Massive farm study tracks Pesticide-Cancer links for decades
NCT ID NCT00352924
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Sep 17, 2026 · Updated 19 times
Summary
This study follows nearly 90,000 farmers, their spouses, and pest control workers in Iowa and North Carolina over many years. Researchers track their exposure to pesticides and other farm chemicals, then monitor who develops cancer or other diseases. The goal is to identify which exposures are most harmful, so future cancers can be prevented.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could identify which pesticides and farming practices increase cancer risk, helping to prevent future cases.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It can show links but not prove cause and effect. Results may take many more years to emerge.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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89,655 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Apr 1993
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
A prospective cohort of 89,655 registered pesticide applicators and spouses (57,310 applicators and 32,346 spouses of private applicators) with sufficient personal identifiers to conduct follow up activities has been assembled during the first four years of recruitment in the Agricultural Health Study, 1993-1997. The majority of applicators were asked to enroll in the AHS as they obtained or renewed their pesticide registration/licenses through the agricultural extension services of the states of North Carolina and Iowa. In the last year of enrollment, applicators who received or renewed their pesticide licenses, but were never given the opportunity to enroll due to added requirements in the testing/training class, were called and asked to complete the enrollment questionnaire over the phone. Spouses of the private applicators were also given the opportunity to enroll via the telephone.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: All registered pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina and the spouse and children of applicators who are farmers.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, United States
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