Use of pesticides doubles brain tumour risk for farm workers

AGRICULTURAL workers are more than doubling their risk of developing brain tumours due to the high levels of pesticides they are using.

Research in France found that all agricultural workers exposed to pesticides had a slightly elevated brain tumour risk. However, the risk was more than doubled for those exposed to the highest levels.

It also found the risk of glioma, a type of central nervous system tumour, was more than three times the risk in the general population.