In a previous class, I designed a study to determine if glyphosate, one of the most common herbicides used, had negative effects on pollinators. The herbicide should, theoretically, be harmless, as it inhibits 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, an enzyme not found in animals. During my research, however, I found numerous studies that showed bees exhibited negative side effects when exposed to glyphosate. But what about humans? Everyone reading this likely has some glyphosate in their body right now. 79 million kg of glyphosate were sprayed in 2014 alone, and one study found that most people have 0.16-7.6µg/L in their urine. Should we be concerned about this? These questions led me dig into the literature on the potential harm glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) could have on humans; the results were frightening
Glyphosate has been shown to disrupt and/or damage numerous physiological systems, including reproductive, endocrine, and digestive functions. Exposure to GBH has been linked to higher rates of miscarriage and birth defects, and studies have shown GBH exposure inhibits estrogen production. A study on mice also found a reduction of testosterone when exposed to nontoxic levels of glyphosate. GBHs also likely have adverse effects on the liver, with one study finding liver lesions on trout exposed to GBH, and another study found that rats developed heavier livers and abnormal glycogen storage when exposed to glyphosate. Concerning its cancer-causing risks, its effects are still unclear, however, it is worth noting that the International Agency for Research on Cancer has labeled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic.”
These adverse effects raise the ethical question of how we ought to regulate agriculture. It’s important to remember that so much glyphosate is used because of its effectiveness, but does this out way the health risks? As someone who is not a farmer, I don’t think I’m in a position to make a definitive condemnation, but if something is “probably carcinogenic” then I would prefer if it weren’t sprayed all over my food.
Source
Peillex, C., & Pelletier, M. (2020). The impact and toxicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on health and immunity. Journal of immunotoxicology, 17(1), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1547691X.2020.1804492
I can see why glyphosate's effects raises questions about its safety and widespread use. While its role in modern agriculture is undeniable, the evidence you presented regarding its potential harm to both pollinators and humans is deeply concerning. The links to endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, and liver damage show the need for stricter evaluation of its long-term health impacts. Given that is is labeled as "probably carcinogenic," it raises questions of whether its benefits truly outweigh the risks. Balancing agricultural efficiency with public health should remain a priority, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and potentially safer alternatives.
ReplyDeleteYour blog really raises an important concern about the widespread use of glyphosate and its potential health risks. It is very unfortunate that even if we try to better out health by eating whole foods, we may still be harming our bodies with the herbicides used. I found an article that lists herbicide alternatives, hopefully we can see them incorporated in the future.
ReplyDeleteNath, C. P., Singh, R. G., Choudhary, V. K., Datta, D., Nandan, R., & Singh, S. S. (2024). Challenges and Alternatives of Herbicide-Based Weed Management. Agronomy, 14(1), 126. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010126