Why are more young people getting colon cancer?
Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon and rectal cancer to pesticide exposure
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Picloram, a relatively obscure herbicide, was identified as a novel risk factor for early-onset colorectal cancer.
Most prior research focused on obesity, red meat, or alcohol — no one expected a pesticide used mainly on corn and soy to be a top driver of cancer in young adults.
Practical Takeaways
Choose organic produce when possible, especially corn, soy, and other crops heavily sprayed with picloram.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Picloram, a relatively obscure herbicide, was identified as a novel risk factor for early-onset colorectal cancer.
Most prior research focused on obesity, red meat, or alcohol — no one expected a pesticide used mainly on corn and soy to be a top driver of cancer in young adults.
Practical Takeaways
Choose organic produce when possible, especially corn, soy, and other crops heavily sprayed with picloram.
Publication
Journal
Nature Medicine
Year
2026
Authors
S. C. Maas, I. Baraibar, L. Lemler, M. Butjosa-Espín, Odei Blanco Irazuegui, J. Tabernero, E. Élez, Jose A. Seoane
Related Content
Claims (3)
People exposed to the herbicide picloram may show distinct patterns of DNA methylation in colorectal tumors that develop at an early age.
People exposed to the herbicide picloram have a higher statistical likelihood of developing colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to those who develop it after age 70, based on patterns of DNA methylation observed in patient samples.
People with lower levels of education are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a younger age, based on patterns of DNA methylation observed in a large group of patients.