Pesticide Exposure Study Reveals Widespread Contamination Across Europe

For decades, Khoji Wesselius has noticed the sharp, oily smell of pesticides drifting across his small Dutch farming village whenever spraying takes place. Now, after taking part in a new citizen-science experiment, Wesselius and his wife have a clearer sense of what long-term exposure to these chemicals may mean for their health.

“We were shocked,” said Wesselius, a retired provincial government worker, who had exposure to eight different pesticides through his skin, with even more chemicals found through tests of his blood, urine and stool. “I was contaminated by 11 sorts of pesticides. My wife, who is more strict in her organic nourishment, had seven sorts of pesticides.”

Breathing in Pesticides: An Overlooked Risk

Regulators often focus on the safety of pesticides consumed through food. However, far less scrutiny is given to the risks of inhaling chemicals or absorbing them through the skin. A new European study suggests these non-dietary exposure routes are widespread – even among people living far from farmland.

“What’s most surprising is that we cannot avoid exposure to pesticides: they are in our direct environment and our study indicates direct contact,” said Paul Scheepers, a toxicologist at Radboud University and co-author of the study. “The real question is how much is taken up [by the body] and that’s not so easy to answer.”

Study Tracks Exposure Using Silicone Wristbands

Researchers recruited 641 participants across 10 European countries, asking them to wear silicone wristbands for one week. The bands were tested for traces of 193 different pesticides.

• 173 pesticides were detected across the sample.

• Every wristband contained pesticide residues.

• Participants were exposed to an average of 20 different substances.

Farmers Show Highest Levels of Exposure

Unsurprisingly, non-organic farmers recorded the highest exposure levels, with a median of 36 pesticides per wristband. Organic farmers and rural residents – including Wesselius – also showed elevated levels. People living far from farmland had the lowest levels, with a median of 17 pesticides, yet still showed multiple exposures.

“I’ve asked myself, was it worth it to know all this?” said Wesselius, who says some contractors for the farmers near his village do not seem to consider the wind direction when applying pesticides such as glyphosate and neonicotinoids. “It’s lingering in the back of my mind. Every time I see a tractor [with a spraying installation] there’s this kind of eerie feeling that I’m being poisoned.”

Banned Pesticides Still Appearing in the Environment

The study also detected residues from chemicals that have been banned for decades, including breakdown products of:

• DDT, outlawed long ago due to severe health impacts

• Banned insecticides such as dieldrin and propoxur

Their presence highlights how persistent these chemicals are in the environment.

Potential Health Concerns from Chemical Mixtures

While the presence of residues in wristbands does not prove direct harm, researchers remain concerned. Studies have suggested that chemical mixtures may have stronger combined effects than single substances, potentially amplifying health risks.

Bartosz Wielgomas, head of toxicology at the Medical University of Gdańsk, called the findings “of great value”, though he noted that the wristbands likely underestimate actual exposure, as they do not absorb all substances evenly.

“The conclusions of this study are highly significant: pesticides are ubiquitous, not only in agricultural areas but also in environments far from crop fields,” he said.

Europe Pulls Back on Pesticide Reduction Target

The EU previously proposed halving pesticide use by 2030, but abandoned the plan last year after pressure from farming lobbies and several member states who argued the cuts were too severe. The new findings could reignite debate about how best to balance food production with public health.

Wesselius, whose results have motivated him to eat more organic food, said: “It’s not a nice thing to know. But it’s even worse to continue this practice.”

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