Quantifiable urine glyphosate levels detected in 99% of the French population, with higher values in men, in younger people, and in farmers

Glyphosate as a direct or indirect activator of pro-inflammatory signaling and cognitive impairment

Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used around the world, making it likely that most humans have significant exposure. Because of habitual exposure, there are concerns about toxicity including neurotoxicity that could result in neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive impairment. We recently found that a single injection of glyphosate inhibits long-term potentiation, a cellular model of learning and memory, in rat hippocampal slices dissected 1 day after injection, indicating that glyphosate-based herbicides can alter cognitive function. Glyphosate-based herbicides could adversely affect cognitive function either indirectly and/or directly. Indirectly, glyphosate could affect gut microbiota, and if dysbiosis results in endotoxemia (leaky gut), infiltrated bacterial by-products such as lipopolysaccharides could activate pro-inflammatory cascades. Glyphosate can also directly trigger pro-inflammatory cascades. Indeed, we observed that acute glyphosate exposure inhibits long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices. Interestingly, direct inhibition of long-term potentiation by glyphosate appears to be similar to that of lipopolysaccharides. There are several possible measures to control dysbiosis and neuroinflammation caused by glyphosate. Dietary intake of polyphenols, such as quercetin, which overcome the inhibitory effect of glyphosate on long-term potentiation, could be one effective strategy. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss possible mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity following glyphosate exposure as a means to identify potential treatments.

A Comprehensive Review on Pesticide Residues in Human Urine

Numerous studies worldwide have evaluated pesticide residues detected in urine. This review serves as a contribution to this field by presenting an overview of scientific research studies published from 2001 to 2023, including details of study characteristics and research scope. Encompassing 72 papers, the review further delves into addressing key challenges in study design and method used such as sampling and analytical approaches, results adjustments, risk assessment, estimations, and results evaluation. The review explores urinary concentrations and detection frequency of metabolites of organophosphates and pyrethroids, as well as herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate and their metabolites, across various studies. The association of the results with demographic and lifestyle variables were explored. While farmers generally have higher pesticide exposure, adopting organic farming practices can reduce the levels of pesticides detected in their urine. Residence close to agricultural areas has shown high exposure in some cases. Dietary exposure is especially high among people adopting a conventionally grown plant-rich dietary pattern. A higher detection level and frequency of detection are generally found in females and children compared to males. The implications of transitioning to organic and sustainable plant-rich diets for reducing pesticide exposure and potential health benefits for both adults and children require further investigation.

Exposure to Pesticides and Breast Cancer in an Agricultural Region in Brazil

Rural workers are disproportionally exposed to pesticides and might be at an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. Here, we investigated the impact of pesticide exposure on breast cancer (BC) risk and disease profile in rural female workers. This is a case-control study that prospectively included 758 individuals. The study was conducted in the Southwest region of Paraná state in Brazil, a region characterized by family-based agriculture and intensive use of pesticides. We found that this region has a 41% higher BC diagnosis rate and 14% higher BC mortality rate than the mean rates in Brazil, as well as a pesticide trade volume about 6 times higher than the national average. We showed substantial exposure in this population and found that even women who did not work in the fields but performed equipment decontamination and clothes washing of male partners who worked in the fields had urine samples positive for glyphosate, atrazine, and/or 2,4-D. The crude association showed a significantly higher risk of BC among women exposed to pesticides (OR: 1.58, 95% CI 1.18-2.13). Adjusted analyses showed a lower and nonstatistically significant association (OR: 1.30, 95% CI 41 0.87-1.95). Stratification on disease profile showed a significantly higher risk of lymph node metastasis (adjusted OR: 2.19, 95% CI 1.31-3.72) in women exposed to pesticides. Our findings suggest that female populations exposed to pesticides are at a higher risk of developing BC with a more aggressive profile and draw attention to the need to monitor rural populations potentially exposed to pesticides in the field or at home.

Glyphosate presence in human sperm: First report and positive correlation with oxidative stress in an infertile French population

Environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors, such as pesticides, could contribute to a decline of human fertility. Glyphosate (GLY) is the main component of Glyphosate Based Herbicides (GBHs), which are the most commonly herbicides used in the world. Various animal model studies demonstrated its reprotoxicity. In Europe, GLY authorization in agriculture has been extended until 2034. Meanwhile the toxicity of GLY in humans is still in debate. The aims of our study were firstly to analyse the concentration of GLY and its main metabolite, amino-methyl-phosphonic acid (AMPA) by LC/MS-MS in the seminal and blood plasma in an infertile French men population (n=128). We secondly determined Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS) using commercial colorimetric kits and some oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) by ELISA assays. We next analysed potential correlations between GLY and oxidative stress biomarkers concentration and sperm parameters (sperm concentration, progressive speed, anormal forms). Here, we detected for the first time GLY in the human seminal plasma in significant proportions and we showed that its concentration was four times higher than those observed in blood plasma. At the opposite, AMPA was undetectable. We also observed a strong positive correlation between plasma blood GLY concentrations and plasma seminal GLY and 8-OHdG concentrations, the latter reflecting DNA impact. In addition, TOS, Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) (TOS/TAS), MDA blood and seminal plasma concentrations were significantly higher in men with glyphosate in blood and seminal plasma, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest a negative impact of GLY on the human reproductive health and possibly on his progeny. A precaution principle should be applied at the time of the actual discussion of GLY and GBHs formulants uses in Europe by the authorities.

