Early life exposure to pesticides, in particular through pesticides drift in residents nearby agricultural crops, is suspected to increase testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) risk. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 472 TGCT cases and 683 matched controls aged 18-45 years in France and estimated adult TGCT risk associated with agricultural surfaces around residence as a surrogate for environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides at time of birth. Surface of arable lands, orchards and vineyards in 500 m buffer around the participants' residential address at birth was assessed using geographic information system (GIS) methods and software semi-automatic processing of historical aerial images. Odds ratios (OR) for TGCT (overall and by histological subtype) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. No increased risk of TGCT was observed for presence of arable lands (OR = 1.14, CI = 0.86-1.52), vineyards (OR = 0.88, CI = 0.56-1.36) and agricultural surfaces overall (OR = 1.13, CI = 0.84-1.51) in 500 m buffer around residence at birth. Presence of orchards (prevalence: 8.7%) was associated with a modest increase in TGCT risk (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 0.99-2.32), slightly stronger for seminoma (OR = 1.78, 1.07-2.97) and in participants conceived or in their first trimester after conception during spring-summer (OR = 1.70, 1.03-2.82). In conclusion, the study found no overall association between adult TGCT risk and agricultural crops around residence at birth, except for the presence of orchards, with a possible increase in seminoma risks, as well as TGCT risk in participants for whom the first trimester after conception fell into spring-summer.
International journal of cancer. 2026 May 18 [Epub ahead of print]
Aurélie M N Danjou, Astrid Coste, Lény Grassot, Elodie Faure, Carlos Crispim-Junior, Laure Tougne Rodet, Olivia Pérol, Rémi Béranger, Jeanne Perrin, Barbara Charbotel, Joachim Schüz, Béatrice Fervers, TESTIS study group
Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, Lyon, France., Departement Prévention, Cancer et Environnement, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France., University Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, "Exposome and Heredity" Team, CESP UMR1018, Villejuif, France., Univ Lyon 2, CNRS, INSA Lyon, UCBL, Centrale Lyon, LIRIS, Bron, France., Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France., Fédération Française des CECOS, Paris, France., UMRESTTE, UMR T 9405, Ifsttar, Lyon 1 University, Lyon University, Eiffel University, Bron, France.