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qHERBICIDE FACTSHEET
GLYPHOSATE (ROUNDUP)
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted plants both in agriculture and in
nonagricultural landscapes. Estimated use in the U.S. is between 38 and 48 million pounds per year.
Most glyphosate-containing products are either made or used with a surfactant, chemicals that help
glyphosate to penetrate plant cells.
Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including humans. Symptoms include eye
and skin irritation, headache, nausea, numbness, elevated blood pressure, and heart palpitations. The
surfactant used in a common glyphosate product (Roundup) is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself;
the combination of the two is yet more toxic.
Given the marketing of glyphosate herbicides as benign, it is striking that laboratory studies have found
adverse effects in all standard categories of laboratory toxicology testing. These include medium-term
toxicity (salivary gland lesions), long-term toxicity (inflamed stomach linings), genetic damage (in
human blood cells), effects on reproduction (reduced sperm counts in rats; increased frequency of
abnormal sperm in rabbits), and carcinogenicity (increased frequency of liver tumors in male rats and
thyroid cancer in female rats).
In studies of people (mostly farmers) exposed to glyphosate herbicides, exposure is associated with an
increased risk of miscarriages, premature birth, and the cancer non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Glyphosate has been called "extremely persistent" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
and half lives of over 100 days have been measured in field tests in Iowa and New York. Glyphosate
has been found in streams following agricultural, urban, and forestry applications.
Glyphosate treatment has reduced populations of beneficial insects, birds, and small mammals by
destroying vegetation on which they depend for food and shelter.
In laboratory tests, glyphosate increased plants' susceptibility to disease and reduced the growth of
nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
garden, aquatic, and forestry situations.3
BY CAROLINE COX
Most glyphosate herbicides contain the
Des Figure 1 isopropylamine salt of glyphosate.4
Glyphosate
cribed by their manufacturer Glyphosate products are manufactured
as pesticides of "low toxicity and envi- by Monsanto Company worldwide. They
O O
=
=
ronmental friendliness,"1 glyphosate-based are marketed under a variety of trade
HO-C-CH2-N-CH2-P-OH
-
-
herbicides can seem like a silver bullet names: Roundup, Rodeo, and Accord are
OH
H
the most common names in the U.S.2
when dealing with unwanted vegetation. glyphosate
However, glyphosate poses a variety of Unlike most other herbicides, chemi-
N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine
health and environmental hazards. The cals which are closely related to glyphosate
O O CH3
are not effective herbicides.5
following article is a summary of those
=
=
-
HO-C-CH2-N-CH2-P-OH- +NH
3-CH
hazards.
-
-
-
OH
H CH3
Use
Glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)
isopropylamine salt of glyphosate
glycine (Figure 1), is a systemic and non- Glyphosate is the seventh most com-
selective herbicide used to kill broad- monly used pesticide in U.S. agriculture,
leaved, grass, and sedge species.2 It has the third most commonly used pesticide
been registered in the U.S. since- 1974 on industrial and commercial land, and
and is used to control weeds in a wide the second most commonly used home
variety of agricultural, urban, lawn and and garden pesticide. Estimated annual
Caroline Cox is JPR's editor.
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make the product easier to use or more
Figure 2 efficient. In general, they are not identi-
Glyphosate Use in the U.S. fied on the labels of pesticide products.
In the case of glyphosate products,
Increase Since 1987 Types of Use
many "inerts" have been identified. See
50 Home "Toxicology of `Inert' Ingredients of
and
Glyphosate-containing Products," p. 5,
Garden
40
for basic information about these "inerts."
Millions of Pounds
Many of the toxicology studies that
30 will be summarized in this factsheet have
been conducted using glyphosate, the ac-
tive ingredient, alone. Some have been
20
conducted with commercial products con-
taining glyphosate and "inert" ingredients.
10
When no testing is done with the prod-
Industrial,
Commercial
uct as it is actually used, it is impossible
and
0
to accurately assess its hazards.
Government Agricultural
1985 1990 1995
We will discuss both types of studies,
and will identify insofar as is possible what
Aspelin, A.L. 1990; 1994; 1997. Pesticide industry sales and usage: 1988 market estimates; 1992 and
material was used in each study.
1993 market estimates; 1994 and 1995 market estimates. U.S. EPA. Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances. Office of Pesticide Programs. Biological and Economic Analysis Division.
Washington, D.C.
Acute Toxicity to
Laboratory Animals
Use of glyphosate increases about 20 percent each year.