Urinary biomonitoring of glyphosate exposure among male farmers and nonfarmers in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture (BEEA) study

Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide worldwide. Glyphosate biomonitoring data are limited for agricultural settings. We measured urinary glyphosate concentrations and assessed exposure determinants in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture (BEEA) study. We selected four groups of BEEA participants based on self-reported pesticide exposure: recently exposed farmers with occupational glyphosate use in the last 7 days (n = 98), farmers with high lifetime glyphosate use (>80th percentile) but no use in the last 7 days (n = 70), farming controls with minimal lifetime use (n = 100), and nonfarming controls with no occupational pesticide exposures and no recent home/garden glyphosate use (n = 100). Glyphosate was quantified in first morning void urine using ion chromatography isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry. We estimated associations between urinary glyphosate concentrations and potential determinants using multivariable linear regression. Glyphosate was detected (≥0.2 µg/L) in urine of most farmers with recent (91 %) and high lifetime (93 %) use, as well as farming (88 %) and nonfarming (81 %) controls; geometric mean concentrations were 0.89, 0.59, 0.46, and 0.39 µg/L (0.79, 0.51, 0.42, and 0.37 µg/g creatinine), respectively. Compared with both control groups, urinary glyphosate concentrations were significantly elevated among recently exposed farmers (P < 0.0001), particularly those who used glyphosate in the previous day [vs. nonfarming controls; geometric mean ratio (GMR) = 5.46; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 3.75, 7.93]. Concentrations among high lifetime exposed farmers were also elevated (P < 0.01 vs. nonfarming controls). Among recently exposed farmers, glyphosate concentrations were higher among those not wearing gloves when applying glyphosate (GMR = 1.91; 95 % CI: 1.17, 3.11), not wearing long-sleeved shirts when mixing/loading glyphosate (GMR = 2.00; 95 % CI: 1.04, 3.86), applying glyphosate exclusively using broadcast/boom sprayers (vs. hand sprayer only; GMR = 1.70; 95 % CI: 1.00, 2.92), and applying glyphosate to crops (vs. non-crop; GMR = 1.72; 95 % CI: 1.04, 2.84). Both farmers and nonfarmers are exposed to glyphosate, with recency of occupational glyphosate use being the strongest determinant of urinary glyphosate concentrations. Continued biomonitoring of glyphosate in various settings is warranted.

Regional evaluation of glyphosate pollution in the minor irrigation network

Due to its low cost, its ease of use and to the "mild action" declared for long time by the Control and Approval Agencies towards it, the herbicide Glyphosate, is one of the currently best-selling and most-used agricultural products worldwide. In this work, we evaluated the presence and spread of Glyphosate in the Po River Basin (Northern Italy), one of the regions with the most intensified agriculture in Europe and where, by now for decades, a strong and general loss of aquatic biodiversity is observed. In order to carry out a more precise study of the real presence of this herbicide in the waters, samples were collected from the minor water network for two consecutive years, starting in 2022, at an interval time coinciding with those of the spring and summer crop treatments. In contrast to the sampling strategies generally adopted by Environmental Protection Agencies, a more focused sampling strategy was adopted to highlight the possible high concentrations in minor watercourses in direct contact with cultivated fields. Finally, we investigated the possible consequences that the higher amounts of Glyphosate found in our monitoring activities can have on stress reactions in plant (Groenlandia densa) and animal (Daphnia magna) In all the monitoring campaigns we detected exceeding European Environmental Quality Standard - EQS limits (0.1 μg/L) values. Furthermore, in some intensively agricultural areas, concentrations reached hundreds of μg/L, with the highest peaks during spring. In G. densa and D. magna, the exposition to increasing doses of herbicide showed a clear response linked to metabolic stress. Overall, our results highlight how, after several decades of its use, the Glyphosate use efficiency is still too low, leading to economic losses for the farm and to strong impacts on ecosystem health. Current EU policy indications call for an agroecological approach necessary to find alternatives to chemical weed control, which farms can develop in different contexts in order to achieve the sustainability goals set by the Farm to Fork strategy.

Associations of glyphosate exposure and serum sex steroid hormones among 6-19-year-old children and adolescents

Glyphosate, ranked as one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, has raised concerns about its potential disruptive effects on sex hormones. However, limited human evidence was available, especially for children and adolescents. The present study aimed to examine the associations between exposure to glyphosate and sex hormones among participants aged 6-19 years, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2013 and 2016. Children and adolescents who had available data on urinary glyphosate, serum sex steroid hormones, including testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and covariates were selected. Additionally, the ratio of TT to E2 (TT/E2) and the free androgen index (FAI), which was calculated using TT/SHBG, were also included as sex hormone indicators. Survey regression statistical modeling was used to examine the associations between urinary glyphosate concentration and sex hormone indicators by age and sex group. Among the 964 participants, 83.71% had been exposed to glyphosate (>lower limit of detection). The survey regression revealed a marginally negative association between urinary glyphosate and E2 in the overall population, while this association was more pronounced in adolescents with a significant trend. In further sex-stratified analyses among adolescents, a significant decrease in E2, FAI, and TT (p trend <0.05) was observed in female adolescents for the highest quartile of urinary glyphosate compared to the lowest quartile. However, no similar association was observed among male adolescents. Our findings suggest that exposure to glyphosate at the current level may decrease the levels of sex steroids in adolescents, particularly female adolescents. Considering the cross-sectional study design, further research is needed to confirm our findings.

Polyoxyethylene tallow amine and glyphosate exert different developmental toxicities on human pluripotent stem cells-derived heart organoid model

The early stage of heart development is highly susceptible to various environmental factors. While the use of animal models has aided in identifying numerous environmental risk factors, the variability between species and the low throughput limit their translational potential. Recently, a type of self-assembling cardiac structures, known as human heart organoids (hHOs), exhibits a remarkable biological consistency with human heart. However, the feasibility of hHOs for assessing cardiac developmental risk factors remains unexplored. Here, we focused on the cardiac developmental effects of core components of Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), the most widely used herbicides, to evaluate the reliability of hHOs for the prediction of possible cardiogenesis toxicity. GBHs have been proven toxic to cardiac development based on multiple animal models, with the mechanism remaining unknown. We found that polyoxyethylene tallow amine (POEA), the most common surfactant in GBHs formulations, played a dominant role in GBHs' heart developmental toxicity. Though there were a few differences in transcriptive features, hHOs exposed to sole POEA and combined POEA and Glyphosate would suffer from both disruption of heart contraction and disturbance of commitment in cardiomyocyte isoforms. By contrast, Glyphosate only caused mild epicardial hyperplasia. This study not only sheds light on the toxic mechanism of GBHs, but also serves as a methodological demonstration, showcasing its effectiveness in recognizing and evaluating environmental risk factors, and deciphering toxic mechanisms.

