Identifying pesticides of high concern for ecosystem, plant, animal, and human health: A comprehensive field study across Europe and Argentina.

The widespread and excessive use of pesticides in modern agricultural practices has caused pesticide contamination of the environment, animals, and humans, with confirmed serious health consequences. This study aimed to identify the 20 most critical substances based on an analysis of detection frequency (DF) and median concentrations (MC) across environmental and biological matrices. A sampling campaign was conducted across 10 case study sites in Europe and 1 in Argentina, each encompassing conventional and organic farming systems. We analysed 209 active substances in a total of 4609 samples. All substances ranked among the 20 most critical were detected in silicon wristbands worn by humans and animals and indoor dust from both farming systems. Five of them were detected in all environmental matrices. Overall, higher values of DF and MC, including in the blood plasma of animals and humans, were recorded in samples of conventional compared to organic farms. The differences between farming systems were greater in the environmental samples and less in animal and human samples. Ten substances were detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms and eight in animal blood plasma from organic farms. Two of those, detected in both farming systems, are classified as hazardous for mammals (acute). Five substances detected in animal blood plasma from organic farms and seven detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms are classified as hazardous for mammals (dietary). Three substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as carcinogens. Seven of the substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as endocrine disruptors. Six substances, of which five were detected in human blood plasma, are hazardous for reproduction/development. Efforts are needed to elucidate the unknown effects of mixtures, and it is crucial that such research also considers biocides and banned substances, which constitute a baseline of contamination that adds to the effect of substances used in agriculture.

Agricultural exposure and risk of ovarian cancer in the AGRIculture and CANcer (AGRICAN) cohort.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is rare with a poor prognosis and few established risk factors. Hormones and reproductive factors significantly impact its development, suggesting a potential link with endocrine disrupters. METHODS: In the AGRICAN cohort, 59 391 female farmers completed data on lifelong agricultural exposures and reproductive life. Cox models with attained age as timescale (HR and 95% CI) were used. The role of hormonal factors as potential confounders was considered along with specific time windows for exposure (childhood, puberty and menopause). Female farmers were the reference group (for the principal analyses). RESULTS: Between enrolment (2005-2007) and the end of follow-up (31 December 2017), 262 incident ovarian cancers were identified. An increased risk was observed for females involved in pigs (HR=2.12 (95% CI 1.27 to 3.52)) including during puberty (HR=1.83 (95% CI 1.13 to 2.94)), fruit-growing (HR=2.17 (95% CI 1.09 to 4.30)) and potato seed treatment (HR=2.81 (95% CI 1.29 to 6.09)). Conversely, females born on farms growing grain cereals (HR=0.64 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.90)) or pig-breeding (HR=0.78 (95% CI 0.55 to 1.12)) presented a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Triazine herbicide exposure was not associated with ovarian cancer. The effect of agricultural exposures remained unchanged in multivariate models considering contraception, parity, puberty age, menopause age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to assess the association between specific agricultural exposures and ovarian cancer comprehensively. Some of the positive associations observed suggest that some pesticide exposure (especially during puberty) could play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. On the other hand, agricultural exposure during early life could have a protective effect, as observed for lung cancer among farmers. Finally, we did not confirm the previous putative effect of exposure to triazine herbicides.

A contaminação por agrotóxicos e os Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) / Contamination by pesticides and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Este trabalho analisou a eficiência e a adequação dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individuais (EPIs) utilizados na manipulação e na aplicação de agrotóxicos nas agriculturas brasileira e francesa. Essa análise foi feita a partir de dois casos: o primeiro, na cultura de tomate numa pequena comunidade rural do Brasil e o segundo, numa vinicultura na França. As evidências encontradas mostraram que os EPIs utilizados em ambos os casos, além de não protegerem integralmente o trabalhador contra o agrotóxico, ainda agravaram os riscos e perigos, pois se tornaram fontes de contaminação. Conclui-se que, nos casos analisados, os EPIs não eliminaram nem neutralizaram a insalubridade, conforme estatui a legislação, e ainda aumentaram a probabilidade de contaminação dos trabalhadores rurais em algumas atividades. Discutiu-se, ainda, a possibilidade dos EPIs apresentarem lacunas funcionais no projeto, na concepção, no uso, na manutenção, no armazenamento e no descarte, que devem ser melhor avaliadas através de futuros estudos de desenvolvimento tecnológico.

This study has analyzed the efficiency and adequacy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used when mixing and spraying pesticides in Brazilian and French farming. Analysis was based on two case studies: The first one, concerning a tomato crop located in a small rural community in the Southeast of Brazil; the second, a vineyard in France. The findings showed that PPE used in both cases has not protected properly against pesticide and has sometimes even turned into a source of contamination. The study concluded that PPE could not eliminate or neutralize unhealthy conditions related to pesticide use, as law demands. Moreover, in some cases, it might have caused rural workers contamination. It also shows that PPE might not have been correctly planned, conceived, used, maintained, stored and disposed. Theses problems should be analyzed in further technological development studies.