Aug 2026· JMIR Research Protocols· Vol 15, pp.
e94740
· 0 citations· 22 references
Medicine
Abstract
Background
The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture raises concerns about exposure among populations living near treated fields. Environmental contamination may lead to prolonged pesticide exposure, with potential health effects, yet significant knowledge gaps remain regarding exposure levels and pathways in agricultural communities.
Objective
The Exposure to Pesticides Used in Regions of Agriculture (EPURA) study aims to characterize pesticide exposure patterns and identify their key sources and determinants through an integrated approach combining biological and environmental measurements.
Methods
We recruited 400 participants from agricultural communities living within 1500 meters of vegetable production fields in Quebec, Canada, throughout the 2 years of data collection. Over 4 summer months and 3 winter months, participants provided monthly urine samples and floor wipes and completed questionnaires on diet, water consumption, household characteristics, pesticide use, and lifestyles. Summer and winter urine samples were pooled for each participant, and summer and winter wipe samples were pooled for each household. At the end of the summer, we collected additional samples, including indoor dust, yard soil, and tap water. Environmental and biological samples will be analyzed for 51 pesticides and their metabolites. Pesticide applications near residences will be estimated using agricultural land use data integrated into a geographic information system. Pesticide intake from food and water will be assessed by combining consumption data with pesticide residues measured in water and in food monitoring programs. Residential contamination will be estimated by measuring pesticides in indoor dust and yard soil. Urinary pesticide concentrations will be used to estimate exposure doses. Urinary concentrations will be compared across population subgroups and seasons and with available Canadian biomonitoring data. Associations between exposure doses and dietary and water intake, indoor and outdoor contamination, proximity to treated fields, and household-level determinants will be examined using mixed models. Variable selection will be performed using high-dimensional methods.
Results
As of June 1, 2026, participant recruitment and data collection are complete. A total of 173 households (372 participants) were included in the study, with 1049 wipe samples, 170 sealed petri dishes, 157 water samples, 170 yard soil samples, and 2257 urine samples collected. Completion of all laboratory analyses is expected in 2027, after which the statistical analyses will be conducted in accordance with the study objectives.
Conclusions
This study will generate crucial data on pesticide exposure in agricultural communities. Its findings will help identify major determinants of household contamination and key risk factors contributing to residents' pesticide exposure. Ultimately, the EPURA study will support the development of targeted strategies to reduce pesticide-related health risks and inform public health policies.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/94740.
Residents of agricultural regions are exposed to complex mixtures of agricultural and household pesticides, yet determinants of exposure remain poorly characterized in low-and middle-income countries, limiting accurate exposure assessment and health risk evaluation. This study aimed to identify self-reported recent and ever behavioural and environmental factors associated with urinary pesticide biomarker levels among children living in three agricultural areas of the Western Cape, South Africa. Between 2017 and 2019, 533 children aged 9-15 years provided 1,814 spot urine samples and completed exposure questionnaires up to five times. Parents and children provided information on exposure factors such as farm residence, use of household pesticides, seeing spray drifts and various pesticide exposure activities. Fourteen biomarkers of pyrethroids, organophosphates, triazoles and dithiocarbamates were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and corrected for specific gravity. Associations between exposure factors and biomarker levels were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. Recent household pesticide use was associated with up to 57% higher levels of 12 biomarkers, while recent spray drifts exposure was associated with up to 30% higher levels of eight biomarkers. Ever household pesticide use and ever exposure to spray drifts were associated with up to 30% higher levels of IMPy, 2,4-D and 4F3PBA. Use of open drinking water sources was associated with higher TCPy, BCP and ETU levels. Recent exposure factors were consistently associated with urinary biomarker levels than ever exposure factors. The identified exposure factors can inform pesticide exposure characterization in epidemiological analyses and targeted interventions to reduce children's exposure in agricultural communities.
