Search Results (49)

Environmental pesticide exposure has been linked to adverse health effects, and residential proximity to agricultural land is commonly used as a proxy for exposure; however, the contribution of non-agricultural biomes remains insufficiently explored. This study examined whether the proximity and area of different biomes are associated with the detection of selected pesticides in human urine in Latvia. Urine samples were collected from 202 participants (101 adults and 101 children) within the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) study during the winter and summer seasons of 2020. A suspect screening approach using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was applied and 23 pesticides were detected (8 insecticides, 12 fungicides, 2 herbicides and triclosan, an antimicrobial ingredient used in cleaning agents). Geospatial data were analysed in Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) to derive biome proximity and area within a 1000 m residential buffer; associations were assessed using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Agricultural land was present within 1000 m of 93.1% of residences, yet neither its distance nor area was consistently associated with pesticide detection. Boscalid was detected in 18.4% of samples and was positively associated with wetland area across seasons (p < 0.001), while fludioxonil (14.7%) showed weak and heterogeneous spatial associations and pirimiphos-methyl (10.2%) showed no significant patterns. Overall, pesticide exposure was substance-specific and influenced by landscape characteristics beyond agricultural proximity, highlighting the need to integrate non-agricultural biomes into human biomonitoring in low-intensity pesticide-use settings. Full article

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequent pregnancy pathology with poor maternal and fetal outcomes and risk of type 2 diabetes in later life. Despite known risk factors, such as obesity, age, and familial history, new data suggest that environmental exposure to agents, such as pesticides, can play a role in the etiogenesis of GDM. Objective: The epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence between pesticide exposure and GDM risk is summarized here, and we concentrate on recent research (2000–2025). Methods: We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from January 2000 to December 2025 using combinations of the terms “fertilizers”, “herbicides”, and “pesticides” with “diabetes mellitus” and “gestational diabetes”. After deduplication, 12 unique studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis (GDM endpoint or pregnancy glycemia with pesticide exposure). Results: Occupational and agricultural exposure to pesticides during first pregnancy was determined to be associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM through various epidemiologic studies. New studies have implicated new classes of pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, with higher GDM risk with first-trimester exposure. Experimental studies suggest that pesticides provide potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can induce insulin resistance through disruption of hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, inflammation, β-cell toxicity, and epigenetic modifications. However, significant limitations exist. Most of the evidence is observational, measurement of exposure is often indirect, and confounding factors are difficult to exclude. Notably, low dietary and residential exposure is not well studied, and dose–response relationships are undefined. Conclusions: New data indicate that pesticide exposure during early pregnancy and occupational exposure may increase the risk of GDM. Prospective cohort studies using biomonitoring, chemical mixture exposure, and geographic variation in pesticide exposure should be the focus of future research. Due to potential public health implications, preventive strategies to ensure the quality of nutrition and to reduce maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy are rational. Full article

Purpose: To achieve a better understanding of the environmental factors that contribute to childhood cancers, so as to inform future prevention efforts. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of epidemiological studies on environmental risk factors and childhood cancer, which was published between January 2014 and March 2021. Potential exposure sources presented in this review include air pollution, radiation, and parental occupational exposures. We considered exposures during childhood and parental exposures occurring before the child’s conception and during pregnancy in relation to all types of childhood cancer. Results: Aggregated evidence is strong for associations between leukemia and parental/child exposure to traffic pollution, indoor paints, residential pesticides, and parental occupational/nonoccupational exposure to benzene. Evidence is also strong for associations between brain cancer and residential pesticides and parental occupational exposure to agricultural pesticides. Evidence of associations between leukemia and ionizing radiation from radon and nuclear power plants remains mixed, as does evidence of a link between electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and childhood leukemia. Conclusions: Clear associations have been demonstrated between childhood cancer and environmental factors, including parent/child exposure to traffic pollution, occupational/nonoccupational benzene, indoor paints, residential pesticides, and parental occupational exposure to agricultural pesticides. These associations can be used to inform further study of interventions and public health campaigns to reduce risk. Full article

