Trends in science on glyphosate toxicity: a scientometric study

As part of the most used herbicides, glyphosate is the most successful ingredient of agrochemical companies. The main objective of this study was to demonstrate research trends related to the glyphosate toxicity and its main effects on human and environmental health. For this purpose, 443 articles published, from 1995 to 2020, on the platform Web of Science™ Thomson Reuters were selected. The main toxicity results related in literature are genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. The environmental effects come mostly from the contamination of groundwater and soils. Several studies have concluded that herbicide concentrations right below the official safety limits induced toxic effects. The results presented a highlighted harmful effect of glyphosate on both human and environmental health. It has been observed that countries where publish the most about the glyphosate toxicity are great investors in large-scale agriculture. It is important to ponder that these countries are in a route of ecosystem exploitation that includes not only fauna and flora, but also human beings. Unfortunately, science does not provide concise data for these pesticide disapproval in the global consumer market. It is necessary to search sustainable global interest alternatives to increase agriculture production based on peoples' food sovereignty.

Glyphosate and Polyoxyethyleneamine Ingestion Leading to Renal, Hepatic, and Pulmonary Failure

ABSTRACT

Glyphosate is an organophosphorus compound and the active ingredient in commonly used herbicides, whereas polyoxyethyleneamine (POEA) is a nonionic surfactant often coupled with glyphosate in these herbicides to increase their efficacy. Cases of glyphosate-POEA ingestion have shown a variety of outcomes, ranging from skin and mucosal surface irritation to death. Here, we report mortality after ingestion of at least 237 mL of an herbicide confirmed to contain both glyphosate and POEA. The decedent's electronic medical record indicates presentation to the emergency department shortly after ingestion and rapid decompensation, with death occurring on the fourth day of admission. The autopsy report showed extensive pulmonary edema and congestion with no alimentary tract abnormalities. Microscopically, airway inflammation, edema, and hemorrhage were shown as well as pericentral necrosis and macrovascular hepatic steatosis. This case is unusual for several reasons including the fatal outcome in a young 30-year-old patient, the large volume of the herbicide consumed, the associated large volume aspirated, and the lung pathology associated with exposure to glyphosate-POEA since inhalation, and in this case, aspiration is an uncommon route of glyphosate-POEA exposure. This report therefore offers rare respiratory tract pathological findings and the clinical course after aspiration of a large volume of glyphosate-POEA.

Severe chemical burns related to dermal exposure to herbicide containing glyphosate and glufosinate with surfactant in Korea

Background

Glyphosate and glufosinate use widely used as herbicide ingredients. There have been several reported cases of chemical burns caused by dermal exposure to glyphosate-containing herbicide, and patients in these cases were discharged without fatal complications. There were no cases of severe symptoms due to non-oral exposure of glufosinate-containing herbicides. Here, we report a case of fatality accompanied with severe chemical burns in an 81-year-old man who did not wash his skin for more than 48 hours after dermal exposure to herbicide containing glyphosate and glufosinate with surfactant (HGlyGluS).

Case presentation

An 81-year-old male with no underlying disease was admitted to the emergency department (ED). He had sprayed HGlyGluS with a manual knapsack sprayer 3 days ago and had not wash away the herbicide. On arrival, he was drowsy and had multiple severe corrosive skin lesions. Skin necrosis (10 × 15 cm) on the right shoulder and skin lesions with subcutaneous fat exposure (15 × 20 cm) on the right thigh were observed. Although he was treated including continuous renal replacement therapy, antibiotic apply, debridement operations, and so on, he was unable to recover and expired.

Conclusions

We suggest that prolonged dermal exposure to HGlyGluS induces fatality. Further studies including prolonged dermal exposure and ingredients of surfactants should be carried out. Also, it is necessary to educate farmers that it is very important to wash immediately after dermal exposure to pesticide.