Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SPRINT (SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION TRANSITION: A GLOBAL HEALTH APPROACH)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2024-08-31
Current farming systems rely on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure high productivity and control threats to the quality of the crops. However, PPP use may have considerable impacts on human health and the environment. SPRINT will develop and validate a Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox to integrate assessments of the impacts of PPPs on ecosystem, plant, animal and human (EPAH) health. The main goal is to use integrated risk assessments at the local, regional, national and European levels to map PPP impacts on EPAH health. We will focus on different PPP use patterns and detected residue mixtures in contrasting conventional/integrated and organic farming systems. Transition pathways towards the sustainable use of pesticides will be identified in a multi-actor approach with a focus on the following objectives:
1. Engage with local, regional, national, and international stakeholders to identify knowledge needs and improve awareness of and trust in integrated pesticide risk assessments.
2. Assess PPP component mixtures and their distribution in EPAH and related health states in conventional/integrated and organic farming systems.
3. Estimate direct and indirect routes of PPP exposure levels in representative case study sites (CSS).
4. Develop laboratory tests for determining PPP mixture effects.
5. Develop a Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox for risk and impact assessment of PPP mixtures, linking exposure to health impacts.
6. Assess integrated risks, costs and benefits of PPP use in different farming systems at micro and macroeconomic levels.
7. Propose transition pathways towards sustainable plant protection, provide policy recommendations, and develop a research agenda
1. Engage with local, regional, national, and international stakeholders to identify knowledge needs and improve awareness of and trust in integrated pesticide risk assessments.
2. Assess PPP component mixtures and their distribution in EPAH and related health states in conventional/integrated and organic farming systems.
3. Estimate direct and indirect routes of PPP exposure levels in representative case study sites (CSS).
4. Develop laboratory tests for determining PPP mixture effects.
5. Develop a Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox for risk and impact assessment of PPP mixtures, linking exposure to health impacts.
6. Assess integrated risks, costs and benefits of PPP use in different farming systems at micro and macroeconomic levels.
7. Propose transition pathways towards sustainable plant protection, provide policy recommendations, and develop a research agenda
SPRINT’s field campaigns across 10 European countries and Argentina in 2021 each encompassing conventional, IPM and organic farming systems. This included environmental sampling (soil, earthworms, sediment, water, fish, dust, air, crops) and human biomonitoring (HBM) from farmers, neighbours, and consumers. SPRINT partners analysed 209 active substances, including 32 with dual-use applications (pesticide, biocide, or veterinary), across a total of 4573 samples. A range of laboratory tests followed to assess the toxicological impacts of pesticide mixtures, including in vitro tests on human cells and in vivo tests on non-target species such as earthworms, insects, bees, and aquatic organisms. These tests focused on mixture toxicity, offering a more comprehensive view than single chemical assessments. The ecotoxicological studies provided insights into the chronic effects of PPP mixtures on terrestrial and aquatic species, while in vitro studies explored potential impacts on human health.
In Reporting Period 3 (RP3), SPRINT invested further in the development of the Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox, designed to evaluate the impacts of PPPs on ecosystem, plant, animal, and human health (EPAH). The project continued its data analysis, exposure modelling, and risk assessments, focusing on PPP impacts across various farming systems and identifying pathways toward more sustainable practices. Exposure modelling during RP3 incorporated field data to estimate PPP levels in environmental compartments and human populations. The SPRINT team used physiology-based biokinetic (PBK) models, supported by human volunteer studies, to evaluate PPP absorption, metabolism, and elimination in humans and animals. These models identified exposure routes—dietary, inhalation, and dermal—allowing for cumulative impact assessments critical to understanding broader ecological and health risks. SPRINT also made progress in developing its interactive tools, integrating data from field sampling, lab testing, and PBK models to visualize PPP exposure and distribution. These tools aim to inform policy and farming decisions, with ongoing refinements to ensure usability for diverse stakeholders. Workshops and stakeholder meetings across the case study sites helped gather input on transitioning to sustainable pest management and exploring necessary policy changes to reduce pesticide use. The project’s findings were shared through many channels of communication including scientific publications, conference presentations, and public media, reaching policymakers and the general public. (Preliminary) results were presented at the UN Science Summits at UNGA78 and UNGA79, highlighting SPRINT’s relevance on a global stage.