Turfgrass systems in European urban green spaces, including sports fields, golf courses, and residential lawns, must balance high performance with compliance with stricter pesticide regulations. This review examines Synergistic Pest Management (SPM), an advanced form of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that integrates monitoring, biological, cultural, and targeted chemical strategies for sustainable control of major turfgrass pests. Focus is placed on key insect pests such as Tipula spp. larvae and chafer beetle grubs (Scarabaeidae) and fungal pathogens, including Microdochium nivale, Clarireedia spp., Laetisaria fuciformis, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae, and Colletotrichum spp., which cause significant losses in Central Europe and similar regions. Effective combinations include entomopathogenic nematodes with fungi, endophyte-infected cultivars with optimized mowing and irrigation, and low-dose insecticides paired with biological agents. The review considers how soil conditions, environmental timing, and maintenance practices influence success. Practical tools such as decision-support matrices and a seasonal calendar are provided for regional use. SPM can reduce chemical inputs, enhance biodiversity, and improve turf resilience, but adoption is limited by biological sensitivity, product availability, costs, and technical demands. SPM aligns with EU Directive 2009/128 and offers a pathway to sustainable turfgrass pest management. Future efforts should focus on regional validation, practitioner training, and precision technologies. Full article

Pesticide exposure poses a significant health risk, with emerging evidence suggesting its impact on auditory function. This study investigated the effects of pesticide exposure on hearing in young rural residents living near agricultural areas in Chile’s O’Higgins Region. We evaluated 51 participants (31 exposed, 20 unexposed) aged 18–35 years, using comprehensive audiological assessments including high-frequency audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Participants were classified based on residential proximity to agricultural areas, with exposed individuals living around 400 m or less from monoculture fields. Results revealed significant differences in high-frequency hearing thresholds (14 and 16 kHz) in exposed individuals. The exposed group showed a higher number of absent DPOAEs and reduced ABR wave V amplitude in the right ear compared to the unexposed group. Additionally, the wave V/I ratio was significantly lower in exposed individuals. These findings suggest that pesticide exposure, even without direct occupational contact, may induce measurable changes in auditory function, particularly affecting high-frequency hearing and neural responses. These results emphasize the need for enhanced monitoring and protective measures for populations residing near agricultural areas where pesticides are extensively used. Full article

Background: Exposure to pesticides has been associated with an increased risk of developing childhood leukemia. However, the impact of pesticides on childhood leukemia survival has not been examined. We investigated the associations between residential pesticide use during key developmental periods and 5-year survival in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: Residential use of insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, and flea control products from preconception up to 12 months prior to diagnosis and sociodemographic characteristics were collected via parental interview among 837 children diagnosed with ALL between 1995 and 2008 in California, USA. Data on clinical features were abstracted from medical records. Vital status was obtained through linkage to the National Death Index (NDI) up to 2020. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for sociodemographic factors and clinical risk group. Results: A total of 108 children with ALL (~13%) died within 5 years of diagnosis. Exposure to any pesticides pre- and/or postnatally was slightly higher among deceased compared to alive children (95.4% vs. 91.5%; p = 0.23), while use of rodenticides was significantly higher in children who died (25.0%) vs. those who survived (15.5%; p = 0.02). In fully adjusted models, exposure to rodenticides was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–2.64; p = 0.02), especially when the child was exposed during pregnancy (HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.15–3.16; p = 0.01) and possibly 12 months before diagnosis (HR 1.60; 95% CI 0.98–2.61; p = 0.06). Increased hazards of death were also observed with other types of pesticides during pregnancy, but those associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study is the first to report reduced survival among children with ALL previously exposed to rodenticides, particularly during pregnancy, underscoring the need to further evaluate mechanisms by which environmental exposures during key developmental stages may later impact cancer outcomes. Full article

