Glyphosate-based herbicides potently affect cardiovascular system in mammals: review of the literature

Glyphosate as a Food Contaminant: Main Sources, Detection Levels, and Implications for Human and Public Health

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum pesticide that has become the most widely used herbicide globally. However, concerns have risen regarding its potential health impacts due to food contamination. Studies have detected glyphosate in human blood and urine samples, indicating human exposure and its persistence in the organism. A growing body of literature has reported the health risks concerning glyphosate exposure, suggesting that the daily intake of contaminated food and water poses a public health concern. Furthermore, countries with high glyphosate usage and lenient regulations regarding food and water contamination may face more severe consequences. In this context, in this review, we examined the literature regarding food contamination by glyphosate, discussed its detection methods, and highlighted its risks to human health.

Glyphosate: Hepatotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity, Hemotoxicity, Carcinogenicity, and Clinical Cases of Endocrine, Reproductive, Cardiovascular, and Pulmonary System Intoxication

Glyphosate (GLP) is an active agent of GLP-based herbicides (GBHs), i.e., broad-spectrum and postemergent weedkillers, commercialized by Monsanto as, e.g., Roundup and RangerPro formulants. The GBH crop spraying, dedicated to genetically engineered GLP-resistant crops, has revolutionized modern agriculture by increasing the production yield. However, abusively administered GBHs' ingredients, e.g., GLP, polyoxyethyleneamine, and heavy metals, have polluted environmental and industrial areas far beyond farmlands, causing global contamination and life-threatening risk, which has led to the recent local bans of GBH use. Moreover, preclinical and clinical reports have demonstrated harmful impacts of GLP and other GBH ingredients on the gut microbiome, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and endocrine, as well as reproductive, and cardiopulmonary systems, whereas carcinogenicity of these herbicides remains controversial. Occupational exposure to GBH dysregulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, responsible for steroidogenesis and endocrinal secretion, thus affecting hormonal homeostasis, functions of reproductive organs, and fertility. On the other hand, acute intoxication with GBH, characterized by dehydration, oliguria, paralytic ileus, as well as hypovolemic and cardiogenic shock, pulmonary edema, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis, may occur fatally. As no antidote has been developed for GBH poisoning so far, the detoxification is mainly symptomatic and supportive and requires intensive care based on gastric lavage, extracorporeal blood filtering, and intravenous lipid emulsion infusion. The current review comprehensively discusses the molecular and physiological basics of the GLP- and/or GBH-induced diseases of the endocrine and reproductive systems, and cardiopulmonary-, nephro-, and hepatotoxicities, presented in recent preclinical studies and case reports on the accidental or intentional ingestions with the most popular GBHs. Finally, they briefly describe modern and future healthcare methods and tools for GLP detection, determination, and detoxification. Future electronically powered, decision-making, and user-friendly devices targeting major GLP/GBH's modes of actions, i.e., dysbiosis and the inhibition of AChE, shall enable self-handled or point-of-care professional-assisted evaluation of the harm followed with rapid capturing GBH xenobiotics in the body and precise determining the GBH pathology-associated biomarkers levels.

Associations between dietary pesticide residue mixture exposure and mortality in a population-based prospective cohort of men and women

BACKGROUND

There is a concern that pesticide residues, regularly detected in foods, might pose a health risk to the consumer, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We assessed the associations between dietary exposure to a mixture of pesticide residues and mortality.

METHODS

Food consumption was assessed in 68,844 participants from the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, 45-83 years at baseline (1997). Concentrations of pesticide residues detected in foods on the Swedish market (1996-1998), mainly fruits and vegetables, were obtained via monitoring programs. To assess mixture effects, we summed per food item the ratios of each single pesticide mean residue concentration divided by its acceptable daily intake to create for each participant a Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index (adjusted for energy intake and expressed per kilogram of body weight). Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI).

RESULTS

During 15 years of follow-up (1998-2014), a total of 16,527 deaths occurred, of which 6,238 were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 5,364 by cancer. Comparing extreme quintiles of Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, the highest category was inversely associated with CVD mortality HR, 0.82 (95 % CI, 0.75-0.90) and with cancer mortality HR 0.82 (95 % CI 0.75-0.91). In analyses stratified by high/low Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, similar inverse associations were observed by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed no indications that dietary exposure to pesticide residue mixtures was associated with increased mortality, nor any clear indications that the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption on mortality was compromised. Yet, our results need to be interpreted with caution.

Pollutants, including Organophosphorus and Organochloride Pesticides, May Increase the Risk of Cardiac Remodeling and Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac rhythm disorder. Recent clinical and experimental studies reveal that environmental pollutants, including organophosphorus-organochloride pesticides and air pollution, may contribute to the development of cardiac arrhythmias including AF. Here, we discussed the unifying cascade of events that may explain the role of pollutant exposure in the development of AF. Following ingestion and inhalation of pollution-promoting toxic compounds, damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) stimuli activate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress that may negatively affect the respiratory, cognitive, digestive, and cardiac systems. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying the association between pollutant exposure and the incidence of AF are not completely elucidated, some clinical reports and fundamental research data support the idea that pollutant poisoning can provoke perturbed ion channel function, myocardial electrical abnormalities, decreased action potential duration, slowed conduction, contractile dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis, and arrhythmias including AF.

