Maternal urinary levels of glyphosate during pregnancy and anogenital distance in newborns in a US multicenter pregnancy cohort

Glyphosate modifies the gene expression and migration of trophoblastic cells without altering the process of angiogenesis or the implantation of blastocysts in vitro

Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the presence of glyphosate (G) in umbilical cord, serum, and urine samples from pregnant women. Our aim was to study the effect of G on blastocyst implantation using an in vitro mouse model, and the migration and acquisition of endothelial phenotype of the human trophoblastic HTR8/SVneo (H8) cells. In mouse blastocysts, no differences in attachment time and implantation outgrowth area were observed after G exposure. H8 cell migration was stimulated by 0.625 μM G without cytotoxicity. After 6 h, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was upregulated in H8 cells exposed to 1.25 μM G when compared vehicle-treated cells (p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed in interleukin 11, VEGF receptor 1, and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor in H8 cells exposed to different concentrations of G for 6 h compared to the vehicle. Interestingly, exposure to G did not alter angiogenesis as measured by a tube formation assay. Taken all together, these results suggest that G exposure may contribute as a risk factor during pregnancy, due to its ability to alter trophoblast migration and gene expression.

Glyphosate exposure, muscular health and functional limitations in middle-aged and older adults

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide, both in domestic and industrial settings. Experimental research in animal models has demonstrated changes in muscle physiology and reduced contractile strength associated with glyphosate exposure, while epidemiological studies have shown associations between glyphosate exposure and adverse health outcomes in critical biological systems affecting muscle function.

METHODS

This study used data from a nationally representative survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. general population (NHANES, n = 2132). Urine glyphosate concentrations were determined by ion chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Hand grip strength (HGS) was measured using a Takei Dynamometer, and relative strength estimated as the ratio between HGS in the dominant hand and the appendicular lean mass (ALM) to body mass index (ALMBMI) ratio. Low HGS and low relative HGS were defined as 1 sex-, age- and race-specific SD below the mean. Physical function limitations were identified as significant difficulty or incapacity in various activities.

RESULTS

In fully-adjusted models, the Mean Differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals [95%CI] per doubling increase in glyphosate concentrations were -0.55 [-1.09, -0.01] kg for HGS in the dominant hand, and -0.90 [-1.58. -0.21] kg for HGS/ALMBMI. The Odds Ratios (OR) [95% CI] for low HGS, low relative HGS and functional limitations by glyphosate concentrations were 1.27 [1.03, 1.57] for low HGS; 1.43 [1.05; 1.94] for low relative HGS; 1.33 [1.08, 1.63] for stooping, crouching or kneeling difficulty; 1.17 [0.91, 1.50] for lifting or carrying items weighting up to 10 pounds difficulty; 1.21 [1.01, 1.40] for standing up from armless chair difficulty; and 1.47 [1.05, 2.29] for ascending ten steps without pause difficulty.

CONCLUSIONS

Glyphosate exposure may be a risk factor for decreased grip strength and increased physical functional limitations. More studies investigating the influence of this and other environmental pollutants on functional aging are needed.

Chromatographic Methods for the Determination of Glyphosate in Cereals Together with a Discussion of Its Occurrence, Accumulation, Fate, Degradation, and Regulatory Status

The European Union's recent decision to renew the authorization for the use of glyphosate until 15 December 2033 has stimulated scientific discussion all around the world regarding its toxicity or otherwise for humans. Glyphosate is a chemical of which millions of tons have been used in the last 50 years worldwide to dry out weeds in cultivated fields and greenhouses and on roadsides. Concern has been raised in many areas about its possible presence in the food chain and its consequent adverse effects on health. Both aspects that argue in favor of toxicity and those that instead may indicate limited toxicity of glyphosate are discussed here. The widespread debate that has been generated requires further investigations and field measurements to understand glyphosate's fate once dispersed in the environment and its concentration in the food chain. Hence, there is a need for validated analytical methods that are available to analysts in the field. In the present review, methods for the analytical determination of glyphosate and its main metabolite, AMPA, are discussed, with a specific focus on chromatographic techniques applied to cereal products. The experimental procedures are explained in detail, including the cleanup, derivatization, and instrumental conditions, to give the laboratories involved enough information to proceed with the implementation of this line of analysis. The prevalent chromatographic methods used are LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/SIM, and GC-MS/MS, but sufficient indications are also given to those laboratories that wish to use the better performing high-resolution MS or the simpler HPLC-FLD, HPLC-UV, GC-NPD, and GC-FPD techniques for screening purposes. The concentrations of glyphosate from the literature measured in wheat, corn, barley, rye, oats, soybean, and cereal-based foods are reported, together with its regulatory status in various parts of the world and its accumulation mechanism. As for its accumulation in cereals, the available data show that glyphosate tends to accumulate more in wholemeal flours than in refined ones, that its concentration in the product strictly depends on the treatment period (the closer it is to the time of harvesting, the higher the concentration), and that in cold climates, the herbicide tends to persist in the soil for a long time.

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.

Biomonitoring of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid: Current insights and future perspectives

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides globally, raising concerns about its potential impact on human health. Biomonitoring studies play a crucial role in assessing human exposure to glyphosate and providing valuable insights into its distribution and metabolism in the body. This review aims to summarize the current trends and future perspectives in biomonitoring of glyphosate and its major degradation product of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). A comprehensive literature search was conducted, focusing on studies published between January 2000 and December 2022. The findings demonstrated that glyphosate and AMPA have been reported in different human specimens with urine as the dominance. Sample pretreatment techniques of solid-phase and liquid-liquid extractions coupled with liquid/gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry have achieved matrix elimination and accurate analysis. We also examined and compared the exposure characteristics of these compounds among different regions and various populations, with significantly higher levels of glyphosate and AMPA observed in Asian populations and among occupational groups. The median urinary concentration of glyphosate in children was 0.54 ng/mL, which was relatively higher than those in women (0.28 ng/mL) and adults (0.12 ng/mL). It is worth noting that children may exhibit increased susceptibility to glyphosate exposure or have different exposure patterns compared to women and adults. A number of important perspectives were proposed in order to further facilitate the understanding of health effects of glyphosate and AMPA, which include, but are not limited to, method standardization, combined exposure assessment, attention for vulnerable populations, long-term exposure effects and risk communication and public awareness.

