Pesticide contamination and associated risk factors at public playgrounds near intensively managed apple and wine orchards

Abstract

Background: Pesticide levels are generally monitored within agricultural areas, but are commonly not assessed at public places. To assess possible contamination of non-target areas, 71 public playgrounds located next to intensively managed apple and wine orchards were selected in four valleys of South Tyrol (northern Italy). Further, the impact of environmental site characteristics on the number and concentration of pesticides was assessed. Grass samples from the selected playgrounds were collected and screened for 315 pesticide residues using standard gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.Results: Nearly half of the playgrounds (45%) were contaminated by at least one pesticide and a quarter (24%) by more than one. Eleven of the 12 different detected pesticides are classified as endocrine-active substances including the insecticide phosmet and the fungicide fluazinam showing the highest concentrations (0.069 and 0.26 mg kg −1 , respectively). Additionally, one disinfectant and one preservation agent was found. Playgrounds in Venosta valley were most often contaminated (76% of all investigated playgrounds), highest concentrations were found in the Low Adige (2.02 mg kg −1 ). Pesticide concentrations were positively associated with areal proportion of apple orchards in the surroundings, the amount of rainfall and wind speed. In contrast, increasing global irradiance, opposite wind direction, increasing distance to agricultural sites and high wind speeds when pesticide application was not allowed were associated with decreasing pesticide contamination. Conclusion:This study is among the first investigating pesticide contamination of public playgrounds together with environmental factors in areas with pesticide-intensive agriculture at the beginning of the growing season. It is likely that playgrounds will be affected by more pesticides and higher concentrations over the course of the crop season. The result, that the majority of the detected pesticides are classified as endocrine active is worrisome as children are especially vulnerable. Hence, we recommend that pesticide risk assessments should better include protection measures for non-target areas.

Year-round pesticide contamination of public sites near intensively managed agricultural areas in South Tyrol

“…In a previous study, we already demonstrated the diffuse low-level exposure of playgrounds during springtime [12], but it is unclear if exposures remain for the rest of the year. The present study thus aimed to assess year-round exposure levels of public sites in the Italian province of Bolzano-South-Tyrol, which is among the leading apple-and wine-producing areas in Europe [25].…”

“…After surveys in 2016 [27] and 2017 [12,28], the Department of Environmental Medicine of the South Tyrolean Medical Service (Departement für Gesundheitsvorsorge -Betriebliche Sektion für Umweltmedizin des Südtiroler Sanitätsbetriebs) conducted in 2018 a further survey on residue contamination in the Autonomous Province Bolzano-South Tyrol (Italy). For the current study, these data were courteously provided by the South Tyrolean Medical Service.…”

“…Knowing the pesticide contamination of playgrounds is important as they are often visited by children or pregnant women, who are considered particularly vulnerable [17]. Our previous finding, that most of the pesticides detected at playgrounds in South Tyrol are endocrine active (EDA) or endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) [12] is worrisome because EDAs and EDCs affect the hormone balance of fetuses, children, and teenagers [18][19][20][21]. Moreover, residents living near agricultural areas with intensive pesticide use have been shown to develop several health deficiencies, including asthma, confusion, anxiety, weakness, problems with speaking and orientation, poor memory, frequent urination, and increased salivation [22].…”

“…Moreover, due to the limited availability of cultivable and habitable land in the mountainous province of Bolzano-South Tyrol, apple orchards and vineyards often directly border on public places such as playgrounds, parks, schools, or private gardens [11]. Hence, the amount of non-target pesticide contamination in public places has been shown to correlate with the distance to apple orchards and their proportion in the landscape [12]. However, drift and atmospheric degradation of pesticides also depend on the physico-chemical properties of the pesticide product, droplet size during spray applications, and meteorological conditions during and after spraying [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Investigation of Electrical Conductivity Properties and Electro Transport of a Novel Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube Electro Membrane under Constant Current

“…CYP is a synthetic pyrethroid used as an insecticide in consumer products for personal use as well as in large‐scale commercial farming applications . It behaves like a fast‐acting neurotoxin on insects.…”