Hazardous impacts of glyphosate on human and environment health: Occurrence and detection in food

With the ever-increasing human population, farming lands are decreasing every year, therefore, for effective crop management; agricultural scientists are continually developing new strategies. However, small plants and herbs always impart a much loss in the yields of the crop and farmers are using tons of herbicides to eradicate that problem. Across the world, several herbicides are available in the market for effective crop management, however, scientists observed various environmental and health effects of the herbicides. Over the past 40 years, the herbicide glyphosate has been used extensively with the assumption of negligible effects on the environment and human health. However, in recent years, concerns have increased globally about the potential direct and indirect effects on human health due to the excessive use of glyphosate. As well, the toxicity on ecosystems and the possible effects on all living creatures have long been at the center of a complex discrepancy about the authorization for its use. The World Health Organization also further classified glyphosate as a carcinogenic toxic component and it was banned in 2017 due to numerous life-threatening side effects on human health. In the present era, the residues of banned glyphosate are more prevalent in agricultural and environmental samples which are directly affecting human health. Various reports revealed the detailed extraction process of glyphosate from different categories of the food matrix. Therefore, in the present review, to reveal the importance of glyphosate monitoring in the food matrix, we discussed the environmental and health effects of glyphosate with acute toxicity levels. Also, the effect of glyphosate on aquatic life is discussed in detail and various detection methods such as fluorescence, chromatography, and colorimetric techniques from different food samples with a limit of detection values are revealed. Overall, this review will give an in-depth insight into the various toxicological aspects and detection of glyphosate from food matrix using various advanced analytical techniques.

Glyphosate Separating and Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Protection in the Era of Smart Materials

The present article critically and comprehensively reviews the most recent reports on smart sensors for determining glyphosate (GLP), an active agent of GLP-based herbicides (GBHs) traditionally used in agriculture over the past decades. Commercialized in 1974, GBHs have now reached 350 million hectares of crops in over 140 countries with an annual turnover of 11 billion USD worldwide. However, rolling exploitation of GLP and GBHs in the last decades has led to environmental pollution, animal intoxication, bacterial resistance, and sustained occupational exposure of the herbicide of farm and companies' workers. Intoxication with these herbicides dysregulates the microbiome-gut-brain axis, cholinergic neurotransmission, and endocrine system, causing paralytic ileus, hyperkalemia, oliguria, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock. Precision agriculture, i.e., an (information technology)-enhanced approach to crop management, including a site-specific determination of agrochemicals, derives from the benefits of smart materials (SMs), data science, and nanosensors. Those typically feature fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymers or immunochemical aptamer artificial receptors integrated with electrochemical transducers. Fabricated as portable or wearable lab-on-chips, smartphones, and soft robotics and connected with SM-based devices that provide machine learning algorithms and online databases, they integrate, process, analyze, and interpret massive amounts of spatiotemporal data in a user-friendly and decision-making manner. Exploited for the ultrasensitive determination of toxins, including GLP, they will become practical tools in farmlands and point-of-care testing. Expectedly, smart sensors can be used for personalized diagnostics, real-time water, food, soil, and air quality monitoring, site-specific herbicide management, and crop control.

Biological effects of sub-lethal doses of glyphosate and AMPA on cardiac myoblasts

Introduction: Glyphosate is the active compound of different non-selective herbicides, being the most used agriculture pesticide worldwide. Glyphosate and AMPA (one of its main metabolites) are common pollutants of water, soil, and food sources such as crops. They can be detected in biological samples from both exposed workers and general population. Despite glyphosate acts as inhibitor of the shikimate pathway, present only in plants and some microorganisms, its safety in mammals is still debated. Acute glyphosate intoxications are correlated to cardiovascular/neuronal damages, but little is known about the effects of the chronic exposure. Methods: We evaluated the direct biological effects of different concentrations of pure glyphosate/AMPA on a rat-derived cell line of cardiomyoblasts (H9c2) in acute (1-2 h) or sub-chronic (24-48 h) settings. We analyzed cell viability/morphology, ROS production and mitochondrial dynamics. Results: Acute exposure to high doses (above 10 mM) of glyphosate and AMPA triggers immediate cytotoxic effects: reduction in cell viability, increased ROS production, morphological alterations and mitochondrial function. When exposed to lower glyphosate concentrations (1 μM-1 mM), H9c2 cells showed only a slight variation in cell viability and ROS production, while mitochondrial dynamic was unvaried. Moreover, the phenotype was completely restored after 48 h of treatment. Surprisingly, the sub-chronic (48 h) treatment with low concentrations (1 μM-1 mM) of AMPA led to a late cytotoxic response, reflected in a reduction in H9c2 viability. Conclusion: The comprehension of the extent of human exposure to these molecules remains pivotal to have a better critical view of the available data.

Maternal exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide causes changes in the vascular function of offspring adult rats

This study analyzed how glyphosate exposure in the gestational period affects vascular function in their offspring, focusing on the influence of age and whether oxidative stress is involved in this effect. To this, pregnant Wistar rats were exposed through drinking water to 0.2% of a glyphosate commercial formulation, and we analyzed the response to acetylcholine and phenylephrine in the aorta from offspring of glyphosate herbicide-based (O-GHB) and controls (O-CON) rats at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. O-GHB groups showed no changes in arterial blood pressure or aorta histological analysis. Relaxation to acetylcholine was reduced in O-GHB than O-CON. Acute TEMPOL increased relaxation to acetylcholine in O-GHB at 6 and 12 months of age. The aorta from O-GHB was hyperactive to phenylephrine only at 6 months of age. Preincubation with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) increased contraction to phenylephrine more in O-CON than O-GHB. TEMPOL similarly reduced phenylephrine response. This effect was prevented by L-NAME. Results reinforce the concept that oxidative stress during the perinatal period contributes to the development of vascular changes in adulthood. Results also reveal that although no changes in cardiac or histological parameters have been demonstrated, the current levels considered safe for exposure to glyphosate deserve further investigation, especially during pregnancy.

