News in brief: A new study suggests that pesticide exposure from soy farming is linked to an increase in childhood leukemia deaths in Brazil. This could lead to changes in agricultural practices as the country’s soy industry may have to adjust.
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, suggests that pesticide exposure from soy farming may be linked to an increase in childhood leukemia deaths in Brazil.
The study, led by Marin Skidmore of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, found that the number of children who died of leukemia in areas with expanding soy production was 2.3 times higher than in areas with stable soy production.
Skidmore’s team analysed data on childhood leukemia deaths and soy production from 2008 to 2019. They found that the increase in leukemia deaths was most pronounced in the Amazon and Cerrado regions, where soy production has expanded rapidly in recent years.
The study also found that the risk of leukemia death was higher in children who lived closer to soy plantations. This suggests that exposure to pesticides used on soy crops may be playing a role.
However, study researcher, Marin Skidmore said that more research was needed to confirm this link and to identify the specific pesticides that may be involved.
Soy farming is a major industry in Brazil, and the country is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans. However, soy farming has also been linked to deforestation and environmental damage.
The study’s findings raise concerns about the potential health impacts of soy farming on people living in rural areas. If the link between pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia is confirmed, it could lead to changes in agricultural practices in Brazil.
This is bad news for the country’s soy industry, if the link is confirmed and established, as it has been steadily increasing area of cultivation for more than a decade. Soy farmers may have to slow down, decrease pesticide usage, or make some other adjustments.
