'Deeply concerning': New study finds toxic pesticides in playgrounds
Cancer-linked pesticide found in eight out of thirteen children’s playgrounds
A study launched today by the Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) found residues of the weedkiller glyphosate and its toxic breakdown product – AMPA – in English playgrounds.
We’ve been campaigning against the use of glyphosate in public spaces such as playgrounds since last April and this latest report adds to the evidence we’re continuing to collect against this commonly used substance.
The charity tested samples of soil and plant material and swabbed children’s play equipment in thirteen playgrounds across three English counties and two London boroughs. A PAN UK spokesperson told me that the locations were chosen as they represent a mix of rural and urban.
Important to note is that none of the playgrounds were particularly close to agricultural fields. This suggests that the contamination detected is likely to originate from the widespread use of glyphosate by UK councils to remove unwanted plants in public spaces.
Nick Mole from PAN UK said: it was deeply concerning to find a Highly Hazardous Pesticide like glyphosate present in the very places where our children play.
“UK glyphosate use has skyrocketed in recent years, as has the evidence linking this chemical to serious health conditions. We all know that young children tend to put their fingers and other items in their mouths so finding glyphosate residues in playgrounds, including on play equipment such as swings and slides, is particularly worrying.”
Glyphosate has been linked repeatedly to a range of chronic diseases, most notably cancer. Children are more vulnerable than adults to the health impacts of pesticides since their brains and bodies are still in development and less able to cope with toxins. A 2023 study from UC Berkeley School of Public Health found that childhood exposure to glyphosate and AMPA threatens to increase the risk of developing serious disease in later life, such as liver cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
While roughly 45% of UK councils are taking action to end or reduce their pesticide use, the majority continue to use glyphosate in public spaces such as parks and pavements, usually for cosmetic purposes. Councils reported using a total of 354 tonnes of pesticides in 2024, roughly equivalent to the weight of 23 double decker buses. According to official data, glyphosate-based products make up 96% of all pesticide active substances applied by local councils.
Professor Michael Antoniou, a specialist in Molecular Genetics and Toxicology at Kings College London and UK contributor to the recently published Global Glyphosate Study, warned of ongoing helth issues:
“Our studies have shown that exposure to glyphosate herbicides is a significant risk factor for the development of a range of serious health conditions, including fatty liver and kidney disease and, most worryingly, a wide range of cancers including leukaemias.”
Of the five areas in which playgrounds were tested, the London Borough of Hackney was the only location where neither glyphosate nor its breakdown product – AMPA – were found. Hackney Council went pesticide-free in all its parks and green spaces and on housing estates in 2021. They have also introduced a range of other measures which have significantly decreased the amount of pesticides used in other settings across the borough.
PAN UK is urging all UK councils to adopt its tried and tested ‘three-year phase out plan’ to join the fifty UK councils that have already gone pesticide-free.
Campaigners are also calling for the UK, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh governments to follow the examples of France, Denmark and the Netherlands by introducing nationwide bans on pesticide use in public spaces. Any ban would need to be accompanied by a package of support for councils to help them adopt safe and sustainable non-chemical alternatives.
There is currently a Bill going through parliament – tabled by Sian Berry MP – which would end pesticide use by local councils in England. (More on that here) Chemicals Minister Emma Hardy has acknowledged the need for local councils to reduce their pesticide use but is yet to take any concrete action.
The UK government is set to launch a major public consultation on whether to reapprove glyphosate in early 2026, with a final decision due by mid-December. Children’s health advocates will be calling for a complete ban on the use of glyphosate in public spaces, including playgrounds.
The full briefing, Playing with Poison, is available here.
Our campaign against the use of glyphosate in public spaces such as playgrounds continues but we are currently without financial support for this work. During 2025 we received a year’s support from the Tenacious Journalist Awards, but that funding has now finished. If you would like to support this campaign please subscribe, donate below or contact me for business sponsorship opportunities (sarah@thenortherneco.com).