Following on from a recent post we published on Roundup and if you should avoid it, this week we have further information to share on glyphosate, including how it works, foods that have been found to contain glyphosate, and common side effects of glyphosate exposure.
Glyphosate is an herbicide used to kill weeds. It’s the active ingredient in Roundup and other weed killers, and can cause a variety of side effects. Recent lawsuits have claimed exposure to glyphosate in Roundup has led to certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and several other commercial weed killers. Its chemical name is N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine. The widely used herbicide is available as an acid, a salt, a solid and an amber-colored liquid.
Farmers use glyphosate to eliminate unwanted weeds that compete with crops for sunshine, nutrients and water. Breathing or coming into contact with glyphosate can lead to certain reactions, including irritations of the skin, throat and lungs.
Bayer, which manufactures Roundup, said it would remove any lawn and garden products that contain glyphosate from the market in 2023. Multiple Roundup lawsuits name the company as a defendant in lawsuits that allege the weed killer caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
How Does Glyphosate Work?
Glyphosate suppresses the enzyme EPSP synthase, which contributes to plant growth. The inhibited enzyme reduces a plant’s ability to synthesize the amino acids it needs to grow. A plant’s stems and leaves absorb the chemical, then carry it to the roots. Once it reaches the roots, glyphosate stops the plant from absorbing nutrients from the ground, which leads to the plant’s death.
Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide, which means it can spread to surrounding plants and crops. It’s only applicable to crops that grow above the water and are not fully submerged.
Glyphosate in Roundup and Other Lawn Care Products
Glyphosate is the primary active ingredient in Roundup. Other popular weed killers containing glyphosate include Rodeo and Touchdown.
Monsanto, a U.S.-based agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology conglomerate, manufactured Roundup from 1974 to 2018, when Bayer bought the company. In 2021, Bayer announced it would remove lawn and garden products containing glyphosate from the U.S. market in 2023.
Other Roundup products containing glyphosate include:
Glyphomax Plus
Roundup UltraDry
Roundup UltraMax
Touchdown 5
Touchdown IQ
Glyphosate is also used in aquariums to control algae and weed growth. Some popular aquarium herbicide brands include AquaPro Aquatic, Roundup Custom Herbicide and AquaNeat. Users must exercise caution when applying these products in aquariums because they can harm aquatic life.
People who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to Roundup are filing lawsuits.
Glyphosate Exposure from Drinking Water and Food
The Environmental Working Group recently commissioned several rounds of testing in food to detect the presence of the chemical. It found glyphosate in 95% of the wheat samples tested. Glyphosate in food and drinking water raises concerns about its potential public impact.
Foods found to contain glyphosate include:
Chicken flour
Crackers
Dried pasta
Lentils
Oats
Pizza
Most food safety regulatory bodies say the levels of glyphosate found in food are safe for humans. But other experts question the long-term health effects of continuous exposure to such a potent chemical.
Common Side Effects of Glyphosate Exposure
Interaction with glyphosate may lead to a variety of side effects, the severity of which depends on the amount and duration of contact. The most common health issues stem from inhalation or skin contact.
Side effects of glyphosate include:
Asthma
Burns in the mouth and throat
Diarrhea
Eye irritation
Increased saliva
Nausea
Respiratory irritation
Skin irritation
Vomiting
National Pesticide Information Center studies show that glyphosate leaves the body soon after it’s ingested. Humans pass the chemical through urine and feces without changing its chemical composition.
To help prevent skin irritation and other adverse side effects, health experts recommend wearing protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Masks are recommended for those who spray the herbicide. Avoid any direct contact with glyphosate.
Long-Term Effects, Cancer Risks and Glyphosate
The International Agency for Research on Cancer officially ruled in 2015 that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic.” While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contends that there is “no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans,” a growing number of studies are examining links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other forms of cancer.
A key piece of research that has shifted the discussion about Roundup and cancer is a 2019 study from the University of California, University of Washington and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Researchers from the three universities found that the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma increased 41% for high-exposure groups. The authors stated, “Our current meta-analysis of human epidemiological studies suggests a compelling link between exposures to GBHs and increased risk for NHL.”
A number of studies including a 2022 study from scientists at the University at Albany’s Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health and Institute for Health and the Environment are also studying a possible association between glyphosate and autism. The Albany authors concluded, “The weight of the evidence indicates that in addition to cancer and reproductive effects, glyphosate and GBHs have significant adverse effects on the brain and behavior and increase the risk of at least some serious neurological diseases.”
Because of growing concerns that Roundup causes cancer and other serious adverse health effects, some countries in the European Union have begun banning glyphosate. Bayer has paid billions of dollars to settle Roundup lawsuits in the U.S. that allege glyphosate exposure caused plaintiffs’ cancer. In 2018, a jury in California awarded $289 million in damages to a plaintiff who alleged Roundup was the primary cause of his terminal cancer. The verdict is under appeal.
Tips for Reducing Glyphosate Exposure
People can avoid glyphosate use with several Roundup alternatives. These include manual or mechanical methods of weed pulling, such as small and large hand tools, tillers and other mechanical methods.
Natural or organic herbicides whose active ingredients are vinegar or essential oils are also an option. Ask your local home and garden center for organic or natural herbicides that do not contain glyphosate.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.
Written by Michelle Llamas, BCPA – Board Certified Patient Advocate
Member of American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and former Engage Committee and Membership Committee member
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Literacy certificates
Original works published or cited in The Lancet, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and the Journal for Palliative Medicine
Board Certified Patient Advocate, Patient Advocacy Certificate from University of Miami
This article was supplied by Drugwatch.com. Drugwatch’s mission is to keep people safe from potentially harmful drugs, medical devices and procedures by informing them of medical conditions, severe side effects and ways that they can take action. We help consumers find the information they need to make informed health care decisions, share their drug and device stories, and connect them with an experienced national law firms in America.
About The Author: Katie Brooks
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