Monitoring of Glyphosate, Glufosinate-ammonium, and (Aminomethyl)phosphonic acid in ambient air of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur Region, France

Abstract

Glyphosate, AMPA, its main metabolite, and Glufosinate-ammonium were monitored in ambient air samples collected for two years (2015-2016), at four sampling sites in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur Region (PACA, France) in different areas typologies (non-agricultural areas: city center, 'zero pesticide' policy, and industrial area but also agricultural sectors: mainly orchards and vineyards). Neither Glufosinate-ammonium nor AMPA were detected. Glyphosate was detected at a global frequency of 7% with frequencies ranging from 0% (Nice) to 23% (Cavaillon), according to the sampling site. Glyphosate concentration reached a maximum level of 1.04 ng m-3 in the rural site of Cavaillon. This is despite the physicochemical characteristics of Glyphosate which are not favorable to its passage into the atmosphere. The absence of simultaneous detection of Glyphosate and AMPA suggests that drift during spraying operation is the main atmospheric source of Glyphosate and that resuspension from soil particles is minor. The present study offers one of the few report of Glyphosate, Glufosinateammonium, and AMPA in the air.

Glyphosate Residues in Soil and Air: An Integrated Review

“…The analyses are performed in the negative ionization mode. Both the LOD and the LOQ were determined by the calibration curve and were 0.05 and 0.14 ngm −3 , respectively, for glyphosate and 0.30 and 0.90 ngm −3 , respectively, for AMPA [124].…”

“…Although numerous laboratory and field studies have been carried out for the determination of glyphosate and AMPA in the aquatic environment, there are limited studies in field soils. Furthermore, atmospheric concentrations of glyphosate and AMPA are shabbily documented as very few studies have monitored them in the atmosphere [124].…”

“…In 2004, glyphosate was examined in 59 atmospheric samples in Hauts-de-France Region in France, with a detection occurrence of 14% and a maximum concentration of 0.19 ng m −3 [124,127].…”

“…Ravier et al used also high-volume samplers, and the particulate samples were collected on quartz microfiber filters. The filters after sampling were protected from the light and stored at −20°C [124]. Field air blank samples were also collected for the determination of the background contamination through handling and storage.…”

How Far Can Pesticides Spread? A Case Study on No-Tillage Farming Systems and Surrounding Forest Patches

“…The AMPA half-life is much longer (up to 958 days) than GLY (up to 280 days), but is also dependent on environmental conditions, which may speed or slow decomposition 36,37 . They can occur in the environment due to spray drift [38][39][40][41] , water and wind erosion of ne fractions of soil aggregates 35,42,43 , and precipitation of particulate matter [44][45][46] . GLY and AMPA have been reported in soils around the world (e.g., Europe, USA, China, Egypt, Argentina) 23,47−50 , mostly in agricultural systems.…”