Kerryn Boogaard Kerryn Boogaard
Beverly Goldsmith Beverly Goldsmith
Zoe Bingley-Pullin Zoe Bingley-Pullin

Study exposes link between pesticides & childhood brain tumours:

A study suggests there may be a link between pesticide treatments and the risk of childhood brain tumours.
By Motherpedia
Date: April 18 2013
Editor Rating:
child,_doctor,_nurses

A new study from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia has revealed a potential link between professional pesticide treatments in the home and a higher risk of children developing brain tumours.

Published this week in the international journal Cancer Causes & Control, the study found that exposure by parents to professional pesticide treatments prior to conception could increase the chances of a child developing a brain tumour.

The research, led by Professor Elizabeth Milne, analysed data from 303 case families and 941 control families who participated in the Australian Study of Childhood Brain Tumours (Aus-CBT), a nationwide case-control study designed to investigate environmental and genetic risk factors for CBT. 

The study examined professional pesticide exposure in the year before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after the child is born, revealing a link between the timing of the exposure and the type of pesticides involved.

"Our results indicated that parents' exposure to professional pest control treatments in the home up to a year prior to falling pregnant is associated with an increased risk of their child developing a brain tumour," said Professor Milne.

"Of the pesticide treatments we looked at, it appeared that professional termite treatments posed a greater risk than other general insecticide treatments," she said. 

"The increased risk associated with termite treatments may be as high as two-fold, while the increased risk with other pesticides may be about 30%."

The researchers say these findings, supported by those of other similar studies, suggest that it would be advisable for parents to avoid exposure to professional pest control treatments in the period leading up to conception.

Professor Milne cautioned that the results did not mean that pesticide exposure had caused brain tumours in children in the study.

"There are likely to be many causes of childhood brain tumours. What we are looking at here is factors that may increase risk and these findings cannot be extrapolated to an individual level," she said.

Share This Tweet This Email To Friend
Recent Comments
0 Total Comments
Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:


Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:33343


Your Comment has been posted
Related Articles
child_immunised
Child immunisation rates are very high in most parts of…
Read more
brain_fitness
President Obama's $100m BRAIN initiative welcomed by most medical scientists,…
Read more
child_reading
Children learn at a different pace and in different ways,…
Read more
Cry babies

Dry your eyes!
The newest additions are on their way from the Babies who cry real tears!

Shipping-containers-freight-wallpaper-preview

Latest Tech Used In Shipping Containers
Read how the shipping industry has revolutionised

Motherpedia cover-2

Win 1 set of a 4-book hardcover illustrated boxed set
Barbara Murray’s new 4-book Sound Stories is perfect for parents and educators and could assist with NAPLAN results

Motherpedia cover (4)

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest Australia
Get ready for this celebration!

Motherpedia cover-4

A Fortnight of Foodie Experiences at East Village
A taste of East Village. What's in it for me?

Globber my too fix up cover

We Try: Globber My TOO Fix Up
A scooter that grows with your child

Throw a winning cricket pitch

3 Steps to a Winning Backyard Cricket Pitch
Ex-Adelaide Oval legend curator Les Burdett shares his tips for getting your backyard cricket pitch test match ready this summer

A bike that follows your kids life cycle - motherpedia - cover

A Bike That Follows Your Kids Life Cycle
Check out the Bunzi 2-in-1 gradual balance bike!

Moonlight lifestyle

Moonlight Cinema to bring…
Moonlight Cinema announces brand new Western Sydney venue

Screen shot 2019-11-26 at 8.29.12 am

Your Magical Christmas Wonderland…
Adventure park is about to light up the night sky with its "Christmas Festival of Lights"

Screen shot 2019-11-21 at 11.11.36 am

The Preston Market Gets…
It's time to feel pumped up for the holiday season!

Bruno-kelzer-zqzuigxcvrq-unsplash

Bunnings team members get…
Help raise funds by buying a snag or donating at your local store.