Occurrence, persistence and risk assessment of pesticide residues in European wheat fields: A continental scale approach
Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo, Paula Pérez‐Rodríguez, Manuel Arias‐Estévez, Antía Gómez-Armesto, Manuel Conde-Cid, Vanesa Santás-Miguel, Claudia Campillo-Cora, Irene Ollio, Eva Lloret, Silvia Martínez‐Martínez, Raúl Zornoza, Lieven Waeyenberge, Stefan Schrader, Kristian K. Brandt, Kaire Loit, Marian Põldmets, Merrit Shanskiy, Krista Peltoniemi, Marleena Hagner, David Fernández Calviño
Abstract
Pesticide residues in agricultural soils represent an environmental concern that requires special attention due to their potential ecological and public health risks. We analyzed 614 pesticides in 188 wheat fields across Europe subjected to both conventional and organic farming systems. At least one pesticide residue was detected in 141 soils. Seventy-eight pesticides or their metabolites were detected. The presence of pesticides was significantly higher in both number and concentration in conventional fileds (up to 0.98 mg kg −1 ) compared to organically managed sites (up to 0.40 mg kg −1 ). A total of 88 % of conventional fields and 63 % of organic fields contained two or more pesticides. Conversion from conventional to organic farming does not guarantee that soils will be pesticide-free in the short term. Fenbutatin oxide was the most frequently detected pesticide in both farming systems, followed by AMPA. Other substances, such as boscalid, epoxiconazole, diflufenican, tebuconazole, dinoterb, bixafen, and DEET, were found in ≥ 10 % of samples. Some Persistent Organic Pollutants, including dieldrin, endosulfan sulphate, and chlorpyrifos, were also detected. Ecological risks were higher in conventionally managed fields, with 46 % exhibiting high-risk levels, compared to just 1 % in organic fields. Epoxiconazole and boscalid were the substances with the highest risk levels. • More than 600 compounds were analyzed in 188 European soils from wheat fields. • Two or more pesticides were detected in 88 % and 63 % of conventional and organic fields. • Fenbutatin oxide and AMPA were the most frequently detected pesticide residues. • Epoxiconazole and boscalid showed the highest level of ecological risk. • 46 % of conventional fields showed a high level of ecological risk.