A research team has measured 67 different pesticides in the air in eastern Austria. Her research shows that pesticides do not just stay where they are applied. In addition, they spread more easily at higher temperatures. Many of the substances discovered are toxic to animals and harmful to human health.
“We were surprised at how far pesticides spread in the air,” says Johann Zaller of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Boku). He is one of the authors of the study. To arrive at the results, the researchers set up air filters in different regions of eastern Austria. After several months, they collected them again and analyzed the air for pesticides. “We then assessed the chemicals found for their side effects on the environment and people,” Zaller said at a news conference on Monday.
Irritations of mucous membranes and skin
The team found that about half of the pesticides discovered are harmful to human health. For example, they can irritate the mucous membranes and the skin, disrupt the endocrine system and thus negatively affect fertility. Almost a quarter of the substances are even carcinogenic. “Although the concentrations of pesticides in the air are often very low, even the smallest amounts pose a health risk and can affect well-being and health over a long period of time,” said Hans-Peter Hutter of the Department of Environmental Health and Environmental Medicine at the Medical University from Vienna. The Medical University conducted the study together with Boku and a research team from Germany.
In addition, many of the pesticides are toxic to bees, earthworms and birds. Two of the filters were in national parks and even there ten or 33 different pesticides were analyzed. These finds are explosive insofar as national parks are intended to protect particularly endangered plants and animals.
Number depending on management and temperatures
The exact number and concentration of pesticides depended on agricultural management of the environment and temperatures. Pesticides were more likely to spread at higher temperatures than at lower ones. “Our research clearly shows that pesticides do not remain at the site of application, but are spread over a large area (…). Only a switch to 100 percent organic farming can counteract this,” say Zaller and Hutter. The study authors also agreed that the spread of pesticides in the air and their health risks still receive insufficient attention when it comes to approving or not approving a particular substance.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