The Significance of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate for Predicting Mortality in Glyphosate Herbicide-Intoxicated Patients: A Single-Center, Retrospective Observational Study

Background: Glyphosate herbicide (GH) is widely used worldwide. It has a higher fatality rate than expected. GH-poisoned cases are increasingly reported. Acute kidney injury in poisoned patients is one of several predictors of GH mortality. The aim of this study was to determine whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) could predict kidney injury in GH intoxication. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the emergency department (ED) of a single hospital between January 2004 and December 2021. A total of 434 patients presented with GH intoxication via oral ingestion, and 424 were enrolled. Their demographic characteristics, laboratory variables, complications, and mortality were analyzed to determine clinical predictors associated with GH-induced mortality using a logistic regression analysis. The relationship between GH intoxication and eGFR was determined based on the results of dominance analysis. Additionally, the comparison of creatinine and eGFR was performed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: A total of 424 GH-poisoned patients were enrolled. Of them, 43 (10.1%) died. In the multivariable analysis, initial GCS (OR: 0.874; 95% CI: 0.765−0.998, p = 0.047), albumin (OR: 0.874; 95% CI: 0.765−0.998, p = 0.027), pH (OR: 0.002; 95% CI: 0.000−0.037, p < 0.001), QTc interval (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.007−1.029, p = 0.001), and eGFR (OR: 0.969; 95% CI: 0.95−0.989, p = 0.003) were independent factors for predicting in-hospital mortality. In the dominance analysis of the relative importance of the predictive factors, pH accounted for the largest proportion at 35.8%, followed by QTc (20.0%), GCS (17.3%), eGFR (17.0%), and albumin (9.9%). Additionally, eGFR had a larger area under the ROC curve (0.846; 95% CI, 0.809−0.879) than that of creatinine (0.811; 95% CI, 0.771−0.848, p = 0.033). Conclusion: In sum, eGFR, considered a surrogate of renal function, was a useful prognostic factor for mortality in glyphosate herbicide-poisoned patients.

The Cardiotoxic Effect of Roundup® is not Induced by Glyphosate: A Non-specific Blockade of Human CaV1.2 Channels

In Roundup®, the active principle glyphosate is formulated with adjuvants that help it to penetrate the plants' cell membranes. Several reports and reviews report cardiovascular effects of Roundup®, pointing the presence of arrhythmias as a potential consequence of Roundup® toxicity and death cause. However, it still remains debatable whether these cardiac events are related to glyphosate per se or to the Roundup® adjuvants. The present study aims to compare the pro-arrhythmogenic properties of Roundup® and glyphosate in an animal model and in human cardiomyocytes. In isolated guinea pig heart, the cardiotoxicity of Roundup® (significant effect on heart rate and depressive effect on ventricular contractility) was demonstrated with the highest concentrations (100 µM). In human cardiomyocytes, the cardiotoxicity is confirmed by a marked effect on contractility and a strong effect on cell viability. Finally, this Roundup® depressive effect on heart contractility is due to a concentration-dependent blocking effect on cardiac calcium channel CaV1.2 with an IC50 value of 3.76 µM. Surprisingly, no significant effect on each parameter has been shown with glyphosate. Glyphosate was devoid of major effect on cardiac calcium channel with a maximal effect at 100 µM (- 27.2 ± 1.7%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, Roundup® could induce severe cardiac toxicity by a blockade of CaV1.2 channel, leading to a worsening of heart contractility and genesis of arrhythmias. This toxicity could not be attributed to glyphosate.

In Vivo Estimation of the Biological Effects of Endocrine Disruptors in Rabbits after Combined and Long-Term Exposure: Study Protocol

Recently, an increasing number of chemical compounds are being characterized as endocrine disruptors since they have been proven to interact with the endocrine system, which plays a crucial role in the maintenance of homeostasis. Glyphosate is the active substance of the herbicide Roundup^®, bisphenol A (BPA) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are used as plasticizers, while triclosan (TCS), methyl (MePB), propyl (PrPB), and butyl (BuPB) parabens are used as antimicrobial agents and preservatives mainly in personal care products. Studies indicate that exposure to these substances can affect humans causing developmental problems and problems in the endocrine, reproductive, nervous, immune, and respiratory systems. Although there are copious studies related to these substances, there are few in vivo studies related to combined exposure to these endocrine disruptors. The aim of the present pilot study is the investigation and assessment of the above substances’ toxicity in rabbits after twelve months of exposure to glyphosate (both pure and commercial form) and to a mixture of all the above substances at subtoxic levels. The lack of data from the literature concerning rabbits’ exposure to these substances and the restrictions of the 3Rs Principle will result in a limited number of animals available for use (four animals per group, twenty animals in total).

