A US study has found that pesticide applicators face a 20% to 200% higher risk of diabetes and that pesticide exposure is a contributing factor for diabetes – along with obesity, lack of exercise, and family history.
The link between specific pesticides and diabetes was strong in the case of seven pesticides, out of a total of 50 specific active ingredients studied. The organophosphate insecticide trichlorfon – mostly used on golf courses, increased the risk of diabetes by 2.5 fold. All seven of the pesticides found to cause the greatest increase in diabetes risk are chlorinated compounds, providing the researchers an important clue for future research.
A number of golfing organisations and publications have reported these findings, citing other studies that have reported increased risk of diabetes among people who play golf.