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common congenital anomaly and have been widely associated with exposure to pesticides. This systematic review which analyzes the association between parental exposure to pesticides and NTDs was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy was designed considering the population, exposure, controls, outcomes, and study design (PECOS). The inclusion criteria were epidemiological studies involving pesticides exposure during embryonic development, written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, and performed in 12 databases. Based on the eligibility criteria, 16 articles were selected for analysis. The most frequently assessed NTDs were anencephaly and spina bifida, with 14 studies investigating each of these conditions. The assessment of pesticide exposure was based on parental occupation and residential proximity to agricultural fields. Studies differed regarding the pesticides assessed, exposure windows, and parents exposed. Regarding the outcomes, it was observed that geographic proximity to agricultural fields and a greater association with family members exposed to pesticides were found in mothers and neonates with NTDs. In relation to occupational exposure, some articles found an association with NTDs, while others did not. Therefore, an analysis of the available evidence suggests that pesticides are a risk factor in the development of NTDs. Full article

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), organophosphate pesticides are responsible for approximately 300,000 deaths worldwide. In the United States, documented cases of organophosphate pesticide exposure number around 8000, with a small number of fatalities occurring annually. The health risks associated with these pesticides affect those living in agricultural areas, as well as farmers and pesticide applicators. Despite the intervention of government agencies in Illinois to regulate pesticide application, studies have shown that these pesticides remain present in the soil, crops, water, and air. Urban-agricultural interface communities around Sangamon County exhibit significant levels of air pollution due to pesticide spray drift, although the lack of reliable pesticide data poses a challenge in estimating the extent of the problem. Therefore, developing novel strategies to reduce the impact of pesticides on environmental health is a critical and effective research area. Currently, new, dependable models and methods are being developed to calculate spray drift and mitigate its effects. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether and to what extent organophosphate pesticide spray drifts into urban-agricultural interface communities in Sangamon County, Illinois. To achieve this, the current study employed an integrated approach that combined the capabilities of the HYSPLIT and AgDRIFT models to evaluate organophosphate pesticide spray drifting at both the field- and county-level scales. In the absence of precise pesticide quantity data, this novel approach allowed for field simulations within identified exposure drift zones. The preliminary findings indicate that all residential areas close to agricultural areas are at risk of pesticide drift, as buffer zones do not exceed 25 m. Furthermore, of the 34 water bodies (rivers, lakes, streams, and drains) in the 30,200-acre study region, 12 are within the high-drift zone for pesticide spray drift from corn and soybean fields. Finally, the potential for organophosphate pesticide drift was present in approximately 106 buildings, covering an area of 10,300 km². Full article

Accurate identification of nitrate (NO₃⁻) sources is critical to addressing groundwater pollution, especially in highly vulnerable karst aquifers. The groundwater hydrochemistry and δ¹⁵N_NO3 and δ¹⁸O_NO3 isotopes were analyzed in samples taken from the Jinan Spring Catchment, which has been affected by urbanization and agricultural activities. The study highlighted the use of hydrochemistry, environmental isotopes, and a multisource linear mixed model for NO₃⁻ source identification and apportionment. The results showed that, controlled by carbonate rocks, the hydrochemical types in both rainy and dry seasons were highly consistent, and HCO₃·SO₄⁻Ca was the dominant type, accounting for 60%. Except for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and HCO₃⁻, the coefficients of variation of other ions were all greater than 0.5 in rainy and dry seasons. The chemical composition of groundwater was mainly controlled by water–rock interaction. Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ were mainly derived from carbonate rock dissolution; K⁺, Na⁺, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and Cl⁻ were partially derived from atmospheric precipitation. The IsoSource model quantitatively revealed that the majority of the groundwater and surface water was influenced by manure and sewage (M&S) contributing 39.3% and 52.3% in the rainy season, and 37.1% and 56.9% in the dry season, respectively. The NO₃⁻ source fraction rates were in the order M&S > SON > AF > CF > AD. In addition, nitrate pollution control measures and suggestions for different areas are put forward. In rural residential areas, the free discharge of livestock manure and sewage should be strictly controlled. In agricultural planting areas, chemical fertilizers and pesticides should be used rationally to prevent non-point source pollution. In urban areas, the centralized treatment of industrial and residential sewage should be strengthened to prevent point source pollution. Full article

