A sampling campaign led by the Futures Generations Association calls into question the distances (3 to 20 meters) set by the government to protect the residents.
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This is a new study whose results may revive the explosive debate on the pesticide exposure of the residents of agricultural areas. They confirm in fact, on the ground, that the minimum spread distances selected by the government (3 meters, 5 meters, 10 meters and more exceptionally 20 meters) are largely insufficient to protect them. On the initiative of the Future Generations association, a participatory pesticide measurement campaign in the air (export) was organized between April and October to the homiciles of 58 volunteers, distributed in 26 departments. It made it possible to obtain 58 samples from an original method: a levy on the glass window, using a wipe. The analysis of the samples was entrusted to the Yootest Independent Laboratory.
Thirty pesticides, among the most used, have been sought. For technical reasons and costs, substances such as glyphosate or folpel (widely used in vineyards against mildew) could not be screened. Fifteen pesticides were detected at least once: nine fungicides, five herbicides and an insecticide. Residues have been identified in nearly 80% of the samples. Their occurrence varies depending on the distance between dwellings and crops: pesticides are identified in 95% of samples taken within 20 meters; The proportion is almost the same between 20 and 100 meters (90%); It drops to 50% beyond 100 meters.
The same trend is recognized if we are interested in the number of different pesticides found by sample: 3.1 on average less than 20 meters, 2.6 between 20 and 100 meters and 1.2 beyond 100 meters. meters. The vast majority (73%) of samples without a trace of pesticide residues was taken from windows at more than 100 meters from crops. In terms of concentration, finally, the median value between 20 meters and 100 meters is comparable, and even slightly higher, to that for homes within 20 meters of a culture.
A fungicide and a Very present herbicide
Other indication of the study: The results vary depending on the nature of the crops. Pesticides are thus more frequently detected near vineyards (94%) only close to crops (73%). They also show a prevalence of fungicides in the residents of vineyards and herbicides to homes located near the crops (wheat, corn, barley, rapeseed, sunflower, etc.), which is consistent with the uses related to these cultures. In terms of concentrations, the levels found near the vineyards (489 ng / m² in median value) are also superior to those measured near the field crops.
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