A Snapshot of Pesticide Residues in Human, Animal, and Environmental Samples Across 10 European Countries
Abstract
Intensive pesticide use raises concerns for environmental, human, and animal health, yet Europe-wide data on exposure remain fragmented. In this study, 224 pesticide residues were analysed in environmental and biological samples collected during the 2021 growing season across 10 European sites, covering conventional and organic farms. Samples included human (farmers, neighbours, consumers) and animal (cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens, cats) matrices-urine, plasma, faeces, and silicone wristbands-as well as farm feed and environmental matrices including soil, earthworms, crops, water, sediment, outdoor air/dust, and indoor dust. Across all matrices, the top ten rankings based on detection frequency identified 63 priority compounds; 62 were detected in at least two matrices. Notably, non-approved pesticides accounted for 10-70% of the residues in the top ten across human, animal, and environmental samples. Detection frequencies and concentrations were generally higher in conventional than in organic systems, although differences were smaller than expected. The most frequently detected residues were glyphosate (in 9 of 16 matrices) and the banned persistent DDT metabolite p,p ' DDE (in 11 of 16 matrices). Overall, pesticide residues were widespread, mostly at low levels, across humans, animals, and environments in Europe. A One-Health-based harmonised monitoring and risk assessment approach is needed, including both approved and non-approved compounds.
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BibTeX
@article{vested2026snapshot,
title = {{A Snapshot of Pesticide Residues in Human, Animal, and Environmental Samples Across 10 European Countries}},
author = {Anne Vested and Lingtong Gai and Nelson Abrantes and Francisco Alcon and Isabel Campos and Trine Norgaard and Florian Christ and Josefina Contreras and Jonatan Dias and Violette Geissen and Matjaz Glavan and Neus Gonzalez and Martien Graumans and Paula Harkes and Jakub Hofman and Dennis Knuth and Daniele Mandrioli and Maria Angeles Martinez and Hans Mol and Irene Navarro and Rima Osman and Igor Paskovic and Marija Polic Paskovic and Paul T. J. Scheepers and Daria Sgargi and Vera Silva and Martin Tang Sorensen and Mathilde Bureau and Isabelle Baldi and Adrian de La Torre and Abdallah Alaoui and Vivi Schlunssen},
journal = {Environments},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/environments13100545},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05858057v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A Snapshot of Pesticide Residues in Human, Animal, and Environmental Samples Across 10 European Countries
AU - Anne Vested
AU - Lingtong Gai
AU - Nelson Abrantes
AU - Francisco Alcon
AU - Isabel Campos
AU - Trine Norgaard
AU - Florian Christ
AU - Josefina Contreras
AU - Jonatan Dias
AU - Violette Geissen
AU - Matjaz Glavan
AU - Neus Gonzalez
AU - Martien Graumans
AU - Paula Harkes
AU - Jakub Hofman
AU - Dennis Knuth
AU - Daniele Mandrioli
AU - Maria Angeles Martinez
AU - Hans Mol
AU - Irene Navarro
AU - Rima Osman
AU - Igor Paskovic
AU - Marija Polic Paskovic
AU - Paul T. J. Scheepers
AU - Daria Sgargi
AU - Vera Silva
AU - Martin Tang Sorensen
AU - Mathilde Bureau
AU - Isabelle Baldi
AU - Adrian de La Torre
AU - Abdallah Alaoui
AU - Vivi Schlunssen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Environments
DO - 10.3390/environments13100545
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05858057v1
AB - Intensive pesticide use raises concerns for environmental, human, and animal health, yet Europe-wide data on exposure remain fragmented. In this study, 224 pesticide residues were analysed in environmental and biological samples collected during the 2021 growing season across 10 European sites, covering conventional and organic farms. Samples included human (farmers, neighbours, consumers) and animal (cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens, cats) matrices-urine, plasma, faeces, and silicone wristbands-as well as farm feed and environmental matrices including soil, earthworms, crops, water, sediment, outdoor air/dust, and indoor dust. Across all matrices, the top ten rankings based on detection frequency identified 63 priority compounds; 62 were detected in at least two matrices. Notably, non-approved pesticides accounted for 10-70% of the residues in the top ten across human, animal, and environmental samples. Detection frequencies and concentrations were generally higher in conventional than in organic systems, although differences were smaller than expected. The most frequently detected residues were glyphosate (in 9 of 16 matrices) and the banned persistent DDT metabolite p,p ' DDE (in 11 of 16 matrices). Overall, pesticide residues were widespread, mostly at low levels, across humans, animals, and environments in Europe. A One-Health-based harmonised monitoring and risk assessment approach is needed, including both approved and non-approved compounds.
SN - 2076-3298
ER -