Glyphosate's acute oral median lethal
microorganisms but not in animals.10
use according to the U.S. Environmental dose (the dose that causes death in 50
Protection Agency (EPA) is between 38 Two of the three aromatic amino ac- percent of a population of test animals;
and 48 million pounds.6 The largest ag- ids are essential amino acids in the hu- LD50) in rats is greater than 4,320 milli-
ricultural uses are in the production of man diet because humans, like all higher grams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body
soybeans, corn, hay and pasture, and on animals, lack the shikimic acid pathway, weight. This places the herbicide in Tox-
fallow land.7 Glyphosate use is currently icity Category III (Caution).4 Its acute
cannot synthesize these amino acids, and
(1998) growing at a rate of about 20 per- rely on their foods to provide these com- dermal toxicity (dermal LD50) in rabbits
cent annually, primarily because of the pounds. One is synthesized in animals is greater than 2,000 mg/kg of body
through another pathway.11 weight, also Toxicity Category III.4
recent introduction of crops which are
genetically engineered to be tolerant of Glyphosate can affect plant enzymes Commercial glyphosate herbicides are
the herbicide.8 (See Figure 2.) not connected with the shikimic acid more acutely toxic than glyphosate. The
In the U.S., 25 million applications pathway. In sugar cane, it reduces the amount of Roundup (containing
are made yearly on lawns and in yards.9 activity of one of the enzymes involved glyphosate and the surfactant POEA) re-
in sugar metabolism.12 It also inhibits a quired to kill rats is about 1/3 the amount
Mode of Action major detoxification enzyme in plants.13 of glyphosate alone.15 Roundup is also
more acutely toxic than POEA.15
Glyphosate's mode of action is "not Roundup affects enzymes found in
known at this time,"4 according to EPA. mammals. In rats, Roundup decreased the Glyphosate-containing products are
However, considerable research has estab- activity of two detoxification enzymes in more toxic via inhalation than orally. In-
the liver and an intestinal enzyme.14
lished that glyphosate inhibits an enzyme halation of Roundup by rats caused "signs
of toxicity in all test groups,"16 even at
pathway, the shikimic acid pathway, pre-
"Inert" Ingredients in
venting plants from synthesizing three the lowest concentration tested. These
Glyphosate-containing
aromatic amino acids. These amino acids signs included gasping, congested eyes,
Products reduced activity,17 and body weight loss.16
are essential for growth and survival of
Lungs were red or blood-congested.17 The
most plants. The key enzyme inhibited Virtually every pesticide product con-
by glyphosate is called EPSP synthase.10 tains ingredients other than what is called dose required to cause lung damage and
Glyphosate also "may inhibit or repress"4 the "active" ingredient(s), the one de- mortality following pulmonary adminis-
two other enzymes, involved in the syn- signed to provide killing action. These tration of two Roundup products and
thesis of the same amino acids.4 These ingredients are misleadingly called "in- POEA (when forced into the trachea, the
enzymes are present in higher plants and ert." The purpose of these "inerts" is to tube carrying air into the lungs) was only
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1/10 the dose causing damage orally.15,18 sheets for 25 glyphosate-containing prod- Roundup is a "moderate skin irritant,"
and recovery can take over two weeks.16
Effects on the Circulatory System: ucts. One of the products is "severely ir-
ritating,"20 4 cause "substantial but tem-
When dogs were given intravenous injec-
Acute Toxicity to Humans
porary eye injury,"21-24 8 "cause eye irri-
tions of glyphosate, POEA, or Roundup
tation,"25-32 5 "may cause eye irritation,"33-
so that blood concentrations were ap- The acute toxicity of glyphosate prod-
37 1 is "moderately irritating,"38 and 3 are
proximately those found in humans who ucts to humans was first publicized by
"slightly irritating."39-41 The other three
ingested glyphosate, glyphosate increased physicians in Japan who studied 56 sui-
the ability of the heart muscle to con- products require addition of a surfactant cide attempts; nine cases were fatal. Symp-
(wetting agent) before use,42-44 and the
tract. POEA reduced the output of the toms included intestinal pain, vomiting,
heart and the pressure in the arteries. surfactant sold by glyphosate's manufac- excess fluid in the lungs, pneumonia,
Roundup caused cardiac depression.19 turer for this purpose "causes eye burns."45 clouding of consciousness, and destruc-
tion of red blood cells.66 They calculated
Eye Irritation: NCAP surveyed eye Skin Irritation: Glyphosate is classi-
hazards listed on material safety data fied as a slightly irritating to skin. that the fatal cases ingested on average
about 200 milliliters (3/4 of a cup). They
believed that POEA was the cause of
Roundup's toxicity.66 More recent reviews
TOXICOLOGY OF "INERT" of poisoning incidents have found simi-
lar symptoms, as well as lung dysfunc-
INGREDIENTS IN GLYPHOSATE- tion,67-69, erosion of the gastrointestinal
tract,67,69 abnormal electrocardiograms,69
CONTAINING PRODUCTS low blood pressure,67,69 kidney dam-
age,67,68,70 , and damage to the larynx.71
Smaller amounts of Roundup cause
Three glyphosate products contain Nine glyphosate products contain
adverse effects, usually skin or eye irrita-
ammonium sulfate.29,30,32 It causes eye polyethoxylated tallowamine
tion as well as some of the symptoms
(POEA). 21-24,31,35-38 It causes eye
irritation, nausea and diarrhea, and
may cause allergic respiratory reactions. burns; skin redness, swelling, and blis-
tering; nausea; and diarrhea.23,45
Prolonged exposure can cause perma-
nent eye damage.46 Table 1
Three glyphosate products contain
Symptoms Following
potassium hydroxide.29,30,32 It causes
One glyphosate product contains
Unintentional Exposure to
benzisothiazolone.47 It causes eczema, irreversible eye injury, deep skin ul- Glyphosate Herbicides
skin irritation,48 and a light-induced cers, severe digestive tract burns, and
allergic reaction in sensitive severe irritation of the respiratory eye irritation
painful eyes
people.49,50 tract.57 burning eyes
Four glyphosate products contain One glyphosate product contains blurred vision
swollen eye, face, joints
sodium sulfite.34 It may cause eye and
3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate facial numbness
(IPBC).39-41,47 It is severely irritating skin irritation with vomiting and di- burning sensation on skin
itchy skin
arrhea58 as well as skin allergies.59 Ex-
to eyes and increases the incidence of tingling skin
miscarriages in laboratory tests.51 It posure to small amounts can cause se- recurrent eczema
blisters
also can cause allergic skin reactions.52 vere allergic reactions.60 skin rash
One glyphosate product contains Three glyphosate products contain rapid heartbeat
heart palpitations
isobutane.30 It causes nausea, nervous sorbic acid.35,36,37 It may cause severe elevated blood pressure
system depression, and difficulty skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, chest pains
congestion
breathing. It is a severe fire hazard.53 chemical pneumonitis, and sore coughing
throat.61 It also causes allergic reac-
One glyphosate product contains headache
nausea
methyl pyrrolidinone.20 It causes se- tions.62,63
vere eye irritation.54 It has caused fe- Temple, W.A. and N.A. Smith. 1992.