Regina Ntsubise Molomo, A. Veludo, Marc Grünig et al.· Environmental Pollution· 0 citations
Lead (Pb) exposure remains a persistent environmental health concern even after the global phase-out of leaded gasoline. This study synthesized 27,780 vegetable Pb concentration records from 71 countries (1981-2023), integrating peer-reviewed literature, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Food Safety Collaborative Platform (FOSCOLLAB) database, and national Total Diet Studies under a unified analytical framework. Spatial and temporal patterns of vegetable Pb contamination were characterized before and after leaded gasoline phase-out across four vegetable groups (fruiting, leafy, legumes, and root, tuber, and stem vegetables). Statistical associations between vegetable Pb concentrations and 16 macro-scale environmental and anthropogenic variables were examined using Pearson correlation and multivariable regression. Dietary exposure was assessed using the Margin of Exposure approach with population-specific consumption data. The compiled data revealed a pronounced monitoring imbalance: monitoring records were concentrated in high-income regions, while many low- and middle-income countries were represented mainly by literature-derived data. Post-ban vegetable Pb concentrations remained spatially heterogeneous, with low median values in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania but localized elevated concentrations in parts of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Among the macro-scale predictors, PM2.5 showed the most consistent positive association with vegetable Pb concentrations across all vegetable groups. In the available post-ban dataset, exposure-based assessment identified five countries where the estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults exceeded the adult point-of-departure (POD) value of 1.2 μg·kg-1·bw·day-1, and one country where child EDI exceeded the child POD value of 0.6 μg·kg-1·bw·day-1. Temporal comparison further showed that concentration reductions did not necessarily translate into proportional reductions in dietary exposure when vegetable consumption patterns changed. These findings support complementing concentration-based standards with exposure-based surveillance that accounts for evolving dietary patterns and highlight the need for strengthened food-contaminant monitoring in underrepresented regions.
Yue Wang, Qihuang Wang, Yanni Zhang et al.· Journal of Environmental Man...· 0 citations
Dietary exposure to pesticide mixtures is recognized as an important food safety challenge worldwide, particularly in countries with intensive agricultural production. Regulatory monitoring programs focus primarily on compliance with maximum residue limits (MRLs), whereas cumulative exposure to pesticide mixtures remains insufficiently addressed. This study investigated the occurrence of eleven currently used pesticides in 20 commonly consumed plant-based foods (60 samples) marketed in Brazil and assessed regulatory compliance and human health risks associated with dietary exposure. Residues were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and concentrations were compared with Brazilian MRLs and crop authorization status. Risk characterization included the hazard quotient (HQ), the hazard index (HI), and the carcinogenic risk (CRisk), estimated using cumulative assessment groups based on shared toxicological targets. Multiple residues were detected across all commodities, with chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos, imidacloprid, malathion, and fipronil most frequently associated with non-compliant samples. Several residues corresponded to pesticides not authorized for the respective crops, suggesting misuse, environmental contamination, or compliance failures; imidacloprid exceeded its MRL in zucchini by more than 70-fold. The carcinogenic risk from atrazine remained below accepted thresholds. In contrast, cumulative non-carcinogenic risk identified cassava, strawberry, and spinach as the commodities of greatest concern, with an HI of 3.16 for cassava. Fipronil residues drove these results, accounting for 83–99% of the cumulative hazard. These findings indicate that regulatory compliance alone may not capture the health risks of pesticide mixtures. Strengthened monitoring, improved traceability, and cumulative risk approaches are needed to protect consumer health and support evidence-based regulation.
Gabriel Henrique Savietto, A. da-Silva, Pedro Henrique Da Silveira Neves et al.· Foods· 0 citations
The widespread use of pesticides in crop protection leads to their release into soil, where their occurrence is shaped by multiple factors, including land use, management practices, and pedoclimatic conditions. However, their long-term behavior and effects on beneficial soil organisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the drivers of pesticide residue occurrence in agricultural soils, their persistence beyond the period in which ≥90% of the applied substance is expected to dissipate from the soil according to regulatory data (DT90), and potential ecotoxicological effects on soil invertebrates. We analyzed 146 substances (127 active ingredients and 19 transformation products) in topsoil from 126 Swiss sites across different land uses (arable and vegetable fields, orchards, and vineyards) using a sensitive analytical method. In addition to pesticide application intensity, pedoclimatic factors - particularly soil organic carbon and 30-year mean precipitation - emerged as key drivers of residue occurrence. Observed field persistence exceeded regulatory maximum field half-lives in about 60% of cases, especially for residues remaining in soil well beyond the DT90 period. While most pesticide concentrations declined to below 10% of the applied amount after this period, several remained above this threshold for extended periods and at concentrations potentially relevant for ecotoxicological effects on soil invertebrates. Among these, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, and chlorpyrifos contributed most strongly to the potential ecotoxicological impact across land uses, with overall concerns higher in Switzerland than in the European LUCAS soil monitoring survey. Our findings indicate that regulatory prospective persistence estimates frequently fail to capture field longevity and associated potential ecotoxicological effects of multiple pesticides.
