Pesticides are widely used in agricultural production to combat unwanted insects and fungi around crops, thereby increasing output per acre. We humans are exposed to pesticides daily both through our diet and through the environment. This happens, for example, through the air we breathe.

We still lack answers pertaining to the public health consequences of indirect pesticide exposure. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to environmental impacts, as exposure to toxic substances can be transferred to the unborn child via the placenta and thus affect the development of the fetus. This can, for example, result in the mother losing her child or the child being born with congenital malformations.

This research project will investigate whether there is a causal relationship between indirect exposure to pesticides through the air and population health. We will investigate how pesticides affect the population's fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and children's health and education.