Agroecological sheep farming systems in the Ile-de-France region: Assessment of micropollutant contamination in fodder and ewe blood, milk and urine
Abstract
This study assessed chemical exposure in sheep grazing on urban plots (4 herds) and intercrop fields (3 herds) in the Île-de-France region (France) followed during 2 consecutive years. Toxic trace elements (TTE), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in fodder (26 samples) and animal biological fluids (blood, milk, and urine, 5 to 12 animals sampled by year) across both systems, although concentrations generally remained below regulatory limits. Urban fodder exhibited higher levels of TTE and PAHs, likely related to traffic emissions and historical industrial activities, while some rural herds showed isolated TTE contamination associated with water sources. Pesticide residues, including banned compounds, were detected in all systems, reflecting their environmental persistence. Urinary biomonitoring revealed complex multi-residue exposure patterns, characterized by diffuse low-level contamination in urban areas and episodic agricultural peaks in intercrop fields. Regarding PFAS, the low and homogeneous concentrations measured in milk, with no significant differences between urban and intercrop systems, suggest widespread background environmental contamination rather than localized sources related to specific grazing practices. Overall, these findings indicate that livestock are exposed to mixtures of environmental contaminants even in urban environments. They highlight the importance of adaptive farming practices during periods of environmental and agricultural transition, such as rotational grazing, water quality management, and careful site selection, to reduce contaminant exposure, safeguard animal and human food safety, and support a “One Health” approach linking animal, human, and environmental health.
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BibTeX
@misc{dervilly2026agroecological,
title = {{Agroecological sheep farming systems in the Ile-de-France region: Assessment of micropollutant contamination in fodder and ewe blood, milk and urine}},
author = {Gaud Dervilly and Petru Jitaru and Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard and Thomas Le Bouill and Tarek Moufawad and Valérie Wolgust and Anne Couturier-Tarrade and Bénédicte Grimard},
howpublished = {HAL},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05760353v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Agroecological sheep farming systems in the Ile-de-France region: Assessment of micropollutant contamination in fodder and ewe blood, milk and urine
AU - Gaud Dervilly
AU - Petru Jitaru
AU - Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard
AU - Thomas Le Bouill
AU - Tarek Moufawad
AU - Valérie Wolgust
AU - Anne Couturier-Tarrade
AU - Bénédicte Grimard
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
PB - HAL
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05760353v1
AB - This study assessed chemical exposure in sheep grazing on urban plots (4 herds) and intercrop fields (3 herds) in the Île-de-France region (France) followed during 2 consecutive years. Toxic trace elements (TTE), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in fodder (26 samples) and animal biological fluids (blood, milk, and urine, 5 to 12 animals sampled by year) across both systems, although concentrations generally remained below regulatory limits. Urban fodder exhibited higher levels of TTE and PAHs, likely related to traffic emissions and historical industrial activities, while some rural herds showed isolated TTE contamination associated with water sources. Pesticide residues, including banned compounds, were detected in all systems, reflecting their environmental persistence. Urinary biomonitoring revealed complex multi-residue exposure patterns, characterized by diffuse low-level contamination in urban areas and episodic agricultural peaks in intercrop fields. Regarding PFAS, the low and homogeneous concentrations measured in milk, with no significant differences between urban and intercrop systems, suggest widespread background environmental contamination rather than localized sources related to specific grazing practices. Overall, these findings indicate that livestock are exposed to mixtures of environmental contaminants even in urban environments. They highlight the importance of adaptive farming practices during periods of environmental and agricultural transition, such as rotational grazing, water quality management, and careful site selection, to reduce contaminant exposure, safeguard animal and human food safety, and support a “One Health” approach linking animal, human, and environmental health.
ER -