Analysis of the association between urinary glyphosate exposure and fatty liver index: a study for US adults

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition that often goes unrecognized in the population, and many risk factors for this disease are not well understood. Glyphosate (GLY) is one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide, and exposure to this chemical in the environment is significant. However, studies exploring the association between GLY exposure and NAFLD remain limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between urinary glyphosate (uGLY) level and fatty liver index (FLI) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which includes uGLY measurements.

METHODS

The log function of uGLY was converted and expressed as Loge(uGLY) with the constant "e" as the base and used for subsequent analysis. The association between Loge(uGLY) (the independent variable) level and FLI (the dependent variable) was assessed by multiple linear regression analysis. Smoothing curve fitting and a generalized additive model were used to assess if there was a nonlinear association between the independent and the dependent variables. A subgroup analysis was used to find susceptible individuals of the association between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

RESULTS

A final total of 2238 participants were included in this study. Participants were categorized into two groups (< -1.011 and ≥ -1.011 ng/ml) based on the median value of Loge(uGLY). A total of 1125 participants had Loge(uGLY) levels ≥ -1.011 ng/ml and higher FLI. The result of multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI (Beta coefficient = 2.16, 95% CI: 0.71, 3.61). Smoothing curve fitting and threshold effect analysis indicated a linear association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI [likelihood ratio(LLR) = 0.364]. Subgroup analyses showed that the positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI was more pronounced in participants who were female, aged between 40 and 60 years, had borderline diabetes history, and without hypertension history. In addition, participants of races/ethnicities other than (Mexican American, White and Black) were particularly sensitive to the positive association between Loge(uGLY) and FLI.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive linear association was found between Loge(uGLY) level and FLI. Participants who were female, 40 to 60 years old, and of ethnic backgrounds other than Mexican American, White, and Black, deserve more attention.

Association between urinary glyphosate levels and serum neurofilament light chain in a representative sample of US adults: NHANES 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate, the herbicide with the highest global usage, has been found to have links to neurological impairment in some occupational studies. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a protein that is released into the bloodstream following neuroaxonal damage and has emerged as a reliable biomarker for various neurological disorders. However, no research has investigated the potential link between glyphosate exposure and neurological damage or serum NfL levels in the general population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the possible correlation between glyphosate exposure and serum NfL levels in a population that is representative of the United States.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 597 adults (aged ≥20 years) from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore the potential correlation between urinary glyphosate levels and serum NfL levels.

RESULTS

We found a significant positive association between urinary glyphosate levels and serum NfL levels (ß-coefficient = 0.110; S.E. = 0.040; P = 0.015), indicating that higher levels of glyphosate exposure may be linked to higher levels of neuroaxonal damage. Furthermore, when glyphosate levels were divided into quintiles, we observed a significant trend of increasing mean NfL concentrations with increasing quintiles of glyphosate exposure (P for trend = 0.036). Notably, the association was more pronounced in certain subgroups, including those aged ≥40 years, non-Hispanic whites, and those with a BMI between 25 and 30.

IMPACT STATEMENT

This is the first research to suggest an association between glyphosate exposure and biomarkers indicative of neurological damage in general U.S. adults. If the correlation observed is causal, it raises concerns about the potential effects of glyphosate exposure on neurological health among U.S. adults. The study is noteworthy due to its representation of American adults aged 20 and above, as well as the use of reliable and comprehensive data from the NHANES database.

Agricultural activities and risk of Alzheimer's disease: the TRACTOR project, a nationwide retrospective cohort study

Data regarding Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurrence in farming populations is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether, among the entire French farm manager (FM) workforce, certain agricultural activities are more strongly associated with AD than others, using nationwide data from the TRACTOR (Tracking and monitoring occupational risks in agriculture) project. Administrative health insurance data (digital electronic health/medical records and insurance claims) for the entire French agricultural workforce, over the period 2002-2016, on the entire mainland France were used to estimate the risk of AD for 26 agricultural activities with Cox proportional hazards model. For each analysis (one for each activity), the exposed group included all FMs that performed the activity of interest (e.g. crop farming), while the reference group included all FMs who did not carry out the activity of interest (e.g. FMs that never farmed crops between 2002 and 2016). There were 5067 cases among 1,036,069 FMs who worked at least one year between 2002 and 2016. Analyses showed higher risks of AD for crop farming (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.72 [3.47-3.98]), viticulture (HR = 1.29 [1.18-1.42]), and fruit arboriculture (HR = 1.36 [1.15-1.62]). By contrast, lower risks of AD were found for several animal farming types, in particular for poultry and rabbit farming (HR = 0.29 [0.20-0.44]), ovine and caprine farming (HR = 0.50 [0.41-0.61]), mixed dairy and cow farming (HR = 0.46 [0.37-0.57]), dairy farming (HR = 0.67 [0.61-0.73]), and pig farming (HR = 0.30 [0.18-0.52]). This study shed some light on the association between a wide range of agricultural activities and AD in the entire French FMs population.

Association between urinary glyphosate levels and hand grip strength in a representative sample of US adults: NHANES 2013-2014

Introduction

Glyphosate, a widely utilized herbicide globally, has been linked to various health issues, including cancer, birth abnormalities, and reproductive issues. Additionally, there is growing experimental support indicating potential harm to skeletal muscles. Despite this, the impact of glyphosate on human muscle health remains unclear.

Methods

We examined information gathered from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included 1466 adults aged 18 or older. Our primary aim was to investigate the relationship between glyphosate exposure and hand grip strength, as well as its influence on lean muscle mass.

