Monitoring Glyphosate and AMPA Concentrations in Wells and Drains Using the Sorbicell Passive Sampler.

Glyphosate is one of the world’s most extensively used weed control agents. Glyphosate, and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), are suspected to be hazardous to human health and the aquatic environment. In Denmark, the extensive use has resulted in an increasing number of occurrences in groundwater wells and tile drains, stressing the need for extensive monitoring of this compound in the environment. Traditionally, monitoring programs are based on grab sampling which is time consuming and expensive due to the need for frequent sampling events. Using a passive sampling device, the SorbiCell, will decrease the workload and number of samples freeing up funds for larger monitoring programs.

When installed in a well the SorbiCell will continuously sample the water giving either a flux-weighed or time-weighted average measurement of the glyphosate/AMPA concentration throughout the sampling period. It may therefore be possible to measure lower concentrations as the glyphosate/AMPA sorbed in the SorbiCell is an accumulated measurement. Also, glyphosate/AMPA associated with sudden flush events will be detected by the SorbiCells, while such events may pass between two consecutive grab samples.

To document the ability of the SorbiCell to capture glyphosate/AMPA, a series of laboratory flow experiments were carried out. Sorption and release from the flow cells is tested with two influent solutions (0.15 µg/l and 5 µg/l), one of demineralized water and the other with drain water from the Silstrup site (part of the Danish Pesticide Leaching Assessment Program, PLAP), spiked with 14C marked glyphosate. Two different volumes of effluent were then eluted through Sorbicell’s with two different capacities. The concentration of glyphosate/AMPA was continuously measured in both the influent and effluent.

The aim of the study is to test and verify if the glyphosate/AMPA sensitive SorbiCell is an efficient and reliable, and cost-effective technology for groundwater and drainwater monitoring of pesticides.