Researchers have found in a new study that persistent exposure to certain insecticides, particularly organochlorine pesticides, is associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis among women, according to a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology . Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that features inflammation of the joints, resulting in pain, stiffness, and possible damage to the joints. While genetic susceptibility plays an important role, environmental causes like smoking and exposure to chemicals have increasingly been shown to contribute to disease development.

The study involved 32,126 female spouses of licensed pesticide applicators who were enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study between 1993 and 1997 in Iowa and North Carolina. Incid

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