Use of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)-Containing Food Products in Children

Families increasingly raise questions about the use of genetically modified organism (GMO)-containing food products. These products are widely found in the US food supply but originate from a narrow list of crops. Although GMO technology could be used to increase the micronutrient content of foods, this does not occur in the United States; instead, GMO technology has been used to make crops resistant to chemical herbicides. As a result, herbicide use has increased exponentially. The World Health Organization's International Agency on Research for Cancer has determined that glyphosate, an herbicide widely used in producing GMO food crops, is a probable human carcinogen. Measurable quantities of glyphosate are detected in some GMO foods. Families who wish to minimize GMO food products can do so by focusing on a dietary pattern of primarily whole, plant-based foods while minimizing ultra-processed foods. Pediatricians play a vital role in their efforts to minimize fear-based messaging and support families through shared decision-making. Pediatrician awareness of GMO labeling can guide individualized conversations, particularly that non-GMO labeling does not indicate organic status and that increased cost of some non-GMO foods, especially if also organic, may limit this choice for many families.

Association of glyphosate exposure with multiple adverse outcomes and potential mediators

Glyphosate (GLY) is a widely used herbicide with potential adverse effects on public health. However, the current epidemiological evidence is limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential associations between exposure to GLY and multiple health outcomes. The data on urine GLY concentration and nine health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), hepatic steatosis, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and neurodegenerative diseases (NGDs), were extracted from NHANES (2013-2016). The associations between GLY exposure and each health outcome were estimated using reverse-scale Cox regression and logistic regression. Furthermore, mediation analysis was conducted to identify potential mediators in the significant associations. The dose-response relationships between GLY exposure with health outcomes and potential mediators were analyzed using restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression. The findings of the study revealed that individuals with higher urinary concentrations of GLY had a higher likelihood of having T2DM, hypertension, CVD and obesity (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). In the reverse-scale Cox regression, a notable association was solely discerned between exposure to GLY and the risk of T2DM (adjusted HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.36). Consistent outcomes were also obtained via logistic regression analysis, wherein the adjusted OR and 95% CI for T2DM were determined to be 1.30 (1.12, 1.52). Moreover, the present investigation identified serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) as a mediator in this association, with a mediating effect of 7.14% (p = 0.040). This mediating effect was further substantiated by RCS regression, wherein significant dose-response associations were observed between GLY exposure and an increased risk of T2DM (p = 0.002) and reduced levels of HDL (p = 0.001). Collectively, these findings imply an association between GLY exposure and an increased risk of T2DM in the general adult population.

Perinatal health effects of herbicides exposures in the United States: the Heartland Study, a Midwestern birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

The objective of the Heartland Study is to address major knowledge gaps concerning the health effects of herbicides on maternal and infant health. To achieve this goal, a two-phased, prospective longitudinal cohort study is being conducted. Phase 1 is designed to evaluate associations between biomarkers of herbicide concentration and pregnancy/childbirth outcomes. Phase 2 is designed to evaluate potential associations between herbicide biomarkers and early childhood neurological development.

METHODS

People (target enrollment of 2,000) who are seeking prenatal care, are ages 18 or older, and are ≤ 20 + 6 weeks gestation will be eligible for recruitment. The Heartland Study will utilize a combination of questionnaire data and biospecimen collections to meet the study objectives. One prenatal urine and buccal sample will be collected per trimester to assess the impact of herbicide concentration levels on pregnancy outcomes. Infant buccal specimens will be collected post-delivery. All questionnaires will be collected by trained study staff and clinic staff will remain blinded to all individual level research data. All data will be stored in a secure REDCap database. Hospitals in the agriculturally intensive states in the Midwestern region will be recruited as study sites. Currently participating clinical sites include Indiana University School of Medicine- affiliated Hospitals in Indianapolis, Indiana; Franciscan Health Center in Indianapolis, Indiana; Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. An anticipated 30% of the total enrollment will be recruited from rural areas to evaluate herbicide concentrations among those pregnant people residing in the rural Midwest. Perinatal outcomes (e.g. birth outcomes, preterm birth, preeclampsia, etc.) will be extracted by trained study teams and analyzed for their relationship to herbicide concentration levels using appropriate multivariable models.

DISCUSSION

Though decades of study have shown that environmental chemicals may have important impacts on the health of parents and infants, there is a paucity of prospective longitudinal data on reproductive impacts of herbicides. The recent, rapid increases in herbicide use across agricultural regions of the United States necessitate further research into the human health effects of these chemicals, particularly in pregnant people. The Heartland Study provides an invaluable opportunity to evaluate health impacts of herbicides during pregnancy and beyond.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05492708 with initial registration and release 05 August, 2022.

