A re-analysis suggests that occupational exposure to pesticides could increase a man's risk of prostate cancer.

Previous research has suggested that pesticides may be a cancer risk under certain circumstances. Researchers have now taken a fresh look at the existing research - covering 22 different studies appearing between 1995 and 2001.

They say that there is an increased risk, and it seems to be higher among pesticide sprayers than among farmers and other workers whose job involves pesticides. However, it's not clear that pesticides actually cause prostate cancer. The studies also did not take account of factors such as ethnicity or genetic susceptibility, which could also increase the risk. Clearly more research is needed - till then, it would be prudent for men to limit their occupational exposure to pesticides.

Source

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Volume 60 pages 634-42, 2003