Few data on the actual exposure of people living near crops, in particular in wine-growing regions, are available in France. This is why Public Health France and ANSES are today launching PestiRiv, the “first large-scale study aimed at better knowing and understanding the exposure to pesticides of people living near wine-growing areas”. explain the health authorities.
More than 3000 participants from 6 regions
This study will be carried out with 3350 people randomly drawn in 6 regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Among the participants will be adults from 18 to 79 years old and children over 3 years old, all living in wine-growing areas (less than 500 meters from vines and more than 1000 meters from other crops) but also away from any cultivation (more than 1000 meters from any cultivation). Participants will be divided into more than 250 study areas, representing contrasting local situations. “The main objective is to know if there is a difference between the exposure to pesticides of people living near vineyards and those living far from any cultivation. PestiRiv will make it possible to identify the sources that contribute the most to exposure to pesticides and to identify the influence that the distance to the vines, the season or even the habits and behavior of individuals may have on this exposure”.
Exposure to pesticides will be measured both in humans and in the environment with :
- Collections of urine and hair samples to measure the pesticides present in the organism of the participants.
- Collections of dust, air inside the accommodation, or fruit and vegetables from the garden of some participants.
- Measurements of pesticides in the outside air carried out in certain wine-growing areas and others far from any cultivation.
First step of this study from October 2021 to February 2022, when treatments of the vines with plant protection products are the least frequent. Second step from March to August 2022 when treatments are most frequent.
“The PestiRiv study is part of a series of scientific works supported by ANSES and Public Health France, which aim to improve knowledge about pesticides and their real effects on health” insist the health authorities.
Read also :
- Pesticides: which fruits and vegetables are the most affected?
- Up to 17 pesticides in our tea bags
- The first map of France of pesticide victims