Monitoring of Glyphosate, Glufosinate-ammonium, and (Aminomethyl)phosphonic acid in ambient air of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur Region, France

Glyphosate, AMPA, its main metabolite, and Glufosinate-ammonium were monitored in ambient air samples collected for two years (2015–2016), at four sampling sites in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur Region (PACA, France) in different areas typologies (non-agricultural areas: city center, ‘zero pesticide’ policy, and industrial area but also agricultural sectors: mainly orchards and vineyards). Neither Glufosinate-ammonium nor AMPA were detected. Glyphosate was detected at a global frequency of 7% with frequencies ranging from 0% (Nice) to 23% (Cavaillon), according to the sampling site. Glyphosate concentration reached a maximum level of 1.04 ng m−3 in the rural site of Cavaillon. This is despite the physicochemical characteristics of Glyphosate which are not favorable to its passage into the atmosphere. The absence of simultaneous detection of Glyphosate and AMPA suggests that drift during spraying operation is the main atmospheric source of Glyphosate and that resuspension from soil particles is minor. The present study offers one of the few report of Glyphosate, Glufosinate-ammonium, and AMPA in the air. •Neither Glufosinate-ammonium nor AMPA were detected.•Glyphosate was detected in rural and urban sampling sites at frequencies from 0% (Nice) to 23% (Cavaillon).•Glyphosate has reached a concentration exceeding 1 ng m−3.•The drift during spraying operation is the main atmospheric source of Glyphosate.•The expected dose of Glyphosate remains below of the chronic reference dose.