International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST)

Pesticide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cancer: Mechanistic Insights and Public Health Implications

Pesticides are widely used in modern agriculture to improve crop yield and prevent pest-related losses. However, increasing epidemiological and experimental evidence links chronic pesticide exposure with cancer development. One of the critical mechanisms implicated in this association is oxidative stress. Pesticides induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation overwhelming the antioxidant defense systems and leading to cellular damage, lipid peroxidation, DNA mutation, and ultimately carcinogenesis. ROS-mediated signaling in addition to direct genotoxicity, it also disrupts normal cell cycle regulation, alters gene expression and suppresses tumor suppressor pathways, that leads to facilitating malignant transformation. The co-ordinated behaviour of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, along with its mitochondrial dysfunction that's further aggravates the oxidative imbalance. This review aims to explore the biochemical interplay between pesticide-induced oxidative stress and cancer, with a focus on molecular pathways, types of pesticides involved, antioxidant disruption, and potential biomarkers of exposure and effect. Pesticide exposure and oxidative damage of cell discusses its recent findings from in vitro and in vivo studies that strengthen the causal relationship between them. To mitigate the effect of cancer in the human population, we need to have proper knowledge of these interactions for the betterment of public health surveillance, regulation of policy with more future therapeutic interventions. Pesticide-related cancer risks will be reduced by the greater awareness with sustainable agricultural practices and safer alternatives.