Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (2024)

  • What is glyphosate?
  • What are some products that contain glyphosate?
  • How does glyphosate work?
  • How might I be exposed to glyphosate?
  • What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to glyphosate?
  • What happens to glyphosate when it enters the body?
  • Is glyphosate likely to contribute to the development of cancer?
  • Has anyone studied non-cancer effects from long-term exposure to glyphosate?
  • Are children more sensitive to glyphosate than adults?
  • What happens to glyphosate in the environment?
  • Can glyphosate affect birds, fish, and other wildlife?

Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (1)

What is glyphosate?

Glyphosate is an herbicide. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill both broadleafplants and grasses. The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to regulateplant growth and ripen specific crops.

Glyphosate was first registered for use in the U.S. in 1974. Glyphosate is one ofthe most widely used herbicides in the United States. People apply it in agricultureand forestry, on lawns and gardens, and for weeds in industrial areas.Some products containing glyphosate control aquatic plants.

What are some products that contain glyphosate?

Glyphosate comes in many forms, including an acid and several salts. Thesecan be either solids or an amber-colored liquid. There are over 750 productscontaining glyphosate for sale in the United States.

Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the FirstAid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center at800-222-1222. If you wish to discuss a pesticide problem, please call 800-858-7378.

How does glyphosate work?

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill most plants. It prevents the plants from making certainproteins that are needed for plant growth. Glyphosate stops a specific enzyme pathway, the shikimic acid pathway.The shikimic acid pathway is necessary for plants and some microorganisms.

Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (2)

How might I be exposed to glyphosate?

You can be exposed to glyphosate if you get it on your skin, in youreyes or breathe it in when you are using it. You might swallow someglyphosate if you eat or smoke after applying it without washingyour hands first. You may also be exposed if you touch plants thatare still wet with spray. Glyphosate isn't likely to vaporize after it issprayed.

What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to glyphosate?

Pure glyphosate is low in toxicity, but products usually contain other ingredients that help the glyphosate get intothe plants. The other ingredients in the product can make the product more toxic. Products containing glyphosatemay cause eye or skin irritation. People who breathed in spray mist from products containing glyphosate felt irritationin their nose and throat. Swallowing products with glyphosate can cause increased saliva, burns in the mouth andthroat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Fatalities have been reported in cases of intentional ingestion.

Pets may be at risk if they touch or eat plants that are still wet with spray from products containing glyphosate. Animalsexposed to products with glyphosate may drool, vomit, have diarrhea, lose their appetite, or seem sleepy.

Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (3)

What happens to glyphosate when it enters the body?

In humans, glyphosate does not easily pass through the skin. Glyphosate that is absorbed or ingested will pass through the body relatively quickly. The vast majority of glyphosate leaves the body in urine and feces without being changed into another chemical.

Is glyphosate likely to contribute to the development of cancer?

Animal and human studies were evaluated by regulatory agencies in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the European Union, as well as the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues of the United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO). These agencies looked at cancer rates in humans and studies where laboratory animals were fed high doses of glyphosate. Based on these studies, they determined that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic. However, a committee of scientists working for the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the WHO evaluated fewer studies and reported that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic.

Has anyone studied non-cancer effects from long-term exposure to glyphosate?

Long-term feeding studies in animals were assessed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory authorities. Based on these evaluations, they found there is no evidence glyphosate is toxic to the nervous or immune systems. They also found it is not a developmental or reproductive toxin.

Are children more sensitive to glyphosate than adults?

As required by the Food Quality Protection Act, the EPA has determined that children are not more sensitive to glyphosate as compared to the general population.

What happens to glyphosate in the environment?

Glyphosate binds tightly to soil. It can persist in soil for up to 6 months depending on the climate and the type of soilit is in. Glyphosate is broken down by bacteria in the soil.

Glyphosate is not likely to get into groundwater because it binds tightly to soil. In one study, half the glyphosate indead leaves broke down in 8 or 9 days. Another study found that some glyphosate was taken up by carrots and lettuceafter the soil was treated with it.

Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (4)

Can glyphosate affect birds, fish, or other wildlife?

Pure glyphosate is low in toxicity to fish and wildlife, but some productscontaining glyphosate may be toxic because of the other ingredients inthem. Glyphosate may affect fish and wildlife indirectly because killing theplants alters the animals' habitat.

Please cite as: Henderson, A. M.; Gervais, J. A.; Luukinen, B.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D.; Cross, A.; Jenkins, J. 2010. Glyphosate General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html.

