Pilot Study Investigating Exposure to Plant Protection Products in Apple Orchards and Potential Health Effects

What this Trial Is About

The aPPPle pilot study aims to explore how people involved with apple crops, including operators applying plant protection products PPPs, workers doing manual tasks, and nearby residents, might be exposed to certain pesticides and fungicides. It focuses on acetamiprid, dithianon, and dodine, substances used in apple orchards, especially since these applications happen at higher altitudes where exposure risk may be greater. This observational study helps prepare for a larger future study by testing feasibility and collecting initial data. Participants are grouped as operators applying PPPs to apple crops, manual workers like pruners or harvesters in the orchards, residents living adjacent to the orchards, and controls living between 10 and 150 kilometers away from any apple orchards. The study observes exposure during work or application periods, collecting urine samples up to 48 hours after exposure and blood samples to analyze effect biomarkers. Controls provide samples at a single time point for comparison. During the study, researchers measure concentrations of the substances and their metabolites in various samples from participants, including urine collected soon after exposure and blood plasma over a week. They assess physiological changes through biomarkers in blood and metabolome analysis. Participants must understand the study, consent in writing, and have health insurance. The study runs from March 2025 to December 2025, focusing on collecting accurate exposure and health effect data.

Application of Plant Protection Products (PPP) in Apple Orchards