We conducted a review of the scientific literature using the PubMed and Scopus databases. Our search focused on articles published between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2018. We specifically looked for articles providing original data on non-occupational pesticide exposure among residents living near agricultural areas. Of the 549 articles identified, an initial analysis based on their titles and abstracts allowed us to exclude those that did not present new findings (literature reviews, methodological articles, etc.) or fell outside the scope of the research (animal studies, toxicological studies, risk assessments, etc.). The remaining 252 articles were then analyzed according to criteria related to the exposure under study and the study population. Only those examining pesticides in an agricultural context and residents living near crops were retained. Articles whose study population was the general population or agricultural workers were also excluded if the proximity of the residence to agricultural crops was not taken into account. In the end, approximately thirty articles were selected for this literature review. The corresponding studies were classified into three types based on the method used to measure pesticide exposure: studies based on environmental measurements (indoor air, ambient air, dust), those using biological measurements (biomarkers of exposure or effects in urine, blood, cord blood, hair, teeth, saliva), and those combining both approaches.

The majority of the studies included in this literature review featured a control group, either by selecting a group of individuals who did not live near agricultural areas or by taking measurements during and outside of the pesticide application period in crops. Most of these studies show that individuals living near agricultural areas have higher pesticide exposure than control groups. Pesticide exposure levels are influenced by the distance between the place of residence and the nearest crop, and especially by the area of crops near the home. However, the results are not always consistent for the same pesticide or for the same type of exposure measurement.
Measuring pesticide exposure attributable to the presence of crops near the place of residence is complex. Indeed, sources of pesticide exposure are numerous and also affect the general population through diet, household pesticide use, occupation, etc. This literature review highlights the study methodologies best suited to measuring pesticide exposure attributable to the presence of crops near the place of residence. The most important points to note are: the inclusion of a control group (individuals not living near crops), the collection of both environmental and biological data at different times of the year, the inclusion of multiple study sites, and the measurement of crop-specific pesticides. However, this type of study remains rare, particularly in France.

In a request dated February 1, 2016, the Directorate General for Health asked Santé publique France to assess the relevance and feasibility of conducting an epidemiological study on the links between pesticide exposure and the incidence of pediatric cancers in wine-growing regions. After consulting with the leading research teams and relevant organizations in the field of pediatric cancer epidemiology, Santé publique France proposed the implementation of two studies:

• A national study on the link between childhood cancers and proximity to agricultural crops, involving the Inserm-EPICEA (Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers) research team—which leads the Géocap program—as well as Santé publique France. This study is funded by ANSES.

• An exposure study among residents living near vineyards (the PestiRiv study) conducted in collaboration with ANSES. The findings of this literature review were taken into account for the PestiRiv study. We have therefore planned to conduct a multicenter study among residents living near and far from vineyards, combined with biological measurements in urine and hair, and environmental measurements in various media (ambient air, dust, water, food, etc.). These measurements will take place both during and outside the spraying season. The implementation of this new study will generate objective data on the exposure of residents living near vineyards. Fieldwork for the PestiRiv study will begin in 2021.