The pesticides use and the risk for head and neck cancer: A review of case-control studies

Abstract

Background Tobacco, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection are the most common risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite of this, recent evidences are growing on the association between long-term exposure to pesticides and the risk of chronic diseases, including different types of cancer. The present review evaluated in current literature evidence of an association between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of HNCs. Material and Methods A literature search of the case-control studies was conducted in the PubMed, Web of science and Cochrane databases. Methodological quality of each study was rated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 50) checklist. Results One thousand and thirty-five studies were identified and twelve met all criteria and, therefore, considered for quality assessment and data extraction. According to SIGN 50 criteria, six studies received an overall high-quality. All the studies considered of high quality found a positive association between exposure to pesticides and different HNC sites, including larynx, pharynx and nasal cavity. In addition, the increased risk was associated with the frequency of exposure. Conclusions Finally, improving pesticide users' awareness of their risks and proper handling, as well as adopting protective measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, appear to be effective in reducing human health damage. Key words: Case control studies, head and neck cancer, pesticides, review, risk factors.

Current status of pesticide effects on environment, human health and it’s eco-friendly management as bioremediation: A comprehensive review

“…It has been observed that a person with a direct exposure to pesticides is highly susceptible to several human malignancies such as cancer including head, neck, breast, thyroid, brain, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, leukemia, prostate, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and ovarian cancer ( Obiri et al, 2013 ; Pardo et al, 2020 ; Leonel et al, 2021 ; Lerro et al, 2021 ). Several pathways have been discovered to date; however, the major molecular mechanism that is likely to cause pesticide-induced carcinogenesis involves oxidative stress, genetic and epigenetic changes, and endocrine disruptions ( Figure 4 ).…”

“…Several pathways have been discovered to date; however, the major molecular mechanism that is likely to cause pesticide-induced carcinogenesis involves oxidative stress, genetic and epigenetic changes, and endocrine disruptions ( Figure 4 ). For instance, excessive production of ROSs as a result of pesticide exposure can disrupt the cellular equilibrium between pro and anti-oxidant molecules and induce oxidative stress to induce macromolecule damage, leading to dysregulation of several fundamental processes and subsequently stimulating cancer initiation, growth, progression, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance ( Pardo et al, 2020 ; Leonel et al, 2021 ; Lerro et al, 2021 ).…”

Current Insights and Progress in the Clinical Management of Head and Neck Cancer

“…Head and neck cancer (HNC), the 6th most common type of cancer, also commonly known generating the malignant tumours between the dura mater and the pleura, affects structures such as the naso-, oro- and hypopharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, oral cavity, the floor of the mouth, the palate, tongue, tonsils, oesophagus, middle ear, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, thyroid gland skin (melanoma), etc. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, the histopathology of HNC varies according to the structures affected, and thus HNC is also characterized as presenting molecular heterogeneity.…”

Investigation of Relationships Between the Geospatial Distribution of Cancer Incidence and Estimated Pesticide Use in the U.S. West

“…While these studies found statistically significant differences among states and regions, they did not attempt to relate those findings to environmental factors. Recently, studies have begun to analyze the relationship of cancer to various environmental agents such as pesticides (Leonel et al., 2020; Park et al., 2020; Werder et al., 2020). However, most of these studies focus on specific environmental agents and their relationship to specific cancer types such as brain tumors (Carles et al., 2017; Van Maele‐Fabry et al., 2017), thyroid cancer (Deziel et al., 2021; Lerro et al., 2018), and breast cancer (Pullella & Kotsopoulos, 2020; Wei & Zhu, 2019).…”