Glyphosate Use, Toxicity and Occurrence in Food

Glyphosate is a systemic, broad-spectrum and post-emergent herbicide. The use of glyphosate has grown in the last decades, and it is currently the most used herbicide worldwide. The rise of glyphosate consumption over the years also brought an increased concern about its possible toxicity and consequences for human health. However, a scientific community consensus does not exist at the present time, and glyphosate’s safety and health consequences are controversial. Since glyphosate is mainly applied in fields and can persist several months in the soil, concerns have been raised about the impact that its presence in food can cause in humans. Therefore, this work aims to review the glyphosate use, toxicity and occurrence in diverse food samples, which, in certain cases, occurs at violative levels. The incidence of glyphosate at levels above those legally allowed and the suspected toxic effects of this compound raise awareness regarding public health.

Glyphosate Pollution Treatment and Microbial Degradation Alternatives, a Review

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide extensively used worldwide to eliminate weeds in agricultural areas. Since its market introduction in the 70's, the levels of glyphosate agricultural use have increased, mainly due to the introduction of glyphosate-resistant transgenic crops in the 90's. Glyphosate presence in the environment causes pollution, and recent findings have proposed that glyphosate exposure causes adverse effects in different organisms, including humans. In 2015, glyphosate was classified as a probable carcinogen chemical, and several other human health effects have been documented since. Environmental pollution and human health threats derived from glyphosate intensive use require the development of alternatives for its elimination and proper treatment. Bioremediation has been proposed as a suitable alternative for the treatment of glyphosate-related pollution, and several microorganisms have great potential for the biodegradation of this herbicide. The present review highlights the environmental and human health impacts related to glyphosate pollution, the proposed alternatives for its elimination through physicochemical and biological approaches, and recent studies related to glyphosate biodegradation by bacteria and fungi are also reviewed. Microbial remediation strategies have great potential for glyphosate elimination, however, additional studies are needed to characterize the mechanisms employed by the microorganisms to counteract the adverse effects generated by the glyphosate exposure.

Antifungal activity of glyphosate against fungal blast disease on glyphosate-tolerant OsmEPSPS transgenic rice

Weeds, pests, and pathogens are among the pre-harvest constraints in rice farming across rice-growing countries. For weed management, manual weeding and herbicides are widely practiced. Among the herbicides, glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is a broad-spectrum systemic chemical extensively used in agriculture. Being a competitive structural analog to phosphoenolpyruvate, it selectively inhibits the conserved 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme required for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and essential metabolites in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In the present study, we investigated the antifungal and defense elicitor activity of glyphosate against Magnaporthe oryzae on transgenic-rice overexpressing a glyphosate-resistance OsEPSPS gene (T173I + P177S; TIPS OsmEPSPS) for blast disease management. The glyphosate foliar spray on OsmEPSPS transgenic rice lines showed both prophylactic and curative suppression of blast disease comparable to a blasticide, tricyclazole. The glyphosate displayed direct antifungal activity on Magnaporthe oryzae as well as enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic pigments in rice. However, the genes associated with phytohormones-mediated defense (OsPAD4, OsNPR1.3, and OsFMO) and innate immunity pathway (OsCEBiP and OsCERK1) were found repressed upon glyphosate spray. Altogether, the current study is the first report highlighting the overexpression of a crop-specific TIPS mutation in conjugation with glyphosate application showing potential for blast disease management in rice cultivation.

Glyphosate: A Review on the Current Environmental Impacts from a Brazilian Perspective

The indiscriminate use of glyphosate is one of the main agricultural practices to combat weeds and grasses; however, its incorrect application increases soil and water contamination caused by the product. This situation is even more critical due to its great versatility for use in different cultivars and at lower prices, making it the most used pesticide in the world. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of in-depth studies regarding the damage that its use may cause. Therefore, this review focused on the analysis of environmental impacts at the soil-water interface caused by the use of glyphosate. In this sense, studies have shown that the intensive use of glyphosate has the potential to cause harmful effects on soil microorganisms, leading to changes in soil fertility and ecological imbalance, as well as impacts on aquatic environments derived from changes in the food chain. This situation is similar in Brazil, with the harmful effects of glyphosate in nontarget species and the contamination of the atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to change this scenario by modifying the type of pest control in agriculture, and actions such as crop rotation and biological control.

Cardiogenic shock with first-degree heart block in a patient with glyphosate-surfactant poisoning

Glyphosate is a commonly used non-selective herbicide in agriculture and aquafarms. Gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms are predominant manifestations of glyphosate poisoning. Cardiac dysfunction should be kept as a possibility in patients presenting with shock, and the treatment is mainly supportive. We present such a case.

Cardiovascular damage associated with subchronic exposure to the glyphosate herbicide in Wistar rats

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Although some studies have shown cardiac electrophysiological changes associated to glyphosate, the histopathological changes that this herbicide may cause in the cardiovascular system are not yet established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of subchronic oral and inhalation exposure to the glyphosate herbicide in rats. Eighty albino Wistar rats were distributed into eight groups (five males and five females/group): inhalation control: nebulization with sodium chloride solution (NaCl); oral control: nebulized feed with NaCl; low inhalation concentration: nebulization with 3.71 × 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare (g.a.i./ha) of glyphosate; low oral concentration: nebulized feed with 3.71 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; medium inhalation concentration: nebulization with 6.19 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; medium oral concentration: nebulized feed with 6.19 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; high inhalation concentration: nebulization with 9.28 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; and high oral concentration: nebulized feed with 9.28 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate. After 75 days of exposure, the animals were euthanized, and aortas and hearts were collected for histopathological analysis. Fatty streaks were observed in most animals exposed to glyphosate and were more prevalent in male rats, regardless of the route of exposure (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the measurements of the thickness of the right and left ventricle or in the collagen density of both ventricles in any of the groups evaluated (p > 0.05). Our study suggests that glyphosate has atherogenic potential, regardless of the concentration and route of exposure.

