Pesticides in bread and cereals

Based on data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Foodwatch report shows that more than a third (37%) of cereal products contain one or more pesticides. From a sample of 2,234 products analyzed in European supermarkets, but mainly in those in Germany, France and Ireland, 837 were contaminated with 65 pesticides.

The most used pesticides, fungicides and insecticides found in the analyzed products are Chlormequat (25.7%) - a plant growth regulator, followed by Pirimiphos-methyl (16.5%) - present in many insecticides applied during grain storage, butoxide of piperonil (14.2%), cypermethrin (8%), deltamethrin (7.3%), tebuconazole (3.9%) and glyphosate (3.6%).

However, of the 1,215 residues found, only 18 exceeded the regulatory threshold, i.e. the maximum residue limit (MRL) set for each active substance by the European Commission based on EFSA data.

Similarly, the amount of residue varies considerably from one product to another, being below 10% in rye and hop samples and reaching almost 90% in bread and other wheat bakery products.

Pesticides in the environment

A groundbreaking study from the SPRINT project funded by the European Union's Horizon program has revealed that pesticide residues are widespread in agricultural environments and residential settings, raising concerns for both environmental and human health.

The study found that pesticide residues, which have been largely overlooked in the past, are extensively mingling in ecosystems, including homes of farmworkers and their neighbors. The field sampling campaign conducted in 10 European countries identified pesticide residues at all study sites, with 86% of the tested samples containing pesticide residues and 76% containing mixtures of pesticides. The indoor dust findings were particularly alarming, with one house containing residues from 121 different pesticides. Many of these residues are classified as "highly hazardous" to mammals and linked to adverse human health effects.

The study proposed a new prioritization hazard-based indicator of pesticides for ecosystem and human health assessments. The research highlights the need for integrated risk assessments that consider the complexities of pesticide mixtures and calls for enhanced regulatory measures to address the far-reaching impacts of these mixtures. The next phase of the SPRINT project aims to further assess the risks posed by identified pesticide mixtures and develop a novel indicator for regulatory purposes.

Pesticide use negatively affects bumble bees across European landscapes

Achieving sustainable agriculture involves balancing crop yields with the impact of pesticides on non-target organisms, like bees and crop pollinators. While restrictions on neonicotinoid insecticides have been imposed due to their negative effects on wild bee species, there is a lack of field-based evidence regarding the broader impact of landscape pesticide exposure on wild bees. Bees face numerous pesticides in agricultural landscapes, and the consequences of this exposure on colony growth and development remain unknown.

A study published in Nature, conducted across eight European countries, reveals that the pesticides present in bumble bee-collected pollen are linked to decreased colony performance during crop bloom, particularly in simplified landscapes with intensive agricultural practices. These results underscore the inadequacy of the current regulatory system in preventing pesticide-related impacts on non-target organisms, even for eusocial pollinator species with larger colony sizes that might mitigate such effects. The findings emphasize the necessity for post-approval monitoring of both pesticide exposure and effects to ensure that the regulatory process effectively limits the collateral environmental damage caused by agricultural pesticide use.

New regulations on the way in Brazil

Human Rights Watch is urging the leader of Brazil to reject the "poison package" bill, which weakens pesticide regulations. The proposed legislation shifts primary authority to the Agriculture Ministry, expedites pesticide registration, and raises concerns about environmental and health consequences. It eliminates prohibitions on health-risk pesticides, introducing a vague criterion for "unacceptable risk."

Initiated in 1999, the bill is criticized for granting excessive power to corporations, posing risks to the right to access health information. Human Rights Watch highlights the bill's impact on rural communities and its potential effect on international trade. They call on the EU to address the heightened risk in Brazilian exports, emphasizing the threat to human rights, and advocate for the establishment of a health and environmentally sustainable regulatory system.

EPA Sued for Approving Toxic Herbicides

EcoWatch, a digital platform focused on environmental issues, reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a lawsuit for unlawfully reapproving toxic herbicides that contain 2,4-D, a chemical used in Agent Orange. The Center for Food Safety, Pesticide Action Network North America, and Alianza Nacional De Campesinas are suing the EPA for approving Enlist One and Enlist Duo, herbicides sprayed on genetically engineered soybeans, corn, and cotton.

The herbicides have been linked to harmful effects on wildlife, rural communities, and endangered species. The plaintiffs argue that the EPA's approval violated the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Endangered Species Act.

The EPA failed to properly consider the adverse health and environmental effects of the herbicides before approving them for an additional seven years. Previous lawsuits against the EPA for improper authorization of Enlist herbicides have also been filed. The chemical 2,4-D has been associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and has been classified as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Farmworkers and rural communities are experiencing significant health effects from these herbicides. The plaintiffs are calling for the reversal of the EPA's approval to protect farmers and communities.

Activities of Pesticide Action Network (NGO)

The European Commission's latest indicators for pesticide use in 2021 reveal a 6% decrease in chemical pesticide use and risk, contradicting Eurostat's data showing a 2.7% increase in sales. PAN Europe disputes the Commission's communication, urging a revision of its flawed Harmonised Risk Indicator 1. They argue the decline is due to bans on highly toxic pesticides, not a shift to non-chemical practices. PAN Europe calls for corrective measures, enforcement of EU law, and an end to derogations for banned pesticides, emphasizing a 5% increase in the most toxic pesticides indicator.

A joint report by NGOs Générations Futures and Pesticide Action Network Europe reveals that certain pesticides used within the European Union may contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as "forever chemicals." PFAS are durable chemicals that can last for generations and are commonly used in everyday objects. These chemicals have been associated with various diseases, including cancers.

The European Union has implemented restrictive measures regarding PFAS, but the report suggests that certain pesticide active substances may be PFAS or contain PFAS-type adjuvants. Currently, 12% of synthetic active ingredients authorized for pesticide use in the EU are PFAS, and these substances are deliberately sprayed on agricultural fields, leading to contamination of food, water, and the environment. In France alone, 30 active PFAS pesticide substances are authorized, and their sales have tripled since 2008. The government has published an action plan to address PFAS pollution, but the NGOs argue that a complete ban on the use of these chemicals is necessary. They call for further measures to reduce risks at source, increase environmental monitoring, and provide more information to citizens.