Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The massive usage of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) in field crops, such as Roundupr, is of much concern regarding its impact on the environment and human health. Glyphosate and AMPA, its even more toxic main metabolite, have been widely reported in aquatic environments. However, knowledge about the retention of these two compounds in agricultural soils and their impact on field crops quality, soil functions and response of microbial communities after the application of GBH under various cropping systems is scarce mostly because of analytical limitations in complex matrixes. Our team has refined a robust analytical procedure to measure glyphosate and AMPA in all environmental compartments using a Gas Chromatograph equipped with an Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). Due to its high sensitivity, an ECD is the first choice to measure halogenated compounds in the environment. Based on this unique expertise, our team is presently running or has applied for several ambitious projects (NSERC Strategic Partnership, NSERC Discovery, MITACS, Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Environment Canada emerging contaminant). All mentioned ongoing projects converge towards finding solutions for a transition towards sustainability of field crops systems. The present proposal aims at replacing a 23-year-old GC-ECD in order to be able to continue perform crucial analyses of glyphosate and AMPA within ongoing and applied for projects. Because of recurrent technical problems induced by the obsolescence of the equipment we currently use, both the number of samples we can analyze daily (n=10) and the number of days per week the equipment is functional (an average of 2.5 days a week) are limited. This situation forces our team to limit the number of enrolled graduate students and turn down new collaborations. We thus propose to purchase a new GC-ECD-TCD with state-of-the art advanced electronic pneumatic control (EPC) modules and high-performance oven temperature control allowing optimal chromatography including peak symmetry, retention time repeatability and retention index accuracy. The new GC also has advanced built-in capabilities to monitor system resources and maintenance alerts helping to identify eventual problems faster. The very high level of sensitivity of the ECD should improve the limits of detection for both glyphosate and AMPA allowing us to extend our knowledge of herbicide contamination in the environment as well as develop new analytical methods. Finally, the new equipment will allow students to acquire cutting edge training applicable to multiple environmental issues. This type of specialized expertise is much sought after for getting employed by environmental consulting firms or pharmaceutical companies as well as for filling academic position.