- 1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- 2NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
- 3Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, China
- 4Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- 5Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- 6School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
- 7Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- 8Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
The widespread distribution of pesticides in the global atmosphere has been well-documented, posing significant threats to ecosystems and human health, particularly from highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) characterized by elevated toxicity and/or persistence. Recent studies suggest that certain environmental transformation products of pesticides may be even more hazardous than their precursors. However, related knowledge remains limited currently, hindering our comprehensive assessment and effective response.
Here, we developed a pseudo-targeted analysis strategy designed for rapid-response scenarios, enabling the identification of thousands of pesticide-related compounds in air samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Applying this framework to the North China Plain, a key agricultural and densely populated region, we conducted monthly sampling over one year and identified 127 pesticides and transformation products in the local atmosphere. Distinct seasonal variations (monthly fluctuations) and spatial distributions (urbanization gradients) were observed, highlighting agricultural activities as the primary drivers of atmospheric pesticide levels.
Risk assessments for humans and animals were conducted based on environmental concentrations and toxicological data. By comparing concentrations in the organisms with internal effect concentrations, we quantified risk values and found that atmospheric pesticide risks in the North China Plain are unacceptable under some specific situation. Notably, the nonlinear relationship between total concentration and risk values underscores the dominant role of HHPs.
The HYSPLIT model was employed to identify the transport pathways and potential sources of atmospheric pesticides. The results indicate that the North China Plain experiences both external inputs and intercity migration within the region, with Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean potentially serving as sources of atmospheric pesticides.
How to cite: Zhao, M., Chen, D., Wu, J., Figueiredo, D., Rezaei, M., Ritsema, C., Li, L., Liu, Q., Zhao, F., Han, J., Liu, X., and Wang, K.: Occurrence and risk of atmospheric pesticides in Northern China, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20042, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20042, 2025.