Isopropylamine is used in some Glyphosate herbicide poisoning
Roundup products. 47,64 It is "ex-
tal loss and reduced fetal weights in experience in New Zealand. N.Z. Med. J.
laboratory animals.55 105:173-174.
tremely destructive to tissue of the
Calif. EPA. Dept. of Pesticide
Three glyphosate products contain mucous membranes and upper respi- Regulation. 1998. Case reports received
pelargonic acid.29,30,32 It causes severe ratory tract."65 Symptoms of exposure by the California Pesticide Illness
Surveillance Program in which health
eye and skin irritation and may cause are wheezing, laryngitis, headache, and effects were attributed to glyphosate,
respiratory tract irritation.56 nausea.65 1993-1995. Unpublished report.
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listed above. (See Table 1.) For example, Another subchronic laboratory test people who were occupationally exposed
rubbing of Roundup in an eye caused found that blood levels of potassium and to glyphosate herbicides had a threefold
eye and lid swelling, rapid heartbeat and phosphorus in rats increased at all doses higher risk of HCL. A similar study of
tested (60-1600 mg/kg/day).4
elevated blood pressure. Wiping the face people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
after touching leaky spray equipment Glyphosate-containing products are found exposure to glyphosate herbicides
caused swelling of the face. Accidental more toxic than glyphosate in subchronic was associated with an increase in risk of
about the same size.74ab
drenching with horticultural Roundup tests. In a 7 day study with calves, 790
caused eczema of the hands and arms last- mg/kg per day of Roundup caused pneu- The publicly available laboratory stud-
ing two months.68 A spill resulted in diz- monia, and death of 1/3 of the animals ies of glyphosate's ability to cause cancer
ziness, fever, nausea, palpitations, and sore were all conducted by or for its manufac-
throat.72 turer.2 The first carcinogenicity study sub-
Figure 3
mitted to EPA (1981) found an increase
Salivary Gland Lesions in
Toxicology Overview in testicular tumors in male rats at the
Rats Fed Glyphosate
Glyphosate is often portrayed as toxi- highest dose tested as well as an increase
100
cologically benign: "extensive investiga- in the frequency of a thyroid cancer in
tions strongly support the conclusion that females. Both results occurred at the high-
glyphosate has a very low level of toxic- est dose tested (30 mg/kg of body weight
80
ity..."73 NCAP's review of glyphosate's per day).75,76 The second study (1983)
toxicology comes to a different conclu- found an increasing trend in the fre-
Incidence (%)
60
sion. Adverse effects have been identified quency of a rare kidney tumor in male
mice.77 The most recent study (1990)
in each standard category of testing Males
(subchronic, chronic, carcinogenicity, found an increase in pancreas and liver
40 Females
mutagenicity, and reproduction). NCAP's tumors in male rats together with an in-
review has been challenged by the asser- crease of the same thyroid cancer found
20
in the 1983 study in females.78
tion that these effects were found because
standard test protocols require finding All of these increases in tumor or can-
0
adverse effects at the highest dose tested. cer incidence are "not considered com-
0 1 2 3 4 5
pound-related"78 according to EPA (This
However, the following five sections of
this article summarize adverse effects means that EPA did not consider
Amount of glyphosate in diet (%)
did not result from this requirement: glyphosate the cause of the tumors.) For
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
they were all found at less than the the testicular tumors, EPA accepted the
Public Health Service. National Institutes of
highest dose tested. (The few exceptions interpretation of an industry pathologist
Health. 1992. NTP technical report on toxicity
studies of glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6)
are clearly identified.) who said that the incidence in treated
administered in dosed feed to F344/N rats and
groups (12 percent) was similar to those
B6C3F1 mice. Research Triangle Park, NC:
Subchronic Toxicity National Toxicology Program.
observed (4.5 percent) in other rats not
fed glyphosate.78 For the thyroid cancer,
In subchronic (medium term) studies
Glyphosate causes salivary gland lesions in rats,
of rats and mice done by the National EPA stated that it was not possible to
mediated by the hormone adrenalin.
Toxicology Program (NTP), microscopic distinguish between cancers and tumors
salivary gland lesions were found in all tested. At lower doses decreased food in- of this type, so that the two should be
take and diarrhea were observed.2
doses tested in rats (200 - 3400 mg/kg considered together. The combined data
are not statistically significant.76 For the
per day) and in all but the lowest dose
Chronic Toxicity
tested in mice (1,000-12,000 mg/kg per kidney tumors, the manufacturer reexam-
day). (See Figure 3.) A follow-up study Glyphosate is also toxic in long-term ined the tissue and found an additional
by NTP found that the mechanism by studies. At all but the lowest dose tested, tumor in untreated mice so that statisti-
which glyphosate caused these lesions in- excessive cell division in the urinary blad- cal significance was lost. This was despite
volved the hormone adrenalin.74 der occurred in male mice2 and inflam- the opinion of EPA's pathologist that the
The NTP study also found increases mation of the stomach lining occurred in lesion in question was not really a tu-
both sexes of rats.2 mor.77 For the pancreatic tumors, EPA
in two liver enzymes at all but the two
lowest doses tested. Other effects found stated that there was no dose-related
Carcinogenicity
in at least two doses in this study were trend. For the liver and thyroid tumors,
reduced weight gain in rats and mice; A recent Swedish study of hairy cell EPA stated that pairwise comparisons be-
diarrhea in rats; and changes in kidney leukemia (HCL), a form of the cancer tween treated and untreated animals were
and liver weights in male rats and mice.74 not statistically significant.78
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, found that
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Figure 4
Genetic Damage Caused by Roundup
6
3.5 Mice Human Blood Cells
Sister chromatid exchanges per cell
5
3.0
DNA Adducts (per 10* nucleotides)
(averages with standard errors)
2.5 4
2.0
3
Kidney
1.5
2
Liver
1.0
1
0.5
0
0
0 200 400 600 0 0.1 0.33
Roundup concentration
Amount of Roundup in diet
(milligrams per milliliter of blood)
(milligrams per kilogram of body weight)
Peluso, M. et al. 1998. 32P-Postlabeling detection of DNA adducts in mice Bolognesi, C. et al. 1997. Genotoxic activity of glyphosate and its technical
treated with the herbicide Roundup.Environ. Molec. Mutag. 31:55-59. formulation Roundup. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45:1957-1962.