Low-dose exposure of glyphosate-based herbicides disrupt the urine metabolome and its interaction with gut microbiota

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) can disrupt the host microbiota and influence human health. In this study, we explored the potential effects of GBHs on urinary metabolites and their interactions with gut microbiome using a rodent model. Glyphosate and Roundup (equal molar for glyphosate) were administered at the USA glyphosate ADI guideline (1.75 mg/kg bw/day) to the dams and their pups. The urine metabolites were profiled using non-targeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Our results found that overall urine metabolite profiles significantly differed between dams and pups and between female and male pups. Specifically, we identified a significant increase of homocysteine, a known risk factor of cardiovascular disease in both Roundup and glyphosate exposed pups, but in males only. Correlation network analysis between gut microbiome and urine metabolome pointed to Prevotella to be negatively correlated with the level of homocysteine. Our study provides initial evidence that exposures to commonly used GBH, at a currently acceptable human exposure dose, is capable of modifying urine metabolites in both rat adults and pups. The link between Prevotella-homocysteine suggests the potential role of GBHs in modifying the susceptibility of homocysteine, which is a metabolite that has been dysregulated in related diseases like cardiovascular disease or inflammation, through commensal microbiome.

The Herbicide Glyphosate and Its Apparently Controversial Effect on Human Health: An Updated Clinical Perspective

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate (G) is the most common weed-killer in the world. Every year tons and tons of G are applied on crop fields. G was first introduced in the mid 1970s and since then its usage has gradually increased to reach a peak since 2005. Now G usage is approximately 100 -fold what it was in 1970. Its impact on human health was considered benign at the beginning. But over the years, evidence of a pervasive negative effect of this pesticide on humans has been mounting. Nonetheless, G usage is allowed by government health control agencies (both in the United States and Europe), that rely upon the evidence produced by the G producer. However, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in 2015 has stated that G is probable carcinogenic (class 2A), the second highest class in terms of risk.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we explore the effect of G on human health, focusing in particular on more recent knowledge.

RESULTS

We have attempted to untangle the controversy about the dangers of the product for human beings in view of a very recent development, when the so -called Monsanto Papers, consisting of Emails and memos from Monsanto came to light, revealing a coordinated strategy to manipulate the debate about the safety of glyphosate to the company's advantage.

CONCLUSION

The story of G is a recurrent one (see the tobacco story), that seriously jeopardizes the credibility of the scientific study in the modern era.

Activation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor is involved in glyphosate-induced renal proximal tubule cell apoptosis

Glyphosate-based herbicides have been used worldwide for decades and have been suggested to induce nephrotoxicity, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. In this study, we treated a human renal proximal tubule cell line (HK-2) with glyphosate for 24 hours at concentrations of 0, 20, 40 and 60 μm. Glyphosate was found to reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis and oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. Because the chemical structures of glyphosate and those of its metabolite AMPA are similar to glycine and glutamate, which are agonists of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), we investigated the potential role of the NMDAR pathway in mediating the proapoptotic effect of glyphosate on proximal tubule cells. We found that NMDAR1 expression, as well as intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+ ]i ) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased after glyphosate treatment. Blocking NMDAR attenuated glyphosate-induced upregulation of [Ca2+ ]i and ROS levels as well as apoptosis. Meanwhile, inhibition of [Ca2+ ]i reduced glyphosate-induced ROS and apoptosis, and inhibition of ROS alleviated glyphosate-induced apoptosis. In mice exposed to 400 mg/kg glyphosate, the urine low molecular weight protein levels started to increase from day 7. Upregulation of apoptosis and NMDAR1 expression in renal proximal tubule epithelium and an imbalance of oxidant and antioxidative products were observed. These results strongly suggest that activation of the NMDAR1 pathway, together with its downstream [Ca2+ ]i and oxidative stress, is involved in glyphosate-induced renal proximal tubule epithelium apoptosis.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine against subchronic oral glyphosate-based herbicide-induced oxidative stress in rats

It is claimed that oxidative stress has a prominent role in the mechanism of toxic effects formed by glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) in living systems. A strong thiol compound, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), has antioxidative and cytoprotective properties. The objective in this subchronic toxicity study was to identify the prophylactic effect of NAC over histopathological changes and oxidative stress induced by GBH in blood, renal, liver, cardiac, and brain tissues. A sum of 28 male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups, each containing 7 rats. During the study, group I (control group) was supplied with normal rodent bait and tap water ad libitum. The applied agents were 160 mg/kg NAC to group II, 375 mg/kg as equivalent to 1/10 of lethal dose 50% (LD50) of GBH to group III, and 160 mg/kg of NAC and 375 mg/kg of GBH together once per day as oral gavage to group IV for 8 weeks. While GBH decreased the levels of GSH in blood, liver, kidney, and brain tissues, it considerably increased malondialdehyde levels. On the contrary, these parameters happened to improve in the group supplied with NAC. Besides, it was seen that NAC was observed to improve the histopathologic changes in rat tissues induced by GBH. It was concluded that NAC protects oxidative stress and tissue damage induced by GBH in blood and tissue and this prophylactic effect could be attributed to its antioxidant and free radical sweeper character.