Glyphosate General Fact Sheet (2024)

FAQs

What is the fact sheet of glyphosate? ›

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill most plants. It prevents the plants from making certain proteins that are needed for plant growth. Glyphosate stops a specific enzyme pathway, the shikimic acid pathway.

What percentage of glyphosate kills weeds? ›

Glyphosate 41% Super Concentrate Herbicide will kill almost all annual and perennial weeds, grasses and other unwanted plants.

What are the acceptable levels of glyphosate? ›

Has the EPA established tolerances for safe use of glyphosate? EPA has established tolerances for glyphosate on a wide range of human and animal food crops, including corn, soybean, oil seeds, grains, and some fruits and vegetables, ranging from 0.1 to 400 parts per million (ppm).

What are the general properties of glyphosate? ›

Glyphosate is a zwitterion with four distinct dissociation constants (pKa values are depicted below) and exists as different ionic species depending on the pH of its surroundings. Glyphosate is an amphoteric chemical and may react as an acid or a base under certain conditions.

What is the toxic level of glyphosate? ›

Glyphosate is of relatively low oral and dermal acute toxicity. It has been placed in Toxicity Category III for these effects (Toxicity Category I indicates the highest degree of acute toxicity, and Category IV the lowest).

How much glyphosate is toxic? ›

Inhalation
TOXICITY CLASSIFICATION - GLYPHOSATE
High Toxicity
Acute Oral LD50Up to and including 50 mg/kg (≤ 50 mg/kg)
Inhalation LC50Up to and including 0.05 mg/L (≤0.05 mg/L)
Dermal LD50Up to and including 200 mg/kg (≤200 mg/kg)
3 more rows

Is 41% glyphosate the same as Roundup? ›

Weed Pro Glyphosate 41% (Roundup) - 1 Pint.

Is Roundup 41% glyphosate? ›

Roundup 41% Glyphosate Herbicide

It gives a broad-spectrum control of many annual weeds, perennial weeds, woody brush, and trees. It is formulated as a water-soluble liquid containing surfactant.

Is glyphosate stronger than Roundup? ›

Several studies have actually found that Roundup is significantly more toxic to human cells than just glyphosate ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ).

What crops are most heavily sprayed with glyphosate? ›

Corn and soy are the biggest glyphosate users, but chickpeas, wheat, and oat crops are also heavily treated with it as well. The EPA-approved use of glyphosate is as an herbicide, but there's another, more controversial, “off-label” use.

Has the US banned glyphosate? ›

Roundup is not banned in the United States, although some states have prohibited or restricted its use.

How long does glyphosate stay in the soil? ›

It degrades at a relatively rapid rate in most soils, with half-life estimated between 7 and 60 days [12]. Many studies have indicated that the presence of glyphosate in the soil can enhance microbial activity [32,33], while some studies have also shown the toxic effects of glyphosate on soil microorganisms [34].

What breaks down glyphosate? ›

The primary breakdown product of glyphosate is aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), which is also degraded by microbes in water and soil. According to the EPA, available data do not suggest that this compound poses any hazard distinct from its parent compound, glyphosate.

Is glyphosate the same as Roundup? ›

Glyphosate is used in products such as Roundup® to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings.

What are the OSHA standards for glyphosate? ›

1 mg/m3 (arbitrary level). There is no OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) or ACGIH threshold limit value (TLV) for glyphosate. Samples are collected by drawing known volumes of air through glass fiber filters.

What is more toxic than glyphosate? ›

Keeping in mind, the LOWER the number, the HIGHER the toxicity. This means that caffeine is 40 times more toxic than glyphosate.

Is 41% glyphosate pet safe? ›

Avoid glyphosate contact with desirable foliage and ornamentals. Glyphosate Plus is pet safe.

Does Cheerios still contain glyphosate? ›

How much glyphosate is in Cheerios? Obviously no one is spraying Cheerios with Roundup before it's boxed up and shipped to your local grocery store. However, glyphosate is occasionally sprayed on oats as a drying agent.

What organs does glyphosate affect? ›

Glyphosate—Induced Effects in Liver, Kidney and Lung. Many studies have found that glyphosate exerts its toxicity inducing inflammation and oxidative stress in various types of cells [34,35,36,37,38,39,40].

How much glyphosate is in human urine? ›

Average urinary levels in occupationally exposed subjects varied from 0.26 to 73.5 μg/L; environmental exposure urinary levels ranged from 0.16 to 7.6 μg/L.

What is stronger than glyphosate? ›

Summary. Glycosulphate is the strongest weed killer chemical on sale and will kill grass too, but most gardeners won't need a product this strong as more targeted chemicals are nearly as effective.