Roundup causes genetic damage in laboratory animals and in human blood cells.
EPA concluded that glyphosate should Glyphosate-containing products are more In onion root cells, Roundup caused an
potent mutagens than glyphosate.81 The
be classified as Group E, "evidence of increase in chromosome aberrations, also
non-carcinogenicity for humans."78 They at two concentrations.85
studies include the following:
added that this classification "should not ?In fruit flies, Roundup and ?In mice injected with Roundup, the
be interpreted as a definitive conclusion."78 Pondmaster (an aquatic herbicide con- frequency of DNA adducts (the binding
The cancer tests leave many questions un- sisting of glyphosate and a trade secret to genetic material of reactive molecules
surfactant82) both increased the frequency
answered. Concerning one of the carci- that lead to mutations) in the liver and
kidney increased at all three doses tested.86
nogenicity studies, an EPA statistician of sex-linked, recessive lethal mutations.
wrote, "Viewpoint is a key issue. Our (These are mutations that are usually vis- (See Figure 4.)
viewpoint is one of protecting the public ible only in males.) Only a single con- ?In another study of mice injected
health when we see suspicious data."79 centration was tested in this study.83 with glyphosate and Roundup, the fre-
Unfortunately, EPA has not taken that ?A study of human lymphocytes (a quency of chromosome damage and DNA
viewpoint in its assessment of glyphosate's type of white blood cell) showed an in- damage increased in bone marrow, liver,
cancer-causing potential. crease in the frequency of sister chroma- and kidney. (Only a single concentration
was tested in this study.)81
There are no publicly available labo- tid exchanges following exposure to the
lowest dose tested of Roundup.84 (Sister
ratory studies of the carcinogenicity of
Reproductive Effects
Roundup or other glyphosate-containing chromatid exchanges are exchanges of ge-
products. netic material during cell division between Glyphosate exposure has been linked
members of a chromosome pair. They to reproductive problems in humans. A
Mutagenicity result from point mutations.) A 1997 study in Ontario, Canada, found that fa-
Although glyphosate's manufacturer study of human lymphocytes (see Figure thers' use of glyphosate was associated
describes "a large battery of assays"80 4) found similar results with Roundup with an increase in miscarriages and pre-
mature births in farm families.87 (See Fig-
showing that glyphosate does not cause (at both doses tested) and with glyphosate
genetic damage, 80 other studies have (at all but the lowest dose tested).81 ure 5.) In addition, a case report from
shown that both glyphosate and ?In Salmonella bacteria, Roundup was the University of California discussed a
glyphosate products are mutagenic. weakly mutagenic at two concentrations. student athlete who suffered abnormally
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frequent menstruation when she com-
peted at tracks where glyphosate had been Figure 5
Effects of Glyphosate on Male Reproductive Success
used.88
Laboratory studies have also demon-
Sperm density in male rats fed glyphosate
strated a number of effects of glyphosate 650
Sperm count (millions)
on reproduction.
In rats, glyphosate reduced sperm 600
counts at the two highest doses tested.
(See Figure 5.) In male rabbits, glyphosate 550
at doses of 1/10 and 1/100 of the LD50 Small bars are standard errors.
increased the frequency of abnormal and 500
dead sperm.89
Using cells taken from Leydig cell tes-
450
ticular tumors in mice, researchers from 0 2 4 6
Texas Tech University showed that ex- Amount of glyphosate in food (%)
posure to Roundup (but not glyphosate
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Public Health Serv. National Inst. Health. 1992. NTP
alone) caused a decrease in the produc- technical report on toxicity studies of glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6) administered in dosed feed to
tion of sex hormones. Specifically, F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Toxicology Program.
Roundup inhibited the expression of a Pregnancy problems for farmers using glyphosate
protein that carries cholesterol (the mol- 15
ecule from which sex hormones are made)
Problems per 100 births
to the site where these hormones are syn-
Unexposed
thesized. Lacking necessary amounts of 10
cholesterol, the testicle cells' production Used Glyphosate
of sex hormones decreased about 90
percent.89a 5
In a study of female rabbits, glyphosate
caused a decrease in fetal weight in all
treated groups.90 0
Miscarriage Premature Birth
Toxicology of Glyphosate's
Savitz, D.A. et al. 1997. Male pesticide exposure and pregnancy outcome. Am. J. Epidemiol.
Major Metabolite
146:1025-1036.
In general, studies of the breakdown
of glyphosate find only one metabolite, Glyphosate exposure is associated with reproductive problems in both laboratory animals and
aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA).2 farmers.
Although AMPA has low acute toxicity
(its LD50 is 8,300 mg/kg of body weight products were performed by IBT, includ-
Quality of Laboratory Testing
in rats),16 it causes a variety of toxicologi- ing 11 of the 19 chronic toxicology stud-
Tests done on glyphosate to meet reg-
ies.92 A compelling example of the poor
cal problems. In subchronic tests on rats, istration requirements have been associ-
AMPA caused an increase in the activity quality of IBT data comes from an EPA
ated with fraudulent practices.
of an enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase, in toxicologist who wrote, "It is also some-
Laboratory fraud first made headlines
both sexes; a decrease in liver weights in what difficult not to doubt the scientific
in 1983 when EPA publicly announced
males at all doses tested; and excessive integrity of a study when the IBT stated
that a 1976 audit had discovered "seri-
cell division in the lining of the urinary that it took specimens from the uteri (of
ous deficiencies and improprieties" in
bladder in both sexes.16 AMPA is more male rabbits) for histopathological exami-
studies conducted by Industrial Biotest
nation."93 (Emphasis added.)