Farmers' Willingness to Pay for Health Risk Reductions of Pesticide Use in China: A Contingent Valuation Study

This study aimed to estimate farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for health risk reductions of pesticide use by applying the contingent valuation method (CVM) and to explore the factors that influence farmers' WTP in China. In total, 244 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. The mean WTP was estimated to be $65.38 (0.94% of total household income) per household per year for a 5/10,000 reduction in morbidity risk. This study shows that farmers' socioeconomic and attitudinal factors that significantly affect their WTP include farmers' farming income, education, household size and risk perceptions. In particular, the results demonstrate that respondents' social trust, social reciprocity and social networks have significant impacts on their WTP. The findings of this study can provide useful insights for policy makers to design effective policies to address health problems related to pesticide use in the developing world.

Cardiovascular Effects and Fatality May Differ According to the Formulation of Glyphosate Salt Herbicide

This study aimed to compare adverse cardiovascular events and fatalities and to identify the risk factors for fatalities associated with the glyphosate salt herbicide formulation. Additionally, we examined whether glyphosate ammonium salt herbicides increased serum ammonia levels. One hundred forty-seven patients were divided into an ammonium group (glyphosate ammonium salt herbicide) and an isopropylamine (IPA) group (glyphosate IPA salt herbicide) according to the type of glyphosate salt formulation ingested. Although no differences in the variables were observed between the groups, the IPA group had more fatalities, a higher incidence of QTc prolongation and a higher tendency for PR prolongation than the ammonium group. Additionally, the IPA group required a longer duration of vasopressor administration. PR prolongation and age were independently associated with fatalities in glyphosate IPA salt poisoning cases in the multivariate regression. Serum ammonia levels were higher at presentation and decreased continuously during the first 48 h after presentation in the ammonium group. This study is the first to suggest potentially different toxicities, especially cardiovascular effects, of glyphosate herbicide poisoning in humans based on the glyphosate salt herbicide formulation and to determine the association between PR prolongation and fatality in glyphosate IPA salt herbicide poisoning cases.

Glyphosate ingestion causing multiple organ failure: a near-fatal case report

A 55 years old man self-presented to our Emergency Department (ED) reporting an attempted suicide by cutting the left forearm veins and ingesting approximately 200 mL of an herbicide (Myrtos®, containing 36% of glyphosate as isopropylamine salt). Laboratory tests showed metabolic acidosis. Hydration with normal saline and alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate was started according to suggestion of the poison control center, since an antidote was unavailable. Cardiorespiratory condition gradually worsened, so that non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) was applied and infusion of fluids was established. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated and he needed to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he underwent orotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. Noradrenaline and adrenaline were infused and fluid resuscitation with crystalloids was incremented. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed diffuse mucosal erosions of upper digestive tract. No signs of visceral perforation were found during ICU stay. In the following days, the clinical conditions improved and a new EGD showed marked improvement of erosive lesions. After 12 days of ICU stay, the patient was extubated and then transferred to the Psychiatric Unit, in good clinical conditions. Gliphosate ingestion is associated with rapid development of multiple organ failure (MOF). Since an effective antidote is unavailable, major attention should be placed to aggressive life-support care and careful monitoring of complications.

In vitro assessment of skin sensitization, photosensitization and phototoxicity potential of commercial glyphosate-containing formulations

This study evaluated the applicability of a modified Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) (OECD N° 442C, 2015) through the 10-fold reduction of reaction volume (micro-DPRA, mDPRA) for skin sensitization evaluation of six commercial glyphosate-containing formulations. In addition, another modification of DPRA was proposed by adding a UVA (5J/cm2) irradiation step, namely photo-mDPRA, to better characterize (photo)sensitizer materials. The phototoxicity profile of pesticides was also evaluated using the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test (3T3-NRU-PT) (OECD N° 432, 2004). The mDPRA could represent an environmentally acceptable test approach, since it reduces costs and organic waste. Peptide depletion was greater in photo-mDPRA and changed the reactivity class of each test material, in comparison to mDPRA. Thus, the association of mDPRA with photo-mDPRA was better for correctly characterizing human (photo)sensitizer substances and pesticides. In general, cysteine depletion was greater than that of lysine for all materials tested in both mDPRA and photo-mDPRA. Furthermore, while 3T3-NRU-PT is unable to predict (photo)sensitizers, it was capable of correctly identifying the phototoxic potential of the tested agrochemical formulations. In conclusion, mDPRA plus photo-mDPRA and 3T3-NRU-PT seem to be preliminary non-animal test batteries for skin (photo)sensitization/phototoxicity assessment of chemicals, agrochemical formulations and their ingredients.

A highly selective electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole-modified gold electrode for the determination of glyphosate in cucumber and tap water

An electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (MIPPy) was developed for selective and sensitive detection of the herbicide glyphosate (Gly) in cucumber and tap water samples. The sensor was prepared via synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers on a gold electrode in the presence of Gly as the template molecule and pyrrole as the functional monomer by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The sensor preparation conditions including the ratio of template to functional monomers, number of CV cycles in the electropolymerization process, the method of template removal, incubation time, and pH were optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the DPV peak currents of hexacyanoferrate/hexacyanoferrite changed linearly with Gly concentration in the range from 5 to 800 ng mL-1, with a detection limit of 0.27 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3). The sensor was used to detect the concentration of Gly in cucumber and tap water samples, with recoveries ranging from 72.70 to 98.96%. The proposed sensor showed excellent selectivity, good stability and reversibility, and could detect the Gly in real samples rapidly and sensitively. Graphical abstract Schematic illustration of the experimental procedure to detect Gly using the MIPPy electrode.

