Prostate cancer linked to pesticide exposure

A Department of Health committee believes there may be a link between occupational exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer.

The Committee on Carcinogenicity found "some limited evidence to suggest an association between farmers/farm workers, exposure to pesticides and increased risk of prostate cancer".

It concluded: "The possibility of such an association being causal could not be discounted."

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, and in 2002 accounted for around 13% of UK male cancer deaths.

For more information, visit www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/coc/prostate.htm