persistent than glyphosate; studies in eight Laboratories (IBT).91 Problems included
states found that the half-life in soil (the In 1991, EPA alleged that Craven
"countless deaths of rats and mice" and
time required for half of the original con- Laboratories, a company that performed
"routine falsification of data."91
centration of a compound to break down studies for 262 pesticide companies in-
IBT was one of the largest laborato-
cluding Monsanto, had falsified tests.94
or dissipate) was between 119 and 958 ries performing tests in support of pesti-
days.2 AMPA has been found in lettuce "Tricks" employed by Craven Labs in-
cide registrations.91 About 30 tests on
and barley planted a year after glyphosate cluded "falsifying laboratory notebook
glyphosate and glyphosate-containing
treatment.90a entries" and "manually manipulating sci-
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were submitted to EPA and the time that ley over four months after treatment (the
entific equipment to produce false re-
EPA made the determination.99 barley was planted one month after
ports."95 Roundup residue studies on
treatment).90a
plums, potatoes, grapes, and sugarbeets
Human Exposure "Significant residues,"2 according to
were among the tests in question.96
People are exposed to glyphosate the World Health Organization, have
The following year, the owner of Cra-
through workplace exposure (for people been identified from pre-harvest use of
ven Labs and three employees were in-
who use glyphosate products on the job), glyphosate on wheat (to dry out the
dicted on 20 felony counts.97 The owner
eating of contaminated food, exposure grain). Bran contains between 2 and 4
was sentenced to five years in prison and
caused by off-target movement following times the amount on whole grains. Resi-
fined $50,000; Craven Labs was fined
dues are not lost during baking.2
application (drift), contact with contami-
15.5 million dollars, and ordered to pay
nated soil, and drinking or bathing in
3.7 million dollars in restitution.95
Occupational Exposure
contaminated water. The next five sec-
Although the tests of glyphosate iden-
tions of this factsheet summarize infor- In California, the state with the most
tified as fraudulent have been replaced,
mation about these five routes of expo- comprehensive program for reporting of
this fraud casts shadows on the entire
sure. The third section, discussing drift, pesticide-caused illness, glyphosate-con-
pesticide registration process.
also covers impacts on plants. taining herbicides were the third most
Illegal Advertising commonly-reported cause of pesticide ill-
Contamination of Food ness among agricultural workers. 100
In 1996, Monsanto Co. negotiated an
Analysis of glyphosate residues is "in Among landscape maintenance workers,
agreement with the New York attorney-
general laborious, complex, and costly."2 glyphosate herbicides were the most com-
general that required Monsanto to stop
monly reported cause.101 (Both these sta-
making certain health and environmen-
tistics come from illness reports collected
tal claims in ads for glyphosate products
" Glyphosate's between 1984 and 1990.) Even when
and pay the attorney general $50,000 in
manufacturer glyphosate's extensive use in California is
costs.98 Claims that glyphosate products
considered, and the illness statistics pre-
are "safer than table salt,"98 safe for reported that drift
sented as "number of acute illnesses re-
people, pets, and the environment, and
from a ground ported per million pounds used in Cali-
degrade "soon after application"98 were
application in fornia," glyphosate ranked twelfth.100
challenged by the attorney-general because
While many of the California reports
Minnesota damaged
they are in violation of the Federal Insec-
involve "irritant effects,"102 mostly to the
ticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act 25 acres of corn, eyes and skin, NCAP's survey of about
(FIFRA), the national pesticide law.98
and the Washington 100 reports made in 1993, 1994, and
According to the attorney-general,
Department of 1995 found that over half of them in-
Monsanto had engaged in "false and mis-
volved more serious effects: burning of
leading" advertising.98 Agriculture
eyes or skin, blurred vision, peeling of
In 1998, Monsanto Co. negotiated a
reported damage to skin, nausea, headache, vomiting, diar-
similar agreement with the New York at-
30 acres of onions rhea, chest pain, dizziness, numbness,
torney-general about a different advertise-
burning of the genitals, and wheezing.103
ment. The attorney-general found that from a ground
Other occupational symptoms were
the advertisement featuring a horticultur- application of a observed in a flax milling operation in
ist from the San Diego Zoo also was "false
glyphosate Great Britain. A study compared the ef-
and misleading" because it implied to
herbicide." fects of breathing dust from flax treated
consumers that Roundup could be used
with Roundup with the effects of dust
(contrary to label directions) in and
For this reason, it is not included in gov- from untreated flax. Treated dust caused
around water.98a Monsanto paid $75,000
ernment monitoring of pesticide residues a decrease in lung function and an in-
in costs.98a
in food.2 The only information available crease in coughing, and breathlessness.104
EPA made a similar determination
about contamination of food comes from
about Roundup ads in 1998, finding that
Drift
research studies.
they contained "false and misleading" 99
Monsanto's studies of residues in food In general, movement of a pesticide
claims and were in violation of FIFRA.
crops found glyphosate in lettuce over through unwanted drift is "unavoid-
However, EPA took no action and did
able."105 Drift of glyphosate is no excep-
five months after treatment (the lettuce
not even notify Monsanto Co. about the
was planted four months after treatment). tion. Glyphosate drift, however, is par-
determination because two years had
Monsanto also found glyphosate in bar- ticularly significant because drift "dam-
elapsed between the time that the ads
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glyphosate herbicide.112
Figure 6 ?Helicopter applications: A study
(141)
Persistence of Glyphosate in done in Canada113 measured glyphosate
(128)
U.S. Agricultural Soils
residues 200 meters (656 feet) from tar-
( Half-life in days) get areas following helicopter applications
to forest sites. In this study, 200 meters
was the farthest distance at which samples
were taken, so the longest distance
glyphosate travelled is not known.
