(Beyond Pesticides, August 27, 2026) Pesticides contribute to an array of gynecological cancers (ovarian, endometrial, cervical, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar, of which the first three are most common). A review by Iranian researchers examines studies of pesticide links to these diseases published between January 2000 and February 2025. The literature review encompasses human cohort, prospective and retrospective longitudinal, and cross-sectional methods, along with other results showing mechanistic evidence from experimental animal or in vitro studies. Thirty studies made the final cut.
According to the study, 1.33 million new cases of gynecological cancers occur annually. Worldwide, there were 540,000 deaths in 2022, a mortality rate of more than 30%. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally, and two-thirds of its victims die. There are 660,000 new cases of cervical cancer a year, with 350,000 deaths and a mortality rate of almost 50%. (The strongest known cause is human papillomavirus (HPV), but pesticides contribute significantly.)
In 2019, there were 435,041 cases of endometrial cancer worldwide, with 91,640 deaths, a mortality rate of about 20%. The figures represented a 132% increase in incidence and a 63% rise in mortality since 1990, according to the authors. Associations of endometrial cancer with herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, particularly among people who work in agriculture, have been reported. The U.S. has the highest incidence in the world. Women exposed to pesticides used in agriculture have a higher incidence than those in other types of work.
