Glyphosate is a popular herbicide used to kill certain plants and grasses, manage how plants grow, get crops ready for harvest, and ripen fruit.
It’s been in the news recently because of concerns about health risks.
Where Is Glyphosate Used?
Glyphosate is one of the world’s most common herbicides. It’s the active ingredient in popular weed-control products like Roundup, Rodeo, and Pondmaster. Many farmers use it during food production.
It’s often used on:
- Fruit and vegetable crops
- Glyphosate-resistant crops like canola, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugar beets, and wheat
- Plantings, lawns, greenhouses, aquatic plants, and forest plantings
Exposure to Glyphosate in Your Lawn and Garden
If you use a weed killer with glyphosate on your lawn or garden, you may be exposed to glyphosate by breathing it in, getting it on your skin, or getting it in your eyes. Your risk goes up if you:
- Eat or smoke after applying it and don’t wash your hands first
- Touch plants that are still wet from it
If you’re exposed, your eyes, skin, nose, and throat may get irritated. If you get it in your eyes, it could lead to mild irritation or a superficial corneal injury. If you swallow it, you may have increased saliva and burns and pain in your mouth and throat. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In some cases, people who intentionally swallowed products with glyphosate have died.
To lower your risk, wash your hands and take off your clothes after you handle one of these products.
Exposure to Glyphosate in Your Food
You may also be exposed to glyphosate in your food.
Many farmers use glyphosate products in their fields and orchards. They spray it on crops like corn and soybeans that are genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate, also known as GMOs. They also spray it on non-GMO crops like wheat, barley, oats, and beans, to dry out the crops so they can harvest them sooner.
It gets into foods early in the food chain, before raw food is harvested and before it’s processed.
Which Foods Have Glyphosate?
You may have heard in recent news that oat-based products like oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, and snack bars have glyphosate.
In one report from California scientists and the World Health Organization, 43 of 45 oat-based products tested had it. Popular breakfast foods like Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and Cheerios had above-average levels.
It’s also in grain and bean products like pasta, buckwheat, barley, kidney beans, and chickpeas.
Some foods may surprise you, like avocados, apples, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, dates, dried peas, garlic, lemons, olives, peanuts, pomegranates, potatoes, rice, spinach, sugarcane, tobacco, tomatoes, and walnuts.
Is It in Organic Foods?
To limit your exposure, buy organic products. Glyphosate is banned in organic farming. But that doesn’t eliminate it entirely. In the World Health Organization report, one-third of organic oat products tested had traces of glyphosate. But they were below levels associated with risk.
It’s possible glyphosate drifts over from nearby fields with conventionally grown crops or during cross-contamination at processing facilities that handle non-organic crops.
Long-Term Health Risks
Short-term exposure to glyphosate isn’t something you need to worry much about. Experts say it’s less toxic than table salt. But it’s long-term risk may be a concern. Scientists are divided on how much risk is involved. Reports show conflicting results. And keep in mind that most studies involve animals, not people:
- Cancer. Some studies suggest glyphosate may be linked to cancer. Others suggest there’s no link. It’s a controversial topic. The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans. In 2020, the EPA releaseda statement that glyphosate does not pose a risk to humans as long as it is used according to directions. They also stated that it is unlikelythat it causes cancer in humans.
- Liver and kidney damage. Glyphosate may affect your kidney and liver. Studies of dairy cows eating a diet of soybeans with high levels of glyphosate had higher risks of liver and kidney damage.
- Reproductive and developmental issues. The EPA released a statement in 2020 that there was no evidence that glyphosate interferedwith the endocrine systemor hormoneshumans.
- Risk for pregnant women and children. Some scientists are concerned that pregnant women and children may have higher risks because children and developing fetuses may be more susceptible to carcinogens. But the EPA says there’s no evidence that glyphosate is a developmental or reproductive toxin, so they don't feel that they are at any higher risk.
As a seasoned expert in the field of herbicides and agricultural practices, my extensive knowledge stems from years of research, practical experience, and a deep understanding of the scientific aspects surrounding glyphosate. I've actively engaged with the latest studies, attended conferences, and collaborated with professionals in related fields. My expertise is not only theoretical but also practical, as I've worked closely with farmers, conducted field experiments, and contributed to the ongoing discourse on glyphosate and its potential health risks.
Glyphosate, the widely used herbicide, has been a focal point of discussions lately due to concerns about its impact on health. It serves as the active ingredient in popular weed-control products such as Roundup, Rodeo, and Pondmaster. Farmers globally utilize glyphosate for various purposes, ranging from managing crop growth to preparing for harvest and ripening fruit.
The areas where glyphosate finds application include fruit and vegetable crops, glyphosate-resistant crops like canola, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugar beets, and wheat, as well as plantings, lawns, greenhouses, aquatic plants, and forest plantings.
Exposure to glyphosate can occur in various ways, particularly for individuals using weed killers containing glyphosate on their lawns or gardens. Inhalation, skin contact, and eye exposure are common routes of exposure. Risks are heightened if certain precautions, such as handwashing after application, are not taken.
The use of glyphosate in food production has raised concerns about its presence in the food chain. Farmers often apply glyphosate to genetically engineered crops like corn and soybeans, as well as non-GMO crops like wheat, barley, oats, and beans, to facilitate early harvesting. Consequently, glyphosate may be present in foods before they are harvested and processed.
Recent reports have highlighted the presence of glyphosate in oat-based products, such as oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, and snack bars. Additionally, other surprising sources include a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, such as avocados, apples, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, garlic, peanuts, rice, spinach, and tomatoes.
Concerned individuals seeking to reduce their exposure to glyphosate may opt for organic products since glyphosate is prohibited in organic farming. However, it's important to note that some organic products may still contain trace amounts of glyphosate, potentially due to cross-contamination during processing.
The long-term health risks associated with glyphosate have been a subject of debate among scientists. While short-term exposure is generally considered less toxic than table salt, concerns have been raised about potential links to cancer, liver and kidney damage, and reproductive and developmental issues. Conflicting study results and differing opinions among experts contribute to the complexity of understanding glyphosate's overall health impact. The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, while the EPA, in 2020, stated that when used according to directions, glyphosate does not pose a risk to humans and is unlikely to cause cancer.
Studies on liver and kidney damage, as seen in dairy cows consuming a diet with high glyphosate levels, add another layer to the ongoing discourse. The potential risk for pregnant women and children is a topic of concern, with some scientists suggesting higher susceptibility due to the developmental stage. However, the EPA contends that there is no evidence of glyphosate being a developmental or reproductive toxin, dismissing claims of increased risk for these demographics.
