Pesticide Use and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sugar Beet, Apples, and Viticulture in Austria from 2000 to 2019


Abstract The production of synthetic pesticides is energy intensive and can emit even more greenhouse gases (GHG) per kg than the production of synthetic fertilizers. However, this aspect is largely neglected when it comes to agriculture’s contribution to GHG emissions. Using official pesticide sales …

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Pesticide drift mitigation measures appear to reduce contamination of non-agricultural areas, but hazards to humans and the environment remain


Abstract Pesticide drift onto non-agricultural land is a common problem in intensively farmed regions, and national action plans have been established across Europe to prevent it. Here, we analyzed official data on pesticide residues in grass samples collected over six years to determine whether …

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Unexpected air pollutants with potential human health hazards: Nitrification inhibitors, biocides, and persistent organic substances


Abstract To better understand the influence of land use and meteorological parameters on air pollutants, we deployed passive air samplers in 15 regions with different land use in eastern Austria. The samplers consisted of polyurethane PUF and polyester PEF filter matrices, which were analyzed …

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Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Formulations with Greater Impact on Earthworms and Water Infiltration than Pure Glyphosate


Abstract Glyphosate is the most widely used active ingredient (AI) in thousands of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) worldwide. Short-term impacts of AIs or GBHs on earthworms are well known, but few studies have examined long-term legacy effects >3 months after application. In a pot experiment, …

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Toxicological Comparison of Pesticide Active Substances Approved for Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture in Europe


By Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, Thomas Durstberger, Johann G. Zaller Published in Toxics 2022, 10(12), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120753 Published: 2 December 2022 (This article belongs to the Section Agrochemicals and Food Toxicology) Abstract There is much debate about whether the (mostly synthetic) pesticide active substances (AS) in …

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Chemical Pesticides and Human Health: The Urgent Need for a New Concept in Agriculture


By Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati1*, Sotirios Maipas1, Chrysanthi Kotampasi1, Panagiotis Stamatis1 and Luc Hens2 1 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 2 Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00148 Published in 2016 in frontiers in …

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