(29)
Fixed-wing aircraft: Long drift dis-
tances occur following applications of
glyphosate made from airplanes. Two
studies on forested sites conducted by Ag-
riculture Canada (the Canadian agricul-
(8)
tural ministry) showed that glyphosate
(14)
was found at the farthest distance from
(29)
the target areas that measurements were
(14)
made (300 and 400 meters, or 984 and
1312 feet).114,115 One of these studies115
(8)
calculated that buffer zones of between
(3)
75 and 1200 meters (246 feet - 0.75
miles) would be required to protect non-
target vegetation. According to Monsanto,
drift from single aerial applications of
Note: Numbers, as well as the length of the columns, give the half-life, in days, of glyphosate in
glyphosate has been extensive enough to
soil. Half-life is the length of time required for half the applied glyphosate to break down or
move out of the test site.
damage 1000 trees in one case,116 250
acres of corn in another,117 and 155 acres
Source: U.S. EPA. Environmental Fate and Effects Division. 1993. Pesticide environmental fate
one line summary; Glyphosate. Washington, D.C., May 6.
of tomatoes in a third incident.118
Persistence and Movement
Glyphosate's persistence in soil varies widely, but its half-life in agricultural soil can be over 4
months. in Soil
drift distances were found for the 8 dif- Glyphosate's persistence in soil varies
age is likely to be much more extensive
ferent spray systems tested in this widely, so giving a simple answer to the
and more persistent than with many other
study.109 question "How long does glyphosate per-
herbicides."106 This is because glyphosate
Drift distances that have been mea- sist in soil?" is not possible. Half-lives
moves readily within plants so that even
sured more recently for the major appli- (the time required for half of the amount
unexposed parts of a plant can be dam-
cation techniques include the following: of glyphosate applied to break down or
aged. Damage to perennial plants (when
?Ground Applications: A study of 15 move away) as low as 3 days (in Texas)
not exposed to enough glyphosate to kill
noncrop plants found seedling mortality and as long as 141 days (in Iowa) have
them) is persistent, with some symptoms
(killing about 10 percent of seedlings) for been measured by glyphosate's manufac-
lasting several years.106 In addition, plant
turer.119 (See Figure 6.) Initial degrada-
most of the species tested at 20 meters
susceptibility varies widely. Some wild-
(66 feet) downwind when using a trac- tion (breakdown) is faster than the sub-
flowers are almost a hundred times more
sequent degradation of what remains.120
tor-mounted sprayer. Seedlings of some
sensitive than others; drift in amounts
sensitive species were killed at 40 meters Long persistence has been measured in
equal to 1/1000 of typical application
(131 feet).110 A drift model predicted the following studies: 55 days on an Or-
rates will damage these species.107
egon Coast Range forestry site121; 249
some native species would be damaged at
A simple answer to the question, "How
distances of 80 meters (262 feet).107 days on Finnish agricultural soils122; be-
far can I expect glyphosate to travel off-
Glyphosate's manufacturer reported that tween 259 and 296 days on eight Finn-
site?" is difficult, since drift is "notori-
ish forestry sites120; 335 days on an
drift from a ground application in Min-
ously variable."108 However, extensive
nesota damaged 25 acres of corn,111 and Ontario (Canada) forestry site123; 360
drift of glyphosate has been measured
the Washington Department of Agricul- days on 3 British Columbia forestry
since the 1970s when a California study
sites124; and, from 1 to 3 years on eleven
ture reported damage to 30 acres of on-
found glyphosate 800 m (2600 feet) from
Swedish forestry sites.125 EPA's Ecologi-
ions from a ground application of a
aerial and ground applications. Similar
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Figure 7 Figure 8
Impacts of Glyphosate on Nontarget Animals on Maine Clear-cuts Effect of Glyphosate on the
Growth of Earthworms
Abundance of Invertebrates Number of Mammals
700
120
900 Small bars are
standard deviation
600
700
Earthworm Weight (milligrams)
500
80
Captures
500
400
40
300
300
100 200
0
Untreated Treated: Treated: Untreated Treated: Treated:
100
Counts Counts Counts Counts
made one made three made one made three
year years year years
post-spray post-spray post-spray post-spray 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Santillo, D.J., D.M. Leslie, and P.W. Brown. 1989. Responses of small mammals and habitat to (Days)
glyphosate application on clearcuts. J. Wildl. Manage. 53(1):164-172.
Glyphosate concentration
s
Glyphosate treatment reduced invertebrate and small mammal populations for up to 3 years. none
s
----s ---- 1/20 of agricultural rate
cal Effect's Branch wrote, "In summary, face water when the soil particles to which ----x---- 1/10 of agricultural rate
x
----x ---- 1/5 of agricultural rate
this herbicide is extremely persistent un- it is bound are washed into streams or
der typical application conditions."126 rivers.4 How often this happens is not Springett, J.A. and R.A.J. Gray. 1992. Effect
of repeated low doses of biocides on the
Glyphosate is thought to be "tightly known, because routine monitoring for earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa in
complexed [bound] by most soils"127 and glyphosate in water is infrequent.2 laboratory culture. Soil Biol. Biochem.
24(12):1739-1744.
therefore "in most soils, glyphosate is es- Glyphosate has been found in both
sentially immobile."127 This means that ground and surface water. Examples in- Repeated applications of glyphosate reduce the
the glyphosate will be unlikely to con- clude farm ponds in Ontario, Canada, growth of earthworms.
taminate water or soil away from the ap- contaminated by runoff from an agricul-
tural treatment and a spill129; the runoff
plication site. However, this binding to For example, the half-life in pond sedi-
soil is "reversible." For example, one study from a watersheds treated with Roundup ments in a Missouri study was 120 days;
found that glyphosate bound readily to during production of no-till corn and fes- persistence was over a year in pond sedi-
cue130; contaminated surface water in the ments in Michigan and Oregon.4
four different soils. However, desorption,
Netherlands2; seven U.S. wells (one in
when glyphosate unbinds from soil par-
Ecological Effects
ticles, also occurred readily. In one soil, Texas, six in Virginia) contaminated with
glyphosate 131 ; contaminated forest
80 percent of the added glyphosate des- Glyphosate can impact many organ-
orbed in a two hour period. The study streams in Oregon and Washing- isms not intended as targets of the herbi-
ton132,133; contaminated streams near
concluded that "this herbicide can be ex- cide. The next two sections describe both
tensively mobile in the soil...."128 Puget Sound, Washington134; and con- direct mortality and indirect effects,
taminated wells under electrical substa- through destruction of food or shelter.
