Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina

Despite accumulated evidence indicating glyphosate herbicide (GLY) presents endocrine disrupting properties, there are still discrepancies. Moreover, few epidemiological studies have focused on hormone-related pathologies. This work aimed to investigate the associations between urinary GLY levels an...

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Main Authors: Florencia Doná, Virginia Lorenz, Georgina Stegmayer, Tamara Ricardo, Stefanía D’Iorio, Fernando Ponzo, María Rosa Repetti, Luisina Delma Demonte, María Mercedes Milesi, Jorgelina Varayoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Toxicology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1579952/full
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author Florencia Doná
Virginia Lorenz
Virginia Lorenz
Georgina Stegmayer
Tamara Ricardo
Stefanía D’Iorio
Fernando Ponzo
María Rosa Repetti
Luisina Delma Demonte
María Mercedes Milesi
María Mercedes Milesi
Jorgelina Varayoud
Jorgelina Varayoud
author_facet Florencia Doná
Virginia Lorenz
Virginia Lorenz
Georgina Stegmayer
Tamara Ricardo
Stefanía D’Iorio
Fernando Ponzo
María Rosa Repetti
Luisina Delma Demonte
María Mercedes Milesi
María Mercedes Milesi
Jorgelina Varayoud
Jorgelina Varayoud
author_sort Florencia Doná
collection DOAJ
description Despite accumulated evidence indicating glyphosate herbicide (GLY) presents endocrine disrupting properties, there are still discrepancies. Moreover, few epidemiological studies have focused on hormone-related pathologies. This work aimed to investigate the associations between urinary GLY levels and breast cancer (BC) in women from a region of intense agricultural activity in Argentina, exploring residential proximity to agricultural fields as a potential risk factor for BC. This was a case-control study that involved 90 women from different populations in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Demographic data, lifestyle factors, and residential history were obtained through a questionnaire, while medical outcomes and reproductive history were acquired from medical records. Spot urine samples were collected and the concentrations of GLY and its primary metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) were quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Odds ratios were estimated to assess the strength of the association between the case/control type and each predictor. GLY concentrations were above the limit of detection (LOD) in 86.1% of samples, with a range of 0.37–10.07 µg GLY/g creatinine. AMPA was not detected in any of the samples analyzed. Although urinary GLY concentrations showed no differences between the case and control groups, women residing near agricultural fields showed an increased risk of BC (OR: 7.38, 95% CI: 2.74–21.90). These original findings show the ubiquitous presence of GLY in adult women from Argentina. Interestingly, women living near agricultural fields have a higher risk of BC, suggesting that exposure not only to GLY but also to agrochemicals in general, could predispose to the development of BC in Argentina. While this study provides valuable insights, further and broader assessments of BC distribution in relation to agrochemical exposure acroos different regions of Argentina are needed.
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spelling doaj-art-36341f4315b541e5a6d226ef52ee16132025-08-20T01:55:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Toxicology2673-30802025-05-01710.3389/ftox.2025.15799521579952Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in ArgentinaFlorencia Doná0Virginia Lorenz1Virginia Lorenz2Georgina Stegmayer3Tamara Ricardo4Stefanía D’Iorio5Fernando Ponzo6María Rosa Repetti7Luisina Delma Demonte8María Mercedes Milesi9María Mercedes Milesi10Jorgelina Varayoud11Jorgelina Varayoud12Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, ArgentinaInstituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, ArgentinaCátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, ArgentinaInstituto de Investigaciones en Señales, Sistemas e Inteligencia Computacional, sinc(i), Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas, UNL, CONICET, Santa Fe, ArgentinaDepartamento de Investigación Epidemiológica, Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología “Dr. Juan H. Jara”, ANLIS Malbrán, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaDepartamento de Matemática, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, UNL, Santa Fe, ArgentinaServicio de Ginecología, Hospital José María Cullen, Santa Fe, ArgentinaPrograma de Investigación y Análisis de Residuos y Contaminantes Químicos, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, UNL, Santa Fe, ArgentinaPrograma de Investigación y Análisis de Residuos y Contaminantes Químicos, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, UNL, Santa Fe, ArgentinaInstituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, ArgentinaCátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, ArgentinaInstituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, ArgentinaCátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, ArgentinaDespite accumulated evidence indicating glyphosate herbicide (GLY) presents endocrine disrupting properties, there are still discrepancies. Moreover, few epidemiological studies have focused on hormone-related pathologies. This work aimed to investigate the associations between urinary GLY levels and breast cancer (BC) in women from a region of intense agricultural activity in Argentina, exploring residential proximity to agricultural fields as a potential risk factor for BC. This was a case-control study that involved 90 women from different populations in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Demographic data, lifestyle factors, and residential history were obtained through a questionnaire, while medical outcomes and reproductive history were acquired from medical records. Spot urine samples were collected and the concentrations of GLY and its primary metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) were quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Odds ratios were estimated to assess the strength of the association between the case/control type and each predictor. GLY concentrations were above the limit of detection (LOD) in 86.1% of samples, with a range of 0.37–10.07 µg GLY/g creatinine. AMPA was not detected in any of the samples analyzed. Although urinary GLY concentrations showed no differences between the case and control groups, women residing near agricultural fields showed an increased risk of BC (OR: 7.38, 95% CI: 2.74–21.90). These original findings show the ubiquitous presence of GLY in adult women from Argentina. Interestingly, women living near agricultural fields have a higher risk of BC, suggesting that exposure not only to GLY but also to agrochemicals in general, could predispose to the development of BC in Argentina. While this study provides valuable insights, further and broader assessments of BC distribution in relation to agrochemical exposure acroos different regions of Argentina are needed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1579952/fullherbicide exposureurinebreast cancercase-control studyrisk factors
spellingShingle Florencia Doná
Virginia Lorenz
Virginia Lorenz
Georgina Stegmayer
Tamara Ricardo
Stefanía D’Iorio
Fernando Ponzo
María Rosa Repetti
Luisina Delma Demonte
María Mercedes Milesi
María Mercedes Milesi
Jorgelina Varayoud
Jorgelina Varayoud
Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
Frontiers in Toxicology
herbicide exposure
urine
breast cancer
case-control study
risk factors
title Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
title_full Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
title_fullStr Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
title_short Residential proximity to agricultural fields, urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Argentina
title_sort residential proximity to agricultural fields urinary glyphosate levels and breast cancer risk a case control study in argentina
topic herbicide exposure
urine
breast cancer
case-control study
risk factors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1579952/full
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