A new study by the SPRINT project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon program, has revealed that pesticide residues are widespread in both agricultural and residential environments, raising serious concerns for environmental and human health.
The SPRINT project undertook a field sampling campaign in 10 European countries that identified pesticide residues at all study sites. Published in a peer-reviewed paper, the results were alarming, showing that 86% of the tested samples contained pesticide residues and 76% mixtures of pesticides.
Speaking of the findings, Professor Violette Geissen from Wageningen University & Research, SPRINT project coordinator, said: “Our research highlights that the issue of pesticide mixtures transcends the agricultural field areas; it reaches the very households of those working on farms and their neighbouring communities. The results show that not only are mixtures of pesticide residues rather common in both agricultural and residential settings, but also that they can be highly complex, and variable in these settings. We need a more nuanced understanding of the impact of chemical mixtures in the field and related exposure-response data to better understand the ecosystem and human health risks. We urgently require integrated risk assessments that mirror the real-world complexity of these widespread pesticide mixtures.”
Glyphosate residues were the most frequently detected in the samples, with high concentrations across all environmental samples. Of particular concern was the finding that indoor dust in one house contained residues from 121 different pesticides, with two-thirds of these classified as “highly hazardous” to mammals and linked to adverse human health effects.
The SPRINT project’s next phase will focus on assessing the ecosystem and human health risks posed by the identified pesticide mixtures. The aim is to develop a novel indicator tailored for regulatory purposes, providing EU decision-makers with the necessary tools to tackle the mounting challenges posed by pesticide mixtures.
A groundbreaking study from the SPRINT project has revealed a concerning reality: pesticide residues are pervasive in both agricultural environments and residential settings, raising concerns for environmental and human health. This has significant implications for European Union decision-makers, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive regulatory measures to address potentially far-reaching impacts of the co-occurrence of pesticides. According to Professor Violette Geissen, SPRINT project coordinator, “We need a more nuanced understanding of the impact of chemical mixtures in the field and related exposure-response data to better understand the ecosystem and human health risks. We urgently require integrated risk assessments that mirror the real-world complexity of these widespread pesticide mixtures.” The SPRINT project’s next phase will focus on assessing the ecosystem and human health risks posed by the identified pesticide mixtures, in order to provide EU decision-makers with the necessary tools to address these mounting challenges.
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