Pesticide exposures for residents living close to agricultural lands: A review

Abstract

Background: Residents living close to agricultural lands might be exposed to pesticides through non-occupational pathways including spray drift and volatilization of pesticides beyond the treated area.

Objective: This review aimed to identify and analyze scientific literature measuring pesticide exposure in non-farmworker residents living close to agricultural lands, and to suggest practical implications and needs for future studies.

Methods: A review was performed using inclusion criteria to identify original articles of interest published between 2003 and 2018.

Results: From the 29 articles selected in this review, 2 belonged to the same study and were grouped, resulting in a total of 27 studies. Seven studies assessed exposure to pesticides using environmental samples, 13 collected biological samples and 7 analyzed both. Nine studies included a reference group of residents living far from agricultural lands while 11 assessed the influence of the spraying season or spray events on pesticide exposures. Studies included in this review provide evidence that residents living near to agricultural lands are exposed to higher levels of pesticides than residents living further away.

Discussion and conclusion: This review highlights that the following study design characteristics may be more appropriate than others to measure pesticide spray drift exposure in non-farmworker residents living close to agricultural lands: inclusion of a non-agricultural control group, collection of both biological and environmental samples with repeated sampling, measurements at different periods of the year, selection of numerous study sites related to one specific crop group, and measurements of pesticides which are specific to agricultural use. However, few studies to date incorporate all these characteristics. Additional studies are needed to comprehensively measure non-occupational pesticide exposures in this population in order to evaluate health risks, and to develop appropriate prevention strategies.