Glyphosate is a chemical found in weed killers and is popular worldwide. It was discovered in the 1950s, and the Monsanto company patented it. They included it in the RoundUp product; many people have used it on their plants since then.
The chemical name of glyphosate is 'N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine.' It was used in over 160 countries worldwide and had over 650,000 tons in 2011. It is primarily used in agriculture and big farming.
However, you can use it in home gardening and other public places.
Despite the expired patent of Monsanto in 2000, it continues to produce more glyphosate supply.
The company's strategy for marketing glyphosate is to introduce Genetically Modified (GM) plants that resist exposure to it. Farmers can plant GM corn, soy, and cotton and spray the fields with glyphosate without damaging the crops.
Considering this, most products available nowadays contain glyphosate. According to reports, continued exposure can harm the body.
This article aims to explain glyphosate and its use. It will also discuss its advantages and disadvantages and how the authorities view the market.
Glyphosate: A Chemical You Should Take Note
One of the most widely used pesticides today is Glyphosate. Farmers use it on food crops on desiccation, for example, products like wheat. Also, this is used to cultivate 80% of the GMO crops.
Apart from agriculture, glyphosate is used in gardens, parks, roads, railways, tracks, and cemeteries.
Glyphosate can be absorbed through the foliage on the roots of the plants, and it is transported to its growing points. It restrains the synthesis of the amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan and prevents its growth.
It is effective only on actively growing plants and can affect the farmer's produce.
Through the years, the Monsanto company has developed a genetically engineered crop that can tolerate glyphosate.
Although several authorities have approved glyphosate formulation, its effects have been the primary concern as its usage has increased globally.
Formulations and Tradenames
As of 2010, around 750 glyphosate products are being sold today. Half of the products are being introduced for conventional crops, and the Asia Pacific was the largest and fastest market in the whole part of the world.
China is the largest manufacturer of glyphosate, and 30% of the global exports are from their land.
Some of the key manufacturers of glyphosate are Anhui Huaxing Chemical Industry Company, DuPont, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Jiangsu Good Harvest-Weien Agrochemical Company, Dow Chemical AgroSciences, BASF, Nufarm Limited, Syngenta, SinoHarvest, and Zhejiang Xinan Chemical Industrial Group Company.
This chemical is an acid molecule. Thus, it is formulated as salt for handling and packaging. It includes isopropylamine, potassium, mono-ammonium, and diammonium as the counterion.
Meanwhile, the active ingredient in Monsanto herbicides is the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate.
US Environmental Protection Agency Classifies Glyphosate as Non-Carcinogenic
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a study and considered glyphosate non-carcinogenic. It is also low in acute oral toxicity and dermal levels.
The EPA described the situation as a worst-case scenario for individuals who spend their lifetime eating food derived entirely from fields sprayed with glyphosate, but only when the concentration is at its maximum.
Finally, according to the agency, there are no adverse health effects under such conditions. In 2016, they issued a report stating that glyphosate is unlikely to be carcinogenic.
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment on Glyphosate
Meanwhile, in March 2015, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard (OEHHA) listed glyphosate as carcinogenic according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessment.
The Monsanto company filed a lawsuit against OEHHA in 2016, but it lost the suit in March 2017.
Today, glyphosate is still listed as carcinogenic in the State of California.
Usage of Glyphosate
According to manufacturers and farmers, glyphosate has various uses and advantages. Here are some of it:
Assist in Harvesting and Has Desiccation Properties
Glyphosate is also useful in helping farmers dry out their products before harvesting. This process is known as desiccation.
This chemical can remove moisture from crops, so farmers use it on sunflowers, corn, maize, wheat, potatoes, and other crops one to two weeks before harvesting. This is helpful in areas with wet summers, such as the United Kingdom and Germany.
Glyphosate speeds up the harvesting process. According to data, 75% of the Rapeseed crops used to make canola oil were sprayed with glyphosate in the western portion of England in 2009.
Apart from this, glyphosate can help the plants concentrate their energy on ripening. It can prevent the death of the crops, shorten the growth period, and harvest it early, especially when the weather is not good.
However, if farmers spray glyphosate before the harvesting period ends, many herbicides will remain in the resulting food products.
Increase Yield of the Products
Some farmers use glyphosate continuously to increase the yield of sugarcane and sugar beet. Glyphosate's drying properties can convert fiber to sugar, enhancing the sugar level in the cane.
According to the farmers at Louisiana farms, if they can properly spray and use glyphosate, the amount of sugar produced per acre of land can increase by 300 to 600 pounds. This is indeed a 7.5 to 1 ratio of benefit to use.
Prevent the Growth of the Weeds
Farmers worldwide use glyphosate to control unwanted weeds that harm their food crops. They also spray the field to clear it and prepare it for replanting.
A 2012 survey in Germany found that about 84% of farmers use glyphosate in their crops at least once a year.
Furthermore, government agencies worldwide use glyphosate to control the overgrowth of weeds in railways, parks, schools, sporting fields, and other public places.
