Pesticides linked to up to 70% increased risk of a devastating incurable disease: study

Nypost · Aug 05, 2026 · 546 words · By Allie Yang

Chemical Regulation Public Health Risk Occupational Safety

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What to know about Chemical Regulation

Pesticides linked to up to 70% increased risk of a devastating incurable disease: study See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Pesticides linked to up to 70% increased risk of a devastating incurable disease: study See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google Exposure to pesticides may aggressively increase your risk of developing a deadly neurodegenerative disease.

Common ground

In the US, overall pesticide use has declined since the 1980s.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear, False Cause: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Chemical Regulation story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Atrazine is the second most commonly used herbicide?
How does this story connect Chemical Regulation with Public Health Risk over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/05/health/pesticides-linked-to-up-to-70-increased-ris…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

False Cause 60% confidence

Assuming causation from correlation or temporal sequence.

Why it matters: Recognizing false cause helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 3

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

schedule Pending 2

help

Claim 1: “Atrazine is the second most commonly used herbicide.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim.

check_circle

Claim 2: “They found that occupational exposure to pesticides was associated with a 61% to 71% higher risk of developing ALS compared to people who weren’t exposed.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including 'The Conversation' and reports on a study published in 'Occupational & Environmental Medicine', explicitly state that occupational pesticide exposure is associated with a 61% to 71% higher risk of ALS.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare terminal neurodegenerative disease defined by the progressive loss of both upper and lo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALS

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), also known as frontotemporal degeneration, and historically as Pick's disease, is a family of neurodegenerative disorders, caused by frontotemporal lobar degeneration t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontotemporal_dementia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Susan May Pratt (born February 8, 1974) is an American actress. She played Mandella in 10 Things I Hate About You, Alicia DeGasario in Drive Me Crazy, and Maureen Cummings in Center Stage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_May_Pratt

+ 4 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 3: “In the US, overall pesticide use has declined since the 1980s.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence consists of dictionary definitions of 'overall' and general information about the US, but contains no data regarding pesticide use trends since the 1980s.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The geographic center of the United States is a point approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota at 44°58′2.08″N 103°46′17.60″W. It has been regarded as such by the United St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_center_of_the_Unite…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The first overall pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the league's annual draft. The first pick is awarde…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_NBA_draf…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “It [Atrazine] has also been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, another neurodegenerative disorder.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 5: “About 35,000 people in the US have ALS.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms what ALS is, none of the provided evidence sources mention the specific number of people (35,000) living with ALS in the US.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1980 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, coinciding with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. The 34 Senate seats of Class 3 were contested in regular election…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_Senate_elec…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Medicare is a federal health insurance program in the United States for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities, including those with end stage renal disease and amyotrophic latera…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 6: “Glyphosate, the weed killer sold under the brand name Roundup, is the most widely used herbicide in the country.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim.

info

Claim 7: “As many as 80% of people with ALS survive less than five years after diagnosis.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific statistic that 80% of patients die within 5 years is mentioned by 'Network for Good'. Other sources (NIH, Mayo Clinic, Wikipedia) describe the disease as terminal and progressive but do not provide this specific percentage.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a rare neurodegenerative disease. ALS, als, Als, or ALs may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALS_(disambiguation)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving the pouring of a bucket of ice water over a person's head, either by another person or self-administer…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Bucket_Challenge

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 8: “And while overall pesticide use is down in the US, herbicide use is rising.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided includes general definitions and histories of herbicides, but contains no data comparing overall pesticide trends to herbicide trends in the US.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Roundup is a brand name of herbicide originally produced by Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018. Prior to the late-2010s formulations, it used broad-spectrum glyphosate-based herbicides. As of 2009…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundup_(herbicide)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant. During the Vietnam War, the United States Armed Forces along with the South Vietnamese military used it in Operation Ranch Hand (1962–1971), part of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Herbicides (US: , UK: ), also commonly known as weed killers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds. Selective herbicides control specific weed species while leaving the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbicide

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 9: “Research has linked higher pesticide exposure to blood disorders, respiratory illnesses, endocrine dysfunction, nervous system damage, infertility and certain types of cancer.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 10: “The fatal disease destroys motor neurons — the nerve cells that connect the brain and spinal cord to muscles.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (National Institute of Health, Mayo Clinic, and a TikTok summary of the disease) confirm that ALS destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a neurological disease that affects motor neurons—those nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary …
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/amyot…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The second group, called lower motor neurons, extends from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. ALS causes both groups of motor neurons to gradually deteriorate and then die. When motor neu…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-l…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of voluntary muscle contr…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/why-is-als-called-lou-gehrig

info

Claim 11: “But globally, pesticide use has never been higher.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence consists of dictionary definitions of 'global' and information about 'Global Entry', but contains no data regarding global pesticide use levels.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Global Entry is the perfect program for frequent international or business travelers. If you take fewer international flights, consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck and using the free Mobile Passport Con…
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-…

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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The meaning of GLOBAL is of, relating to, or involving the entire world : worldwide. How to use global in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/global

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Serving all of North America, Global Industrial offers a vast selection of hand-picked and tested industrial-strength products, including material handling, storage & shelving, safety & security, jani…
https://www.globalindustrial.com/

info

Claim 12: “The association was especially strong in men, who were twice as likely to develop ALS if they had been exposed to pesticides on the job.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source ('Workplace Pesticide Exposure Linked to Increased ALS Risk') explicitly mentions that exposed men face 'double the risk'. Other sources mention a general increase in risk or high-level exposure risks, but do not specifically confirm the 'twice as likely' figure for men across multiple independent reports.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Study links occupational pesticide exposure to increased ALS risk. Researchers found that workers with long-term occupational exposure to pesticides may face a significantly higher risk of developing …
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/08/common-workplace-expo…

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web search NEUTRAL — 4, and showed that people who are occupationally exposed to pesticides, specifically herbicides or insecticides, are 61% to 71% more at risk of developing ALS. The risk is greater for workers exposed …
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/als-could-tied-occupational-pestic…

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web search NEUTRAL — Results showed that any workplace exposure to pesticides increased ALS risk by 60%, researchers said. And based on results from three studies, any exposure to high levels of pesticides nearly tripled …
https://www.drugs.com/news/pesticides-linked-increased-als-r…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.