Brazil Child Cancer Deaths Linked to Soy Farming, Study Finds

A study published in the journal PNAS has linked soy farming to an increase in child cancer deaths in Brazil, which is the world’s largest producer and exporter of soy. The research found that as soy cultivation expanded in the country, there was an associated rise in childhood cancer mortality due to agricultural pesticide exposure. The study specifically identified a correlation between soy farming and childhood blood cancers, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with 123 additional deaths of children under age 10 from ALL recorded from 2008 to 2019 following the expansion of soybean production in Brazil. The researchers suggested that increased pesticide use may be contaminating water supplies near soy farms. To read the full article, click here. To read more about diseases, click here.