Pesticides Everywhere: Study Finds Traces in Nearly Everyone Tested

Even people far from farms are exposed to dozens of pesticides, researchers say.

A new study has revealed just how widespread pesticide exposure is — even among people who don’t work directly with them. Researchers tested for 193 different pesticides using advanced chemical analysis and found traces of 173 of them in the samples they collected.

To understand what might influence exposure, participants also filled out questionnaires about their daily habits, such as how often they cleaned or worked outdoors.

The results showed that conventional farmers had the highest levels of pesticide exposure, with anywhere from 9 to 74 pesticides detected on their wristbands, and a typical count of 36. Organic farmers and nearby residents each showed a median of 20 pesticides, while consumers—people not living near farms—had slightly fewer, with a median of 17.

Certain insecticides, including permethrin and chlorpyrifos, were found in more than 85% of participants across all groups. The findings suggest that pesticide exposure is nearly impossible to avoid, even for those far removed from agricultural work.

Pesticides Graph