Measuring pesticide exposure by taking all sources of exposure into account

While the health effects of pesticides are a concern for the French public and government authorities, there is currently little data available in France on the actual exposure of people living near crops, particularly vineyards. PestiRiv is thus the first study conducted across mainland France to investigate pesticide exposure in both wine-growing and non-wine-growing areas. This is a groundbreaking study in that it will allow for a comparison of the population’s actual exposure levels—assessed through biological samples—with all possible sources of exposure: air, food (including water), occupational activities (including agricultural practices), and domestic uses.

The main objective is to determine whether there is a difference in pesticide exposure between people living near vineyards and those living far from any crops. PestiRiv will help identify the sources that contribute most to pesticide exposure and assess the influence that distance from vineyards, the season, or individuals’ habits and behaviors may have on this exposure. A better understanding of the sources of this exposure will help identify ways to limit it and, consequently, avoid the potential health effects of these products.

A large-scale study: 3,350 participants, 2 field study periods

The study involves 3,350 randomly selected participants, including adults aged 18 to 79 and children over 3 years old living in wine-growing areas (within 500 meters of vineyards and more than 1,000 meters from other crops) and areas far from any crops (more than 1,000 meters from any crops). Participants will be distributed across more than 250 study areas, representing contrasting local conditions, in six regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

The PestiRiv study covers two periods of the year:

• from October 2021 to February 2022, when the use of pesticides on vineyards is least frequent;

• from March to August 2022, when treatments are most frequent.

Pesticide exposure will be measured in both humans and the environment through:

• Collection of urine and hair samples to measure pesticides present in participants’ bodies

• Collection of dust, indoor air, and fruits and vegetables from the gardens of certain participants (partner: the Scientific and Technical Center for Building).

• Measurements of pesticides in outdoor air conducted in certain wine-growing areas and others far from any crops (partners: Atmo France, accredited air quality monitoring associations, and INERIS).

These measurements will be accompanied by:

• Questionnaires sent to participants to identify sources that may contribute to their exposure to pesticides.

• A description of the meteorological and topographical conditions that may influence the dispersion of plant protection products in the environment.

• An analysis of the agricultural context of the study areas, such as the likelihood of vineyard treatments.

• An analysis of national water monitoring data to determine the local contribution of this source to consumer exposure.

Measurements in the relevant environments will cover approximately fifty substances.

A study building on the work of ANSES and Santé publique France

The PestiRiv study is part of a series of scientific studies supported by ANSES and Santé publique France, aimed at improving our understanding of pesticides and their actual effects on health.

Through the national biomonitoring program (ENNS¹, Elfe², Esteban³…), led and implemented by Santé publique France, the French population’s exposure to various pollutants, including pesticides, is assessed by measuring contamination levels in samples (urine, blood, hair), investigating exposure pathways, and proposing recommendations to reduce exposure.

GEOCAP-AGRI, also led by Santé publique France in partnership with Inserm-Epicea UMR 1153 and funded by ANSES, studies the risk of childhood cancer in relation to proximity to certain crop types.

The National Exploratory Pesticide Campaign (CNEP), led by ANSES, INERIS, and Atmo France—the network of accredited air quality monitoring associations—has provided a snapshot of the substances present in outdoor air (excluding situations of close proximity to emission sources) and their concentration levels in France, both in mainland France and in the overseas territories.

All of this data is utilized within the framework of phytopharmacovigilance, a national system for monitoring adverse effects linked to the use of plant protection products led by ANSES, whose goal is to collect existing data and identify signals and alerts that require national action.