The Science of the Total Environment, 73 (1988) 229-244 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands 229 PESTICIDE USE RELATED TO CANCER INCIDENCE AS STUDIED IN A RURAL DISTRICT OF HUNGARY ANNA PALDY, NANDOR PUSKAS I and ILDIKO FARKAS National Institute of Hygiene, Gydli ut 2-6, H-1097 Budapest (Hungary) ~Hygienic and Epidemiologic Centre of County Szabolcs-Szatmdr, Nyiregyhdza (Hungary) (Received September 28th, 1987; accepted November 25th, 1987) ABSTRACT General mortality analysis showed an increasing tendency of circulatory diseases in two villages examined. Respiratory diseases and suicide were more frequent in the village with greater pesticide use (village I). The relative risk (RR) of gastric cancer for men is significantly higher in village I (high rate of pesticide use) than in the county as a whole (RR, 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-2.83) and also in relation to the national data (RR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.91-5.36). Since the nitrate concentration in the drinking water, the drug consumption, smoking and eating habits are similar in the two villages, and since alcohol consumption is higher in village II (moderate rate of pesticide use), it seems that nitrosable pesticides may play a role in the etiology of stomach cancer. This is supported by the fact that a higher number of gastric cancer cases was found where larger quantitiesof nitrosable pesticideshad been used. INTRODUCTION This century an enormous number of new chemicals has been introduced into the environment which are xenobiotics for man. In addition to their advantageous properties they also have an adverse impact on human health. Among these chemicals, pesticides play a very important role. In addition to inorganic compounds, the synthesis of DDT in the forties began a new era: synthetic organic pesticides were applied against pests and insects. After initialsuccesses in agriculture it was discovered that some of these pesticides had dangerous side effects, and that resistance developed against them; therefore the synthesis of new pesticides is continuously in demand. It is difficult to judge their long-term effects, especiallythe carcinogenicity towards man. In view of positive animal toxicity data, it is important to study the morbidity and mortality in an exposed population. The carcinogenic potential of pesticides was analyzed using the methods of the IARC (1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979). For phenoxy-type herbicides, Axelson and Sudell (1974) found a six-fold increase in soft tissue sarcomas in their case-control studies among Swedish agricultural workers. Later, several groups attempted to show the etiologicalrole of these herbicides in the develop- ment of softtissuesarcomas. They found a somewhat elevated relativerisk,but 0048-9697/88/$03.50 © 1988 ElsevierScience Publishers B.V.