EXPOPESTEN - ISSeP

EXPOPESTEN: Exposure of the population to environmental pesticides

Contexte

Chaque année de grandes quantités de pesticides sont utilisées par les agriculteurs, les horticulteurs, les entreprises d’entretien de parcs et jardins, les transports publics et autres professionnels. Mais les particuliers ont aussi accès à différents pesticides utilisés dans les jardins et dans les habitations. Les pesticides sont donc omniprésents dans l’environnement et dans les lieux de vie engendrant l’exposition des populations par ingestion d’eau et d’aliments contaminées, par inhalation et par contact cutané lors de l’utilisation des pesticides ou lors de contact avec des surfaces contaminées.
Depuis les années 80, de nombreuses études scientifiques relient l’exposition aux pesticides à des effets sanitaires graves tels que cancers, troubles neurologiques, effets sur les fonctions reproductrices et le développement et perturbation endocrinienne. Il est donc nécessaire de développer les connaissances relatives à l’exposition externe/interne de groupes à risque de par leurs activités professionnelles, l’activité professionnelle de leur entourage familial et leur environnement de vie, ainsi qu’aux effets chroniques de ces expositions tels que préconisé par le Plan Wallon de Réduction des Pesticides (PWRP, 2013).
En Wallonie, l’eau et l’alimentation font l’objet de contrôles réguliers. Par contre, les concentrations en pesticides ne sont pas mesurées dans l’air ambiant (extérieur et intérieur) en région wallonne. Pourtant, des études menées en Amérique du Nord et dans certains pays européens (France, Espagne, Luxembourg,…) montrent la présence de nombreux pesticides dans l’air ambiant, que ce soit en ville ou à la campagne, dans l’air extérieur ou intérieur.
Ce projet s’inscrit pleinement dans le cadre de :
• la Directive 2009/128/CE qui instaure un cadre d’action communautaire pour parvenir à une utilisation des pesticides compatibles avec le développement durable ;
• l’action 4.1 du Plan Wallon de Réduction des Pesticides (PWRP, 2013) qui préconise de « développer les connaissances relatives à l’exposition externe/interne de groupes à risque de par leurs activités professionnelles, l’activité professionnelle de leur entourage familial et leur environnement de vie, ainsi qu’aux effets chroniques de ces expositions ».

Pour plus d’information :

Plan Wallon de Réduction des Pesticides (PWRP, 2013):http://agriculture.wallonie.be/pwrp/programme_complet.pdf

Journal officiel de l’Union européenne, Directive 2009/128/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 21 octobre 2009 instaurant un cadre d’action communautaire pour parvenir à une utilisation des pesticides compatible avec le développement durable.

Objective

The overall objective of the EXPOPESTEN project is to develop a multidisciplinary approach to help with the understanding of (non-food) environmental exposure and the risks associated with the exposure of Walloon residents to pesticides.

Context

Every year, large quantities of pesticides are used by farmers, horticulturists, companies maintaining parks and gardens, public transport, and other professionals. But individuals also have access to various pesticides used in gardens and homes. Therefore, pesticides are omnipresent in the environment and in living spaces leading to exposure of the population through ingesting contaminated water or foods, by inhalation, and by cutaneous contact when using pesticides or when in contact with the contaminated surfaces.
Since the 1980s, many scientific studies have linked exposure to pesticides to serious health effects such as cancers, neurological disorders, effects on reproductive systems and endocrine development and disruption. Therefore, it is necessary to develop knowledge relating to the external/internal exposure of risk groups through their professional activities, the professional activity of their family and their living environment, as well as the chronic effects of this exposure as recommended by the Walloon Pesticide Reduction Plan (PWRP, 2013).
In Wallonia, water and food are subject to regular controls. However, pesticide concentrations are not measured in the ambient air (external and internal) in the Walloon region. Studies carried out in North America and in some European countries (France, Spain, Luxembourg, etc.) show the presence of many pesticides in the ambient air, in towns and the countryside, in external and internal air.
This project is performed in the context of:
• directive 2009/128/EC which establishes a community action framework for achieving pesticide use compatible with sustainable development;
• action 4.1 of the Walloon Pesticide Reduction Plan (PWRP, 2013), which recommends “developing knowledge relating to the indoor/outdoor exposure of groups at risk due to their professional activities, the professional activity of their family and their living environment, as well as the chronic effects of this exposure”.

For more information:

Walloon Pesticide Reduction Plan (Plan Wallon de Réduction des Pesticides , PWRP, 2013): http://agriculture.wallonie.be/pwrp/programme_complet.pdf

Official journal of the European Union, directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a community action framework for achieving pesticide use compatible with sustainable development.

Scientific approach

The general approach is based on two specific objectives@
The first specific objective is to assess the exposure of Walloon residents to pesticides through inhalation, at the level of Wallonia (see figure below). This first objective is a regional exposure approach based on the measurement of pesticides in the outdoor air. The ambient air is sampled over a 14-day period at 12 sampling stations distributed throughout Wallonia. These sampling stations were positioned close to agricultural areas, in urban environments, in zones with “zero” use of pesticides, etc. The results of measurements of the concentration of pesticides in ambient air will determine the average quantitative and qualitative exposure of urban and rural populations to pesticides throughout the year.
The second specific objective is to compare environmental and global exposure to pesticides of two child populations: one child population living in a rural area far from agricultural spreading zones and a child population living in a geographic area subject to frequent agricultural spreading. This second objective is a local approach aiming to determine the exposure more precisely. The pesticides analysed will depend on the results of the first phase. Environmental exposure through inhalation will be assessed based on measurement data in the outside air and in the living spaces of the children. More specific measurements of individual exposure may also be carried out (exposure to pesticides through cutaneous contact via the assay of pesticides on the hands of the children, indoor dust via dust from vacuum cleaners, etc.). Data will also be collected using questionnaires intended to determine the sources, periods, and personal exposure frequencies for each child. Finally, global indoor exposure will be measured using exposure biomarkers.

Collaborations

This project is carried out with various partners within the ISSeP: The Environment and Health Department, the Organic Chemistry Department, and the Air Quality Unit, but also with external partners: The Centre for Agricultural Research (CRA-W), the Phyto Regional Committee (CRP) and the Department of Toxicology at ULg.