Using just a single strand of hair, it is possible to assess your average exposure to pollutants over the 3 months preceding the sample collection. This is because, as hair grows, it is nourished at the root by blood vessels and incorporates the pollutants to which the body is exposed. Since the rate of hair growth is known (approximately 1 cm per month), analyzing the first 3 centimeters of hair that have been cut is sufficient to determine your quarterly exposure level.

Pesticides, which areubiquitous in our environment, are now a major public health concern. Exposure to pesticides occurs primarily through ingestion and inhalation: via water and food, but also through household activities (use of mosquito repellents, treatment of pets, etc.) and throughthe air we breathe (agricultural spraying, contamination of the home, etc.).

These molecules, which belong to the SVOC (Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds) family, are not very volatile at room temperature. In the presence of a heat source, they become gaseous and contaminate the ambient air. Pesticides also settle on dust particles, the finest of which remain suspended in the air we breathe.

If you live near agricultural areas (fields, vineyards, orchards, etc.), you may be exposed to pesticides, which can be carried by the wind over several kilometers around the application site.

Furthermore, non-agricultural sources of pesticide emissions are widely underestimated. Wooden structures (roof trusses, antique wooden furniture, etc.) are treated to prevent damage from mold or insects. Insecticides such as mosquito repellents, veterinary products (antiparasitics), treatments against mites, and plant protection products like herbicides or insecticides sold in supermarkets and garden centers only add to the list of pollutants surrounding us.

Added to these lists are POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)—substances toxic to humans and the environment—whoseuse has been banned for many years but which persist in the environment, travel long distances, and accumulate in living organisms. (To learn more,see this explanatory document from the ministry and the list of POPs included in the Stockholm Convention.)

Sincepesticides found indoors are not subject to the same weather conditions and biological degradation as those outdoors, they tend to accumulate indoors. Most of them are toxic, and chronic exposure—even at low concentrations—poses health risks (effects on development and reproduction, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, etc.). If your home or workplace is contaminated, you may be inhaling these molecules while you are there.

This testing kit allows you to measure your exposure to household and/or agricultural pesticides. The hair sampling device is very easy to use. Once collected and returned, the hair sample is analyzed in a laboratory to identify and quantify the pesticides present in it. In the absence of guideline values, the results are compared to statistical data compiled by the laboratory (based on data collected since 2014).

Would you like to know your chronic exposure to pesticides from your diet? Do you live near farmland (fields, vineyards, orchards, gardens, etc.)? Does your home contain structural and/or decorative elements made of solid wood (hardwood floors, beams, roof trusses, wood paneling)? Has your home been treated for pests (flying insects or wood-boring insects)? Do you have pets that you treat with pest control products?

This kit will allow you to test for up to 100 agricultural and/or household pesticides that may be present in your body.

Pesticides can cause numerous health problems, depending on their chemical and biological properties. They can be carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, and harmful to the development of children (endocrine disruptors). Chronic exposure can have consequences for your health, which is why it’s important to know your level of exposure.

Would you like to measure your exposure to glyphosate? This is a specialized test we offer in our Glyphosate Hair Test Kit.

You can also measure pesticide contamination in your home using ourPesticide Dust Kit.

You can also test for pesticides in your water using our Drinking Water Kit(tap water) and our Natural Water Kit(well, pond, river).

• Insecticides
  - Lindane: Classified as a persistent organic pollutant (POP), lindane—or gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH)—was used in agriculture as an insecticide and in certain pharmaceutical products (treatment for scabies and lice control). Exposure to lindane can affect the nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Although now banned in France, it is still found in some homes because it was used in the past to treat wood (such as roof trusses and other woodwork). In these homes, residents risk inhaling lindane molecules that may have become attached to dust particles in the room, particularly during construction work. Learn more in our article on lindane.
  - Fipronil: This substance, classified as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. EPA and as an endocrine disruptor according to The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, has antiparasitic and insecticidal properties. Previously used in agriculture (seed coating) to control insect pests, it is now banned for this purpose in most European countries because it is accused of contributing to bee mortality. However, it is authorized for treating pets against fleas and ticks, which explains why it can be found in homes and, consequently, inhaled or ingested. In 2017, a scandal involving the contamination of chicken eggs with fipronil broke out in Europe.
  - Permethrin: This compound acts on the nervous system of insects and is not selective in its action. Permethrin is found in insecticides sprayed directly onto clothing and mosquito nets, in anti-lice shampoos, and in pet treatments (such as flea treatments, except for cats, which are particularly sensitive to it). It is also used as a soil treatment around homes to control termites or as a spray against other insects (wasps, ants, etc.). Permethrin is highly toxic (neurotoxic) to many animals, but its toxicity to humans has not yet been officially assessed. It is classified as an endocrine disruptor by the University of Hertfordshire.Read our article on permethrin.

• Fungicides
  -Tebuconazole: This is a systemic fungicide—meaning it is absorbed by the plant after application—and a growth regulator. The use of tebuconazole is authorized in Europe for vineyards and field crops, including grains, vegetables, and fruit trees. It is also used as a biocide to protect coatings, wood, and building materials. Tebuconazole is classified as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. EPA and may have neurotoxic effects, primarily on developing fetuses.
  -Azoxystrobin: This is also a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, effective against various families of pathogenic fungi. Its use is authorized in wine-growing regions as well as for a wider range of crops, such as grains and vegetables, within the European Union.

• Herbicides
  - Metolachlor: This organochlorine herbicide, which was originally a mixture of R-metolachlor and S-metolachlor, has been banned in France since 2003. Now, the S-metolachlor form (concentration > 80%) is authorized for use on field crops, particularly corn. It ranks among the top 10 best-selling substances in France, largely due to the ban on atrazine. Because it is moderately persistent and mobile, metolachlor contaminates groundwater and isone of the most commonly detected pesticides in tapwater. Metolachlor is classified as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. EPA.
  - Pendimethalin: This herbicide is authorized in the European Union for use on cereal crops as well as certain fruits and vegetables (carrots, onions, tomatoes, melons, etc.) and even flower crops and ornamental plants. Pendimethalin is classified as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. EPA

The compounds analyzed by Kudzu Science were selected for the relevance of their research, based on the results obtained from hair samples analyzed in the laboratory since 2014, particularly their occurrence (detection frequency). The list also includessubstances identified as priorities by ANSES in 2020, following the results of the National Exploratory Pesticide Campaign (CNEP) in outdoor air.

Pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates… Discover all the compounds analyzed in each kit variant in the complete list below:

List of molecules by kit variant

Everything is included in your analysis kit:

• Asampling device for short and long hair developed by Kudzu Science;
• Detailed instructions to guide you step by step through the process;
• A sample collection form to help us interpret your results;
• A prepaid return envelope for sending your samples to the lab (from mainland France only);
• Analysis of your sampleusing chemical extraction and liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry;
• And a detailed analysis report interpreting your results.

Instructions for the Hair Pesticide Test Kit

Your report will be available for direct download from the“My Kudzu Kit” sectionof our website within 15 business days after your sample is received at the laboratory. This turnaround time is reduced to 5 days if you select the “express” option.

You will receive a comprehensive, personalized, and interpreted analysis report with details of your results, precise and exhaustive information on the pollutants tested for, and advice on how to limit your exposure to pesticides. It is designed to allow you to quickly and easily compare your results with those obtained during measurement campaigns conducted by the laboratory since 2014.

Example of an interpreted analysis report (excerpt)