Pesticide application in agricultural and residential areas is a worldwide practice. However, human pesticide poisoning and environmental pollution through pesticide residues remain a challenge in the developing world. The present study investigated the intensity of pesticide application in large-scale farms in Trans-Nzoia County to screen and prioritize the pesticides for potential human health and environmental risks. A cross-sectional survey involving 348 farmers was conducted in the study area, and data was analyzed using SPSS. Environmental Exposure Potential (EEP) and Toxicity Potentials (TP) were analyzed from the Pesticide Properties Database (PPDB). Majority (99.4%) of the farms surveyed apply various pesticide classes that include: organophosphates (34.78%), neonicotinoids (15.22%), carbamates (10.87%), pyrethroids (10.87%), organochlorines (8.7%), triazoles (6.5%), copper-based (4.34%), avermectines (2.17%), triazines (2.17%), and amidines (2.17%), with the use of organic manures (26.3%). Despite the high prevalence of pesticide application, only 48.28% of farms conduct soil quality monitoring, 77.3% of whom do not have clear records and schedules for conducting periodic soil analyses. There was a strong positive correlation between the acreage of operation and the use of herbicides in weed management (r = 0.77; p ≤ 0.05). In relation to degradation in the environment, 18.42% of the pesticides applied in the study area were persistent in soil sub-systems while 31.58% are persistent in water. Of the pesticides applied, 18.42% had high chances of bioconcentration in living tissues, 10.53% and 13.16% had the potential of contaminating groundwater and surface water resources, respectively. The ranked-order human toxicity potential associated with the used pesticides were teratogenicity (31.58%), neurotoxicity (28.95%), endocrine disruption (7.9%), carcinogenicity (7.9%), and mutagenicity (2.63%). However, 10.53% of the pesticides possess multiple toxicity potentials. Some farmers (53.70%) surveyed were not aware of the negative environmental impacts of pesticides with 59.50% having prior training on the use and handling of pesticides. Despite the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) on larger farms, 31.9% of the farm workers do not adhere to their use during pesticide application. In conclusion, there is low awareness among farmers of human health and environmental risks associated with pesticide application. The study recommends training of farm managers, farm owners, and farm workers on pesticide handling and associated health and environmental effects. Full article

The aquatic environment faces increasing threats from a variety of unregulated organic chemicals originating from human activities, collectively known as chemicals of emerging concern (CECs). These include pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, pesticides, surfactants, industrial chemicals, and their transformation products. CECs enter aquatic environments through various sources, including effluents from wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities, runoff from agricultural and residential areas, as well as accidental spills. Data on the occurrence of CECs in the marine environment are scarce, and more information is needed to assess the chemical and ecological status of water bodies, and to prioritize toxic chemicals for further studies or risk assessment. In this study, we describe a monitoring campaign targeting CECs in surface waters at the Swedish west coast using, for the first time, an on-site large volume solid phase extraction (LVSPE) device. We detected up to 80 and 227 CECs in marine sites and the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, respectively. The dataset will contribute to defining pollution fingerprints and assessing the chemical status of marine and freshwater systems affected by industrial hubs, agricultural areas, and the discharge of urban wastewater. Full article