Results and discussion

Our investigation uncovered a detrimental correlation between glyphosate exposure and all measures of grip strength, except for the second test of the first hand. Specifically, we observed a statistically significant adverse association between glyphosate exposure and combined grip strength, which is calculated as the sum of the highest readings from both hands (ß coefficient of -2.000, S.E. = 0.891, p = 0.040). We did not observe a significant correlation between glyphosate levels, lean muscle mass, and the likelihood of reaching maximum grip strength meeting sarcopenia criteria. Additionally, we observed an interaction between age and glyphosate, as well as between body mass index (BMI) and glyphosate, concerning the association with combined grip strength. In this comprehensive analysis of NHANES data, our study reveals a potential association between glyphosate exposure and hand grip strength in the adult population. Our findings suggest the need for deeper exploration into the health effects of glyphosate exposure and its impact on muscle strength, shedding light on possible public health concerns.

The Effect of Pesticide Spray Season and Residential Proximity to Agriculture on Glyphosate Exposure among Pregnant People in Southern Idaho, 2021

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is one of the most heavily used pesticides in the world, but little is known about sources of glyphosate exposure in pregnant people living in agricultural regions.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate glyphosate exposure during pregnancy in relation to residential proximity to agriculture as well as agricultural spray season.

METHODS

We quantified glyphosate concentrations in 453 urine samples collected biweekly from a cohort of 40 pregnant people in southern Idaho from February through December 2021. We estimated each participant's glyphosate exposure as the geometric mean (GM) of glyphosate concentrations measured in all samples (average n = 11 samples/participant), as well as the GM of samples collected during the pesticide "spray season" (defined as those collected 1 May-15 August; average n = 5 samples/participant) and the "nonspray season" (defined as those collected before 1 May or after 15 August; average n = 6 samples/participant). We defined participants who resided < 0.5 km from an actively cultivated agriculture field to live "near fields" and those residing ≥ 0.5 km from an agricultural field to live "far from fields" (n = 22 and 18, respectively).

RESULTS

Among participants living near fields, urinary glyphosate was detected more frequently and at significantly increased GM concentrations during the spray season in comparison with the nonspray season (81% vs. 55%; 0.228 μ g / L vs. 0.150 μ g / L , p < 0.001 ). In contrast, among participants who lived far from fields, neither glyphosate detection frequency nor GMs differed in the spray vs nonspray season (66% vs. 64%; 0.154 μ g / L vs. 0.165 μ g / L , p = 0.45 ). Concentrations did not differ by residential proximity to fields during the nonspray season (0.154 μ g / L vs. 0.165 μ g / L , for near vs. far, p = 0.53 ).

DISCUSSION

Pregnant people living near agriculture fields had significantly increased urinary glyphosate concentrations during the agricultural spray season than during the nonspray season. They also had significantly higher urinary glyphosate concentrations during the spray season than those who lived far from agricultural fields at any time of year, but concentrations did not differ during the nonspray season. These findings suggest that agricultural glyphosate spray is a source of exposure for people living near fields. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12768.

Effects of glyphosate, mancozeb and their combinations on mouse neuroblastoma cells

Pesticides-related toxicities have long been studied. Data regarding the effects of combined exposure to environmentally relevant pesticides however remain lacking. The herbicide glyphosate and the fungicide mancozeb are extensively used in agriculture. Residues of both compounds are frequently found in food and water and therefore, environmental exposure to both pesticides is a possibility. Neurotoxicity of glyphosate, mancozeb and their combinations were investigated using mouse neuroblastoma cells. Cytotoxicity observed with the glyphosate and mancozeb combinations was higher than that observed when glyphosate was tested alone. Combinations of glyphosate followed by mancozeb increased copper, manganese, and zinc levels. Mixture of mancozeb + glyphosate increased manganese and zinc levels. Combination of mancozeb followed by glyphosate increased copper and zinc levels. Glutathione ratio was decreased as a result of combinations of glyphosate and mancozeb. The decrease in glutathione ratio was greater in the combination groups than in glyphosate alone.

The herbicide glyphosate inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation and learning through activation of pro-inflammatory signaling

Glyphosate, a herbicide marketed as Roundup, is widely used but there are concerns this exposure could impair cognitive function. In the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices, we investigated whether glyphosate alters synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular model of learning and memory. Our hypothesis is that glyphosate alters neuronal function and impairs LTP induction via activation of pro-inflammatory processes. Roundup depressed excitatory synaptic potentials(EPSPs) in a dose-dependent manner with complete suppression at 2000 mg/L. At concentrations ≤ 20 mg/L Roundup did not affect basal transmission, but 4 mg/L Roundup administered for 30 min inhibited LTP induction. Acute administration of 10-100 μM glyphosate also inhibited LTP induction. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, and TAK-242, an inhibitor of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), both overcame the inhibitory effects of 100 µM glyphosate. Similarly, lipopolysaccharide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS), a different TLR4 antagonist, overcame the inhibitory effects. In addition, ISRIB (integrated stress response inhibitor) and quercetin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum stress, overcame the inhibitory effects. We also observed that in vivo glyphosate injection (16.9 mg/kg i.p.) impaired one-trial inhibitory avoidance learning. This learning deficit was overcome by TAK-242. These observations indicate that glyphosate can impair cognitive function through pro-inflammatory signaling in microglia.

Higher urinary glyphosate exposure is associated with increased risk of liver dysfunction in adults: An analysis of NHANES, 2013-2016

Glyphosate (GLY) exposure, both exogenous and endogenous, is a global concern. Multiple studies of model systems in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated the potential toxic effects of GLY exposure on human organs, particularly the liver and renal system. However, there is currently limited epidemiological evidence establishing a link between GLY exposure and hepatorenal function in the general population. In this study, a multivariable linear regression model and forest plots were employed to evaluate the connection between urinary GLY and biomarkers of hepatorenal function in 2241 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, gender, race, BMI, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AST/ALT and fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4) all increased with elevated urinary GLY concentrations after adjusting for potential confounders, while albumin (ALB) exhibited the opposite trend, particularly among younger, female, non-Hispanic white, overweight, and CKD participants. Furthermore, individuals in the third tertile had a greater risk of liver dysfunction than those in the first tertile after categorizing urinary GLY concentrations. However, our study showed no proof that GLY exposure affects the ratio of urine albumin to creatinine (ACR) or serum creatinine levels. Overall, these results imply that GLY exposure may have adverse effects on human liver function.

