Agricultural use of the grass and weed killer, glyphosate (brand name, Roundup) has been blamed in Europe for high levels of glyphosate found in most waterways, prompting restrictions on its use. I have sometimes used it on my tobacco beds in the springtime, prior to tilling, to eliminate grass and weed intrusion that occurs over the winter. Currently, I use it almost entirely for killing poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.).
A study published this month evaluated the assumption that the glyphosate found in waterways comes from agricultural use of glyphosate. It turns out that agricultural use of glyphosate is not the source of glyphosate in European waterways. A number of common chemicals that are included in nearly all modern laundry detergents are degraded in sewage treatment plants into, among other compounds, glyphosate. The degradation of these laundry detergent ingredients produces almost all the glyphosate found in the waterways. Oops!
phys.org
Bob
A study published this month evaluated the assumption that the glyphosate found in waterways comes from agricultural use of glyphosate. It turns out that agricultural use of glyphosate is not the source of glyphosate in European waterways. A number of common chemicals that are included in nearly all modern laundry detergents are degraded in sewage treatment plants into, among other compounds, glyphosate. The degradation of these laundry detergent ingredients produces almost all the glyphosate found in the waterways. Oops!
Most of the glyphosate in European rivers may not come from farming, researchers suggest
A research team at the University of Tübingen has found that most glyphosate that ends up in European rivers likely does not come from herbicides, as previously assumed; instead, it may be the result of additives to detergents.
Bob
