HBM4EU – HUMAN BIOMONITORING INITIATIVE IN LATVIA: STUDY ON PESTICIDE MIXTURES IN ADULT AND CHILDREN POPULATION

Introduction.
Pesticides and their mixtures are identified as one of the priority substances in
the HBM4EU (Human Biomonitoring for EU) initiative and human biomonitoring data is needed to further
evaluate safe exposure levels [1]. The aim of the study is to determine the presence of various pesticide
mixtures in human body and their potential effects on human health.

Methods.The study methods consist of survey and suspect screening for pesticides and their metabolites.
Total sample size is 400 urine samples – 200 from non-spraying season (spring 2020) and 200 from spraying
season (summer 2020). Study participants were 50 adult-child pairs living in vicinity of agricultural lands (less
than 250m) and 50 adult-child pairs living at least 500m away from agricultural lands. Sample analysis was
carried out in INRAE Toxalim, France, using chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry profiling.
Urine sample analysis for both seasons is carried out, but, due to high amount of metabolites, additional time
is needed to interpret the possible sources of pesticide mixtures.
Results and discussion.Since the possible ways of pesticide contamination are several – via inhalation,
ingestion and skin, dietary and living conditions as well as social parameters were evaluated during survey.
Questions of socioeconomic factors, health and consumer habits (where subjects buy their products or
whether they grow some in their garden), whether they use pesticides/insecticides in their garden, if they
have been in contact with pets or other animals and whether they have treated animals or themselves with
anti-parasitic/insecticide products were asked, as well as a food diary for the past 24h prior urine sample
collection was gathered. In a large study carried out in the Netherlands [2], pesticide concentrations decreased
slightly with distance, but not all results were in line with this statement, therefore other contamination ways
(especially dietary habits and contacts with pets/animals) should be further explored.

Conclusions.Although living near agricultural lands that are treated with pesticides could have potential
health effects, this study could prevent speculations on this topic. Other exposure ways should be investigated
such as personal or pet anti-parasitic and insecticide treatment and dietary habits. The survey data will give
additional information on study participants health, consumer and other habits, which will be used to better
interpret and identify the possible contamination ways of pesticides in the study group.

References
1. Greet Schoeters RL. Scoping documents for 2021 for the first and second second round HBM4EU priority substances. 2020.
2. Vermeulen RCH, Wenneker M, van de Zande J, Figueiredo D. Research on exposure of residents to pesticides in the Netherlands
OBO flower bulbs. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332353646_Research_on_exposure_of_residents_
to_pesticides_in_the_Netherlands_case_study_flower_bulbs#fullTextFileContent (accessed September 24, 2021).
Contact person: Lāsma Akūlova, Dzirciema street 16, Riga, Latvia, LV-1007, phone: +371 29437702, e-mail: [email protected]