Underestimation of glyphosate intake by the methods currently used by regulatory agencies

The acceptable daily intake (ADI) is an estimate of the amount of a substance in food or beverages that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without presenting an appreciable risk to health. To assess the risk of ingesting glyphosate, regulatory agencies compare glyphosate daily intake to ADI. Based on published data on urine glyphosate levels measured according to known quantities of ingested glyphosate, our objectives were to test the robustness of the mathematical model currently used to calculate glyphosate daily intake, and to propose alternative models based on urinary excretion kinetics. Our results support that the quantity of ingested glyphosate is systematically underestimated by the model currently used by regulatory agencies, whereas the other models evaluated showed better estimations, with differences according to gender. Our results also show a great variability between individuals, leading to some uncertainties notably with regards to the ADI, and further support that glyphosate excretion varies significantly among individuals who follow a similar dosing regimen. In conclusion, our study highlights the lack of reliability of assessment processes carried out by regulatory agencies for glyphosate in particular, and pesticides in general, and questions the relevance of such processes supposed to safeguard human health and the environment.

Chronic dietary exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide in broiler hens has long-term impacts on the progeny metabolism

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most commonly used herbicides in agriculture. Several studies reported possible adverse effects on human and animal models after a GBH exposure. However, the effects of a temporary maternal exposure on the progeny have been poorly documented, especially in avian models. We investigated the effects of a hen chronic dietary exposure to a GBH on the progeny, obtained during the period following the withdrawal of GBH from the diet. Hens were exposed to a GBH via their food for 6 wk, after which the GBH was removed from their food. Eggs from these hens were collected 3 wk after the GBH was withdrawn for 1 wk. We monitored the growth performances, metabolic parameters, and behavior from the progeny of the hens (Ex-GBH chicks, n = 186) and compared them with those of unexposed control-hen progeny (CT chicks, n = 213). Ex-GBH chicks were more likely to explore their new environment than CT chicks during the open-field test. In addition, they had an increased fattening and blood triglycerides level, whereas their food consumption was similar to CT chicks. Quantitative PCR on the chemerin system and FASN in chicks livers indicate a transcriptional activity in favor of fatty acid synthesis, and lipidomic analysis on chicks abdominal adipose tissue reveal a global increase in monounsaturated fatty acid and a global decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Seven genes involved in the synthesis of fatty acids were identified with the open access LIPIDMAP software, and their disturbance in Ex-GBH chicks was confirmed via qPCR. Taken together, these results suggest that the progeny of hens temporarily exposed to a GBH are more likely to fatten, even with a balanced diet. The removal of GBH from their contaminated environment would therefore not be sufficient to completely restore their health, has it could induce transgenerational effects.

Occurrence and exposure assessment of glyphosate in the environment and its impact on human beings

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum and one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, which has led to its high environmental dissemination. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer stated that glyphosate was a probable human carcinogen. Since then, several studies have provided new data about the environmental exposure of glyphosate and its consequences on human health. Thus, the carcinogenic effects of glyphosate are still under debate. This work aimed to review glyphosate occurrence and exposure since 2015 up to date, considering studies associated with either environmental or occupational exposure and the epidemiological assessment of cancer risk in humans. These articles showed that herbicide residues were detectable in all spheres of the earth and studies on the population showed an increase in the concentration of glyphosate in biofluids, both in the general population and in the occupationally exposed population. However, the epidemiological studies under review provided limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate, which was consistent with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification as a probable carcinogen.

Impact of occupational pesticide exposure on the human gut microbiome

The rising use of pesticides in modern agriculture has led to a shift in disease burden in which exposure to these chemicals plays an increasingly important role. The human gut microbiome, which is partially responsible for the biotransformation of xenobiotics, is also known to promote biotransformation of environmental pollutants. Understanding the effects of occupational pesticide exposure on the gut microbiome can thus provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the impact of pesticide exposure on health. Here we investigate the impact of occupational pesticide exposure on human gut microbiome composition in 7198 participants from the Dutch Microbiome Project of the Lifelines Study. We used job-exposure matrices in combination with occupational codes to retrieve categorical and cumulative estimates of occupational exposures to general pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Approximately 4% of our cohort was occupationally exposed to at least one class of pesticides, with predominant exposure to multiple pesticide classes. Most participants reported long-term employment, suggesting a cumulative profile of exposure. We demonstrate that contact with insecticides, fungicides and a general "all pesticides" class was consistently associated with changes in the gut microbiome, showing significant associations with decreased alpha diversity and a differing beta diversity. We also report changes in the abundance of 39 different bacterial taxa upon exposure to the different pesticide classes included in this study. Together, the extent of statistically relevant associations between gut microbial changes and pesticide exposure in our findings highlights the impact of these compounds on the human gut microbiome.

Urinary glyphosate and AMPA levels in a cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women: Associations with organic eating behavior and dietary intake

Animal and epidemiologic studies suggest that there may be adverse health effects from exposure to glyphosate, the most highly used pesticide in the world, and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). Meanwhile, consumption of organic foods (presumably grown free of chemical pesticides) has increased in recent years. However, there have been limited biomonitoring studies assessing the levels of human glyphosate and AMPA exposure in the United States. We examined urinary levels of glyphosate and AMPA in the context of organic eating behavior in a cohort of healthy postmenopausal women residing in Southern California and evaluated associations with demographics, dietary intake, and other lifestyle factors. 338 women provided two first-morning urine samples and at least one paired 24-h dietary recall reporting the previous day's dietary intake. Urinary glyphosate and AMPA were measured using LC-MS/MS. Participants reported on demographic and lifestyle factors via questionnaires. Potential associations were examined between these factors and urinary glyphosate and AMPA concentrations. Glyphosate was detected in 89.9% of urine samples and AMPA in 67.2%. 37.9% of study participants reported often or always eating organic food, 30.2% sometimes, and 32.0% seldom or never. Frequency of organic food consumption was associated with several demographic and lifestyle factors. Frequent organic eaters had significantly lower urinary glyphosate and AMPA levels, but not after adjustment for covariates. Grain consumption was significantly associated with higher urinary glyphosate levels, even among women who reported often or always eating organic grains. Soy protein and alcohol consumption as well as high frequency of eating fast food were associated with higher urinary AMPA levels. In conclusion, in the largest study to date examining paired dietary recall data and measurements of first-void urinary glyphosate and AMPA, the vast majority of subjects sampled had detectable levels, and significant dietary sources in the American diet were identified.