Effect of perinatal exposure to glyphosate and its mixture with 2,4-D and dicamba on rat dam kidney and thyroid function and offspring's health

The increasing use of the herbicide mixture of glyphosate, dicamba and 2-4-D to deal with glyphosate-resistant weeds raises concerns regarding human health and environmental risks. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of developmental exposure to glyphosate and a herbicide mixture containing glyphosate, dicamba and 2-4-D on rat dams' kidney and thyroid function and offspring's health. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed from day-6 of gestation till weaning to regulatory relevant doses of glyphosate corresponding to the European Union (EU) acceptable daily intake (ADI; 0.5 mg/kg bw/day), and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL; 50 mg/kg bw/day), and to a mixture of glyphosate, dicamba and 2,4-D all at the EU ADI (0.5, 0.002 and 0.3 mg/kg bw/day) respectively. After weaning the dams were sacrificed and blood and organs were collected. The pups' health was assessed by measuring viability, gestational and anogenital indices. Perinatal exposure to GLY alone and the herbicide mixture resulted in anti-androgenic effects in male offspring. In dams, exposure to glyphosate resulted in kidney glomerular and tubular dysfunction as well as increased thyroid hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, exposure to the herbicide mixture resulted in effects similar to those observed with glyphosate at the NOAEL, suggesting at least an additive effect of the herbicide mixture at doses individually considered safe for humans.

Maternal impacts of pre-conceptional glyphosate exposure

Maternal glyphosate (GLY) impacts remain unclear despite associations between urinary GLY and birth outcomes. Whether maternal pre-conceptional GLY exposure would have phenotypic and molecular impacts in the dam and offspring was tested. Female C57BL6 mice (6 wk) were exposed to saline (CT; n = 20) or GLY (2 mg/kg; n = 20) per os five d per week for 20 wk. Females were housed with males and on gestation day (GD) 14, divided into: CT non-pregnant (CNP), CT pregnant (CP), GLY non-pregnant (GNP), GLY pregnant (GP). Another cohort (CT; n = 10 or GLY; n = 10) completed three pregnancy rounds and pregnancy index (PI), number of pups per litter and pups surviving to postnatal day (PND) 5 calculated. The PI in GLY mice was higher in breeding rounds 1 and 2, but lower in round 3. Pregnancy increased (P ≤ 0.1) GD14 liver and ovary weight. Spleen weight was increased (P < 0.05) in GP relative to GNP mice. No offspring phenotypic impacts were observed. Approximately six months after cessation of exposure, secondary follicle number was reduced (P < 0.05) by pre-conceptional GLY exposure. The ovarian proteome analyzed by LC-MS/MS was altered (P < 0.05) by pregnancy (49 increased, 43 decreased) and GLY exposure (non-pregnant: 75 increased, 22 decreased, pregnant: 27 increased, 29 decreased; aged dams: 60 increased, 98 decreased) with several histone proteins being altered. These findings support ovarian transient and persistent impacts of GLY exposure and identify pathways as potential modes of action.

Associations of Exposure to Air Pollution during the Male Programming Window and Mini-Puberty with Anogenital Distance and Penile Width at Birth and at 1 Year of Age in the Multicenter U.S. TIDES Cohort

BACKGROUND

Ambient air pollution may be a developmental endocrine disruptor. In animal models, gestational and perinatal exposure to diesel exhaust and concentrated particulate matter alters anogenital distance (AGD), a marker of prenatal androgen activity, in both sexes. Little is known in humans.

OBJECTIVES

We examined exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in relation to human AGD at birth and at 1 year of age, focusing on exposures during critical windows of reproductive development: the male programming window (MPW; gestational weeks 8-14) and mini-puberty (postnatal months 1-3).

METHODS

The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES) recruited first trimester pregnant women (n = 687 ) at four U.S. sites (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rochester, New York; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington) from 2010 to 2012. We measured anus to clitoris (AGD-AC) and anus to fourchette (AGD-AF) in female infants at birth; in males, we measured anus to penis (AGD-AP), anus to scrotum (AGD-AS), and penile width at birth and at 1 year of age. Using advanced spatiotemporal models, we estimated maternal exposure to PM 2.5 and NO 2 in the MPW and mini-puberty. Covariate-adjusted, sex-stratified linear regression models examined associations between PM 2.5 and NO 2 and AGD.

RESULTS

In males, a 1 - μ g / m 3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure during the MPW was associated with shorter AGD at birth, but a longer AGD at 1 year of age (e.g., birth AGD-AP: β = - 0.35 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.62 , - 0.07 ; AGD-AS: β = 0.37 mm ; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.73). Mini-pubertal PM 2.5 exposure was also associated with shorter male AGD-AP (β = - 0.50 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.89 , - 0.11 ) at 1 year of age. Although not associated with male AGD measures, 1 -ppb increases in NO 2 exposure during the MPW (β = - 0.07 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.02 , - 0.12 ) and mini-puberty (β = - 0.04 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.08 , 0.01) were both associated with smaller penile width at 1 year of age. Results were similar in multipollutant models, where we also observed that in females AGD-AC was inversely associated with PM 2.5 exposure, but positively associated with NO 2 exposure.

DISCUSSION

PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposures during critical pre- and postnatal windows may disrupt reproductive development. More work is needed to confirm these novel results and clarify mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12627.

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.

Effects of glyphosate-based herbicides and glyphosate exposure on sex hormones and the reproductive system: From epidemiological evidence to mechanistic insights

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) containing glyphosate as the active component are extensively used worldwide. Concerns have arisen about their potential risk to human, as glyphosate has been detected in human body fluids. Current controversies surround the endocrine-disrupting properties and transgenerational inheritance of diseases and germline epimutations resulting from exposure to GBHs and glyphosate. This review discusses evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on their impact on sex hormone regulation and reproductive system. Evidence suggests that they act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which altering sex hormone levels. Mechanistically, they interfere with hormone signaling pathways by disrupting proteins involved in hormone transport and metabolism. Pathological changes have been observed in male and female reproductive systems, potentially leading to reproductive toxicity. Prenatal exposure may lead to transgenerational inheritance of pathologies and sperm epimutations. However, due to the complexity of glyphosate formulations containing adjuvants identifying higher risk components in environmental exposure becomes challenging.

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.

