We’re pleased to share three new peer-reviewed publications from SPRINT researchers, offering key insights into pesticide occurrence, prioritization, and risk assessment across European agricultural systems.
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🔹 1. Prioritizing pesticides in soil for mixture toxicity assessment Jegede et al. (2025) identified the most relevant currently used pesticides in soils across major European cropping systems (and one Argentinian system), providing a foundation for assessing mixture toxicity to soil organisms. 📄 Read more |
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🔹 2. Comparing pesticide residues in organic and conventional crops Tourinho et al. (2025) examined harvested products from various crops and found clear differences in pesticide residues between conventional and organic farming systems in Europe. 📄 Read more |
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🔹 3. New tools for assessing soil microbial impacts Stache et al. (2025) explored the potential of quantifying microbial functional genes as a sensitive and innovative approach for pesticide risk assessment in soils. 📄 Read more |
These studies contribute to SPRINT’s overarching goal: improving understanding of pesticide exposure and impacts to support more sustainable agricultural practices across Europe.
In the biggest project of its kind, SPRINT assessed pesticide residues in humans, animals and the environment across 10 European countries and Argentina, over 5 years (2020-25).
As the project nears its end, you can discover some of our key findings in our animated 3-minute video.
>> Watch the video now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrm8yDqk9v0
Risk assessment: Our results shine a spotlight on the widespread presence of pesticide mixtures in our bodies, homes and environment. They offer valuable insights and data to advance risk assessment of pesticides for regulations that better protect human health and nature.
Reducing pesticide reliance: We further provide insights for decision-makers on how to help farmers care for their crops with fewer pesticides.
You can discover more of our key results in our magazine: https://sprint-h2020.eu/index.php/news/sprint-magazine
We have more research results and policy recommendations to come! Keep a close eye on our social media channels and website to stay up-to-date with the project.
SPRINT Ask the Author Webinar
Date: 3rd June 2025
Time: 13:30-14:30 CET
Speakers: Paul Scheepers (Radboud University) and Daniel Figueiredo (Utrecht University)
Join us for the next SPRINT webinar, where our researchers will present findings about pesticides and indoor house dust. You will also have the opportunity to ask the researchers questions about their work.
Registration is free of charge.
>> Sign up here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d662f294-83ba-4e82-ab80-cd5550e16e1f@27d137e5-761f-4dc1-af88-d26430abb18f
Our chief science coordinator, Associate Professor Paul Scheepers, will present SPRINT-based research about pesticides and indoor dust. He will provide an overview of two recently published papers, both of which explore pesticide residues in indoor house dust across Europe and in Argentina.
Read the papers here:
Occurrence of pesticide residues in indoor dust of farmworker households across Europe and Argentina:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723064240?via%3Dihub
Pesticide contamination in indoor home dust: A pilot study of non-occupational exposure in Argentina:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749125005810?via%3Dihub
Dr Daniel Figueiredo, also a SPRINT partner, will present some of his wider research about indoor house dust, including his paper about pesticides in doormat and floor dust from homes.
Read Daniel's paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974912200238X
In advance of the webinar, check out our blog about indoor house dust: https://sprint-h2020.eu/index.php/blog/item/11-pesticide-residues-in-indoor-house-dust-of-farming-households-recommendations-for-minimising-exposure
Interested in SPRINT's final key messages, based on five years' of research into pesticides and their risks to human and environmental health?
Click below to read our magazine, which presents several of our final results alongside key recommendations, including for policymakers and scientists.
Keen to help us shape a future research agenda, both for scientists and policymakers? Take part in our short survey by clicking here!
Registration is now open for SPRINT’s conference!
Join us as we share our much-anticipated final results and key messages surrounding the impacts of pesticides on environmental and human health.
📅 25 June 2025
📍La Tricoterie, Brussels / online via live stream
🕐 9:00-5:00 CET
>> Learn more and register here
This event will bring together key stakeholders from European institutions, agriculture, advisory services, NGOs, and research to discuss pressing challenges and innovative solutions.
SPRINT’s experts will present their insights on the environmental and health impacts of pesticides, followed by discussions on transition strategies and successful initiatives to reduce reliance on pesticides.
Participants will have opportunities to exchange ideas and information through interactive discussions, a poster session and informal networking.
The event will place a strong focus on policy recommendations and will encourage active engagement and diverse perspectives. It will conclude with a collective reflection, summarizing key takeaways and outlining future directions.
What to expect on the day
Morning session:
⭐ Introduction and context setting
⭐ Keynote speeches from European Commission representatives
⭐ SPRINT project overview and its regulatory context
⭐ Environmental impacts of pesticides: our results
⭐ Human health impacts of pesticides: our results
⭐ Synthesis, policy implications, panel discussion
Afternoon session:
⭐ Invited speaker: shaping the future of sustainable plant protection
⭐ SPRINT toolbox: recommendations for risk assessment and policy
⭐ Cost-benefit analysis results
⭐ Success stories for moving away from pesticide reliance
⭐ Transition pathways: policy recommendations
⭐ Final discussion and panel
We will circulate a final agenda for the day in due course.
Find out more about our venue, La Tricoterie, here: EN - La Tricoterie - Fabrique de liens
If you have any questions about the event, please contact SPRINT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
