Glyphosate and AMPA, "pseudo-persistent" pollutants under real-world agricultural management practices in the Mesopotamic Pampas agroecosystem, Argentina. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Primost, Jezabel E.; Marino, Damián J.G.; Aparicio, Virginia C.; Costa, José Luis; Carriquiriborde, Pedro
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 229(2017)
• Page Start: 771
• Page End: 779
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Pesticides -- Biotech-crops -- Pampas -- Soil -- Sediments -- Groundwater; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: In the Pampas, public concern has strongly risen because of the intensive use of glyphosate for weed control and fallow associated with biotech crops. The present study was aimed to evaluate the occurrence and concentration of the herbicide and its main metabolite (AMPA) in soil and other environmental compartments of the mentioned agroecosystem, including groundwater, in relation to real-world agricultural management practices in the region. Occurrence was almost ubiquitous in solid matrices (83–100%) with maximum concentrations among the higher reported in the world (soil: 8105 and 38939; sediment: 3294 and 7219; suspended particulate matter (SPM): 584 and 475 μg/kg of glyphosate and AMPA). Lower detection frequency was observed in surface water (27–55%) with maximum concentrations in whole water of 1.80 and 1.90 μg/L of glyphosate and AMPA, indicating that SPM analysis would be more sensitive for detection in the aquatic ecosystem. No detectable concentrations of glyphosate or AMPA were observed in groundwater. Glyphosate soil concentrations were better correlated with the total cumulative dose and total number of applications than the last spraying event dose, and an increment of 1 mg glyphosate/kg soil every 5 spraying events was estimated. Findings allow to infer that, under current practices, application rates are higher than dissipation rates. Hence, glyphosate and AMPA should be considered "pseudo-persistent" pollutants and a revisions of management procedures, monitoring programs, and ecological risk for soil and sediments should be also recommended. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Glyphosate & AMPA displayed as "pseudo-persistent" pollutants in the Pampas agroecosystem. Glyphosate & AMPA were mainly concentrated in solid matrices (soil, sediment, SPM). Glyphosate soil concentration were usually above the mg/kg. Glyphosate concentration in soil increased 1 mg/kg every five spraying events. Glyphosate and AMPA were still not detected in the drinking water source aquifer. Abstract : Applications rates of glyphosate and the concentrations of the herbicide and its metabolite in soil indicate they behave as "pseudo-persistent" pollutants in the Pampas agroecosystem.