Cu2+ assisted carnation-like fluorescent metal-organic framework for triple-mode detection of glyphosate in food samples

Herein, by employing a novel synthesized ligand H₂L, a flower-like luminescent metal-organic framework IRMOF-3-L was constructed for developing a triple-mode sensor for glyphosate (Glyp) detection. The ligand H₂L was designed to contain three functional parts, which endowed the resulted IRMOF-3-L with peroxidase-like activity and unique fluorescence property, as well as specific combining capacity for Cu²⁺ to quench its fluorescence. The quenched fluorescence of IRMOF-3-L/Cu²⁺ could be recovered by Glyp to realize fluorescence detection of Glyp. Besides, the peroxidase activity of IRMOF-3-L/Cu²⁺ could also be inhibited by Glyp, and result in the decrease of catalysate oxTMB, concurrently reducing the changes of colorimetric and SERS signal. Therefore, the fluorescent/colorimetric/SERS triple-mode based detection of Glyp was favorably realized, and the detection limits were calculated as low as 0.738, 2.26 and 0.186 nM, respectively. Furthermore, a portable test strips-smartphone sensing platform was constructed for point of care testing of Glyp in food samples.

Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and maternal sex steroid hormones across pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants that may act as endocrine disruptors in utero, but the specific endocrine pathways are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We examined associations between maternal serum PFAS and sex steroid hormones at three time points during pregnancy.

METHODS

Pregnant women participating in the Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Infant Development (UPSIDE) study contributed biospecimens, questionnaire, and medical record data in each trimester (n = 285). PFAS (including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)) were analyzed in second-trimester serum samples by high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Total testosterone [TT], free testosterone [fT], estrone [E1], estradiol [E2], and estriol [E3]) were measured by LC-MS/MS in serum samples from each trimester. Linear mixed models with random intercepts were used to examine associations between log-transformed PFAS concentrations and hormone levels, adjusting for covariates, and stratifying by fetal sex. Results are presented as the mean percentage difference (Δ%) in hormone levels per ln-unit increase in PFAS concentration.

RESULTS

In adjusted models, PFHxS was associated with higher TT (%Δ = 20.0, 95%CI: 1.7, 41.6), particularly among women carrying male fetuses (%Δ = 15.3, 95%CI: 1.2, 30.7); this association strengthened as the pregnancy progressed. PFNA (%Δ = 7.9, 95%CI: 3.4, 12.5) and PFDA (%Δ = 7.2, 95%CI: 4.9, 9.7) were associated with higher fT, with associations again observed only in women carrying male fetuses. PFHxS was associated with higher levels of E2 and E3 in women carrying female fetuses (%Δ = 13.2, 95%CI: 0.5, 29.1; %Δ = 17.9, 95%CI: 3.2, 34.8, respectively). No associations were observed for PFOS and PFOA.

CONCLUSION

PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA may disrupt androgenic and estrogenic pathways in pregnancy in a sex-dependent manner.

Urinary concentrations and determinants of glyphosate and glufosinate in pregnant Canadian participants in the MIREC study

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide in agriculture. Glufosinate is a broad spectrum herbicide used to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds. Despite the widespread use of these herbicides, biomonitoring data - which inform risk assessment and management - are sparse.

OBJECTIVES

To identify determinants of urinary concentrations of these herbicides and their metabolites in pregnancy.

METHODS

We measured urinary concentrations of glyphosate, glufosinate, and their primary metabolites aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and 3-methylphosphinicopropionic acid (3-MPPA) in a single spot urine specimen collected during the first trimester of pregnancy from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study. MIREC recruited about 2000 pregnant women from 10 Canadian cities between 2008 and 2011. We used UItra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with sensitive limits of detection to quantify analyte concentrations. We examined urinary concentrations according to maternal sociodemographics, sample collection characteristics, reported pesticide use, and consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grain products. We used ANOVA models with specific gravity-standardized chemical concentrations as the dependent variable to determine associations with maternal and sample determinants.

RESULTS

Among women with biobanked urine samples (n = 1829-1854), 74% and 72% had detectable concentrations of glyphosate and AMPA, respectively. In contrast, one and six percent of women had detectable concentrations of glufosinate and 3-MPPA, respectively. The specific gravity-standardized geometric mean (95% CI) concentrations of glyphosate and AMPA were 0.112 (0.099-0.127) μg/L and 0.159 (0.147-0.172) μg/L, respectively. We observed a dose-response relationship between consumption of whole grain bread and higher urinary glyphosate concentrations. Season of urine collection and self-reported pesticide use were not associated with increased concentrations of any analyte.

CONCLUSIONS

We detected glyphosate and AMPA in the majority of pregnant women from this predominantly urban Canadian cohort. Diet was a probable route of exposure.

Human serum lipidomics analysis revealed glyphosate may lead to lipid metabolism disorders and health risks

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are one of the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Industrial workers in glyphosate-based herbicides manufacture are the populations who experience long-term exposure to high glyphosate levels. The impacts of glyphosate on human health are the important public health problem of great concern. Up to date, the potential adverse effects of glyphosate on humans or other mammals have been reported in multiple studies. However, limited research is available on lipid alternations related to human exposure to glyphosate. In fact, the perturbations in some lipid metabolisms have been found in industrial workers in previous work. This study aims to explore the serum lipidomic characterization and to understand the underlying mechanisms of health risks associated with glyphosate exposure. A nontargeted lipidomics study was conducted to investigate the 391 serum samples from the general population and chemical factory workers. It was demonstrated that glyphosate caused significant perturbations of 115 differentially expressed lipids. The main manifestations were the elevation of circulating diacylglycerols (DG), cholesteryl esters (CE), ceramides (Cer), sphingomyelins (SM), lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC), and the decrease of ysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), triacylglycerols (TG), fatty acids (FA) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). A total of 88 lipids were further screened as potential lipid biomarkers associated closely with glyphosate using partial correlation analysis, and five of which (including PC 16:0/18:2; O, PC 18:0/18:2; O, PC 18:0/20:4; O, PC O-40:9 and CE 18:3) showed excellent superior performance (AUC = 1) to evaluate and monitor health risks due to glyphosate exposure. The present work discovered glyphosate-induced potential health risks, including chronic hepatic and renal dysfunction, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases from a lipidomic perspective, and could inform the identification of early indicators and interpretation of biological mechanisms to detect health risks of the glyphosate-exposed populations as early as possible.

