Reconnaissance Data for Glyphosate, Other Selected Herbicides, Their Degradation Products, and Antibiotics in 51 Streams in Nine Midwestern States, 2002

Since 1989, the U.S. Geological Survey has conducted periodic reconnaissance studies of streams in the Midwestern United States to determine the geographic and seasonal distribution of herbicide compounds. These studies have documented that large amounts of acetochlor, alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and their degradation products are flushed into streams during post-application runoff. Additional studies show that peak herbicide concentrations tend to occur during the first runoff after herbicide application and that herbicide flushes can occur during runoff for several weeks to months following application.
Since the first stream study conducted in 1989, several significant changes in herbicide use have occurred. The most substantial change is the tripling in the use of glyphosate during the past 5 years. Over this same time period (1997–2001), usage of acetochlor and atrazine increased slightly, whereas alachlor, cyanazine, and metolachlor usage decreased.

During 2002, 154 samples were collected from 51 streams in nine Midwestern States during three periods of runoff. This report provides a compilation of the analytical results of five laboratory methods. Results show that glyphosate was detected in 55 (36 percent) of the samples, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (a degradation product of glyphosate) was detected in 107 (69 percent) of the samples. Atrazine, the most frequently detected herbicide, was found in 93 percent of the samples, followed by metolachlor, found in 73 percent of the samples; metolachlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA) were the most frequently detected herbicide degradation products, both being found in more than 95 percent of the samples. The data presented here are valuable for comparison with results from the earlier reconnaissance studies.

CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction
Previous Studies
Changes in Herbicide Use Since 1989
Herbicie Degradation Products
Antibiotics
Purpose and Scope of Report
Methods

Selection of Sampling Sites
Sample Collection
Sample Processing
Laboratory Methods
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Analytical Results

Streamflow and Physical Properties
Results of Laboratory Method Analysis Code GCS
Results of Laboratory Method Analysis Code LCAA
Results of Laboratory Method Analysis Code LCEA
Results of Laboratory Method Analysis Code LCGY
Results of Laboratory Method Analysis Code LCAN
Quality-Control Samples
Duplicate Analysis of Selected Herbicides
References Cited
Supplemental Information

Scribner, E.A., Battaglin, W.A., Dietze, J.E., and Thurman, E.M., Reconnaissance Data for Glyphosate, Other Selected Herbicides, their Degradation Products, and Antibiotics in 51 streams in Nine Midwestern States, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–217, 101 p.

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