This sub-study is investigating whether people living near agricultural and horticultural areas are at risk of developing asthma or COPD as a result of pesticide exposure. In adults, this concerns asthma and COPD, whereas in children this only concerns asthma. There are indications in scientific literature that both diseases are linked to pesticides.
Expected duration: September 2025 - May 2030
Asthma and COPD in adults
The researchers are using data from various Dutch health registries, such as: the Landelijke Basisregistratie Ziekenhuiszorg and Vektis. These registries cover medicine use, hospital admissions and other use of healthcare services. The causes of death statistics from Statistics Netherlands are also used. Researchers are using this information to determine which people developed asthma or COPD between 2016 and 2023 and which people died from COPD.
Asthma in children
The study on childhood asthma focuses on children who started taking asthma medication during their childhood. This concerns children born between 2006 and 2014. The researchers are also examining the severity of the disease. Severe asthma requires specialist medical care and hospital admissions.
How this is investigated
The researchers are investigating whether the collected data show a link at group level between the disease and pesticide exposure in the living environment. The computational model developed in sub-study 2 will be used for this.
In the study into childhood asthma, the researchers also examine whether parents were exposed to or in contact with pesticides before the birth of their child. During pregnancy, for example. This may have happened in their home environment and/or through their work, for example, in agriculture or horticulture.
All analyses take place within the secure digital environment of Statistics Netherlands (in Dutch).