Sources and pathways of glyphosate in surface waters

Glyphosate is one of the most important pesticides worldwide. Although it degrades relatively fast and is not considered as mobile, it can occur in high concentrations in surface waters. To determine the origin of glyphosate in water, the possible sources and pathways are investigated within the scope of a field study in the catchment of Lake Greifen. To assess the urban inputs a waste water treatment plant, the overflow of a combined sewer and a rainwater sewer were sampled. Since glyphosate is not only used in agricultural or urban applications, but also for chemical weed control on railroads, the importance of the railways is investigated in a further project.

Contractor

Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

Publications

Hanke, I., H. Singer, J. Hollender. 2008. Ultra-trace level determination of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and glufosinate in natural waters by solid phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: performance tuning of derivatization, enrichment and detection, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 391:2265-2276.