Is there anything better than glyphosate? ›

Organic Roundup alternatives include herbicidal soaps that use fatty acids to kill weeds and industrial vinegar, which contains much higher levels of acetic acid than what you have in your kitchen. Acid-based herbicides burn down some young weeds. Corn gluten meal can kill grass weeds and broadleaf weeds.

Which is better 2 4 D or glyphosate? ›

Glyphosate controls a wide range of plant species, including grassweeds, whereas 2,4-D is effective on dicot species. Tank-mixing glyphosate with 2,4-D is a common practice to achieve excellent control of both grasses and dicots.

When should you not spray glyphosate? ›

Avoid spraying weeds if the wind has picked up ahead of a storm, or in any particularly breezy conditions. Wind can cause the herbicide to drift and cause damage to plants you don't plan on killing.

How long does 41% glyphosate last? ›

Answer: Killzall Weed and Grass Killer - 41% Glyphosate will last in the soil for 1-2 weeks. This product can be reapplied every 7 days as needed.

Is there a safer Roundup? ›

Six Types of Alternative Herbicides to Roundup

Natural Acids (vinegar, and/or citric acids) Herbicidal Soaps. Iron-Based Herbicides. Salt-Based Herbicides.

Why are they still selling Roundup if it's so bad? ›

How would you like us to contact you? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Roundup is still being sold because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not found the active chemical, glyphosate to be harmful to humans.

What is the best glyphosate? ›

Our Glyphosate Recommendations

The brands that we highly recommend for weed control over RoundUp is Eraser 41% by Control Solutions Inc. and Glyphosate 4 Plus by Alligare. Eraser 41% Glyphosate is better suited for small spot treatment applications conducted by homeowners to remove weeds from their lawn or driveway.

What will replace glyphosate in Roundup? ›

Acetic acid and pelargonic acid are both contact herbicides that burn any vegetation they touch. Braverman says pelargonic acid could be a good replacement, partly because it's cheap.

Does Doritos have Roundup in it? ›

The report found that foods such as Cheerios, Goldfish Crackers, Oreos and Doritos contain residues of the chemical glyphosate. Also known by the name Roundup, glyphosate is used to kill weeds in crops.

What states use the most glyphosate? ›

Weedkillers containing glyphosate are sprayed on nearly half of all corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. Use is highest in parts of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. Every day, farms across the country use a potentially cancer-causing chemical that is in the world's most common weedkillers.

What plant became resistant to glyphosate? ›

Monsanto first introduced glyphosate-resistant soybean in 1996 and later introduced glyphosate-resistant corn in 1998. These crops, commonly called “Roundup Ready”, have become ubiquitous in American agriculture with 93% of soybeans, 82% of cotton, and 85% of corn planted engineered to be glyphosate resistant.

Which states don t use glyphosate? ›

Where is glyphosate banned in the U.S.?
  • Arizona. Advocacy groups in Arizona are pressuring the state to ban certain pesticides because of their negative effects on bee populations. ...
  • California. ...
  • Colorado. ...
  • Connecticut. ...
  • Florida. ...
  • Illinois. ...
  • Iowa. ...
  • Kansas.
Feb 10, 2021

Which country does not use glyphosate? ›

Portugal: Prohibits the use of glyphosate in all public spaces. The president of the Portuguese Medical Association has also called for a worldwide ban of glyphosate. Qatar: According to Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Qatar and five other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have banned glyphosate.

Is there glyphosate in beer? ›

Based on our findings, glyphosate is found in most beers and wine sold in the U.S. Due to glyphosate's many health risks and its ubiquitous nature in our food, water and alcohol, the use of glyphosate in the U.S. should be banned unless and until it can be proven safe.

What fruits have the most glyphosate? ›

List of foods with the most glyphosate
CropAnnual average (Lbs. Glyphosate)
Maximum
Almonds2,100,00095
Apples400,00070
Apricots10,00080
6 more rows
Jan 31, 2023

Can you wash glyphosate off food? ›

Glyphosate, a toxic herbicide sprayed on hundreds of U.S. agricultural crops, cannot be removed through washing or cooking.

Does Quaker Oatmeal have glyphosate? ›

Quaker Old Fashioned Oats were found to have the most glyphosate per sample, with more than 1,000 ppb in two of three samples tested. On Quaker Oats' website, the company says it does not add glyphosate during any part of the milling process, but that it is commonly used by farmers who apply it pre-harvest.

Is it better to burn weeds or Roundup? ›

Flame weeding is considered an organic method of weed removal. However, if the weather is hot and the fire danger is moderate to extreme, Roundup may be the better option to avoid accidentally starting a fire or risking fines from the local fire district or other government agency.

