Glyphosate

Chemical Groups: Organic, Pesticides, Organophosphorus compounds

Also Known As:

CASRN: 1071-83-6

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) 27,000

value calculated from LC50 data using the SSD approach.

 

 

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) 800

value calculated from no and low-effect data using the SSD approach.

Date 2012

Note: Some glyphosate formulations, including Roundup, currently contain a surfactant that may be considerably more toxic than glyphosate itself. This should be taken into consideration in any spill of this substance directly to surface water and in the evaluation of monitoring data.

Marine

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) NRG

NRG = no recommended guideline.

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) NRG

NRG= no recommended guideline.

Date 2012

Note: Some glyphosate formulations, including Roundup, currently contain a surfactant that may be considerably more toxic than glyphosate itself. This should be taken into consideration in any spill of this substance directly to surface water and in the evaluation of monitoring data.

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agriculture

Irrigation

Concentration (µg/L) No data

Date No data

Livestock

Concentration (µg/L) 280

No fact sheet created. For more information on this guideline, please refer to Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CCREM 1987).

Date 1989

Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG No data

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL No data

Date No data

Marine

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG No data

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL No data

Date No data

Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Agricultural No data

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Residential/ parkland No data

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Commercial No data

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Industrial No data

Date No data

Tissue Residue Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Widlife Consumer of Aquatic Biota

Concentration (µg/L) No data

Date No data

Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential 0.28

  Land Use and Soil Texture
  Agricultural/Residential Commercial/Industrial
  Coarse Fine Coarse Fine
Guideline (provisional*) 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Human health guidelines        
Protection of indoor air quality (basement) NC NC -- --
Protection of indoor air quality (slab on grade) NC NC NC NC
Protection of potable water 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Environmental health guidelines        
Protection of freshwater life 0.80 0.81 0.80 0.81
Protection of marine life NC NC NC NC
Protection of livestock watering 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Protection of irrigation water NA NA NA NA
Groundwater contact by soil-dependent organisms NC NC NC NC
Management considerations        
Water solubility (10%) † 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200

Notes: NC = not calculated (due to insufficient data); NA = not available (no CCME or Health Canada benchmarks are available); -- = the pathway is not considered for the selected land use.

Guidelines are based on soil and water quality guidelines/benchmarks current up to February 1, 2024.

* Provisional guideline. Protection of potable water and protection of aquatic life (freshwater and marine) are considered to be required exposure pathways; if any of these guidelines are missing, the final Guideline is considered to be provisional. Missing pathways should be addressed on a site-specific basis.

† This management limit is an alert to the potential presence of upstream sources of free-phase liquid. It is based on single substance contamination and may not be applicable to mixtures. Please consult Section 1.3.3 of CCME (2026) for further information. A value of 50% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase less dense than water; a value of 10% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase denser than water. Consult the jurisdictional authority for guidance if the management limit is exceeded.

Degradation note:

Potential degradation product includes aminomethylphosphonic acid. Consideration of this additional degradation product is potentially necessary when evaluating site groundwater quality impacted by glyphosate. 

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial 0.28

  Land Use and Soil Texture
  Agricultural/Residential Commercial/Industrial
  Coarse Fine Coarse Fine
Guideline (provisional*) 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Human health guidelines        
Protection of indoor air quality (basement) NC NC -- --
Protection of indoor air quality (slab on grade) NC NC NC NC
Protection of potable water 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Environmental health guidelines        
Protection of freshwater life 0.80 0.81 0.80 0.81
Protection of marine life NC NC NC NC
Protection of livestock watering 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Protection of irrigation water NA NA NA NA
Groundwater contact by soil-dependent organisms NC NC NC NC
Management considerations        
Water solubility (10%) † 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200

Notes: NC = not calculated (due to insufficient data); NA = not available (no CCME or Health Canada benchmarks are available); -- = the pathway is not considered for the selected land use.

Guidelines are based on soil and water quality guidelines/benchmarks current up to February 1, 2024.

