The month of October heralds many things least of which is that the end of the year is nigh. For those of us in the lifestyle and wellness business, we remember October as the Cancer Awareness month, generally, but more specifically as the Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is particularly poignant considering the rising incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases and breast cancer, in particular.

• What is contributing to this rapid rise in cancer cases? A multiplicity of risk factors which are generally lumped  together as dietary and lifestyle related factors
• But specifically, what are some of the environmental pollutants and contaminants that may be contributing to the rising cases of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?Answer: Agrochemicals used in conventional farming especially pesticides and herbicides have strongly been linked to different forms of cancer, especially BREAST cancer and PROSTATE cancer. The increasing USE of pesticides and herbicides in farming results in higher than the allowed maximum residue levels (MRLs) in foods for human consumption…with disastrous consequences to both human health and environmental health.
• Do we have any evidence of the rising contamination arising from agricultural and food production activities especially PESTICIDE and HERBICIDE use?
• YES. Here is the evidence: http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/8/e1600850.full
• And here: http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/KOF-report-final.pdf

What is the way forward?

• Minimize or avoid agrochemical contamination of pesticide and herbicide residues in food and feed, for human consumption; and in soils, water and air.
• AVOID particularly, the organophosphates types, like GLYPHOSATE  aka Roundup, used in conventional maize farming and even MORE of the “poison”, glyphosate and its derivatives, is used in GMO maize farming: the HT stacked traits varieties which kill weeds and all other non-GMO plants, to avoid  removing “weeds”, some of which are nutritious traditional foods which add value food and biodiversity!
• Instead convert to ecological organic agriculture and related food production systems to contribute to mitigating cancers and other NCDs, through avoidance of agrochemical residues and the high antioxidant content of organic foods, among other healthful benefits.