It is mainly used in agriculture, except where it is restricted or banned, such as in organic farms.
GMO Crops Are Resistant To Glyphosate
In 1996, Monsanto presented a seed that could change the agricultural scenario in the United States and around the globe. The seeds were genetically engineered to be glyphosate-resistant.
Farmers and agriculturists patronized the new seeds. The introduction of GM seeds has ended the agony of selective spraying of the farmers to kill the crops.
GM seeds can spray the entire field with glyphosate to kill unwanted weeds, so the demand for new seeds rose dramatically. However, this posed a danger to the public.
Here are some of the effects of the use of glyphosate:
Effects of Glyphosate on Humans
Humans
Exposure to glyphosate could lead to various health problems, such as the following:
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ADHD-This is an attention deficit disorder and has been linked to as an effect of glyphosate exposure since it can disrupt the functions of the thyroid.
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Alzheimer's Disease- Glyphosate can cause cellular death and oxidative stress, which can soon result in Alzheimer's disease.
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Anencephaly- This congenital disability pertains to the absence of the major portion of the scalp, skull, and brain. Exposure of pregnant moms to glyphosate can soon result in Anencephaly, and it can be heartbreaking for parents.
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Autism- Glyphosate can cause autism in children, too. It can introduce the growth of gut dysbiosis in newborn children and pathogenic bacteria.
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Congenital disabilities- Due to the exposure of pregnant mothers to glyphosate, they can be at risk of having insufficient supplies of vitamins and minerals, plus congenital disabilities. Some of these are congenital disabilities, hypospadias, hormone deficiency, heart defects, micropenis, etc.
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Brain cancer- Pregnant mothers who ingested glyphosate can have a higher chance of developing brain cancer versus those who have a normal pregnancy.
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Cancer-Glyphosate can induce DNA damage, which can cause several body cancers such as lung, prostate, and breast cancer.
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Obesity- Glyphosate can induce the shift in gut bacteria towards the endotoxin-producers, which can soon cause obesity.
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Reproductive problems show that subjects exposed to glyphosate can have reproductive problems like low sperm count, delayed onset of puberty, and decreased testosterone production.
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Respiratory illnesses- glyphosate can also lead to respiratory illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia, allergies, etc.
Impacts on Biodiversity
Glyphosate herbicides are used to control plants and clear the vegetation. However, other plants and animals may also be exposed to glyphosate, either directly or indirectly.
The mode of action of glyphosate means that any sprayed plant will surely be injured or killed. Indeed, it is a high-risk herbicide for non-target plants.
Also, continuous application can significantly affect the diversity and number of plant species on the field's edges.
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the worldwide decline of amphibians. These animals are vulnerable to pesticides because their skin can absorb water-borne chemicals and eat contaminated food or prey.
As such, experts investigate glyphosate contamination in wildlife and the decrease in amphibian numbers.
Glyphosate in the soil
Glyphosate may also contaminate the soil. It can form complexes with metal ions and potentially affect the soil's nutrients. Studies also show that it can interfere with the uptake of minerals in crops.
Glyphosate in the soil can also alter the balance of fungi and bacteria, affecting plant health and the soil ecosystem.
Glyphosate in Water
Pesticides found in farms can be washed away by rainwater, and they can run down water resources such as streams, ditches, rivers, or surface waters. It can also be washed down on the rock layers and soil and come on underground resources or aquifers.
Nowadays, groundwater is often used as the main source of drinking water, and it can be contaminated with glyphosate.
Legal Cases: Advertising controversy
In 1996, the New York Times Attorney General ordered Monsanto to remove ads claiming the RounUp product was 'safer than table salt' and 'practically non-toxic to animals.'
According to the company, the EPA has permitted them to use the ad. However, they just pulled it from the New York Times.
Meanwhile, 2001, French consumer rights and environmental campaigners filed a lawsuit against Monsanto. They said the company misled the public about the environmental impact of herbicides.
According to the group, glyphosate is dangerous for the environment and toxic to aquatic organisms.
However, the Monsanto company advertises the RoundUp product as biodegradable, leaving the soil clean after use.
In 2007, the company and French distributor were convicted of false advertising and were fined 15,000 euros. The court also ordered them to pay the damages to Brittany Water and River Association.
The Monsanto company appealed to the court but upheld the verdict.
Conclusion
In sum, even if the EPA says that glyphosate doesn't have any adverse health effects on the body, it is still best if we consume organic products as prevention.
In farming, it will be helpful to go organic and stop using harmful herbicides and pesticides, for they can only affect the soil, water, environment, and people around the farm.
It would be good practice for households to invest in water filters to prevent glyphosate in their drinking water. You can try the Berkey Water Filters product because it eliminates glyphosate in the water.
Finally, it is also best if you eat organic fruits and vegetables instead of sprayed with pesticides. With this, you can aid the local farmers, help protect the environment, and ensure your health and that of your family's health from any harm.
As the cliche goes, 'prevention is better than cure,' which is true when discussing health and wellness.
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