Glyphosate and AMPA in Human Urine of HBM4EU-Aligned Studies: Part B Adults

Within HBM4EU, human biomonitoring (HBM) studies measuring glyphosate (Gly) and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine samples from the general adult population were aligned and quality-controlled/assured. Data from four studies (ESB Germany (2015-2020); Swiss HBM4EU study (2020); DIET-HBM Iceland (2019-2020); ESTEBAN France (2014-2016)) were included representing Northern and Western Europe. Overall, median values were below the reported quantification limits (LOQs) (0.05-0.1 µg/L). The 95th percentiles (P95) ranged between 0.24 and 0.37 µg/L urine for Gly and between 0.21 and 0.38 µg/L for AMPA. Lower values were observed in adults compared to children. Indications exist for autonomous sources of AMPA in the environment. As for children, reversed dosimetry calculations based on HBM data in adults did not lead to exceedances of the ADI (proposed acceptable daily intake of EFSA for Gly 0.1 mg/kg bw/day based on histopathological findings in the salivary gland of rats) indicating no human health risks in the studied populations at the moment. However, the controversy on carcinogenicity, potential endocrine effects and the absence of a group ADI for Gly and AMPA induce uncertainty to the risk assessment. Exposure determinant analysis showed few significant associations. More data on specific subgroups, such as those occupationally exposed or living close to agricultural fields or with certain consumption patterns (vegetarian, vegan, organic food, high cereal consumer), are needed to evaluate major exposure sources.

Enzyme-free and rapid visual quantitative detection for pesticide residues utilizing portable smartphone integrated paper sensor

Serious toxicity for organisms from pesticide glyphosate (Gly) residues to the ecosystem and human health has become a consensus. Rapid and selective detection of glyphosate, especially using a simple and portable instrument, is highly desired. In this work, we develop a novel enzyme-free rapid and visual ratiometric fluorescence sensor for selectively quantitative detecting glyphosate by integrating the designed blue carbon nanodots (CDs) and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). The fluorescence of CDs can be quickly quenched via aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) within 2 s after introducing glyphosate, resulting from the formation of CDs-Gly-CDs complex aggregation. While the Au NCs serve as the reference signal without any change, therefore leading to obvious and instant ratiometric fluorescence variation from blue to pink to orange. The broad linear range was obtained from 0 to 180 nM with a satisfactory detection limit of 4.19 nM. Furthermore, this approach was successfully applied to detect glyphosate in real samples and a portable smartphone platform integrated paper sensor was developed for in-site visual quantitative glyphosate detection, offering a promising strategy for the construction of enzyme-free trace hazard detection system.

Glyphosate and AMPA in Human Urine of HBM4EU Aligned Studies: Part A Children

Few data are available on the exposure of children to glyphosate (Gly) in Europe. Within HBM4EU, new HBM exposure data were collected from aligned studies at five sampling sites distributed over Europe (studies: SLO CRP (SI); ORGANIKO (CY); GerES V-sub (DE); 3XG (BE); ESTEBAN (FR)). Median Gly concentrations in urine were below or around the detection limit (0.1 µg/L). The 95th percentiles ranged between 0.18 and 1.03 µg Gly/L. The ratio of AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid; main metabolite of Gly) to Gly at molar basis was on average 2.2 and the ratio decreased with higher Gly concentrations, suggesting that other sources of AMPA, independent of metabolism of Gly to AMPA in the monitored participants, may concurrently operate. Using reverse dosimetry and HBM exposure data from five European countries (east, west and south Europe) combined with the proposed ADI (acceptable daily intake) of EFSA for Gly of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day (based on histopathological findings in the salivary gland of rats) indicated no human health risks for Gly in the studied populations at the moment. However, the absence of a group ADI for Gly+AMPA and ongoing discussions on e.g., endocrine disrupting effects cast some uncertainty in relation to the current single substance ADI for Gly. The carcinogenic effects of Gly are still debated in the scientific community. These outcomes would influence the risk conclusions presented here. Finally, regression analyses did not find clear associations between urinary exposure biomarkers and analyzed potential exposure determinants. More information from questionnaires targeting exposure-related behavior just before the sampling is needed.

Glyphosate infiltrates the brain and increases pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα: implications for neurodegenerative disorders

BACKGROUND

Herbicides are environmental contaminants that have gained much attention due to the potential hazards they pose to human health. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in many commercial herbicides, is the most heavily applied herbicide worldwide. The recent rise in glyphosate application to corn and soy crops correlates positively with increased death rates due to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Glyphosate has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier in in vitro models, but has yet to be verified in vivo. Additionally, reports have shown that glyphosate exposure increases pro-inflammatory cytokines in blood plasma, particularly TNFα.

