SpectroGLY: A Low-Cost IoT-Based Ecosystem for the Detection of Glyphosate Residues in Waters

Glyphosate contamination in waters is becoming a major health problem that needs to be urgently addressed, as accidental spraying, drift, or leakage of this highly water-soluble herbicide can impact aquatic ecosystems. Researchers are increasingly concerned about exposure to glyphosate and the risks its poses to human health, since it may cause substantial damage, even in small doses. The detection of glyphosate residues in waters is not a simple task, as it requires complex and expensive equipment and qualified personnel. New technological tools need to be designed and developed, based on proven, but also cost-efficient, agile, and user-friendly, analytical techniques, which can be used in the field and in the lab, enabled by connectivity and multiplatform software applications. This article presents the design, development, and testing of an innovative low-cost visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) spectrometer (called SpectroGLY), based on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which allows potential glyphosate contamination in waters to be detected. SpectroGLY combines the functional concept of a traditional lab spectrometer with the IoT technological concept, enabling the integration of several connectivity options for rural and urban settings and digital visualization and monitoring platforms (Mobile App and Dashboard Web). Thanks to its portability, it can be used in any context and provides results in 10 min. Additionally, it is unnecessary to transfer the sample to a laboratory (optimizing time, costs, and the capacity for corrective actions by the authorities). In short, this article proposes an innovative, low-cost, agile, and highly promising solution to avoid potential intoxications that may occur due to ingestion of water contaminated by this herbicide.