During European Week Against Cancer, the European Commission defended its Beating Cancer Plan, a strategy to tackle cancer from prevention to early detection. While the EU rightly focuses on tackling causes such as tobacco and pollution, pesticides are not even mentioned in this plan. However, an increasing number of scientific studies are pointing to the link between cancer and pesticides exposure. Moreover, at least 15 suspected carcinogenic pesticides are still approved in the EU.
If the EU is serious about tackling cancer, they should immediately ban not only pesticides well known to cause cancer but also those classified as suspected carcinogens. There are at least 15 approved active substances that have been classified as suspected carcinogens (Category 2) that are used in pesticide products used all across Europe. The EU still permits substances like captan, a fungicide suspected of causing cancer and harming fertility, whose breakdown products in drinking water (metabolites) may retain similar toxic properties. Another substance in the market is folpet, a widely used fungicide linked to both cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Here is the full list of EU-allowed pesticides linked to cancer:
- Aclonifen (two Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) criteria)
- Amisulbrom
- Bupirimate
- Captan
- Chlorotoluron (endocrine-disrupting properties, two PBT criteria)
- Folpet
- Forchlorfenuron
- Imazalil (aka enilconazole)
- Kresoxim-methyl
- Lenacil ( two PBT criteria)
- Metazachlor
- Pirimicarb ( two PBT criteria)
- Propyzamide ( two PBT criteria)
- Proquinazid
- Quizalofop-P-tefuryl
New evidence linking glyphosate to cancer
Long-term exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides caused different types of cancer in laboratory animals at doses deemed “safe” by EU authorities, according to a landmark study published last summer. [1]
The most comprehensive independent animal study ever conducted on glyphosate tested both glyphosate and the representative formulation used in the EU, along with the one used in the US. It showed that long-term exposure, starting from early life (prenatal exposure), even at very low levels equivalent to the EU’s Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), causes early-onset leukaemia in young rats. Worryingly, it also revealed a significant increase in multiple other types of tumours (e.g. skin, liver, thyroid, nervous system, ovary, mammary gland, adrenal glands, kidney, etc.), providing solid evidence of glyphosate’s carcinogenic potential. The cancer rates were low but still significant, and highly relevant considering the widespread use of glyphosate-based products among farmers, professionals, as well as private users.
Despite early warnings shared with EU authorities in 2023, all the critical evidence on cancer was disregarded during glyphosate’s reapproval process, resulting in its authorisation for another ten years in the EU. PAN Europe and some of our members are challenging this decision at the European Court of Justice. [2]
Pesticides unrecognised as carcinogens linked to cancer
A study published in the journal Nature has linked prolonged exposure to pesticides with an increased risk of cancer. The study considered 31 of the most common pesticides in Peru; none of which are classified as known human carcinogens by the World Health Organisation (WHO). [3]
In addition, one third of these substances are also allowed in the EU, such as glyphosate, the reprotoxic abamectin or the neurotoxic deltamethrin, which produces brain damage in pregnant animals. [4]
The study published in Nature demonstrated the link between exposure to a cocktail of pesticides and cancer for the first time at a national level. By cross-referencing a mapping of pesticide-related environmental pollution with geodata from more than 150,000 patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2020 in Perú, the researchers were able to identify areas where people were both more likely to be exposed to pesticides in the environment and to cancer. In these areas, the risk of developing cancer was, on average, 150% higher.
The study showed that certain tumours, although they affect different organs, share common biological vulnerabilities linked to their cellular origin that can be weakened by pesticide exposure. Molecular analyses conducted at the Institut Pasteur showed that pesticides disrupt processes that help maintain cell function and cellular identity. These biological changes appear before cancer develops, suggesting early, cumulative, and silent effects.
To prevent cancer, the EU needs to change course
The body of scientific evidence linking pesticides to cancer grows year on year. For instance, a nationwide US population-based study published last year revealed that residing in rural areas with a high level of exposure to pesticides can elevate the risk of cancer to a degree comparable to that associated with smoking (or even more). [5]
European authorities continue to disregard both science and public concern. With the new Feed and Food Omnibus, they seek to weaken even more safety standards, keeping toxic substances -such as suspected carcinogens- on the market even longer. If we want to prevent cancer and protect public health, we must change course now. You can help us demand action here.
Read more: Background on the Omnibus proposal, analysis, legal opinion, campaign: For Health, Bees and Farmers | PAN Europe
Notes:
[2] The Great Glyphosate Court Case
[3] Honles, J., Cerapio J.P., Monge, C. et al. (2026). Mapping pesticide mixtures to cancer risk at the country scale with spatial exposomics
[4] Extended Data Table 1 - Pesticides included in the environmental risk model, with associated physicochemical properties
[5] Pesticides potentially as bad as smoking for increased risk in certain cancers
