Environmental pesticide exposure and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome: A case-control study

Abstract

The agricultural model in southern Spain is highly productive, mainly due to the intensive cultivation under plastic. Despite strict pesticide regulation, human exposure to pesticides in the environment has been connected to an increase in diseases such as celiac disease. Certain pesticides have also been associated to the disruption of the intestinal microbiota, which has been tied to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A case-control study was conducted in Andalusia, south Spain, to assess the prevalence and risk of IBS related to pesticide exposure. This research found a high prevalence of IBS in Andalusia between 2000 and 2021 in areas with high pesticide exposure using agronomic criteria. Furthermore, the odds ratio for IBS was significantly higher in the population with high pesticide exposure. This study suggests that pesticides may be involved in IBS, whereas more research is needed to determine the role of pesticides in IBS symptomatology.