Simultaneous direct determination of Glyphosate and AMPA in the ambient air and inhalation risk assessment in a Mediterranean Region (Spain)

Abstract

A new analytical strategy for the direct determination in ambient air by LC-MS/MS of glyphosate (Gly) and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) without a derivatization step was developed and validated. Sample treatment was performed using ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) and HCl: CH3OH (90:10, v/v)) as a solvent extractor. The developed methodology showed recoveries ranging from 93.3 % to 103.9 % for Gly and from 101.0 % to 109.4 % for AMPA with LOQs of 8.2 pg m−3 for both compounds when 730 m3 of air was sampled. The strategy was applied to the analysis of 35 air samples collected in four different areas. This is the first study which investigates the presence of Gly and AMPA in ambient air in Spain. The obtained results showed that Gly was detected in 94 % of the analysed samples, whereas AMPA was not detected. Gly concentrations oscillated from 20.23 pg m−3 to 629.95 pg m−3 with a median of 83.09 pg m−3.This work is also pioneering in performing Gly inhalation risk assessment in Spain. Daily inhalation exposure (DIE) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated to assess the obtained data. Using maximum concentrations, obtained DIE was 1.07 E−07 mg kg−1 b. w. day−1 in adults and 5.04 E−07 mg kg−1 b. w. day−1 in children. The obtained HQ values were lower than 1 in all cases, indicating that low health risk due to Gly inhalation exposure was expected for the assessed population. Furthermore, cancer risk for Gly was also lower than the concern level (1.0 E−06).