The occurrence of glyphosate, atrazine, and other pesticides in vernal pools and adjacent streams in Washington, DC, Maryland, Iowa, and Wyoming, 2005–2006

Abstract

Vernal pools are sensitive environments that provide critical habitat for many species, including amphibians. These small water bodies are not always protected by pesticide label requirements for no-spray buffer zones, and the occurrence of pesticides in them is poorly documented. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of glyphosate, its primary degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid, and additional pesticides in vernal pools and adjacent flowing waters. Most sampling sites were chosen to be in areas where glyphosate was being used either in production agriculture or for nonindigenous plant control. The four site locations were in otherwise protected areas (e.g., in a National Park). When possible, water samples were collected both before and after glyphosate application in 2005 and 2006. Twenty-eight pesticides or pesticide degradation products were detected in the study, and as many as 11 were identified in individual samples. Atrazine was detected most frequently and concentrations exceeded the freshwater aquatic life standard of 1.8 micrograms per liter (microg/l) in samples from Rands Ditch and Browns Ditch in DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Glyphosate was measured at the highest concentration (328 microg/l) in a sample from Riley Spring Pond in Rock Creek National Park. This concentration exceeded the freshwater aquatic life standard for glyphosate of 65 microg/l. Aminomethylphosphonic acid, triclopyr, and nicosulfuron also were detected at concentrations greater than 3.0 microg/l.

Re-registration Challenges of Glyphosate in the European Union

“…Italy (Lombardy Region) up to 96 Sampling intensity increased due to more concern about glyphosate residues during than previously, 2008Di Guardo and Finizio, 2018 analysis methods of better sensitivity and accuracy (Huhn, 2018). Glyphosate and AMPA were found to emerge in surface water by leaching from agricultural areas in the US and Canada (Edwards et al, 1980;Feng et al, 1990;Payne et al, 1990;Payne, 1992;Battaglin et al, 2005Battaglin et al, , 2009Kolpin et al, 2006;Struger et al, 2008;Shipitalo and Owens, 2011;Coupe et al, 2012;Glozier et al, 2012) among others by the US Geological Survey (Kolpin et al, 2006), at concentrations up to 5,200 and 400 ng/l, respectively in the US North Appalache and the Midwest (Battaglin et al, 2005(Battaglin et al, , 2009 in regions, where the use of glyphosate-based pesticide formulations is substantial e.g., due to the cultivation of GT (RR) crops (Cuhra, 2015). Glyphosate has also been indicated as a significant water pollutant from intensive agriculture in Mexico (Ruiz-Toledo et al, 2014).…”

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“…Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is one of the most commonly used herbicides found in the rural environments (Battaglin, Rice, Focazio, Salmons & Barry 2009). It is extensively used on corn, sorghum, sugarcane, pineapples and to some extent on landscape vegetation.…”

No effect of a glyphosate-based herbicide on larval dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea) and adult newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) in a laboratory-based experiment

“…However, sublethal concentrations are usually found in nature (e.g. Struger et al 2008, Peruzzo et al 2008, Battaglin et al 2009). These can also have serious consequences, such as developmental malformations (Lajmanovich et al 2003), UJSZEGI, J., GÁL, Z., MIKÓ, ZS.…”

“…These generalist predators regulate a wide variety of prey species spanning from zooplankton to amphibian larvae, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the ecological balance in these aquatic communities (Terborgh et al 2001, Schmitz et al 2004, Relyea 2005a. As ephemeral aquatic habitats are relatively small and shallow, and they are often immediately adjacent to cultivated fields, glyphosate concentrations can reach higher levels than measured or predicted for big water bodies with no-spray buffer zones (Mann & Bidwell 1999, Battaglin et al 2009, Relyea 2012.…”