Widespread Pesticide Distribution in the European Atmosphere Questions their Degradability in Air

• Published in: Environmental Science & Technology
• Main Authors: Mayer Ludovic, Thierry, Degrendele Céline, Šenk Petr, Kohoutek Jiří, Přibylová Petra, Kukučka Petr, Melymuk Lisa Emily, Durand Amandine, Ravier Sylvain, Alastuey Andres, Baker Alex R., Baltensperger Urs, Baumann-Stanzer Kathrin, Biermann Tobias, Bohlin-Nizzetto Pernilla, Ceburnis Darius, Conil Sebastien, Couret Cedric, Degorska Anna, Diapouli Evangelia, Eckhardt Sabine, Eleftheriadis Konstantinos, Forster Grant L., Freier Korbinian, Gheusi Francois, Gini Maria I., Hellen Heidi, Henne Stephan, Herrmann Hartmut, Smejkalova Adela Holubova, Horrak Urmas, Hueglin Christoph, Junninen Heikki, Kristensson Adam, Langrene Laurent, Levula Janne, Lothon Marie, Ludewig Elke, Makkonen Ulla, Matejovicova Jana, Mihalopoulos Nikolaos, Minarikova Veronika, Moche Wolfgang, Noe Steffen M., Perez Noemi, Petaja Tuukka, Pont Veronique, Poulain Laurent, Quivet Etienne, Ratz Gabriela, Rehm Till, Reimann Stefan, Simmons Ivan, Sonke Jeroen E., Sorribas Mar, Spoor Ronald, Swart Daan P. J., Vasilatou Vasiliki, Wortham Henri, Yela Margarita, Zarmpas Pavlos, Faesi Claudia Zellweger, Torseth Kjetil, Laj Paolo, Klánová Jana, Lammel Gerhard
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AMER CHEMICAL SOC 2024
• Subjects: pesticides; atmosphere; transport; degradation; riskassessment; Arctic
• Online Access: https://is.muni.cz/publication/2411617; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c08488

Risk assessment of pesticide impacts on remote ecosystems makes use of model-estimated degradation in air. Recent studies suggest these degradation rates to be overestimated, questioning current pesticide regulation. Here, we investigated the concentrations of 76 pesticides in Europe at 29 rural, coastal, mountain, and polar sites during the agricultural application season. Overall, 58 pesticides were observed in the European atmosphere. Low spatial variation of 7 pesticides suggests continental-scale atmospheric dispersal. Based on concentrations in free tropospheric air and at Arctic sites, 22 pesticides were identified to be prone to long-range atmospheric transport, which included 15 substances approved for agricultural use in Europe and 7 banned ones. Comparison between concentrations at remote sites and those found at pesticide source areas suggests long atmospheric lifetimes of atrazine, cyprodinil, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, terbuthylazine, and thiacloprid. In general, our findings suggest that atmospheric transport and persistence of pesticides have been underestimated and that their risk assessment needs to be improved.