Is There a Link Between Pesticides and Cancer? A Mixture of Chemicals May Drive the Risk

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, parks, and gardens to control insects, fungi, and weeds. These chemicals often come with health concerns that remain poorly understood, with many linked to numerous forms of cancer, according to the organization Beyond Pesticides.

Not all pesticides are considered carcinogens, and for some chemicals, there is insufficient research to determine whether they are safe. People are exposed to pesticides via water and food, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but according to a report from the European Food Safety Authority, exposure levels are usually considered low.

A 2026 paper from the American Association for Cancer Research raised the alarm linking consumption of “healthy foods,” such as fruit and vegetables, to early-onset lung cancer due to the presence of pesticides. But this paper is based on a small sample and uses indirect measures of pesticide exposure. That means it’s a possible connection that needs much deeper study.