Exposure to pesticides is suspected of being a risk factor for pediatric cancers, and more particularly leukemia. However, until now, data remains limited regarding the risks for residents living around vineyard plots exposed to pesticides. Most studies carried out in France and internationally have in fact focused on the link between the risk of developing pediatric cancer and the use of pesticides by the mother at home, during and after pregnancy.
A new Inserm study, carried out in collaboration with Santé Publique France, sheds new light, looking at the risk of leukemias for children under 15 years old residing less than 1000 meters from wine plots. Full results are published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
To conduct this study, the researchers compared two groups of children:
– a first group made up of 3,711 children under 15 years old suffering from leukemia.
– a second representative “control” group made up of 40,196 non-ill children.
For all of these groups, the scientists had the precise home address (at the time of diagnosis for sick children). These were geo-located and combined with a map of wine cultures in France.
Two indicators were then studied:
-there presence of vines less than 1Km from the address
-the surface area under vines less than 1km around the address (vine density)
An association between childhood leukemia and density of vines less than 1km
What are the results of the study? First of all, the research team shows that the risk of leukemia does not increase with the simple presence of vines near the place of residence. In fact, it was not more frequent in cases of leukemia (9.3%) than in controls (10%).
On the other hand, it highlights a second significant result, namely an association between risk to develop lymphoblastic type leukemia and the extent of the surface covered by the vines, within this 1000 meter perimeter around the children’s address.
More precisely, the researchers note on average that for every 10% increase in vineyard density (within 1 km), the risk of lymphoblastic leukemia increases by almost 10%, for all forms of leukemia, the risk increases by 4%.
It is important to note that leukemia is a rare childhood cancer : its incidence is around 45 cases per 1 million children per year in France, or around 500 leukemias diagnosed each year in children. Also, “even with a variation of 4%, we still have a low cancer incidence rate in these wine-growing regions”, has commented Stéphanie Goujon, Inserm researcher and final author of the study.
Namely: 80% are so-called lymphoblastic leukemias and 20% are myeloid leukemias. In this study, no increase in risk was found for myeloid leukemia.
So keep in mind: The simple presence of vines less than 1km from the main address does not seem to be in itself a risk factor for leukemia, but on the other hand, this increases with the density of vines near the address. of residence.
Childhood leukemia: which wine regions are more at risk?
Other information, the breakdown by region showed heterogeneous results, with clearer associations in the wine-growing regions (with the exception of Nouvelle-Aquitaine): in Pays de la Loire, Grand-Est, Occitanie, and Provence-Alpes -Côte d’Azur-Corsica.
Please note, these are major trends and scientists have not been able to conclude that there are specific risks by region and even less by department. The objective is to obtain the most reliable indicators possible on a national scale. “We must remain cautious in interpreting regional results,” insisted Stephanie Goujon.
After this first study, others are planned on other types of cancers and on other types of cultures. “At the same time, we are working on evaluating exposure to the different pesticides used on these crops. It is a long, complex work which is based on several collaborations”concludes Stéphanie Goujon, Inserm researcher and final author of the study.
Sources:
- An Inserm study focuses on the link between the risk of pediatric leukemia and living near vineyards, press conference, October 17, 2023.
- Association between residential proximity to viticultural areas and childhood acute leukemia risk in mainland France – GEOCAP case-control study, 2002-2013