Neurotoxic effects of exposure to glyphosate in rat striatum: Effects and mechanisms of action on dopaminergic neurotransmission

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of action of glyphosate and a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) on dopaminergic neurotransmission in the rat striatum. Acute exposure to glyphosate or GBH, administered by systemic (75 or 150 mg/kg, i.p.) or intrastriatal (1, 5, or 10 mM for 1 h) routes, produced significant concentration-dependent increases in dopamine release measured in vivo by cerebral microdialysis coupled to HPLC with electrochemical detection. Systemic administration of glyphosate also significantly impaired motor control and decreased striatal acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant capacity. At least two mechanisms can be proposed to explain the glyphosate-induced increases in extracellular dopamine levels: increased exocytotic dopamine release from synaptic vesicles or inhibition of dopamine transporter (DAT). Thus, we investigated the effects of intrastriatal administration of glyphosate (5 mM) in animals pretreated with tetrodotoxin (TTX) or reserpine. It was observed that TTX (10 or 20 μM) had no significant effect on glyphosate-induced dopamine release, while reserpine (10 mg/kg i.p) partially but significantly reduced the dopamine release. When glyphosate was coinfused with nomifensine (50 μM), the increase in dopamine levels was significantly higher than that observed with glyphosate or nomifensine alone. So, two possible hypotheses could explain this additive effect: both glyphosate and nomifensine act through different mechanisms at the dopaminergic terminals to increase dopamine levels; or both nomifensine and glyphosate act on DAT, with glyphosate simultaneously inhibiting reuptake and stimulating dopamine release by reversing the DAT function. Future research is needed to determine the effects of this pesticide at environmentally relevant doses.

The herbicide glyphosate inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation and learning through activation of pro-inflammatory signaling

Background

Glyphosate, a herbicide marketed under the trade name Roundup, is now widely used, in part because genetically modified organism plants that are resistant to this agent have been developed. Environmental or dietary exposure to glyphosate is omnipresent and there are concerns this exposure could impair cognitive function in addition to carcinogenicity.

Methods

Using hippocampal slices from juvenile male rats, we investigated whether glyphosate alters synaptic transmission and induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular model of learning and memory. Our hypothesis is that glyphosate alters neuronal function and impairs LTP induction via activation of pro-inflammatory processes, because increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines and neuroinflammation have been reported following glyphosate exposure. LTP was induced by delivery of 100 Hz x 1 sec high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the Schaffer collateral pathway and excitatory synaptic potentials (EPSPs) were monitored 60 min after HFS.

Resulsts

We first tested effects of Roundup on basal synaptic function and LTP induction. Roundup depressed EPSPs in a dose-dependent manner. Basal synaptic transmission was completely suppressed by 2000 ppm. At concentrations ≤ 20 ppm Roundup did not affect basal transmission, but 4 ppm Roundup administered 30 min before HFS inhibited LTP induction. We also observed that acute administration of 10-100 μM glyphosate inhibits LTP induction. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, and TAK-242, an inhibitor of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), both overcame the inhibitory effects of 100M glyphosate. Similarly, lipopolysaccharide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS) overcame the inhibitory effects. In addition, ISRIB (integrated stress response inhibitor) and quercetin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum stress, allowed LTP induction in the presence of glyphosate. We also observed that in vivo glyphosate injection (16.9 mg/kg i.p.) impaired one-trial inhibitory avoidance learning. This learning deficit was overcome by TAK-242.

Conclusion

While Roundup inhibits LTP induction, these observations indicate that glyphosate alone, the major ingredient of Roundup, can impair cognitive function through pro-inflammatory signaling in microglia. Manipulation of pro-inflammatory signaling could be a useful strategy to prevent cognitive impairment after exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH).

Glyphosate mimics 17β-estradiol effects promoting estrogen receptor alpha activity in breast cancer cells

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in several broad-spectrum herbicide formulations, has been validated and widely used throughout the world. Recent reports have questioned its safety, showing that glyphosate may act as an endocrine disruptor by promoting estrogenic activity. However, the molecular mechanism involved in this phenomenon remains unclear. Therefore, here we aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which glyphosate induces estrogenic activity using estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cell line models. Our results show that glyphosate mimics the cell effects of 17β-estradiol (E2), promoting estrogen receptor α (ERα) phosphorylation, its degradation, and transcriptional activity at high concentrations. The molecular mechanism seems involved in the ERα ligand-binding domain (LBD). Molecular simulations suggest a plausible interaction between glyphosate and the LBD through a coordinated complex involving divalent cations such as Zn (II). In addition, glyphosate exposure alters the level of Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 that contribute to ERα phosphorylation. Finally, glyphosate increases cell proliferation rate and levels of cell cycle regulators, accompanied by an increase in anchorage-independent growth capacity. These findings suggest that glyphosate at high concentrations, induces estrogen-like effects through an ERα ligand binding site-dependent mechanism, leading to cellular responses resulting from a complex interplay of genomic and non-genomic events.

