23 Pesticides Found in Urine, Even Far From Farms

Researchers tested urine from 202 people in Latvia, including 101 children. They found 23 different pesticides. Living far from farms didn't help.

Pesticides Show Up Everywhere

A 2026 study in Toxics collected urine samples during both winter and summer. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, they detected 8 insecticides, 12 fungicides, 2 herbicides, and triclosan (an antimicrobial found in cleaning products).

The fungicide boscalid showed up in 18.4% of samples. Fludioxonil appeared in 14.7%. The insecticide pirimiphos-methyl was in 10.2%.

Proximity to Farms Didn't Matter

Agricultural land was within 1,000 meters of 93.1% of homes in the study. But here's the thing: living closer to farms didn't consistently predict higher pesticide levels. Boscalid was linked to nearby wetlands, not farmland. The other pesticides showed no clear connection to farm proximity at all.

That means these chemicals are getting into people through routes that have nothing to do with living next to a field. Food, cleaning products, indoor air. The exposure is everywhere.

What You Can Do

Buy organic when you can, especially for produce on the Dirty Dozen list. Switch to cleaning products that skip triclosan and other antimicrobials. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Browse non-toxic home essentials for cleaner alternatives to common household products.

Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.

Source: Akūlova L, et al. (2026). Toxics.