GLYPHOSATE: what does the research actually say?

GLYPHOSATE: what does the research actually say?

HERBICIDE & DESICCANT

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used for weed control on fields & lawns and to dry out grain crops before harvest.

FOODS WITH GLYPHOSATE

The most common foods with residue include oats, corn, soybeans, canola, wheat, barley, beans, & lentils.

foods with glyphosate

THE SHIKIMATE PATHWAY

Glyphosate acts by inhibiting an enzyme in the shikimate pathway, preventing the synthesis of amino acids essential for plant growth.

This chemical has been assumed safe for humans because we do not have this metabolic pathway.

However, bacteria do, so glyphosate exposure can cause gut dysbiosis (which DOES have an significant impact on human health).

STATE OF THE RESEARCH

Evidence is not conclusive about the short & long term effects of glyphosate on human & environmental health.

Some studies find it perfectly safe and others the opposite.

Notably, much of the research is funded by industries with interest in certain study outcomes—on both sides of the issue.

in vitro: DNA damage, estrogen interference, increased oxidative stress, nutrient binding, inflammation, cancer, etc

in vivo: impact on cardiovascular system, intestinal permeability, celiac disease, dysbiosis, nervous system development & function, fertility & reproduction, autism, etc

epidemiological: few effects overall, increased risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas in exposed farmers

glyphosate amino acid glycine

AMINO ACID ANALOGUE

Glyphosate has a similar chemical structure to glycine.

If mistakenly substituted in polypeptide chains, it can distort or inactivate essential proteins & enzymes.

CULPRIT OR SIDEKICK?

glysophate: What does the research actually say?

Although glyphosate is often the active ingredient in mixed herbicides, some hypothesize that added surfactants are more problematic.

Hence, glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are found more toxic than plain glyphosate.

EXPERT DISAGREEMENT

To add confusion, 2 regulatory boards make opposite statements about glyphosate safety:

IARC: “probably carcinogenic to humans”

(considered plain glyphosate & GBHs, included in vitro & in vivo but few epidemiological studies)

EFSA: “unlikely to represent a carcinogenic hazard for humans”

(considered plain glyphosate only, included human epidemiological studies only)

WHAT LEVEL IS SAFE?

This question is as philosophical as scientific (and very controversial).

Currently, if food residue tests below “accepted levels”, it is considered safe.

However, long-term exposure to very low levels has technically never been studied.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Beyond human health, there are concerns about glyphosate build-up in soil & water, wildlife impacts, and herbicide-resistant weeds.


Are you a health educator that wants to use this content with your clients? Customize the handout template in less time than it would take to even think about hiring a graphic designer.

Glyphosate
$16.00

References

Berg, C. J., King, H. P., Delenstarr, G., Kumar, R., Rubio, F., & Glaze, T. (2018). Glyphosate residue concentrations in honey attributed through geospatial analysis to proximity of large-scale agriculture and transfer off-site by bees. PloS one, 13(7), e0198876. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198876

Costas-Ferreira, C., Durán, R., & Faro, L. R. F. (2022). Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(9), 4605. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094605

Gress, S., Lemoine, S., Séralini, G. E., & Puddu, P. E. (2015). Glyphosate-based herbicides potently affect cardiovascular system in mammals: review of the literature. Cardiovascular toxicology, 15(2), 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-014-9282-y

Hao, Y., Zhang, Y., Ni, H., Gao, J., Yang, Y., Xu, W., & Tao, L. (2019). Evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of glyphosate herbicides in human liver, lung, and nerve. Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, 54(9), 737–744. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2019.1633215

Marino, M., Mele, E., Viggiano, A., Nori, S. L., Meccariello, R., & Santoro, A. (2021). Pleiotropic Outcomes of Glyphosate Exposure: From Organ Damage to Effects on Inflammation, Cancer, Reproduction and Development. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(22), 12606. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212606

Meftaul, I. M., Venkateswarlu, K., Dharmarajan, R., Annamalai, P., Asaduzzaman, M., Parven, A., & Megharaj, M. (2020). Controversies over human health and ecological impacts of glyphosate: Is it to be banned in modern agriculture?. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 263(Pt A), 114372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114372

Mesnage, R., Defarge, N., Spiroux de Vendômois, J., & Séralini, G. E. (2015). Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 84, 133–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2015.08.012

Milesi, M. M., Lorenz, V., Durando, M., Rossetti, M. F., & Varayoud, J. (2021). Glyphosate Herbicide: Reproductive Outcomes and Multigenerational Effects. Frontiers in endocrinology, 12, 672532. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.672532

Myers, J. P., Antoniou, M. N., Blumberg, B., Carroll, L., Colborn, T., Everett, L. G., Hansen, M., Landrigan, P. J., Lanphear, B. P., Mesnage, R., Vandenberg, L. N., Vom Saal, F. S., Welshons, W. V., & Benbrook, C. M. (2016). Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures: a consensus statement. Environmental health : a global access science source, 15, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0

National Pesticide Information Center Glyphosate General Fact Sheet. [(accessed on 27 September 2023)]. Available online: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html

Rueda-Ruzafa, L., Cruz, F., Roman, P., & Cardona, D. (2019). Gut microbiota and neurological effects of glyphosate. Neurotoxicology, 75, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2019.08.006

Soares, D., Silva, L., Duarte, S., Pena, A., & Pereira, A. (2021). Glyphosate Use, Toxicity and Occurrence in Food. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 10(11), 2785. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112785

Van Bruggen, A. H. C., He, M. M., Shin, K., Mai, V., Jeong, K. C., Finckh, M. R., & Morris, J. G., Jr (2018). Environmental and health effects of the herbicide glyphosate. The Science of the total environment, 616-617, 255–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.309

Vicini, JL, Jensen, PK, Young, BM, & Swarthout, JT. Residues of glyphosate in food and dietary exposure. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021; 20: 5226–5257. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12822

Previous
Previous

A Functional Nutrition Approach to Type II Diabetes

Next
Next

40 Plant-Based Protein Sources (and ways to incorporate)