Is it time to reassess current safety standards for glyphosate-based herbicides?

Use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) increased ∼100-fold from 1974 to 2014. Additional increases are expected due to widespread emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds, increased application of GBHs, and preharvest uses of GBHs as desiccants. Current safety assessments rely heavily on studies conducted over 30 years ago. We have considered information on GBH use, exposures, mechanisms of action, toxicity and epidemiology. Human exposures to glyphosate are rising, and a number of in vitro and in vivo studies challenge the basis for the current safety assessment of glyphosate and GBHs. We conclude that current safety standards for GBHs are outdated and may fail to protect public health or the environment. To improve safety standards, the following are urgently needed: (1) human biomonitoring for glyphosate and its metabolites; (2) prioritisation of glyphosate and GBHs for hazard assessments, including toxicological studies that use state-of-the-art approaches; (3) epidemiological studies, especially of occupationally exposed agricultural workers, pregnant women and their children and (4) evaluations of GBHs in commercially used formulations, recognising that herbicide mixtures likely have effects that are not predicted by studying glyphosate alone.

Quantitation and Adsorption of Glyphosate Using Various Treated Clay

The objective of this work is to develop a low-cost, alternative UV-visible Spectrophotometer method using ninhydrin to the current chromatography techniques (GC and HPLC), which is usually use for the quantitation of glyphosate. The physico-chemical characterization, such as adsorption capacities, effect of time and temperature has been studied. The reaction between the ninhydrin and compounds that present NH2 group, which leading to the formation of a solution of blue coloration, has been analyzed by spectrophotometrically at 570 nm. The experimental data demonstrate equilibrium statistics, were well fitted to Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption kinetics of glyphosate on the adsorbent has been also analyzed by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The adsorption process is favored by acidic pH and followed the second-order kinetics. It was found that adsorption as a function of temperature, increase the temperature, decreases the adsorption. The isotherms shows the adsorption tendency like Arg-Na<Arg-Ca<Arg-Zn<Arg-Al, Arg-Cu with the variation of pH, it was found that at pH 6.5 has greater adsorption than pH 3.0. The important information which has been obtained from this work is to perform adsorption isotherms of glyphosate in clay soils with different metals such as Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, Copper (II) and Aluminum (Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+ ,Cu2+ and Al3+) in terms of models under different conditions of pH and temperature. It is noted that the rates of adsorption initially are fast and reached to maximum capacity up to 24 h in clay soil with sodium.

Discernment scheme for paraquat poisoning: A five-year experience in Shiraz, Iran

AIM

To evaluate various schemes for paraquat poisoning and different variables that influence the outcome of acute paraquat poisoning.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, the information about all cases of acute paraquat poisoning who were admitted to teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, in a five year period (September 2010 to September 2015) were evaluated. The variables included: Demographic data, medical assessment, therapeutic options, laboratory findings, and the outcomes. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22. Significant difference between groups was tested using t-test for continues outcomes and χ² test for categorical. The significance level was considered to be P < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients (66.3% male) were evaluated. The mean age of the female patients was 22.81 ± 9.87 years and the male patients’ was 27.21 ± 11.06 years. Ninety seven (93.3%) of all the cases were suicide attempts with mortality rate of 43.2%. Despite the necessity for emergency hemodialysis during the first 6 h of intoxication, none of the patients had dialysis during this time. Immunosuppressive and corticosteroid medications were not administrated in adequate dosage in 31.1% and 60% of the patients, respectively. Ingestion of more than 22.5 cc of paraquat and increase in creatinine level were the most important predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSION

Treatment should start immediately for these patients. Moreover, creating a clinical guideline according to the findings can have an impact on the treatment procedure which seems to be necessary.

Dig1 protects against locomotor and biochemical dysfunctions provoked by Roundup

BACKGROUND

Plant medicinal extracts may be claimed to prevent or cure chemical intoxications. Few of these are tested for their mechanisms of actions in vivo and for their cellular impacts. In 2011, we demonstrated that hepatic cell mortality induced by environmentally realistic levels of the widely used herbicide Roundup (R) in vitro can be almost entirely prevented by plant extracts called Dig1 (D, Digeodren).

METHODS

We tested the in vivo effects of D alone (1.2 ml/kg bw/d), but also prior to and during 8 days of R intoxication (at 135 mg/kg bw/d) in a total of 4 groups of 40 adult Sprague-Dawley male rats each. After treatments, horizontal and vertical locomotor activities of the animals were measured by use of actimeters. Brain, liver, kidneys, heart and testes were collected and weighted. Body weights as well as feed and water consumption were recorded. Proteins, creatinine, urea, phosphate, potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride ions, testosterone, estradiol, AST and ALT were measured in serum. In liver S9 fractions, GST, GGT, and CYP450 (1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4) were assessed.

RESULTS

D did not have any physiological or biochemical observable impact alone at 2 %. Out of a total of 29 measured parameters, 8 were significantly affected by R absorption within only 8 days. On these 8 parameters, only 2 were not restored by D (GGT activity and plasmatic phosphate), 5 were totally restored (horizontal and vertical locomotor activities, CYP2D6 activity, plasmatic Na + and estradiol), and the 6th was almost restored (plasmatic K+). The specificities of the toxic effects of R and of the therapeutic effects of D treatment were thus demonstrated, both at the behavioural and biochemical levels.

