Is glyphosate a safe herbicide?

Introduction

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide known for its effectiveness in controlling a broad spectrum of weeds. Since its introduction in 1974, it has become the most extensively used herbicide globally. However, its safety profile has been a subject of ongoing debate, with various studies presenting conflicting views on its environmental and health impacts.

Key Insights

Environmental Persistence and Mobility
- Glyphosate is generally considered to have low mobility in soil and rapid degradation, making it environmentally safe . However, recent studies indicate that glyphosate may persist longer in soil and water than previously thought, raising concerns about its environmental impact .
Toxicity to Non-Target Organisms
- Initial studies suggested that glyphosate is practically non-toxic to non-plant life forms, including aquatic and avian species, animals, and humans . However, more recent research has shown that glyphosate and its commercial formulations can have sublethal effects on various organisms, including endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, and hepatorenal damage, even at concentrations below regulatory limits .
Human Health Risks
- Glyphosate has been classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, leading to increased scrutiny and calls for re-evaluation of its safety standards . Some studies have linked glyphosate exposure to various chronic diseases, although these claims are contested and require further investigation .
Regulatory and Safety Concerns
- Regulatory estimates of tolerable daily intakes for glyphosate in the United States and European Union are based on outdated science, necessitating a fresh look at glyphosate toxicity . There is also evidence that the adjuvants in commercial glyphosate formulations may enhance its toxicity, challenging the assumption of its safety at current exposure levels .
Impact on Agriculture and Ecosystems
- Glyphosate residues have been found in drinking water, precipitation, and air, especially in agricultural regions, raising concerns about widespread environmental contamination . Additionally, glyphosate residues in manure fertilizers can decrease crop yield and affect plant growth and reproduction, indicating potential indirect effects on agricultural productivity.

Conclusion

The safety of glyphosate as a herbicide remains a contentious issue. While it is effective and has been considered environmentally safe due to its low mobility and rapid degradation, recent studies suggest that it may persist longer in the environment and have sublethal effects on non-target organisms. Human health risks, including potential carcinogenicity and endocrine disruption, have also been highlighted, prompting calls for updated regulatory assessments. The presence of glyphosate residues in the environment and their impact on agriculture further complicate its safety profile. Therefore, a balanced and cautious approach is necessary, considering both its benefits and potential risks.

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Is glyphosate a safe herbicide?

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The herbicide glyphosate.

Glyphosate is a highly effective and environmentally friendly herbicide that kills weeds by inhibiting the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, while being non-toxic to non-plant life forms.

Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures: a consensus statement

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most heavily applied herbicides in the world, contaminating drinking water, precipitation, and air, and are now considered a probable human carcinogen.

Glyphosate herbicide: is it as safe as we thought?

Glyphosate is considered environmentally safe due to its strong binding to soil, rapid degradation, and potential negligible risk to non-target organisms, but studies reveal higher mobility in soils and longer half-lives in water, potentially causing sublethal effects in various organisms.

Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits.

Glyphosate-based herbicides may have toxic effects below regulatory limits, including teratogenic, tumorigenic, and hepatorenal effects, due to endocrine disruption and oxidative stress, challenging the assumption of safety at environmental levels.

Risk in the circular food economy: Glyphosate-based herbicide residues in manure fertilizers decrease crop yield.

Glyphosate-based herbicide residues in poultry manure can decrease plant growth and reproduction in important crops, highlighting the need for caution in using organic fertilizers in the circular food economy.

Facts and Fallacies in the Debate on Glyphosate Toxicity

Glyphosate-based herbicides are toxic below regulatory safety limits, but the mechanisms and conditions linked to glyphosate toxicity are unsubstantiated theories or speculations.

Glyphosate in northern ecosystems.

Glyphosate use in northern ecosystems may pose ecological, environmental, and agricultural risks due to its potential retention in soils and cascading effects on nontarget organisms.

Glyphosate: a once-in-a-century herbicide.

Glyphosate has become the dominant herbicide worldwide due to its effectiveness, safety, and affordability, but resistance management practices are needed to maintain its benefits for future generations.

Controversies over human health and ecological impacts of glyphosate: Is it to be banned in modern agriculture?

Glyphosate can be safely used in agriculture with safer surfactants, as the toxic POEA in commercial formulations increases the toxicity of glyphosate.

Ecotoxicological effects of different glyphosate formulations

Glyphosate-based herbicides can cause long-term harm to non-target species and soil health, with Roundup QuickTM showing faster soil recovery and potential risks to aquatic ecosystems.

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