Andrea Rösch, V. Reininger, Johannes Ranke et al.· Environmental Science: Proce...· 0 citations
Pesticides remain central to crop protection and agricultural productivity, but inappropriate application practices may increase environmental and occupational risks. This study provides an integrated assessment of phytosanitary practices, soil physicochemical quality patterns, and Tier 1 environmental risk in pesticide-treated agricultural fields of western Algeria. A semi-structured survey was conducted in 70 agricultural fields across Oran, Mostaganem, Ain Temouchent, and Saida to document pesticide use patterns, active ingredients, treated crops, dose compliance, and safety practices. Soil physicochemical properties were assessed in 20 pesticide-treated plots and 20 corresponding untreated control samples. For each plot, one composite soil sample of approximately 1 kg was obtained from the 0-40 cm layer by pooling six subsamples collected along a complete zigzag transect. Tier 1 environmental risk was evaluated by estimating predicted environmental concentrations (PEC soil) and chronic toxicity-exposure ratios (TER) following EFSA guidance and the FAO Pesticide Registration Toolkit. Soil data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired treated-control comparisons, Shapiro-Wilk normality tests, paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests as appropriate, false discovery rate adjustment, Spearman correlation, and standardized principal component analysis. The survey showed a predominance of insecticides and fungicides, frequent noncompliance with recommended application rates, and limited use of personal protective equipment. Compared with the corresponding controls, treated soils showed significantly lower moisture and organic matter, higher pH, and lower silt content after FDR correction, whereas electrical conductivity, carbonate variables, available phosphorus, clay, and sand did not show robust paired differences. Multivariate analysis separated samples mainly according to moisture, pH, organic matter, carbonate status, texture, and available phosphorus. The Tier 1 assessment identified sites with potential chronic risk requiring further refinement or risk mitigation. These findings provide a regional baseline on phytosanitary practices, soil physicochemical patterns, and screening-level environmental risk in western Algerian agroecosystems.
Hiba Hamal, Yamina Merzouk, Amina Zergui et al.· Journal of Environmental Sci...· 0 citations
Agricultural intensification in Zambia has led to widespread reliance on pesticides to safeguard crop yields, yet concerns about their ecological consequences remain insufficiently addressed. This study helps to fill this gap by evaluating the extent and ecological risks associated with pesticide contamination in soils from Chibombo and Mkushi Districts in Central Zambia. We used a two-stage nested research design. First, locations (districts) contained different farming systems (commercial, emergent, and smallholder). Within each farming system, we measured and compared the levels of various pesticide residues, followed by ecological risk assessments (single pollution index and comprehensive pollution index). Pesticide residues were extracted using a modified QuEChERS method and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The analysis of pesticide residues indicated that there were significant variations between farming systems in several pesticide residues (acetamiprid, chlorpyriphos, cypermethrin and profenofos). However, there were no significant differences in pesticide residue accumulation between districts. Smallholder farms were generally associated with high insecticide residues (especially chlorpyrifos with a range of 1,494–5,961 μg/kg), emergent farms showed elevated levels of both insecticides and herbicides (notably cypermethrin and fomesafen), while commercial farms were dominated by herbicide residues (acifluorfen, fomesafen, glyphosate and its primary metabolite; aminomethylphosphonic acid). Ecological risk indices indicated significant threats to soil microbial communities, underscoring the potential for long-term disruption of ecosystem services. The data highlights chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin as key pollutants of concern. The study concludes that current pesticide management practices in Central Province pose measurable ecological risks, necessitating urgent policy interventions and adoption of sustainable pest management strategies.
Aaron Chimbelya Siyunda, Davies Lungu, N. M. Mwila et al.· Frontiers in Environmental S...· 0 citations
