Federal Study Links Widely Used Pesticide to Higher Cancer Risks in Farmworkers

A new study from the National Cancer Institute finds that farmworkers and pesticide applicators exposed to carbaryl face significantly higher risks of stomach, esophageal, tongue, and prostate cancers. The findings, based on long-term data from the Agricultural Health Study in Iowa and North Carolina, show that frequent carbaryl users were twice as likely to develop stomach cancer, even when factoring in protective equipment and exposure levels.

Despite being banned in Europe in 2007, carbaryl—sold under the brand Sevin—remains widely used in the U.S., with nearly 3 million pounds applied annually in agriculture, landscaping, and public spaces.

Critics call it "tragic" that such chemicals remain on the market despite mounting evidence of harm. The EPA recently admitted that carbaryl also endangers dozens of threatened species, compounding the health and environmental risks. Experts say the situation poses a public health crisis, especially in rural, low-income, and immigrant communities.

14-07-2025