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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Environmental Sources
Human Health Effects
Policy & Risk
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Cocktails of pesticide residues in conventional and organic farming systems in Europe – Legacy of the past and turning point for the future
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)2021
10 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 45
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Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Paul Zomer,
Paul Zomer,
Vera Silva,
Vera Silva,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Vera Silva,
Huerta Lwanga E.,
Nicolas Bériot,
Violette Geissen,
Huerta Lwanga E.,
Vera Silva,
Nicolas Bériot,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Vera Silva,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
K. Oostindie,
K. Oostindie,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Bin Z.,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Bin Z.,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Vera Silva,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Erin Pyne,
Paul Zomer,
Erin Pyne,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
C.J. Ritsema
C.J. Ritsema
C.J. Ritsema
Sjors Busink,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Paul Zomer,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
M. Mahfuzul H,
Violette Geissen,
M. Mahfuzul H,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
C.J. Ritsema
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
Violette Geissen,
C.J. Ritsema
Summary
A multi-country survey of EU agricultural topsoil found widespread pesticide residue cocktails at conventional and organic farms, with conventional sites carrying significantly higher residue loads and the results highlighting long-term legacy contamination across European soils.
Considering that pesticides have been used in Europe for over 70 years, a system for monitoring pesticide residues in EU soils and their effects on soil health is long overdue. In an attempt to address this problem, we tested 340 EU agricultural topsoil samples for multiple pesticide residues. These samples originated from 4 representative EU case study sites (CSS), which covered 3 countries and four of the main EU crops: vegetable and orange production in Spain (S–V and S–O, respectively), grape production in Portugal (P-G), and potato production in the Netherlands (N–P). Soil samples were collected between 2015 and 2018 after harvest or before the start of the growing season, depending on the CSS. Conventional and organic farming results were compared in S–V, S–O and N–P. Soils from conventional farms presented mostly mixtures of pesticide residues, with a maximum of 16 residues/sample. Soils from organic farms had significantly fewer residues, with a maximum of 5 residues/sample. The residues with the highest frequency of detection and the highest content in soil were herbicides: glyphosate and its main metabolite AMPA (P-G, N–P, S–O), and pendimethalin (S–V). Total residue content in soil reached values of 0.8 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for S–V, 2 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for S–O and N–P, and 12 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for P-G. Organic soils presented 70–90% lower residue concentrations than the corresponding conventional soils. There is a severe knowledge gap concerning the effects of the accumulated and complex mixtures of pesticide residues found in soil on soil biota and soil health. Safety benchmarks should be defined and introduced into (soil) legislation as soon as possible. Furthermore, the process of transitioning to organic farming should take into consideration the residue mixtures at the conversion time and their residence time in soil.