Evaluation of the atmospheric contamination level for the use of herbicide glyphosate in the northeast region of Brazil

Abstract

The municipality of Limoeiro do Norte-Ceará, located in northeastern Brazil, stands out as a major center of agribusiness due to the high productivity indexes, especially in the irrigated fruit production, with a high consumption of pesticides, including glyphosate, considered potentially carcinogenic by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In this context, the aim of this study is to evaluate the atmospheric pollution caused by the use of glyphosate herbicide in the rural and urban zones of the municipality of Limoeiro do Norte, evaluating the impacts on the environment and health of the population. Samplings were performed over a period of 4 months using calibrated air samplers. Concentrations of TSP and glyphosate were estimated by gravimetric and liquid chromatography methods, respectively. The results showed TSP levels between 10.8 and 137.4 μg/m3 (mean of 41.1 μg/m3) in rural zone and between 3.87 and 97.7 μg/m3 (average of 38.1 μg/m3) in the urban zone. The glyphosate associated with TSP in the rural zone presented levels between 0.002 and 0.144 μg/m3 (mean of 0.055 μg/m3) and the atmospheric TSP (gas phase) showed levels between 0.313 and 2.939 μg/m3 (average of 1.218 μg/m3). The glyphosate associated with TSP in the urban zone ranged from 0.009 to 2.576 μg/m3 (mean of 1.006 μg/m3). These values can be considered high and dangerous to human health and to the environment.