Exposure Levels of Pyrethroids, Chlorpyrifos and Glyphosate in EU-An Overview of Human Biomonitoring Studies Published since 2000

Currently used pesticides are rapidly metabolised and excreted, primarily in urine, and urinary concentrations of pesticides/metabolites are therefore useful biomarkers for the integrated exposure from all sources. Pyrethroid insecticides, the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos, and the herbicide glyphosate, were among the prioritised substances in the HBM4EU project and comparable human biomonitoring (HBM)-data were obtained from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The aim of this review was to supplement these data by presenting additional HBM studies of the priority pesticides across the HBM4EU partner countries published since 2000. We identified relevant studies (44 for pyrethroids, 23 for chlorpyrifos, 24 for glyphosate) by literature search using PubMed and Web of Science. Most studies were from the Western and Southern part of the EU and data were lacking from more than half of the HBM4EU-partner countries. Many studies were regional with relatively small sample size and few studies address residential and occupational exposure. Variation in urine sampling, analytical methods, and reporting of the HBM-data hampered the comparability of the results across studies. Despite these shortcomings, a widespread exposure to these substances in the general EU population with marked geographical differences was indicated. The findings emphasise the need for harmonisation of methods and reporting in future studies as initiated during HBM4EU.

Glyphosate used as desiccant contaminates plant pollen and nectar of non-target plant species

Pesticide products containing glyphosate as a systemic active ingredient are some of the most extensively used herbicides worldwide. After spraying, residues have been found in nectar and pollen collected by bees foraging on treated plants. This dietary exposure to glyphosate could pose a hazard for flower-visiting animals including bees, and for the delivery of pollination services. Here, we evaluated whether glyphosate contaminates nectar and pollen of targeted crops and non-target wild plants. Oilseed rape was selected as focal crop species, and Rubus fruticosus growing in the hedgerows surrounding the crop was chosen as non-target plant species. Seven fields of oilseed rape, where a glyphosate-based product was applied, were chosen in east and southeast Ireland, and pollen and nectar were extracted from flowers sampled from the field at various intervals following glyphosate application. Pollen loads were taken from honeybees and bumblebees foraging on the crop at the same time. Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) residues were extracted using acidified methanol and their concentrations in the samples were determined by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Glyphosate was detected in R. fruticosus nectar and pollen samples that were taken within a timeframe of two to seven days after the application on the crop as a desiccant. No glyphosate was detected when the application took place before or more than two months prior to our sampling in any of the evaluated matrices. The metabolite AMPA was not detected in any samples. To gain further insight into the potential extent of translocation within both plants and soil when a crop is desiccated using glyphosate before harvesting, and the potential impacts on bees, we recommend a longitudinal study of the presence and fate of glyphosate in non-target flowering plants growing nearby crop fields, over a period of several days after glyphosate application.

Exposure to glyphosate in the United States: Data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND

Exposure to glyphosate, the most used herbicide in the United States, is not well characterized. We assessed glyphosate exposure in a representative sample of the U.S. population ≥ 6 years from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

METHODS

We quantified glyphosate in urine (N = 2,310) by ion chromatography isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry. We conducted univariate analysis using log-transformed creatinine-corrected glyphosate concentrations with demographic and lifestyle covariates we hypothesized could affect glyphosate exposure based on published data including race/ethnicity, sex, age group, family income to poverty ratio, fasting time, sample collection season, consumption of food categories (including cereal consumption) and having used weed killer products. We used multiple logistic regression to examine the likelihood of glyphosate concentrations being above the 95th percentile and age-stratified multiple linear regression to evaluate associations between glyphosate concentrations and statistically significant covariates from the univariate analysis: race/ethnicity, sex, age group, fasting time, cereal consumption, soft drink consumption, sample collection season, and urinary creatinine.

RESULTS

Glyphosate weighted detection frequency was 81.2 % (median (interquartile range): 0.392 (0.263-0.656) μg/L; 0.450 (0.266-0.753) μg/g creatinine). Glyphosate concentration decreased from age 6-11 until age 20-59 and increased at 60+ years in univariate analyses. Children/adolescents and adults who fasted > 8 h had significantly lower model-adjusted geometric means (0.43 (0.37-0.51) μg/L and 0.37 (0.33-0.39) μg/L) than those fasting ≤ 8 h (0.51 (0.46-0.56) μg/L and 0.44 (0.41-0.48) μg/L), respectively. The likelihood (odds ratio (95 % CI)) of glyphosate concentrations being > 95th percentile was 1.94 (1.06-3.54) times higher in people who fasted ≤ 8 h than people fasting > 8 h (P = 0.0318).

CONCLUSIONS

These first nationally representative data suggest that over four-fifths of the U.S. general population ≥ 6 years experienced recent exposure to glyphosate. Variation in glyphosate concentration by food consumption habits may reflect diet or lifestyle differences.

Characterization of glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in the urine of Australian and New Zealand populations

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide globally, but our understanding of human exposure and how different uses affect exposure is not well understood. The aim of this study was to obtain the first data on glyphosate and its primary degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) concentrations in pooled and individual urine from the Australia and New Zealand region using a sensitive direct injection method and compare results with studies from elsewhere. Pooled urine samples from the Australian general population (n = 125 pools representing >1875 individuals) and individual urine samples (n = 27) from occupationally exposed New Zealand farmers were analysed by LC-MS/MS. Glyphosate was detected above the LOD (0.20-1.25 μg/L) in 8 % of the Australian population pooled urine samples with most detections in the 45-60 years age group. Furthermore, glyphosate (0.85 to 153 μg/L) and AMPA (0.50 to 3.35 μg/L) were detected in 96 % and 33 % of farmers, respectively. The maximum glyphosate urine concentration was 1.7 times above the recommended acceptable daily intake (ADI), when assuming a urinary excretion rate of 1 %. The pooled sampling and analysis approach proved effective for rapid large-scale screening of populations and could be used to determine where targeted and more specific individual sampling may be required.