The PESTIPREV study has been designed to investigate residential exposure to pesticides applied to vines and ultimately propose mitigation measures. A feasibility study was carried out to validate a protocol for measuring six pesticides in three houses located near vineyards in July 2020. Samples included indoor and outdoor surfaces sampled with wipes (n = 214), patches on the resident’s skin (n = 7), hand or foot washing (n = 5), and pets sampled using wipes (n = 2). Limits of quantification for wipes ranged between 0.02 ng for trifloxystrobin and 1.50 ng for pyraclostrobin. Tebuconazole and trifloxystrobin were quantified in nearly 100% of the surface samples, whereas the other fungicides were less frequently found (from 39.7% for pyraclostrobin to 55.1% for boscalid). The median surface loadings ranged from 3.13 ng/m² for benalaxyl to 82.48 ng/m² for cymoxanil. The pesticides most frequently quantified in hand washing, patch samples, and pet wipes were the same as those quantified on surfaces. Finally, the analyses proved to be successful. The tools developed to collect information on determinants were well completed. The protocol was well received by the participants and appeared to be feasible and relevant to the objective of the PESTIPREV study, although some improvements have been identified. It was applied on a larger scale in 2021 to study the determinants of pesticide exposure. Full article

Urban waterways degradation due to runoff from residential areas can be reduced by adopting best management practices (BMPs) for irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide use. Although stormwater runoff from urban areas has been studied extensively, we focus on single-family residential land use specifically. Outreach to individual households may have a measurable impact since decisions are being made here. We surveyed households to evaluate the effectiveness of education and outreach campaigns on self-reported use of water and chemicals and evaluated whether self-reported behaviors were reflected in the quality and quantity of water draining from the study areas before and after outreach efforts. Our research was conducted in California, which has a Mediterranean climate with distinct wet and dry periods. Runoff from residential landscapes during the dry season enters waterways undiluted by rainwater, making this runoff particularly detrimental to receiving waters. No significant differences in behavior and BMP adoption from before and after the education and outreach campaign was found. These results are not atypical and may be explained by several factors including the population approach to the survey, lag times between outreach and measurable effects, and the need for a critical threshold of adoption to be met for effects to be measurable. Full article

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) were evaluated in the breast milk and maternal and umbilical cord blood of pregnant women and their newborns in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The concentration of 11 PCB and 17 OCP were measured in 135 samples of maternal, and 116 samples of cord blood plasma, as well as 40, 47, and 45 samples of breast milk at 1st, 3rd, and 6th months after birth, respectively, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). Women were asked to answer an enrollment questionnaire with reproductive, lifestyle, residential and sociodemographic questions. The most commonly detected OCPs and PCBs in the maternal and cord blood were 4,4′-DDE; β-HCH; ɣ-HCH; and PCB 28. 4,4′-DDE was also the most commonly detected OCP in breast milk samples. Although not statistically significant, ∑DDT levels were higher among women with pregestational BMI ≥ 30, and who were non-white and older (age > 40). Newborns with an Apgar score ≤ 8 at minute 5 of life showed significantly higher levels of ∑DDT in the cord blood. Persistent OCPs and PCBs were still detected in maternal and umbilical cord blood and breast milk, even after decades of their banishment in Brazil. They may pose a risk to maternal, fetal and children’s health. Full article

Currently used pesticides are rapidly metabolised and excreted, primarily in urine, and urinary concentrations of pesticides/metabolites are therefore useful biomarkers for the integrated exposure from all sources. Pyrethroid insecticides, the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos, and the herbicide glyphosate, were among the prioritised substances in the HBM4EU project and comparable human biomonitoring (HBM)-data were obtained from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The aim of this review was to supplement these data by presenting additional HBM studies of the priority pesticides across the HBM4EU partner countries published since 2000. We identified relevant studies (44 for pyrethroids, 23 for chlorpyrifos, 24 for glyphosate) by literature search using PubMed and Web of Science. Most studies were from the Western and Southern part of the EU and data were lacking from more than half of the HBM4EU-partner countries. Many studies were regional with relatively small sample size and few studies address residential and occupational exposure. Variation in urine sampling, analytical methods, and reporting of the HBM-data hampered the comparability of the results across studies. Despite these shortcomings, a widespread exposure to these substances in the general EU population with marked geographical differences was indicated. The findings emphasise the need for harmonisation of methods and reporting in future studies as initiated during HBM4EU. Full article