Hormone-dependent cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes in farmers' families - effects of climatic conditions favoring fungal growth in grain

The significance of mycotoxins in the framework of assessing workplace related risks

“…Kristensen et al (33;34) found in two epidemiological studies an approximately twice-increased risk of premature birth and miscarriage in women employed in agricultural grain farming compared to women working in non-agricultural jobs. The correlations noted were most pronounced in pregnancies occurring in years with cool and moist weather conditions which favour fungal growth.…”

Do pesticides cause childhood cancer?

“…Equal weight could be given to the alternative interpretation where ''living on a farm'' or ''pesticide use'' is associated with the presence of a variety of biological factors, some of which are suspected causative factors for childhood cancers, like infections (Kinlen 1995;Greaves 1997;Pearce et al 2004;Lehtinen et al 2005), and others like several mycotoxins or bioactive plant products are proven human or animal carcinogens (IARC 2002;Daughton 2005). One study, for example, led to the ''speculative interpretation'' that the use of fungicides reduced the childhood cancer risk associated with exposure to mycotoxins (Kristensen et al 2000). Another recent study, although directed at adult cancers, found the highest risks for multiple myeloma associated with sheep farming, but not with pesticide use typically reported in this context (Baris et al 2004).…”

Indicators of mancozeb exposure in relation to thyroid cancer and neural tube defects in farmers’ families

“…Meteorological data obtained from 46 measurement stations of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute for 1973-1990 were allocated to the nearest farm. The establishment of the cohort has been explained in more detail elsewhere (39).…”