Utilization of a Novel Immunofluorescence Instrument Prototype for the Determination of the Herbicide Glyphosate

An enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFIA) method has been developed for the quantitative analytical determination of the herbicide active ingredient glyphosate in environmental matrices (surface water, soil, and plant tissues). Glyphosate, as a ubiquitous agricultural pollutant, is a xenobiotic substance with exposure in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due its extremely high worldwide application rate. The immunoassay developed in Project Aquafluosense is part of a fluorescence-based instrumentation setup for the in situ determination of several characteristic water quality parameters. The 96-well microplate-based competitive immunoassay method applies fluorescence signal detection in the concentration range of 0–100 ng/mL glyphosate. Application of the fluorescent signal provides a limit of detection of 0.09 ng/mL, which is 2.5-fold lower than that obtained with a visual absorbance signal. Beside the improved limit of detection, determination by fluorescence provided a wider and steeper dynamic range for glyphosate detection. No matrix effect appeared for the undiluted surface water samples, while plant tissues and soil samples required dilution rates of 1:10 and 1:100, respectively. No cross-reaction was determined with the main metabolite of glyphosate, N-aminomethylphosphonic acid, and related compounds.

Chronic dietary exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide results in total or partial reversibility of plasma oxidative stress, cecal microbiota abundance and short-chain fatty acid composition in broiler hens

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are massively used in agriculture. However, few studies have investigated the effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on avian species although they are largely exposed via their food. Here, we investigated the potential reversibility of the effects of chronic dietary exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides in broiler hens. For 42 days, we exposed 32-week-old hens to glyphosate-based herbicides via their food (47 mg/kg/day glyphosate equivalent, glyphosate-based herbicides, n = 75) corresponding to half glyphosate’s no-observed-adverse-effect-level in birds. We compared their performance to that of 75 control animals (CT). Both groups (glyphosate-based herbicides and control animals) were then fed for 28 additional days without glyphosate-based herbicides exposure (Ex-glyphosate-based herbicides and Ex-control animals). Glyphosate-based herbicides temporarily increased the plasma glyphosate and AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) concentrations. Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid mostly accumulated in the liver and to a lesser extent in the leg muscle and abdominal adipose tissue. Glyphosate-based herbicides also temporarily increased the gizzard weight and plasma oxidative stress monitored by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Glyphosate-based herbicides temporarily decreased the cecal concentrations of propionate, isobutyrate and propionate but acetate and valerate were durably reduced. The cecal microbiome was also durably affected since glyphosate-based herbicides inhibited Barnesiella and favored Alloprevotella. Body weight, fattening, food intake and feeding behavior as well as plasma lipid and uric acid were unaffected by glyphosate-based herbicides. Taken together, our results show possible disturbances of the cecal microbiota associated with plasma oxidative stress and accumulation of glyphosate in metabolic tissues in response to dietary glyphosate-based herbicides exposure in broiler hens. Luckily, glyphosate-based herbicides at this concentration does not hamper growth and most of the effects on the phenotypes are reversible.

Glyphosate, Roundup and the Failures of Regulatory Assessment

Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in agriculture. It contains glyphosate as the ‘active ingredient’, together with formulants. There are various versions of Roundup, with somewhat different effects depending on the formulants. Most genetically-modified crops are designed to tolerate Roundup, thus allowing spraying against weeds during the growing season of the crop without destroying it. Having been so heavily used, this herbicide is now found in the soil, water, air, and even in humans worldwide. Roundup may also remain as a residue on edible crops. Many studies have found harm to the environment and to health, making it imperative to regulate the use of Roundup and to ensure that its various formulations pose no danger when used in the long-term. Unfortunately, regulators may only assess the ‘active ingredient’, glyphosate, and ignore the toxicity of the formulants, which can be far more toxic than the active ingredient. This omission is in violation of a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. There are close ties between the regulators and the industry they are supposed to regulate. Objectionable practices include ‘revolving doors’ between the regulators and the industry, heavy reliance on unpublished papers produced by the industry while dismissing papers published by independent scientists, and strong covert influence on the regulatory process by industry. Although this paper focuses on the European Union (EU), the situation is much the same in the United States.

Determination of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, and glufosinate in river water and sediments using microwave-assisted rapid derivatization and LC-MS/MS

Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) and glufosinate (ammonium dl-homoalanin- 4-methyl phosphinate) are nonselective, broad-spectrum, and highly polar herbicides that are wildly used for weed control in aquatic systems and vegetation control in non-crop areas. Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is the major degradation product of glyphosate. To address the concerns to its environmental residue and the possible adverse effects, the analytical methods by using microwave-assisted derivatization were developed for determining glyphosate, AMPA, and glufosinate in river water and sediments. The methods applied the 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC-Cl) derivatization for the analytes. The microwave heating is first-time applied to reduce the FMOC-reaction time of glyphosate, AMPA, and glyphosate in the environmental samples to less than 2.5 min. The microwave-assisted methods were successfully validated for river water and sediment. The linear ranges of 7.8-2000.0 ng/L and 0.78-100.0 ng/g were achieved by using 10 mL of water and 2 g of sediments. Glyphosate was found in 30/32% and 25/32% of 32 water and 32 sediments at 27.1-1353.9 ng/L and 2.4-189.6 ng/g levels. AMPA was found in 30/32% and 30/32% of 32 water and 32 sediments at 60.2-1509.0 ng/L and 1.8-233.6 ng/g levels. Glyphosate was found in 10/32% of 32 water at 14.8-503.1 ng/L levels. No glufosinate residue was observed for 32 sediments. The residues of glyphosate and AMPA were wildly detected in the river waters and sediments near the agricultural regions, and glufosinate was less detected. This is the first study that reported herbicide levels in water and sediment from Taiwan rural areas using microwave-assisted rapid derivatization, useful information for environmental management.

Does Glyphosate Affect the Human Microbiota?

Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used agrochemical. Its use in agriculture and gardening has been proclaimed safe because humans and other animals do not have the target enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). However, increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated risks to humans and animals because the shikimate metabolic pathway is present in many microbes. Here, we assess the potential effect of glyphosate on healthy human microbiota. Our results demonstrate that more than one-half of human microbiome are intrinsically sensitive to glyphosate. However, further empirical studies are needed to determine the effect of glyphosate on healthy human microbiota.