A new study from Penn State has found that people who live near farmland in South Central Pennsylvania may have a higher risk of getting melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
The research showed that adults over the age of 50 living in a 15-county area were 57% more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma compared to people living in other parts of the state.
The scientists looked at cancer records from 2017 to 2021 and found that this higher risk was not limited to farmers or people working outside. Even people living in cities or who spent most of their time indoors were affected. This suggests that something in the environment, not just time spent in the sun, might be increasing the risk of skin cancer.
Most people think of sunbathing at the beach when they hear about skin cancer. But this research suggests that living near farmland may also play a role. The study found that the counties with the most farmland and highest use of herbicides had the most melanoma cases.
Herbicides are chemicals used to kill weeds and are often sprayed on crops like corn and soybeans. These chemicals are made to change how living things grow, but they can also affect humans. They might make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, damage cells, or affect how the immune system works. All of these things could raise the risk of developing skin cancer.
The researchers found that for every 10% increase in farmland in a county, there was a 14% increase in melanoma cases. They also found that for every 9% increase in herbicide use, there was a 13% increase in melanoma cases. These are strong links, even after taking into account things like income, education, and the amount of sunlight in each area.
Dr. Charlene Lam, one of the study’s authors, said that herbicides and other chemicals used in farming don’t just affect the people who spray them. These substances can travel through the air, settle in dust inside homes, and get into drinking water. That means whole communities could be exposed without even realizing it.
This kind of exposure could help explain why both urban and rural counties near farmland showed higher rates of melanoma. The study also pointed to earlier research that found these chemicals can damage DNA and increase sunlight sensitivity in animals and plants.
Still, the researchers cautioned that this study does not prove that herbicides directly cause melanoma. It only shows a pattern. More research is needed to find out what exactly is going on. Benjamin Marks, the lead author of the study, said that these results are like a warning sign. They show a strong link, but more work is needed to understand all the factors involved.
Dr. Lam said similar trends have been seen in farming areas in other countries like Poland, Italy, and even Utah in the U.S. She recommended that people living near farmland check their skin regularly and wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outside.
The research team plans to study rural communities in more detail to better understand how farming practices might affect public health. Their goal is to learn how chemicals move through the environment and how people come into contact with them.
This study supports the idea that health is closely connected to the environment. Dr. Eugene Lengerich, another author, said that solving problems like this will take teamwork between doctors, farmers, scientists, and policymakers. By working together, they hope to reduce cancer risks for people living near farmland.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about eating fish linked to higher risk of skin cancer, and Vitamin B3 could help prevent skin cancers.
For more health information, please see recent studies about vegetable oil linked to spread of cancer, and results showing Vitamin D could help treat skin inflammation.
The study is published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics.
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