![Sample our Earth Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5930/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Earth-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The commonly used non-selective herbicide glyphosate (N-[Phosphonomethyl]glycin) occurred in surface water of two small tributaries of the river Ruhr in North-Rhine-Westphalia (FRG) with a maximum concentration of 590 ng/l. In the examined catchment areas weed control application in rail tracks is one of the main sources of an input to surface water. The occurrence of the metabolite aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) was linked to glyphosate load rather than to a detergent inflow via municipal sewage. The observed disappearance of glyphosate was faster than the disappearance of diuron indicating a lower persistence. A final assessment of the importance of highly polar pesticides in organic contaminant of surface water needs extended water monitoring analyses and further field investigation.