METHODS

Here, we examined whether glyphosate infiltrates the brain and elevates TNFα levels in 4-month-old C57BL/6J mice. Mice received either 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg/day of glyphosate, or a vehicle via oral gavage for 14 days. Urine, plasma, and brain samples were collected on the final day of dosing for analysis via UPLC-MS and ELISAs. Primary cortical neurons were derived from amyloidogenic APP/PS1 pups to evaluate in vitro changes in Aβ40-42 burden and cytotoxicity. RNA sequencing was performed on C57BL/6J brain samples to determine changes in the transcriptome.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that glyphosate infiltrated the brain in a dose-dependent manner and upregulated TNFα in both plasma and brain tissue post-exposure. Notably, glyphosate measures correlated positively with TNFα levels. Glyphosate exposure in APP/PS1 primary cortical neurons increases levels of soluble Aβ40-42 and cytotoxicity. RNAseq revealed over 200 differentially expressed genes in a dose-dependent manner and cell-type-specific deconvolution analysis showed enrichment of key biological processes in oligodendrocytes including myelination, axon ensheathment, glial cell development, and oligodendrocyte development.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these results show for the first time that glyphosate infiltrates the brain, elevates both the expression of TNFα and soluble Aβ, and disrupts the transcriptome in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that exposure to this herbicide may have detrimental outcomes regarding the health of the general population.

Associations of maternal anthropometrics with newborn anogenital distance and the 2:4 digit ratio

STUDY QUESTION

Are maternal anthropometrics associated with anogenital distance (AGD) and 2:4 digit ratio (2:4D) in newborns?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Select maternal anthropometrics indicative of obesity or increased adiposity are associated with elongated AGD in daughters.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Excessive maternal weight or adiposity before or in early pregnancy may impact child reproductive, and other hormonally mediated, development. AGD and 2:4D are proposed markers of in utero reproductive development.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This study includes 450 mother/newborn dyads participating in the Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS), a prospective pregnancy cohort from Champaign-Urbana, IL, USA. Participants included in the current study enrolled between 2013 and 2018.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Most mothers in this study were college-educated (82%) and non-Hispanic White (80%), and 55% were under- or normal weight before pregnancy. Pregnant women aged 18-40 years reported pre-pregnancy weight and height to calculate pre-pregnancy BMI. At 8-15 weeks gestation, we measured waist and hip circumference, and evaluated weight, % body fat, visceral fat level, % muscle and BMI using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Within 24 h of birth, we measured newborn 2nd and 4th left/right digits to calculate the 2:4D. In daughters, we measured AGDAF (anus to fourchette) and AGDAC (anus to clitoris). In sons, we measured AGDAS (anus to scrotum) and AGDAP (anus to base of the penis).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Select maternal anthropometrics were positively associated with AGD in newborn daughters, but not sons. For example, AGDAC was 0.73 mm (95% CI: 0.15, 1.32) longer for every interquartile range (IQR) increase in pre-pregnancy BMI and 0.88 mm (95% CI: 0.18, 1.58) longer for every IQR increase in hip circumference, whereas AGDAF was 0.51 mm (95% CI: 0.03, 1.00) and 0.56 mm (95% CI: 0.03, 1.09) longer for every IQR increase in hip and waist circumference, respectively. Quartile analyses generally supported linear associations, but additional strong associations emerged in Q4 (versus Q1) of maternal % body fat and visceral fat levels with AGDAC. In quartile analyses, we observed only a few modest associations of maternal anthropometrics with 2:4D, which differed by hand (left versus right) and newborn sex. Although there is always the possibility of spurious findings, the associations for both measures of female AGD were consistent across multiple maternal anthropometric measures, which strengthens our conclusions.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Our study sample was racially and ethnically homogenous, educated and relatively healthy, so our study may not be generalizable to other populations. Additionally, we may not have been powered to identify some sex-specific associations, especially for 2:4D.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Increased maternal weight and adiposity before and in early pregnancy may lengthen the female AGD, which warrants further investigation.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This publication was made possible by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS) grants ES024795 and ES022848, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant R03HD100775, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant RD83543401 and National Institute of Health Office of the Director grant OD023272. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the grantee and do not necessarily represent the official views of the US EPA or NIH. Furthermore, the US EPA does not endorse the purchase of any commercial products or services mentioned in the publication. This project was also supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Michigan AgBioResearch. The authors declare no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Widespread pesticide contamination of drinking water and impact on cancer risk in Brazil

Pesticides, which are associated with endocrine dysfunction, immunological dysregulation, and cancer, are widespread sources of drinking water contamination. The state of Paraná has a population of 11 million, is the second largest grain producer in Brazil and is a leading consumer of pesticides. In this study, we analyzed the extent of drinking water contamination from 11 proven, probable, or potentially carcinogenic pesticides (alachlor, aldrin-dieldrin, atrazine, chlordane, DDT-DDD-DDE, diuron, glyphosate-AMPA, lindane-γ-HCH, mancozeb-ETU, molinate, and trifluralin) in 127 grain-producing municipalities in the state of Paraná. Extensive contamination of drinking water was found, including legacy pesticides such as aldrin-dieldrin (mean 0.047 ppb), DDT-DDD-DDE (mean: 0.07), chlordane (mean: 0.181), and lindane-HCH (mean: 2.17). Most of the municipalities were significantly above the maximum limits for each one of the currently allowed pesticides (67% for alachlor, 9.44% for atrazine, 96.85% for diuron, 100% for glyphosate-AMPA, 80.31% for mancozeb-ETU, 91.33% for molinate, and 12.6% for trifluralin). Ninety-seven percent of municipalities presented a sum of all pesticides at levels significantly above (189.84 ppb) the European Union preconized limits (<0.5 ppb). Using the mean pesticide concentration in water (ppb), the exposed population for each municipality, and the benchmark cancer risk for pesticides, we estimated the minimum number of cancer cases attributable to pesticide-contaminated drinking water during the period (total of 542 cases). More than 80% were attributed to mancozeb-ETU and diuron. Glyphosate-AMPA and diuron-attributable cases strongly correlated with the total cancer cases in the same period (R = 0.8117 and 0.8138, respectively) as well as with breast cancer cases (R = 0.7695 and 0.7551, respectively). Water contamination was significantly correlated with the sum of the estimated cancer cases for all 11 pesticides detected in each city (R = 0.58 and p < 0.0001). These findings reveal extensive contamination of drinking water in the state of Paraná and suggest that contamination may increase the risk of cancer in this region.