Water Contamination tions treated with glyphosate.135
Effects on Nontarget Animals
When glyphosate binds readily to soil Glyphosate's persistence in water is
particles, it does not have the chemical shorter than its persistence in soils. Two Beneficial insects: Beneficial insects
characteristics of a pesticide that is likely Canadian studies found glyphosate per- kill other species that are agricultural
to leach into water.2 (When it readily de- sisted 12 to 60 days in pond water.136,137 pests. The International Organization for
sorbs, as described above, this changes.) Glyphosate persists longer in pond sedi- Biological Control found that exposure
However, glyphosate can move into sur- ments (mud at the bottom of a pond). to freshly dried Roundup killed over 50
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percent of three species of beneficial in-
Figure 9
sects: a parasitoid wasp, a lacewing, and a
Toxicity of Roundup to Rainbow Trout of Different Ages
ladybug. Over 80 percent of a fourth spe-
cies, a predatory beetle, was killed.138
Impacts on beneficial insects have also Sac fry
been shown in field studies, probably due
Median Lethal Concentration (LC50)
to destruction of their habitat by the her-
bicide. In North Carolina wheat fields, Swim-up fry
populations of large carabid beetles de-
clined after treatment with a glyphosate
Small fingerling
product and did not recover for 28
days.139 A study of Roundup treatment
of hedgerows in the United Kingdom also
Large fingerling
showed a decline in carabid beetles.140
Other insects: Roundup treatment of
a Maine clear-cut caused an 89 percent
Adult
decline in the number of herbivorous
(plant-eating) insects because of the de-
0 5 10 15
struction of the vegetation on which they
Roundup concentration (parts per million)
live and feed. (See Figure 7.) These in-
sects serve as food resources for birds and Folmar, L.C., H.O. Sanders, and A.M. Julin. 1979. Toxicity of the herbicide glyphosate and
insect-eating small mammals.141 several of its formulations to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.
8:269-278.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
identified one endangered insect, a long- Young rainbow trout (swim-up fry and small fingerlings) are more susceptible to Roundup than adult
horn beetle, that would be jeopardized rainbow trout.
by use of glyphosate herbicides.142
Other arthropods: Glyphosate and glyphosate (1/20 of typical rates) caused toxicities of Rodeo (used with the surfac-
glyphosate-containing products kill a va- a reduction in growth (see Figure 8), an tant X-77 per label recommendations)
vary from 120 to 290 ppm.149
riety of other arthropods. For example, increase in the time to maturity, and an
increase in mortality.148
over 50 percent of test populations of a In soft water there is little difference
beneficial predatory mite were killed by Fish: Both glyphosate and the com- between the toxicities of glyphosate and
exposure to Roundup.138 In another labo- Roundup.150 Also, if fish have not re-
mercial products that contain glyphosate
ratory study, Roundup exposure caused a are acutely toxic to fish. In general, cently eaten, the toxicity of glyphosate
decrease in survival and a decrease in body glyphosate alone is less toxic than the (LC50 = 2.9 ppm) is similar to that of
Roundup.151
weight of woodlice. These arthropods are common glyphosate product, Roundup,
important in humus production and soil and other glyphosate products have in- Roundup toxicity increases with in-
aeration. 143 Roundup treatment of termediate toxicity. Part of these differ- creased water temperature. In both rain-
hedgerows reduced the number of spi- ences can be explained by the toxicity of bow trout and bluegills, toxicity about
ders, probably by killing the plants they the surfactant (detergent-like ingredient) doubled between 7 and 17癈 (45 and
preferred for web-spinning.140 The water 63癋).144 Treatment of riparian areas with
in Roundup. It is 20 to 70 times more
toxic to fish than glyphosate itself.144
flea Daphnia pulex is killed by concentra- glyphosate causes water temperatures to
tions of Roundup between 3 and 25 Acute toxicities of glyphosate vary increase for several years following treat-
ppm.144-146 Young Daphnia are more sus- ment152 because the herbicide kills shad-
widely: median lethal concentrations
ceptible than mature individuals.145 The (LC50s; the concentrations killing 50 per- ing vegetation. This means that use of
red swamp crawfish, a commercial spe- cent of a population of test animals) from glyphosate could cause increased toxicity
cies, was killed by 47 ppm of 10 ppm to over 200 ppm have been re- to fish. In addition, the temperature in-
Roundup.147 ported depending on the species of fish crease could be critical for fish, like juve-
and test conditions.2
Earthworms: A study of the most com- nile salmon, that thrive in cold water.
mon earthworm found in agricultural soils Acute toxicities (LC50) of Roundup to Sublethal effects of glyphosate occur
fish range from 2 ppm to 55 ppm.2 Part
in New Zealand showed that repeated at low concentrations. In rainbow trout
applications of glyphosate significantly of this variability is due to age: young and Tilapia concentrations of about 1/2
affect growth and survival of earthworms. fish are more sensitive to Roundup than and 1/3 of the LC50 (respectively) caused
are older fish.144 (See Figure 9.) Acute erratic swimming.153,154 The trout also
Biweekly applications of low rates of
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abundance following glyphosate treatment Endangered species: Because many
Figure 10 of clear-cuts in Maine forests showed plants are susceptible to glyphosate, it can
Effect of Glyphosate on a similar results. Abundances of the total seriously impact endangered plant spe-
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
number of birds and three common spe- cies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
40
cies decreased. The decrease in bird abun- has identified 74 endangered plant spe-
(millimoles of ethylene or oxygen produced)
dance was correlated with decrease in the cies that it believes could be jeopardized
diversity of the habitat.157
Activity of nitrogen- by glyphosate. This list is based on the
fixing enzyme
Black grouse avoided glyphosate- use of glyphosate on 9 crops, and does
30
not include over 50 other uses.142
treated clear-cuts in Norway for several
years after treatment.158 Researchers rec- Seed Quality: Sublethal treatment of
Activity
ommended that the herbicide not be used cotton with Roundup "severely affects
20
near grouse courtship areas. seed germination, vigor and stand estab-
Small mammals: In field studies, small lishment under field conditions." At the
Respiration
mammals have been indirectly affected lowest glyphosate rate tested, seed germi-
when glyphosate kills the vegetation they nation was reduced between 24 and 85
10
(or their prey) use for food or shelter. percent and seedling weight was reduced
On clear-cuts in Maine,141 insect-eating between 19 and 83 percent.165
shrews declined for three years post-treat- Nitrogen fixation: Most living things
0
ment; plant-eating voles declined for two. cannot use nitrogen in its common form
0 4 8 12
(See Figure 7.) A second study in Maine and instead use ammonia and nitrates,
Glyphosate rate (kilograms/hectare)
after a Roundup treatment159 found simi- much rarer compounds. Ammonia and
Santos, A. and M. Flores. 1995. Effects of
lar results for voles. In British Columbia, nitrates are created by processes called ni-
glyphosate on nitrogen fixation of free-
living heterotrophic bacteria. Lett. Appl. deer mice populations were 83 percent trogen fixation and nitrification. They are
Microbiol. 20:349-352.
