Products designated as pesticides are those used for the prevention, control or elimination of organisms deemed undesirable in the field, such as invasive plants, animals (insects, mites, etc.), fungi or bacteria.1

It is now recognized that pesticides can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. They impact biodiversity, pollute water and air, and diminish soil quality. 2

As far as adults are concerned, there is a strong suspicion of a link between exposure to pesticides and the development of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease.3
Epidemiological studies of childhood cancers provide significant evidence suggesting a probable link between maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy (whether through professional work or domestic use), and the child's exposure to pesticides, and increased risk of certain types of cancer.
Food is the main source of exposure to pesticides.2 Pesticide residues in food can cause health problems. Controls are carried out by the French government, notably by the Direction Générale de l'Alimentation (DGAL) and the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF), to monitor food contamination levels.

For further information, we recommend that you consult :

1- Ministry of Energy Transition
2- World Health Organization
3- Inserm

- Center Léon Bérard - Pesticides