In this study, researchers examined more than 800 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and found that children whose mothers were exposed to pesticides during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of dying within five years of diagnosis. Overall, exposure to any pesticide raised the risk of death by 60 percent, while rodenticide exposure pushed it up by 91 percent. Strikingly, 92 percent of the children in the study had been exposed to at least one type of pesticide before or after birth, underscoring how common such exposures are in daily life.

The study also revealed disparities in outcomes across different groups. Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before their first birthday, those from families with lower income or education, and black children had the highest death rates. Among white children, exposure to rodenticides, in particular, was linked to poorer survival. On a more positive note, breastfeeding appeared to offer some protection against the negative effects of pesticide exposure. The researchers stressed that survival in childhood cancer is influenced not just by medical treatment, but also by environmental conditions and exposures.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence that environmental pollutants – including pesticides, tobacco smoke, and air pollution – pose serious risks to children’s health.

To read how research shows that exposure to multiple pesticides significantly increases the risk of childhood cancers compared with exposure to just one pesticide, see this news story on our website.