Introduction Yearly over 3000 tonnes of pesticide active ingredients are applied in New Zealand agriculture. Since the 1980’s, epidemiological studies have reported increased risks of lymphopoietic cancers in agricultural sectors with high pesticide use. Here we aim to estimate the number and total volume of currently used pesticides in New Zealand that are known or suspected human carcinogens, in order to inform interventions.

Methods For each of the pesticide active ingredients most commonly used in New Zealand, the carcinogenicity classification of three regulatory agencies (The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority [NZ-EPA], the US Environmental Protection Agency [US-EPA], and the European Chemicals Agency [EU]) were extracted, as well as the classification of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph Programme. Total tonnes of active ingredients that are known or suspected human carcinogens was calculated for each classification.

Results None of the pesticides used in New Zealand are classified as known human carcinogens by any of the three regulatory agencies or IARC. Annually New Zealand uses 148–756 tonnes of active pesticide ingredients that are classified as suspected human carcinogens by the three regulatory agencies. If also including the pesticides classified by IARC as possible or probable human carcinogens, the upper estimate doubles to 1475 tonnes, representing half of the total volume of pesticide active ingredients used in New Zealand agriculture. The percentage and volume of active ingredients classified as suspected carcinogens by the three regulatory agencies was highest for the fungicides (8%–60%; 72–540 tonnes), followed by herbicides (3%–10%; 60–200 tonnes), and insecticides (8%, 16 tonnes).

Conclusions Although no known human carcinogens are used as pesticides, New Zealand’s high use of pesticides that are suspected carcinogens requires a greater awareness of the presence of potential carcinogens in the agricultural sector and the development of an intervention strategy to reduce cancer risk.