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Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:25:11 -0800
From: "GMWatch" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: GMW: Study confirms glyphosate contaminating groundwater
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1.Determination of glyphosate in groundwater samples=20
2.Roundup herbicide found in air, rain, and streams

NOTE: This study on groundwater comes not long after the news that two US=
 Geological Survey studies had consistently found glyphosate in streams, =
rain and air in agricultural areas of the US.=20
---
---
1.Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
2011 Nov 20=20
Epublication ahead of print
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22101424

Determination of glyphosate in groundwater samples using an ultrasensitiv=
e immunoassay and confirmation by on-line solid-phase extraction followed=
 by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Sanch=C3=ADs J, Kantiani L, Llorca M, Rubio F, Ginebreda A, Fraile J, Gar=
rido T, Farr=C3=A9 M.

Source: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-C=
SIC), C/Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.

Abstract

Despite having been the focus of much attention from the scientific commu=
nity during recent years, glyphosate is still a challenging compound from=
 an analytical point of view because of its physicochemical properties: r=
elatively low molecular weight, high polarity, high water solubility, low=
 organic solvent solubility, amphoteric behaviour and ease to form metal =
complexes. Large efforts have been directed towards developing suitable, =
sensitive and robust methods for the routine analysis of this widely used=
 herbicide. In the present work, a magnetic particle immunoassay (IA) has=
 been evaluated for fast, reliable and accurate part-per-trillion monitor=
ing of glyphosate in water matrixes, in combination with a new analytical=
 method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE), followed by liquid chromat=
ography (LC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), for the confirm=
atory analysis of positive samples. The magnetic particle IA has been app=
lied to the analysis of about 140 samples of
groundwater from Catalonia (NE Spain) collected during four sampling camp=
aigns. Glyphosate was present above limit of quantification levels in 41%=
 of the samples with concentrations as high as 2.5 =CE=BCg/L and a mean c=
oncentration of 200 ng/L. Good agreement was obtained when comparing the =
results from IA and on-line SPE-LC-MS/MS analyses. In addition, no false =
negatives were obtained by the use of the rapid IA. This is one of the fe=
w works related to the analysis of glyphosate in real groundwater samples=
 and the presented data confirm that, although it has low mobility in soi=
ls, glyphosate is capable of reaching groundwater.

PMID: 22101424 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
---
---
2.Roundup herbicide found in air, rain, and streams
Ken Roseboro
The Organic & Non-GMO Report, October 1 2011

Glyphosate herbicide, known by its trade name Roundup, is commonly found =
in rain and rivers in agricultural areas in the Mississippi River watersh=
ed, according to two US Geological Survey studies released in August.=20

=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s out there in significant levels=E2=80=9D

Glyphosate is used in almost all agricultural and urban areas of the Unit=
ed States. The greatest glyphosate use is in the Mississippi River basin,=
 where most applications are to kill weeds on genetically modified corn, =
soybeans and cotton. Overall, agricultural use of glyphosate has increase=
d 8-fold from less than 11,000 tons in 1992 to more than 88,000 tons in 2=
007.=20

"Though glyphosate is the mostly widely used herbicide in the world, we k=
now very little about its long term effects to the environment,=E2=80=9D =
says Paul Capel, USGS chemist and an author on this study. =E2=80=9CThis =
study is one of the first to document the consistent occurrence of this c=
hemical in streams, rain and air throughout the growing season. This is c=
rucial information for understanding where management efforts for this ch=
emical would best be focused.=E2=80=9D

In these studies, glyphosate was frequently detected in surface waters, r=
ain and air in areas where it is heavily used in the basin. The consisten=
t occurrence of glyphosate in streams and air indicates its transport fro=
m its point of use into the broader environment.  =20

Capel told Reuters that glyphosate is "out there in significant levels. I=
t is out there consistently."

He said more tests were needed to determine how harmful glyphosate might =
be to people and animals.

Adds to mounting concerns with Roundup

The presence of glyphosate and its degradation product, aminomethylphosph=
onic acid (AMPA), in surface waters means that drinking water quality and=
 aquatic wildlife may be put at risk. Studies have shown many aquatic spe=
cies are affected by the herbicide and its breakdown product, and there i=
s growing concern about the safety of the product for human health.

USGS found glyphosate in more than 60% of air and rain sampled at three l=
ocations in Mississippi, Iowa and Indiana, with AMPA found in more than 5=
0% of samples.

Commenting on USGS=E2=80=99s findings, Pete Riley of United Kingdom-based=
 GM Freeze said: =E2=80=9CThe Mississippi Basin has been subjected to gly=
phosate application on a massive scale for the last 15 years. As a result=
 of this giant uncontrolled experiment, the USGS is now finding that glyp=
hosate and its breakdown products are turning up in rainfall and rivers, =
and not, as Monsanto would have us think, being safely locked up in the s=
oil. The mounting evidence on the safety and movement of glyphosate now m=
erits a ban on GM herbicide tolerant crops.=E2=80=9D

=C2=A9 Copyright The Organic & Non-GMO Report, October 2011


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