Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington.
N Z Med J. 2020 Dec 4;133(1526):76-88.
To estimate the number and weight of pesticides used in New Zealand agriculture that are classified as known or suspected human carcinogens.
The yearly usage of active ingredients was extracted from the most recent (2005) report on pesticide use. For each active ingredient, the carcinogenicity classification of three regulatory agencies (New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority [EPA NZ], US Environmental Protection Agency, European Chemicals Agency) was extracted. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph Programme's classifications were also considered. Total tonnes of active ingredients were calculated according to each classification.
None of the pesticides are classified as known human carcinogens. In total, 56 active ingredients are listed as suspected carcinogens by at least one of the four agencies, including 16 high-use ingredients, representing up to 51% of the total yearly quantity. Agency-specific estimates ranged between 4-26% (148-872 tonnes) with the EPA NZ classification yielding the lowest estimate. The suspected carcinogen weight was highest for fungicides (estimates based on the three regulatory agencies ranged between 72-540 tonnes), followed by herbicides (60-200 tonnes) and insecticides (16 tonnes).
New Zealand's use of pesticides that are suspected carcinogens is high. Efforts to increase awareness and reduce exposure need to be considered.
估算新西兰农业中使用的、被归类为已知或疑似人类致癌物的农药数量和重量。
从最新（2005 年）的农药使用报告中提取每种有效成分的年用量。对于每种有效成分，从三个监管机构（新西兰环境保护局[EPA NZ]、美国环境保护署、欧洲化学品管理局）提取其致癌性分类。还考虑了国际癌症研究机构（IARC）专论计划的分类。根据每种分类计算出有效成分的总吨数。
没有一种农药被归类为已知的人类致癌物。共有 56 种有效成分被至少一个以上的四个机构列为疑似致癌物，其中包括 16 种高用量成分，占总年用量的 51%。各机构的估计值在 4-26%之间（148-872 吨），以 EPA NZ 的分类估计值最低。基于三个监管机构的估计，杀菌剂的疑似致癌物重量最高（72-540 吨），其次是除草剂（60-200 吨）和杀虫剂（16 吨）。
新西兰使用疑似致癌物的农药数量较高。需要考虑提高认识和减少暴露的措施。
