Table of contentsIntroductionExposure to pesticides in womenEpidemiological evidenceMechanisms of actionEthical considerationsConclusionIntroductionPesticides, a heterogeneous category of chemicals designed to control various pests, including herbicides and insecticides, play an important role in modern agriculture. . Although crucial for crop protection, there is growing concern about the potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure, particularly among women in rural areas. This essay aims to provide an in-depth review of the link between pesticide exposure and breast cancer risk, addressing mechanisms, epidemiological evidence, ethical considerations, and potential policy implications. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayPesticide Exposure Among WomenThe modern agricultural landscape has witnessed a substantial increase in the number of women working as pesticide applicators in farms and commercial plantations. In some areas, women make up up to 85 percent of those who apply pesticides, often working while pregnant or breastfeeding. Worryingly, around 30,000 women spray pesticides in Malaysia alone, exposing themselves to highly toxic chemicals like paraquat for an average of 262 days a year. Additionally, around 80% of these women use leaky portable equipment, and their motivation is often based on just an extra 50 cents a day. However, even when women do not directly apply pesticides, they are still exposed when participating in activities such as mixing pesticides, weeding during pesticide application, cleaning pesticide containers, harvesting crops sprayed with pesticides, washing clothes soaked with pesticides and storing pesticides. in their homes. This level of exposure is largely unknown and pesticide poisoning is often underestimated, particularly in developing countries. Epidemiologic Evidence Breast cancer, the most common cancer diagnosis among women in the United States, is influenced by a variety of factors, including exposure to endogenous and exogenous estrogens. Researchers have begun to explore the potential role of environmental agents used to control parasites, including pesticides, in increasing breast cancer risk. Organochlorine pesticides like DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) have been widely used as insecticides. DDT and its metabolite DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) are known to persist in the environment and accumulate in adipose tissue to levels far exceeding those present in blood and breast milk. Several research groups have studied whether exposure to organochlorine pesticides is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. in women. Although results are mixed, some studies suggest that environmental contamination with organochlorine residues may indeed be an important etiological factor in the development of breast cancer. The association between pesticide exposure and breast cancer risk remains an ongoing research topic, requiring further investigation into the specific mechanisms underlying this relationship. Mechanisms of action Organophosphate pesticides, commonly used to control mosquitoes, are another group of chemicals potentially., 23(1), 1-37.