{"id":41477,"date":"2026-04-24T00:01:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T04:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=41477"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:07:52","slug":"review-highlights-threats-to-health-and-the-environment-from-pesticide-contamination-in-the-atmosphere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2026\/04\/review-highlights-threats-to-health-and-the-environment-from-pesticide-contamination-in-the-atmosphere\/","title":{"rendered":"Review Highlights Threats to Health and the Environment from Pesticide Contamination in the Atmosphere"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, April 24, 2026) In a review of scientific literature documenting pesticide contamination in the atmosphere, international researchers find human and ecosystem exposure even in remote and distant areas. As published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials<\/em><\/a>, the authors state: \u201cAtmospheric transport of pesticides is a globally significant yet widely underestimated driver of human and ecological exposure, with contamination documented far beyond treated fields. This review provides a novel integrated synthesis, bridging emission pathways, atmospheric transformation processes, monitoring evidence, model limitations, and regulatory gaps to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the fate and impacts of pesticides in the atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n

In analyzing the current knowledge on pesticide emissions, through both drift and volatilization (process where a solid or liquid converts into a gas or vapor), the researchers highlight \u201cthe widespread detection of both current-use and banned pesticides in environmental matrices far from their application,\u201d along with the resulting implications for human health and environmental health. As the current risk assessment framework \u201cfails to adequately address the perturbations caused by the atmospheric transport of pesticides,\u201d the urgent need to transition away from chemical-intensive practices grows stronger.<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

While this review highlights regulatory gaps in the European Union<\/a> (EU), the cited scientific literature encompasses pesticide contamination worldwide. Beyond Pesticides extensively covers the regulatory deficiencies<\/a> present in the U.S., which does not incorporate many of the stricter regulations seen in the EU. As reported in previous Daily News<\/em><\/a>, in the regulation of pesticides, the EU relies more on the precautionary principle<\/a> than the U.S. approach to risk assessment that accepts a high degree of uncertainty and data gaps in promulgating mitigation measures. One study, entitled \u201cThe USA lags behind other agricultural nations in banning harmful pesticides<\/a>,\u201d highlights the up to hundreds of millions of annually used pesticides in the U.S. that are banned in other countries, including those in the EU.<\/p>\n

Despite the stricter regulations in the EU, the review notes: \u201cIn 2021, 355,175 tons of pesticides were applied to approximately 180 million hectares of farmland in the European Union. This equates to an average of approximately 2 kg of pesticides per hectare dispersed over 43% of the EU\u2019s total area.\u201d This intensive use of pesticides, with a range of properties within varying environmental conditions, represents the spread of both active and \u201cinert\u201d ingredients<\/a>, and their transformation products, in soil<\/a>, surface water<\/a>, groundwater<\/a>, and air<\/a> that is occurring worldwide.<\/p>\n

Pesticide residues are ubiquitous in nature, contaminating different matrices including \u201cinsects within nature conservation areas<\/a> or terrestrial organisms<\/a> in non-target areas, indoor and outdoor dust<\/a> in residential settings<\/a>, rainwater<\/a>, soil samples<\/a> from organic farms that do not use synthetic pesticides, and organic food<\/a>.\u201d (See Pesticide Pollution from Chemical-Intensive Farming Diminishes Some Benefits of Organic Production<\/a> for more information.)<\/p>\n

Pathways for Pesticide Contamination <\/strong><\/p>\n

Various exposure routes lead organisms, including humans, to encounter pesticides. Pesticide emissions in the air represent a major pathway, which results from multiple processes. “Up to 60%<\/a> of the dosage can enter the atmosphere due to direct spray drift during application,\u201d the authors state. They continue: \u201cPesticide-containing dust can be released into the air when granular products or treated seeds are applied. Volatilization from plants, soils, and surface waters can occur for several days to weeks after application. Even pesticides classified as non-volatile can enter the atmosphere through aerosol emission from soil particles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Depending on the physicochemical properties of the pesticides, they are able to persist in the air for minutes, hours, days, or weeks, with the atmosphere acting as a reservoir and transport medium for these chemicals. The movement through the air to different areas widely depends on meteorological parameters, such as wind fields, precipitation, and temperature, among others.<\/p>\n