Do plants absorb glyphosate through roots? ›

Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide that moves through the phloem and accumulates in the roots. That is why it "kills weeds, roots and all." It breaks down quickly in the soil.

Is glyphosate poisonous to dogs? ›

Is Roundup Toxic To Dogs? Roundup's primary ingredient, glyphosate, is generally considered harmful to dogs if ingested or with external contact when it's still wet (for short-term toxicity).

Do trees absorb glyphosate? ›

OCCURRENCE Glyphosate is commonly used around trees to control weeds. This practice is usually safe for trees since glyphosate is not generally absorbed by plant roots or mature bark. However, if glyphosate contacts aboveground growth such as leaves or root suckers, it can impact the tree.

How do you make glyphosate stronger? ›

Adding ammonium sulfate (AMS) to the water in the spray tank before adding glyphosate will act as a water conditioner and improve weed control, regardless of whether or not a surfactant is needed.

Does baking soda neutralize glyphosate? ›

Put the produce you want to wash in the solution and let it soak for up to 15 minutes. The baking soda in the solution will help lift and remove any glyphosate residue from the produce so it's safer to eat. Wash your fruits or vegetables even if they have an inedible outer layer, such as bananas or oranges.

Is glyphosate better than bleach? ›

Many household cleaning products, such as bleach, have a higher toxicity warning than glyphosate, he said. "Roundup has a lower toxicity, based on [laboratory toxicity testing] than many, many products, including table salt."

Should I avoid glyphosate? ›

Why Reduce Your Exposure to Glyphosate? Potential carcinogen – The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen. U.S. EPA also determined that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic” in the mid-1980s.

What is a cheaper alternative to Roundup? ›

Ordinary distilled white vinegar with 5% acidity is cheap and works great. If you can find a higher acidity, even up to 20%, it is going to work faster, but the end results will be the same.

What is glyphosate and why is it bad? ›

Glyphosate is a common herbicide ("weed-killer") used in crop and non-crop lands, including residential areas such as home lawns and gardens. Glyphosate was first registered in the United States in 1974 as the active ingredient in Roundup but is now available in many commercial herbicide products.

What is the major controversy surrounding glyphosate? ›

Still, authorities like WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer list glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. At the same time, scientists and economists raise doubts about the safety of Roundup and similar products—and the rigor of the research that's gone into reports by Bayer and the EPA.

Is glyphosate being banned in the US? ›

Bayer Will Stop Selling Glyphosate in U.S. Lawn & Garden Market Starting in 2023. In July of 2021, Bayer announced that it will stop selling its glyphosate-based Roundup™ herbicides in the United States Lawn & Garden residential market beginning in 2023.

Is glyphosate harmful to human health? ›

Glyphosate also seems to exert a significant toxic effect on neurotransmission and to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, processes that lead to neuronal death due to autophagy, necrosis, or apoptosis, as well as the appearance of behavioral and motor disorders.

Do Doritos have Roundup in them? ›

The report found that foods such as Cheerios, Goldfish Crackers, Oreos and Doritos contain residues of the chemical glyphosate. Also known by the name Roundup, glyphosate is used to kill weeds in crops.

Is Roundup more toxic than glyphosate? ›

Multiple studies have established that Roundup is more likely to cause cell-cycle dysregulation than glyphosate. A study performed in 2009 revealed that Roundup was more toxic to human embryonic, placental, and umbilical cells.

Is there glyphosate in Cheerios? ›

Cheerios and many other cereals and grain-based products contain small amounts of an herbicide called glyphosate. It's one of the main ingredients in the widely used weed killer Roundup, and it's been the subject of considerable debate among health experts about whether it is carcinogenic.

What killer glyphosate found in most Americans? ›

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, a well-known weed killer. The U.S. National Nutrition Examination Survey found the herbicide in 1,885 of 2,310 urine samples that were representative of the U.S. population. Nearly a third of the samples came from children ages 6 to 18.

What is safer than glyphosate? ›

Organic Roundup alternatives include herbicidal soaps that use fatty acids to kill weeds and industrial vinegar, which contains much higher levels of acetic acid than what you have in your kitchen. Acid-based herbicides burn down some young weeds. Corn gluten meal can kill grass weeds and broadleaf weeds.

What is the difference between Roundup and glyphosate? ›

Glyphosate is a chemical compound, while Roundup is a product that contains glyphosate. Some people who are not that familiar with herbicides tend to interchange the two items. Nonetheless, glyphosate is used worldwide by those in the lawn care and agricultural industries.

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