Abstract:

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is a broad-spectrum, nonselective, postemergence herbicide that has found widespread agricultural and domestic use. It is sold as a terrestrial and aquatic herbicide under the trade names Roundup and Rodeo. Because of low mammalian toxicity (LD₅₀ = 1568 mg/kg rats; oral) there is less concern about water and food contamination than with other pesticides, but the nonselectivity of the herbicide can make nontarget phytotoxicity a problem. Glyphosate’s (GLYPH) major metabolite is aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). Contamination of water can occur through runoff and spray drift.