Determination of glyphosate pollution level in agricultural areas in Edirne region

Pesticides are chemical agents widely used in modern agricultural practices, industrial production and domestic areas to control unwanted organisms. GlyBHs (glyphosate-based herbicides) containing the active ingredient Glyphosate (N- (phosphonomethyl)glycine) are commercial pesticide formulations widely used worldwide. In recent years, GlyBH has been applied to agricultural areas during the cultivation of soy, corn, cotton and wheat from GMOs (genetically modified organisms) by providing them with characteristics that can tolerate the effects of GlyBH. There are serious discussions about the compound itself in official environmental and health inspection institutions in the European Union countries and other countries in the world regarding its potential harmful effects on human health. There is no restriction on the use of GlyBH-based pesticides in agricultural application areas in our country. Studies conducted in our country regarding the presence of glyphosate in environmental samples are quite limited. Within the scope of the thesis, a study was carried out to determine the presence and amounts of Glyphosate in soil and surface water samples in agricultural areas within the borders of Edirne Province. The theoretical approach planned for the study is based on the collection of soil and water samples in a way that will reveal the seasonal distribution, purification of the samples by solid phase extraction, derivatization of the analyte to a suitable form and analysis by LC-MS (liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry) technique. According to the results of the analyzes carried out on the samples taken between May 2022 and March 2023, concentration of analyte compound was measured between 0,30 ± 0,06 ng/mL and 5,66 ± 2,44 ng/mL in water samples. The highest concentration values were in surface waters in rice cultivation areas. Analyte concentrations in soil samples were measured in the range of 0,18 ± 0,04 μg/kg and 3,61 ± 0,61 μg/kg. The highest concentration values for both sample types were measured for May-August 2022 samples. When the obtained data were evaluated, it was seen that the glyphosate concentration in soil and water depended on the type of plant cultivated in agricultural areas, the time of application and the season.