Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa NZ

Roundup Contaminates Auckland Harbour:
Emerging Environmental Concern

Last year Auckland Regional Council published the results of NIWA’s pilot study of Auckland’s aquatic environment for evidence of  “chemicals of emerging environmental concern”. Residues of glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA were found throughout the region – at Meola Creek, Motions Creek, Milford Marina, Hobson Bay, Shoal Bay, Pakuranga, Whau Upper, Mahurangi, and Puketutu Island. Not surprising given the widespread use of this herbicide, but it certainly is of environmental concern. The maximum level found was 1 mg/L at Meola, but concentrations 1,000 times less than this (i.e. 1 ug/L) have been shown to affect marine microbial communities particularly in terms of diversity and community composition.

Refs: ARC. 2009. Field Analysis of Chemicals of Emerging Environmental Concern in Auckland’s Aquatic Sediments. Auckland Regional Council TR 2009/021, July 2009.  

Stachowski-Haberkorn S, Becker B, Marie D, Haberkorn H, Coroller L, de la Broise D. 2008. Impact of Roundup on the marine microbial community, as shown by an in situ microcosm experiment. Aquat Toxicol 89(4):232-41.

6 Sept 2010