CONCLUSIONS

D, without any side effect observable in these conditions, presented strong preventive and therapeutic properties in vivo after a short-term intoxication by the widely used pesticide Roundup.

Water compatible stir-bar devices imprinted with underivatised glyphosate for selective sample clean-up

This paper reports the development of stir bars with a new MIP based coating, for the selective sorptive extraction of the herbicide glyphosate (GLYP). Molecular imprinting of the polymer has directly been carried out employing underivatised GLYP as the template molecule. Due to the poor solubility of the target compound in organic solvents, the MIP methodology has been optimised for rebinding in aqueous media, being the synthesis and the rebinding steps carried out in water:methanol mixtures and pure aqueous media. The coating has been developed by radical polymerisation initiated by UV energy, using N-allylthiourea and 2-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate as functional monomers and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker. Mechanical stability of the coating has been improved using 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane in the polymerisation mixture. Under the optimised conditions, the MIP has demonstrated excellent selectivity for the target compound in the presence of structural analogues, including its major metabolites. The applicability of the proposed method to real matrices has also been assessed using river water and soil samples. Registered mean recoveries ranged from 90.6 to 97.3% and RSD values were below 5% in all cases, what confirmed the suitability of the described methodology for the selective extraction and quantification of GLYP.

Exposure to Agrochemicals and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review

INTRODUCTION

In the agricultural world there is a continuous loss of food, fiber and other commodities due to pests, disease and weeds before harvesting time. These losses had create lots of financial burden to the farm owners that might lead to shutting down of their daily business. Worldwide, there is an overall very high loss of agricultural products due to weeds growth alone. To counteract this problem most farmers resort to the use of agrochemicals to increase their production but compromising the health of their farmworkers. The purpose of the study will be to assess the relationship between the agrochemical particles and cardiovascular diseases among farmworkers.

METHOD

Non-systematic review was used to collect data. The following database were use: Medline, EBSCO, and Science Direct to search for the existing journal articles.

RESULTS

This study addresses the relationship between agrochemicals particles and cardiovascular diseases in the farming industries using literature review.

DISCUSSION

Other researchers had already done an extensive research on the pathway of potential mechanisms linking the ultrafine particulate matter to cardiovascular diseases. The outcomes of those investigations were the clinical results of events that might lead to the development of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, arrhythmia and sudden death. Xenobiotic compounds that maybe implicated in the pathophysiology of human cardiovascular diseases, will be examined and included in this study. There is compelling evidence suggesting that toxic free radicals of pesticides play an important role in human health.

CONCLUSION

There is a close relationship between agrochemicals particle and cardiovascular diseases.

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

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GlyBH), including Roundup, are the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Their uses have increased exponentially since their introduction on the market. Residue levels in food or water, as well as human exposures, are escalating. We have reviewed the toxic effects of GlyBH measured below regulatory limits by evaluating the published literature and regulatory reports. We reveal a coherent body of evidence indicating that GlyBH could be toxic below the regulatory lowest observed adverse effect level for chronic toxic effects. It includes teratogenic, tumorigenic and hepatorenal effects. They could be explained by endocrine disruption and oxidative stress, causing metabolic alterations, depending on dose and exposure time. Some effects were detected in the range of the recommended acceptable daily intake. Toxic effects of commercial formulations can also be explained by GlyBH adjuvants, which have their own toxicity, but also enhance glyphosate toxicity. These challenge the assumption of safety of GlyBH at the levels at which they contaminate food and the environment, albeit these levels may fall below regulatory thresholds. Neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and transgenerational effects of GlyBH must be revisited, since a growing body of knowledge suggests the predominance of endocrine disrupting mechanisms caused by environmentally relevant levels of exposure.

Cardiotoxic Electrophysiological Effects of the Herbicide Roundup(®) in Rat and Rabbit Ventricular Myocardium In Vitro

Roundup (R), a glyphosate (G)-based herbicide (GBH), containing unknown adjuvants is widely dispersed around the world. Used principally by farmers, intoxications have increasingly been reported. We have studied R effects (containing 36 % of G) on right ventricular tissues (male Sprague-Dawley rats, up to 20,000 ppm and female New Zealand rabbits, at 25 and 50 ppm), to investigate R cardiac electrophysiological actions in vitro. We tested the reduced Ca(++) intracellular uptake mechanism as one potential cause of the electrical abnormalities after GBH superfusion, using the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor ouabain or the 1,4-dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644 which increases I Ca. R concentrations were selected based on human blood ranges found after acute intoxication. The study showed dose-dependent V max, APD50 and APD90 variations during 45 min of R superfusion. At the highest concentrations tested, there was a high incidence of conduction blocks, and 30-min washout with normal Tyrode solution did not restore excitability. We also observed an increased incidence of arrhythmias at different doses of R. Ouabain and BAY K 8644 prevented V max decrease, APD90 increase and the cardiac inexcitability induced by R 50 ppm. Glyphosate alone (18 and 180 ppm) had no significant electrophysiological effects. Thus, the action potential prolonging effect of R pointing to I Ca interference might explain both conduction blocks and proarrhythmia in vitro. These mechanisms may well be causative of QT prolongation, atrioventricular conduction blocks and arrhythmias in man after GBH acute intoxications as reported in retrospective hospital records.