The study of human serum metabolome on the health effects of glyphosate and early warning of potential damage

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicide with high efficiency, low toxicity and broad-spectrum. In recent decades, increasing evidence suggests that glyphosate may cause adverse health effects on human beings. However, until now, there is little data on the human metabolic changes. Since occupational workers are under greater health risks than ordinary people, the understanding regarding the health effects of glyphosate on occupational workers is very important for the early warning of potential damage. In this study, serum metabolic alterations in workers from three chemical factories were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess the potential health risks caused by glyphosate at the molecular level. It was found that the levels of 27 metabolites changed significantly in the exposed group compared to the controls. The altered metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism (glycolysis and TCA cycle) and glutathione metabolism (oxidative stress), etc., indicated a series of changes occur in health profile of the human body after glyphosate exposure, and the suboptimal health status of human may further evolve into various diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, renal and liver dysfunction, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Subsequently, 4 biomarkers (i.e., benzoic acid, 2-ketoisocaproic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, and monoolein) were identified as potential biomarkers related to glyphosate exposure based on the partial correlation analyses, linear regression analyses, and FDR correction. Receiver-operating curve (ROC) analyses manifested that these potential biomarkers and their combinational pattern had good performance and potential clinical value to assess the potential health risk associated with glyphosate exposure while retaining high accuracy. Our findings provided new insights on mechanisms of health effects probably induced by glyphosate, and may be valuable for the health risk assessment of glyphosate exposure.

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

France is the first pesticide-consuming country in Europe. Glyphosate is the most used pesticide worldwide and glyphosate is detected in the general population of industrialized countries, with higher levels found in farmers and children. Little data was available concerning exposure in France. Our objective was to determine glyphosate levels in the French general population and to search for an association with seasons, biological features, lifestyle status, dietary habits, and occupational exposure. This study includes 6848 participants recruited between 2018 and 2020. Associated data include age, gender, location, employment status, and dietary information. Glyphosate was quantified by a single laboratory in first-void urine samples using ELISA. Our results support a general contamination of the French population, with glyphosate quantifiable in 99.8% of urine samples with a mean of 1.19 ng/ml + / - 0.84 after adjustment to body mass index (BMI). We confirm higher glyphosate levels in men and children. Our results support glyphosate contamination through food and water intake, as lower glyphosate levels are associated with dominant organic food intake and filtered water. Higher occupational exposure is confirmed in farmers and farmers working in wine-growing environment. Thus, our present results show a general contamination of the French population with glyphosate, and further contribute to the description of a widespread contamination in industrialized countries.

Exposure to non-persistent pesticides in the Spanish population using biomonitoring: A review

Although Spain does not have a regular national human biomonitoring program yet, different research groups are active in evaluating the exposure of children and adults to chemicals. In the last seven years, several studies in Spain have evaluated the internal exposure of the population to currently used pesticides. The present review analyzes the scope of these studies, the employed analytical methods and the main results of the exposure and risk, mainly for children and mothers. The frequency of exposure to biomarkers of exposure to organophosphate pesticides is high. Some non-specific dialkyl phosphate metabolites (DAPs), such as the diethyl phosphate (DEP), present Detection Frequencies (DFs) in the range of 65-92% in various studies. Also, the specific biomarker of the chlorpyrifos (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, TCPy), achieves Detection Frequencies between 74% and 100% in many studies. For pyrethroids, the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA) is present, in general, in more than the 65% of the studied samples. Highly polar herbicides were only assessed in one study and both glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid showed Detection Frequencies around 60%. However, putting the biomonitoring data in a risk assessment context, the mean Hazard Quotient (HQ), used as a metric for the individual risk, ranges from 0.0006 (glyphosate) to 0.93 in farm workers (parathion), which means that is unlike that the exposure poses a health concern (HQ < 1).

Association of Glyphosate Exposure with Blood DNA Methylation in a Cross-Sectional Study of Postmenopausal Women

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world and is purported to have a variety of health effects, including endocrine disruption and an elevated risk of several types of cancer. Blood DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with many other environmental exposures, but to our knowledge, no studies to date have examined the association between blood DNA methylation and glyphosate exposure.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted an epigenome-wide association study to identify DNA methylation loci associated with urinary glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) levels. Secondary goals were to determine the association of epigenetic age acceleration with glyphosate and AMPA and develop blood DNA methylation indices to predict urinary glyphosate and AMPA levels.

METHODS

For 392 postmenopausal women, white blood cell DNA methylation was measured using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip array. Glyphosate and AMPA were measured in two urine samples per participant using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Methylation differences at the probe and regional level associated with glyphosate and AMPA levels were assessed using a resampling-based approach. Probes and regions that had an false discovery rate q < 0.1 in ≥ 90 % of 1,000 subsamples of the study population were considered differentially methylated. Differentially methylated sites from the probe-specific analysis were combined into a methylation index. Epigenetic age acceleration from three epigenetic clocks and an epigenetic measure of pace of aging were examined for associations with glyphosate and AMPA.

RESULTS

We identified 24 CpG sites whose methylation level was associated with urinary glyphosate concentration and two associated with AMPA. Four regions, within the promoters of the MSH4, KCNA6, ABAT, and NDUFAF2/ERCC8 genes, were associated with glyphosate levels, along with an association between ESR1 promoter hypomethylation and AMPA. The methylation index accurately predicted glyphosate levels in an internal validation cohort. AMPA, but not glyphosate, was associated with greater epigenetic age acceleration.

DISCUSSION

Glyphosate and AMPA exposure were associated with DNA methylation differences that could promote the development of cancer and other diseases. Further studies are warranted to replicate our results, determine the functional impact of glyphosate- and AMPA-associated differential DNA methylation, and further explore whether DNA methylation could serve as a biomarker of glyphosate exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10174.

