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Do the people who grow and harvest America's food -- and the many others exposed to harmful substances used in agriculture -- face a special risk of cancer?

Overall cancer incidence and mortality rates are low among farmers relative to the general population, but studies of farming populations routinely reveal elevated risk for several specific types of cancer. Some farm workers face disproportionate exposure levels to various chemicals. While a variety of substances either created by or used in agriculture may increase cancer risk, including solvents, fuels, nitrates in fertilizers, and engine exhaust, the bulk of research to date  has focused on pesticides. Farmers and farm workers are not the only ones exposed to these substances.

Nearly a hundred CHE Partners and friends joined us on Tuesday, Dec 9, at 10:00 AM Pacific/ 1:00 PM Eastern for a call featuring Dr. Tyrone Hayes, Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, who testified at the recent President's Cancer Panel hearing on agriculture and cancer.

The call was moderated by Michael Lerner, President of Commonweal. The call lasted one hour and was recorded for archival purposes. An MP3 recording will be available for download shortly.