A new study has found that children who are uncovered to pesticides could be at risk for childhood cancers. Researchers found that children exposed to indoor pesticides are more likely to develop leukemia or lymphoma.

According to the researchers, they have reviewed more than a dozen past studies to examine indoor insecticides’ effects on children exposed to them. The past studies had included about 1,200 children with cancer.

Insecticides are used for the purpose of pest control, while herbicides could be used to kill plants like weeds. Chenseng Lu, researcher from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and lead author of the new study, said pesticides could be used to kill organisms. “Parents should avoid using these chemicals in the vicinity of their kids. Children can be exposed to pesticides by breathing them in or eating them, because chemical residues linger on surfaces where children play or spend time”, Lu added.

As per reports, leukemia is a common cancer in children. The symptoms of the cancer are: feeling cold, tiredness, headaches, weakness, dizziness, pale skin and having a shortness of breath.

The researchers of the new study found that children who were exposed to indoor insecticides were about 47% more likely to develop childhood leukemia, while about 43% children were more likely to develop childhood lymphoma than the children who were not exposed to indoor insecticides.

Children exposed to herbicides were about 26% more likely develop childhood leukemia than the children who were not exposed, the researchers said.