The association between urinary glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid with biomarkers of oxidative stress among pregnant women in the PROTECT birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide in global agriculture. Glyphosate and its primary environmental degradate, aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA), have been shown to disrupt endocrine function and induce oxidative stress in in vitro and animal studies. To our knowledge, these relationships have not been previously characterized in epidemiological settings. Elevated urinary levels of glyphosate and AMPA may be indicative of health effects caused by previous exposure via multiple mechanisms including oxidative stress.

METHODS

Glyphosate and AMPA were measured in 347 urine samples collected between 16 and 20 weeks gestation and 24-28 weeks gestation from pregnant women in the PROTECT birth cohort. Urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress, comprising 8-isoprostane-prostaglandin-F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), its metabolite 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F2 t-isoprostane (8-isoprostane metabolite) and prostaglandin-F2α (PGF2α), were also measured. Linear mixed effect models assessed the association between exposures and oxidative stress adjusting for maternal age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, household income and specific gravity. Potential nonlinear trends were also assessed using tertiles of glyphosate and AMPA exposure levels.

RESULTS

No significant differences in exposure or oxidative stress biomarker concentrations were observed between study visits. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in AMPA was associated with 9.5% (95% CI: 0.5-19.3%) higher 8-iso-PGF2α metabolite concentrations. Significant linear trends were also identified when examining tertiles of exposure variables. Compared to the lowest exposure group, the second and third tertiles of AMPA were significantly associated with 12.8% (0.6-26.5%) and 15.2% (1.8-30.3%) higher 8-isoprostane metabolite, respectively. An IQR increase in glyphosate was suggestively associated with 4.7% (-0.9 to 10.7%) higher 8-iso-PGF2α.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary concentrations of the main environmental degradate of glyphosate, AMPA, were associated with higher levels of certain oxidative stress biomarkers. Associations with glyphosate reflected similar trends, although findings were not as strong. Additional research is required to better characterize the association between glyphosate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress, as well as potential downstream health consequences.

Urinary glyphosate concentration in pregnant women in relation to length of gestation

Human exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) is increasing rapidly worldwide. Most existing studies on health effects of glyphosate have focused on occupational settings and cancer outcomes and few have examined this common exposure in relation to the health of pregnant women and newborns in the general population. We investigated associations between prenatal glyphosate exposure and length of gestation in The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES), a multi-center US pregnancy cohort. Glyphosate and its primary degradation product [aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA)] were measured in urine samples collected during the second trimester from 163 pregnant women: 69 preterm births (<37 weeks) and 94 term births, the latter randomly selected as a subset of TIDES term births. We examined the relationship between exposure and length of gestation using multivariable logistic regression models (dichotomous outcome; term versus preterm) and with weighted time-to-event Cox proportional hazards models (gestational age in days). We conducted these analyses in the overall sample and secondarily, restricted to women with spontaneous deliveries (n = 90). Glyphosate and AMPA were detected in most urine samples (>94 %). A shortened gestational length was associated with maternal glyphosate (hazard ratio (HR): 1.31, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.71) and AMPA (HR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.00-1.73) only among spontaneous deliveries using adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. In binary analysis, glyphosate and AMPA were not associated with preterm birth risk (<37 weeks). Our results indicate widespread exposure to glyphosate in the general population which may impact reproductive health by shortening length of gestation. Given the increasing exposure to GBHs and the public health burden of preterm delivery, larger confirmatory studies are needed, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and newborns.

Biomonitoring of glyphosate and AMPA in the urine of Spanish lactating mothers

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the urinary levels of Glyphosate (Gly) and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in Spanish breastfeeding mothers (n = 97), to identify the main predictors of exposure and to perform a risk assessment. Urine samples were analyzed using a method based on solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination. The developed method showed limits of quantification of 0.1 μg/L for both analytes. The detection frequencies (DFs) were 54% for Gly and 60% for AMPA, with geometric means (GMs) of 0.12 μg/L and 0.14 μg/L, respectively. In the statistical analysis, no relationship was found between the urinary levels of Gly and AMPA. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the intake of eggs and fruits and Gly levels in urine. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs), hazard quotients (HQs), and a hazard index (HI) were calculated to analyze the obtained data from a health risk perspective. The GMs of the EDIs were 0.31 and 0.37 μg/kg of body weight (BW)/day for Gly and AMPA, respectively. The HQs were calculated considering 0.5 mg/kg BW/day as an acceptable daily intake (ADI), which EFSA has established as a health-based reference value for both analytes. The values obtained were lower than 1, and thus, low health risk due to Gly and AMPA exposure was expected for the population under study.

Pleiotropic Outcomes of Glyphosate Exposure: From Organ Damage to Effects on Inflammation, Cancer, Reproduction and Development

Glyphosate is widely used worldwide as a potent herbicide. Due to its ubiquitous use, it is detectable in air, water and foodstuffs and can accumulate in human biological fluids and tissues representing a severe human health risk. In plants, glyphosate acts as an inhibitor of the shikimate pathway, which is absent in vertebrates. Due to this, international scientific authorities have long-considered glyphosate as a compound that has no or weak toxicity in humans. However, increasing evidence has highlighted the toxicity of glyphosate and its formulations in animals and human cells and tissues. Thus, despite the extension of the authorization of the use of glyphosate in Europe until 2022, several countries have begun to take precautionary measures to reduce its diffusion. Glyphosate has been detected in urine, blood and maternal milk and has been found to induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and several cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in vitro and in animal models directly or indirectly through its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). This review aims to summarize the more relevant findings on the biological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of glyphosate, with a particular focus on glyphosate's potential to induce inflammation, DNA damage and alterations in gene expression profiles as well as adverse effects on reproduction and development.