As the researchers describe: \u201cAtmospheric deposition of pesticides contributes to their lifetime and environmental distribution far from their original application sites and occurs via two primary pathways: dry and wet deposition. Dry deposition involves the transfer of pesticide particles or gases from the air to terrestrial or aquatic surfaces through turbulent diffusion and settling, independent of precipitation events… In contrast, wet deposition refers to the removal of pesticides from the atmosphere by precipitation, such as rain and snow. During wet deposition, both particulate and gaseous forms of pesticides are incorporated into cloud or precipitation droplets and subsequently deposited onto ecosystems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research shows that these processes play an important role in environmental exposure to pesticides, allowing residues to reach soil, vegetation, urban surfaces, water bodies, and ice not close to the original application site. (See studies here<\/a> and here<\/a>.) \u201cPesticides can enter the atmosphere during application by drift of spray droplets or in post-application by volatilization from treated surfaces (soil or plant canopy), or by wind erosion of contaminated soil,\u201d the authors write. “Spray drift occurs at the time of application within less than a few minutes, whereas volatilization lasts from a few days to several weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

An important factor not considered in the pesticide regulation process is the additive and synergistic nature of pesticide mixtures. As pesticide active ingredients are not encountered individually, this co-occurrence can further \u201cpromote the formation of transformation products (TPs) that may be more persistent and\/or hazardous than the parent compounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other \u201cinert\u201d ingredients can also increase risks. \u201cIn addition to the active substance, commercial plant protection products (PPPs) formulations contain other co-formulants to improve the efficiency of the application, such as solvents and adjuvants, which can make up more than 98% of their composition,\u201d the researchers point out. They continue: \u201cSome formulations contain a wide range of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, for example, this has been observed in the commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos<\/a>. Like other organic compounds, the atmospheric degradation of these inactive compounds could lead to the formation of secondary contaminants such as formaldehyde, ozone, highly oxygenated molecules or fine particulate matter.\u201d These co-formulants can be relatively volatile and highly reactive in the atmosphere, leading to additional adverse effects on human health and climate.<\/p>\n

Threats to Human and Environmental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n

Human exposure occurs through many pathways, including \u201cdirect inhalation, dermal contact, and indirect exposure following deposition onto food crops and residential environments.\u201d As a result, pesticide residues can accumulate within the body. As shared in the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database<\/a>, ‘Body Burden’ refers to the accumulation of synthetic chemicals found in pesticides, cosmetics, industrial solvents, heavy metals, etc. in our bodies. At any given time, hundreds of chemicals can be found in blood, urine, breast milk, and even umbilical cord blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegarding pesticides transported in the atmosphere, inhalation and dermal exposure are the primary pathways of exposure,\u201d the authors note. They continue: \u201cResidential exposure to pesticides is a major concern for the scientific community due to its association with significant adverse health effects. People living near agricultural areas have an increased risk during spraying periods due to the spray drift, and after application due to the dispersion of volatilized pesticides in the atmosphere. Consequently, residents are at higher risk of developing immune disorders, endocrine disruptions, renal diseases, and neurological diseases. Different studies associate residential exposure in children<\/a> with cancer, leukemia, birth outcomes, and neurological and respiratory diseases, such as childhood asthma, lower respiratory tract infections and wheezing.\u201d (See additional Daily News<\/em> coverage on disproportionate risks here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

The environmental risks associated with pesticides can affect both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic components (e.g., water) within all ecosystems. \u201cHarmful effects on soil<\/a> and water<\/a> microorganisms and pollinators<\/a> are of particular concern because they are major drivers of biodiversity loss<\/a>,\u201d the researchers emphasize. (See Daily News<\/em> here<\/a>.) A wide body of research, which continues to mount, shows impacts ranging from \u201creduced reproductive success, altered growth and development, altered behavior, changes in species diversity and ecosystem structure, disrupted trophic interactions, and population declines among key species\u201d that can have cascading effects. (See Pesticide Use Harming Key Species Ripples through the Ecosystem<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Previous Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cited within the review, a myriad of studies find impacts to health and the environment, “confirming that airborne transport represents a distinct and significant threat to biodiversity conservation.\u201d This includes:<\/p>\n