Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy Raises Childhood Leukemia Risk, Study Finds.

Public concern is rising about the harmful effects of pesticides, especially on children. A new study published in Cancers highlights that pesticide exposure in pregnancy can significantly worsen outcomes for children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy

Researchers studied more than 800 children with ALL and found:

• Children exposed to any pesticide during pregnancy had a 60% higher risk of death.
• Exposure to rodenticides increased the risk of death by 91%.
• Over 92% of children were exposed to at least one pesticide before or after birth.

The findings reveal that environmental pollutants cut across race and income lines, but risks were highest among:

• Infants diagnosed before age one
• Families with lower income and education
• Black children and white children exposed to rodenticides

Interestingly, breastfeeding showed a protective effect, reducing some risks.

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Why This Matters

Children are more vulnerable to toxins because of their developing bodies. Beyond pesticides, exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution has also been linked to higher childhood cancer risks.

Experts stress that cancer survival isn’t only about medical treatment—it’s also shaped by the environment children grow up in.

How to Reduce Risks

• Avoid using pesticides indoors or during pregnancy.
• Use natural pest-control alternatives.
• Explore free resources like UCSF’s Prescriptions for Prevention to cut down pesticide exposure.

Protecting children starts with reducing harmful environmental exposures—because a healthy start means a healthier future.

Source: Desai, S., et al. (2025). Pre- and Postnatal Exposures to Residential Pesticides and Survival of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cancers.

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Also Read: Pesticide exposure during pregnancy linked to higher death risk in children with leukemia