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Living Near Farm Pesticide Use Linked To Higher Blood Pressure In Women

A 10-year study of farmworker-community women ties nearby agricultural pesticide use to higher blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol.

By Dr. Axe Editorial Team · October 26, 2026 · 1 source · Watch

Photo: Pexels

A study of 459 women published October 24, 2026 in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found that living near heavier agricultural pesticide use over 10 years was linked to higher blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol.

459women studied

1.82mm Hg higher SBP

12%higher low-HDL risk

Researchers studied 459 women, average age 48.4, from an agricultural region of California's Salinas Valley. Using home addresses and the state's Pesticide Use Reporting database, they estimated average use of seven pesticide classes within 1 kilometer of each home over the 10 years before measurements taken in 2022 to 2024. A one-quartile increase in combined pesticide exposure was linked to 1.82 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure, 1.59 mm Hg higher pulse pressure (the gap between the top and bottom numbers) and 1.35 mg/dL lower HDL cholesterol, plus a 12% higher relative risk of low HDL or reported cholesterol medication use. A second statistical model gave similar results, including a 9% higher risk of low HDL from the 25th to 50th percentile of exposure. Glyphosate herbicide showed the most consistent contribution to the low-HDL and pulse-pressure links. Body weight, blood sugar and inflammatory markers showed no link.

The authors say the findings highlight ambient pesticide exposure, from living nearby rather than handling chemicals, as relevant to cardiometabolic risk. Blood pressure and HDL cholesterol are two of the standard markers used to gauge heart disease risk.

Higher Pesticide Exposure Linked To Blood Pressure Changes

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 2026, Calderon et al.

Exposure was estimated from home address and public pesticide-use records, not measured in each woman, so individual exposure may differ. This cross-sectional study shows a link, not proof that pesticide exposure causes higher blood pressure or lower HDL.

Dr. Axe’s Take

Where you live can shape your heart and metabolic health whether or not you ever touch a pesticide yourself. A 1.82 mm Hg rise in systolic pressure and a drop in HDL sound small, but they're moving in the wrong direction together, and glyphosate stood out here. If you live near farm country, I'd prioritize a home water filter, wash produce thoroughly, choose organic for thin-skinned produce, eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables and garlic, and get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.

— Dr. Axe

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Study summary

Who: 459 women, average age 48.4, from an agricultural region in California, assessed 2022 to 2024
Design: Observational study using 10-year residential proximity estimates of 7 pesticide classes and two statistical mixture models
Dose: 10-year average agricultural pesticide use within 1 km of home, kg/year, across 7 pesticide classes
Primary result: One-quartile higher joint pesticide exposure linked to 1.82 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure, 1.59 mm Hg higher pulse pressure, 1.35 mg/dL lower HDL cholesterol
Secondary: 12% higher relative risk of low HDL cholesterol or reported cholesterol medication use; second model showed 9% higher low-HDL risk from 25th to 50th percentile exposure; body weight, blood sugar, inflammation markers showed no link
Funding / conflicts: Funding and conflicts not reported in the abstract.
Date: Oct 24, 2026