Research: Pesticides Damage DNA. Agribusiness Still Claims No Link to Cancer

by Heidi Stevenson

22 November 2009

Farmers in the Punjab region have suffered from DNA damage that can lead to cancer as a result of pesticides, according to scientists from Patiala University located there.

According to Professor Satbir Kaur, other possible causes of DNA damage, such as age, alcohol use, and smoking, were eliminated as potential causes, leaving only pesticides as culpable.

On the other hand, Salil Singhal, spokesperson for the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), an industry organization, stated, "There is no pesticide in use today which can cause cancer." He claims, therefore, that there is no possibility of a causal link to cancer.

CCFI recently changed its name from Pesticides Association of India. It's main website page states that the organization "supports use of Agro Chemicals".