lower following glyphosate treatment.160 carried out by bacteria which can be
Another study from British Columbia found in soil and in nodules on roots of
legumes and certain other plants.166
exhibited labored breathing.153 These ef- found declines in chipmunk populations
after Roundup treatment.161 In Norway,
fects can increase the risk that the fish Studies showing effects of glyphosate
will be eaten, as well as affecting feeding, there was a "strong reduction" in use of on nitrogen fixation include the follow-
migration, and reproduction.154 Less than sprayed clear-cuts by mountain hare.162 ing: At a concentration corresponding to
1 percent of the LC50 caused gill damage Other studies have not found impacts on typical application rates, glyphosate re-
small mammals,163 suggesting that the
in carp and less than 2 percent caused duced by 70 percent the number of ni-
changes in liver structure.155 particular characteristics of the site and trogen-fixing nodules on clover planted
120 days after treatment167; a similar con-
Birds: Glyphosate has indirect impacts the herbicide application are significant.
on birds. Because glyphosate kills plants, Wildlife: Canadian research has docu- centration of a glyphosate herbicide re-
its use can create a dramatic change in mented that plants serving as important duced by 27 percent the number of nod-
ules on hydroponically grown clover168;
the structure of the plant community. food sources for wildlife are significantly
This affects bird populations, since the damaged by glyphosate. "Severe" or "very a similar concentration of glyphosate re-
birds depend on the plants for food, shel- severe damage" was recorded for 46 per- duced by 20 percent nitrogen-fixation by
a soil bacteria169 (see Figure 10); a con-
ter, and nest support. cent of the important food species eaten
For example, a study of four by moose, between 34 and 40 percent of centration of glyphosate approximately
glyphosate-treated clear-cuts (and an the species eaten by elk, and 36 percent that expected in soybean roots following
of the species eaten by mule deer.164
unsprayed control plot) in Nova Scotia treatment inhibited the growth of
found that the densities of the two most soybean's nitrogen-fixing bacteria between
Effects on Nontarget Plants 10 and 40 percent170; and treatment with
common species of birds (white-throated
As a broad-spectrum herbicide, a glyphosate herbicide at the lowest con-
sparrow and common yellowthroat) de-
glyphosate has potent acutely toxic ef- centration tested (10 times typical appli-
creased for two years after treatment. By
fects on most plant species. There are also cation rates) reduced the number of nod-
the fourth year post-spray, densities had
other kinds of serious effects. These in- ules on clover between 68 and 95
returned to normal for these two species.
percent.171
clude effects on endangered species, re-
By then the unsprayed plot had been colo-
duced seed quality, reduction in the abil- All of the studies summarized above
nized by new species of birds (warblers,
ity to fix nitrogen, increased susceptibil- were done in the laboratory. In the field,
vireos, and a hummingbird) which were
not found on the sprayed plots.156 ity to plant diseases, and reduction in the such effects have been difficult to observe.
An earlier three year study of songbird activity of mycorrhizal fungi. However, use of genetically-engineered
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glyphosate-tolerant crop plants means that showing signs of toxicity. Although many 17. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Sub-
stances. 1982. Memo from William Dykstra, Toxi-
nitrogen-fixing bacteria in field situations weed scientists argue that "it is nearly im- cology Branch, to Robert Taylor, Registration
"could be affected by repeated applica- possible for glyphosate resistance to evolve Division, April 29.
18. Martinez, T.T., W.C. Long, and R. Hiller. 1990.
tions of glyphosate."170 in weeds,"182 others argue that "there are Comparison of the toxicology of the herbicide
Glyphosate also impacts other parts of few constraints to weeds evolving resis- Roundup by oral and pulmonary routes of expo-
sure. Proc. West. Pharmacol. Soc. 34:43-46.
the nitrogen cycle. A Canadian study tance." The second group of scientists 19. Tai, T. 1990. Hemodynamic effects of Roundup,
found that treatment of a grass field with appears to be correct. In 1996 an Austra- glyphosate and surfactant in dogs. Jpn. J.
Toxicol. 3(1):63-68. Cited in World Health Orga-
Roundup increased nitrate loss up to 7 lian researcher reported that a popula- nization, United Nations Environment
weeks after treatment. The increase was tion of annual ryegrass had developed re- Programme, the International Labour Organiza-
tion. 1994. Glyphosate. Environmental Health
probably caused by the nutrients released sistance and tolerated five times the rec- Criteria #159. Geneva, Switzerland.
into the soil by dying vegetation.172 ommended field application rate.183 20. Monsanto Co. 1995. Material safety data sheet:
Landmaster BW. www.monsanto.com/ag/, Mar.
Mycorrhizal fungi: Mycorrhizal fungi 21. Monsanto Co. 1997. Material safety data sheet:
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Policy, Feb.
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8. Bureau of National Affairs. Pile & Fisher. 1998. www.ortho.com/content/products/Solaris_msds/
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