Despite progress in some EU countries, the use of chemical pesticides continues to pose a significant risk to human health and the environment in Europe. This is the conclusion reached by the EU Environment Agency EEA in an analysis published on Wednesday.
Policymakers and Member States need to do much more to meet EU targets, including reducing the use and risks of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030. Dependence on such funds can be reduced, for example, by switching to alternative agricultural models with ecological concepts.
Widespread use of pesticides is a major source of water, soil and air pollution, as well as driving biodiversity loss and leading to pest resistance, the Copenhagen-based agency wrote. Human exposure is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases. However, the agricultural sector in Europe still relies on the use of large amounts of these substances to maintain crop yields.
Around 350,000 tons per year
The use of pesticides has remained relatively constant in EU countries in recent years, as EEA expert Dario Piselli said. From 2011 to 2020, around 350,000 tons of it were sold per year. The largest quantities of most active substances were dumped in Germany, France, Spain and Italy – the four largest agricultural producers in the EU.
According to the experts, the use has consequences both for the environment and for people: in almost 22 percent of the observation points in rivers and lakes in Europe, a pesticide level above the concern threshold was found in 2020. In a 2019 study, 83 percent of all agricultural soils tested contained pesticide residues. Insects in particular are struggling, which endangers their important role in food production.
Humans are primarily affected by the consumption of food and drinking water. A comprehensive survey in five European countries between 2014 and 2021 found at least two pesticides in 84 percent of urine samples taken – a rate of concern, Piselli said. Children consistently have higher levels of pesticides than adults and are particularly vulnerable to negative health outcomes.