* Provisional guideline. Protection of potable water and protection of aquatic life (freshwater and marine) are considered to be required exposure pathways; if any of these guidelines are missing, the final Guideline is considered to be provisional. Missing pathways should be addressed on a site-specific basis.

† This management limit is an alert to the potential presence of upstream sources of free-phase liquid. It is based on single substance contamination and may not be applicable to mixtures. Please consult Section 1.3.3 of CCME (2026) for further information. A value of 50% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase less dense than water; a value of 10% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase denser than water. Consult the jurisdictional authority for guidance if the management limit is exceeded.

Degradation note:

Potential degradation product includes aminomethylphosphonic acid. Consideration of this additional degradation product is potentially necessary when evaluating site groundwater quality impacted by glyphosate. 

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential 0.28

  Land Use and Soil Texture
  Agricultural/Residential Commercial/Industrial
  Coarse Fine Coarse Fine
Guideline (provisional*) 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Human health guidelines        
Protection of indoor air quality (basement) NC NC -- --
Protection of indoor air quality (slab on grade) NC NC NC NC
Protection of potable water 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Environmental health guidelines        
Protection of freshwater life 0.80 0.81 0.80 0.81
Protection of marine life NC NC NC NC
Protection of livestock watering 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Protection of irrigation water NA NA NA NA
Groundwater contact by soil-dependent organisms NC NC NC NC
Management considerations        
Water solubility (10%) † 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200

Notes: NC = not calculated (due to insufficient data); NA = not available (no CCME or Health Canada benchmarks are available); -- = the pathway is not considered for the selected land use.

Guidelines are based on soil and water quality guidelines/benchmarks current up to February 1, 2024.

* Provisional guideline. Protection of potable water and protection of aquatic life (freshwater and marine) are considered to be required exposure pathways; if any of these guidelines are missing, the final Guideline is considered to be provisional. Missing pathways should be addressed on a site-specific basis.

† This management limit is an alert to the potential presence of upstream sources of free-phase liquid. It is based on single substance contamination and may not be applicable to mixtures. Please consult Section 1.3.3 of CCME (2026) for further information. A value of 50% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase less dense than water; a value of 10% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase denser than water. Consult the jurisdictional authority for guidance if the management limit is exceeded.

Degradation note:

Potential degradation product includes aminomethylphosphonic acid. Consideration of this additional degradation product is potentially necessary when evaluating site groundwater quality impacted by glyphosate. 

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial 0.28

  Land Use and Soil Texture
  Agricultural/Residential Commercial/Industrial
  Coarse Fine Coarse Fine
Guideline (provisional*) 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Human health guidelines        
Protection of indoor air quality (basement) NC NC -- --
Protection of indoor air quality (slab on grade) NC NC NC NC
Protection of potable water 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Environmental health guidelines        
Protection of freshwater life 0.80 0.81 0.80 0.81
Protection of marine life NC NC NC NC
Protection of livestock watering 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Protection of irrigation water NA NA NA NA
Groundwater contact by soil-dependent organisms NC NC NC NC
Management considerations        
Water solubility (10%) † 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200

Notes: NC = not calculated (due to insufficient data); NA = not available (no CCME or Health Canada benchmarks are available); -- = the pathway is not considered for the selected land use.

Guidelines are based on soil and water quality guidelines/benchmarks current up to February 1, 2024.

* Provisional guideline. Protection of potable water and protection of aquatic life (freshwater and marine) are considered to be required exposure pathways; if any of these guidelines are missing, the final Guideline is considered to be provisional. Missing pathways should be addressed on a site-specific basis.

† This management limit is an alert to the potential presence of upstream sources of free-phase liquid. It is based on single substance contamination and may not be applicable to mixtures. Please consult Section 1.3.3 of CCME (2026) for further information. A value of 50% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase less dense than water; a value of 10% water solubility is used for a substance expected to form a separate phase denser than water. Consult the jurisdictional authority for guidance if the management limit is exceeded.

Degradation note:

Potential degradation product includes aminomethylphosphonic acid. Consideration of this additional degradation product is potentially necessary when evaluating site groundwater quality impacted by glyphosate. 

Date 2026

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