In Reporting Period 3 (RP3), SPRINT invested further in the development of the Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox, designed to evaluate the impacts of PPPs on ecosystem, plant, animal, and human health (EPAH). The project continued its data analysis, exposure modelling, and risk assessments, focusing on PPP impacts across various farming systems and identifying pathways toward more sustainable practices. Exposure modelling during RP3 incorporated field data to estimate PPP levels in environmental compartments and human populations. The SPRINT team used physiology-based biokinetic (PBK) models, supported by human volunteer studies, to evaluate PPP absorption, metabolism, and elimination in humans and animals. These models identified exposure routes—dietary, inhalation, and dermal—allowing for cumulative impact assessments critical to understanding broader ecological and health risks. SPRINT also made progress in developing its interactive tools, integrating data from field sampling, lab testing, and PBK models to visualize PPP exposure and distribution. These tools aim to inform policy and farming decisions, with ongoing refinements to ensure usability for diverse stakeholders. Workshops and stakeholder meetings across the case study sites helped gather input on transitioning to sustainable pest management and exploring necessary policy changes to reduce pesticide use. The project’s findings were shared through many channels of communication including scientific publications, conference presentations, and public media, reaching policymakers and the general public. (Preliminary) results were presented at the UN Science Summits at UNGA78 and UNGA79, highlighting SPRINT’s relevance on a global stage.
Integrating field campaign data with human volunteer study results into physiology-based biokinetic (PBK) models has improved our capacity to estimate PPP absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination in human and animal populations. This allows for more precise predictions of exposure routes — dietary, inhalation, and dermal — providing a better insight of cumulative and mixed PPP exposures in real-world settings. SPRINT has expanded toxicity testing beyond traditional organisms to include ecologically relevant species such as bees, earthworms, and aquatic organisms, offering insights into chronic and mixture toxicity. First findings show that some pesticide mixtures have significantly greater ecosystem impacts than individual PPPs combined, challenging current ecosystem assessments by EFSA. Ongoing studies assess PPP mixture effects on lung, gut, and kidney organoids, as well as in rat models, with data analysis ongoing and results to be expected in RP4. These (eco)toxicological tests are relevant to regulations and guidance on mixture assessments, providing data that contribute to a better understanding of the health risks that PPP mixtures pose to ecosystems, animals, and humans.
The Toolbox team has modelled pesticide exposure in environmental compartments, initially focusing on the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, with further modelling planned for Portugal and Denmark. The Toolbox’s framework and website are in development, with progress related to data integration and user interaction. Visualization Tool 3a, showcasing field campaign results from 2021, is nearly ready. SPRINT’s potential impact on EU policy lies in promoting a transition from hazardous PPPs to safer, sustainable alternatives. Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Assessment (LCI/LCIA) methods were used to evaluate PPP impacts on ecosystems and human health, while external costs at the farm level are also being assessed. Farm-level PPP reduction scenarios are currently being developed in RP4. The project’s extensive engagement and dissemination efforts with stakeholders across sectors have resulted in valuable dialogues around PPP use, from CSS to international levels.
In the final phase of SPRINT, we plan to present our findings to EFSA and explore opportunities for incorporating these recommendations into regulation and guidance at EU level, aiming to further support the implementation of the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy in Europe.
The Toolbox team has modelled pesticide exposure in environmental compartments, initially focusing on the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, with further modelling planned for Portugal and Denmark. The Toolbox’s framework and website are in development, with progress related to data integration and user interaction. Visualization Tool 3a, showcasing field campaign results from 2021, is nearly ready. SPRINT’s potential impact on EU policy lies in promoting a transition from hazardous PPPs to safer, sustainable alternatives. Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Assessment (LCI/LCIA) methods were used to evaluate PPP impacts on ecosystems and human health, while external costs at the farm level are also being assessed. Farm-level PPP reduction scenarios are currently being developed in RP4. The project’s extensive engagement and dissemination efforts with stakeholders across sectors have resulted in valuable dialogues around PPP use, from CSS to international levels.
In the final phase of SPRINT, we plan to present our findings to EFSA and explore opportunities for incorporating these recommendations into regulation and guidance at EU level, aiming to further support the implementation of the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy in Europe.