Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review
Introduction and Purpose: Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide globally, primarily due to its effectiveness and compatibility with genetically modified (GM) crops. Its non-selective action on the shikimate pathway makes it suitable for widespread use in agriculture, urban areas, and water m...
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Kazimierz Wielki University
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60109 |
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| author | Aleksandra Słojewska Mikołaj Łabuda Klaudia Królikowska Adrianna Bogucka Teresa Sowińska Oliwia Mentel Jakub Sikora Karolina Knychalska Agata Kotkowiak Agnieszka Szema |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Słojewska Mikołaj Łabuda Klaudia Królikowska Adrianna Bogucka Teresa Sowińska Oliwia Mentel Jakub Sikora Karolina Knychalska Agata Kotkowiak Agnieszka Szema |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Słojewska |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction and Purpose: Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide globally, primarily due to its effectiveness and compatibility with genetically modified (GM) crops. Its non-selective action on the shikimate pathway makes it suitable for widespread use in agriculture, urban areas, and water management. However, growing concerns have emerged over its potential health effects, particularly following its classification by IARC in 2015 as "probably carcinogenic to humans." This review aims to examine current knowledge on glyphosate exposure, its environmental prevalence, human biomonitoring data, and associated health risks.
Brief Description of the State of Knowledge: Extensive global use of glyphosate has led to its detection in air, soil, water, and food. Urinary biomonitoring studies in the U.S. and Europe show high detection rates, with levels varying by region, age, and occupation. Although glyphosate alone exhibits low mammalian toxicity, commercial formulations (GBHs) often contain adjuvants that enhance toxicity. Health concerns include reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, gut microbiome disruption, and interference with embryonic development. Glyphosate's action on gut bacteria and cytochrome P450 enzymes may contribute to conditions such as autism, autoimmune diseases, and developmental abnormalities.
Conclusions: Widespread human exposure to glyphosate is now well-documented. Given its environmental persistence and health concerns, continued biomonitoring and independent research are critical. Future regulatory decisions should assess full GBH formulations, not just glyphosate alone, and consider cumulative effects. Enhancing reporting transparency, and improving public access to pesticide data are essential for protecting environmental and public health.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3d98fa0096f84bdda1af5970c0f0ce88 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2391-8306 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Kazimierz Wielki University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d98fa0096f84bdda1af5970c0f0ce882025-08-20T03:52:16ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-05-018110.12775/JEHS.2025.81.60109Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature ReviewAleksandra Słojewska0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7532-0948Mikołaj Łabuda1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4137-4319Klaudia Królikowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7984-4642Adrianna Bogucka3https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8870-0495Teresa Sowińska4https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0061-212XOliwia Mentel5https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4739-0621Jakub Sikora6https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9637-0709Karolina Knychalska7https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3736-0579Agata Kotkowiak8https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4797-6980Agnieszka Szema9https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5017-3426Independent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in Szczecin, ul. Arkońska 4Independent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in Szczecin, ul. Arkońska 4 71-455 SzczecinUniversity Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 SzczecinIndependent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in Szczecin, ul. Arkońska 4 71-455 SzczecinUniversity Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 SzczecinUniversity Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 SzczecinProfi-Med Medical Center Goleniów Marii Konopnickiej 10A 72-100 GoleniówUniversity Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin Family Medicine Clinic "Podgórna", Podgórna 22 St. 70-205 Szczecin PolandUniversity Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin Introduction and Purpose: Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide globally, primarily due to its effectiveness and compatibility with genetically modified (GM) crops. Its non-selective action on the shikimate pathway makes it suitable for widespread use in agriculture, urban areas, and water management. However, growing concerns have emerged over its potential health effects, particularly following its classification by IARC in 2015 as "probably carcinogenic to humans." This review aims to examine current knowledge on glyphosate exposure, its environmental prevalence, human biomonitoring data, and associated health risks. Brief Description of the State of Knowledge: Extensive global use of glyphosate has led to its detection in air, soil, water, and food. Urinary biomonitoring studies in the U.S. and Europe show high detection rates, with levels varying by region, age, and occupation. Although glyphosate alone exhibits low mammalian toxicity, commercial formulations (GBHs) often contain adjuvants that enhance toxicity. Health concerns include reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, gut microbiome disruption, and interference with embryonic development. Glyphosate's action on gut bacteria and cytochrome P450 enzymes may contribute to conditions such as autism, autoimmune diseases, and developmental abnormalities. Conclusions: Widespread human exposure to glyphosate is now well-documented. Given its environmental persistence and health concerns, continued biomonitoring and independent research are critical. Future regulatory decisions should assess full GBH formulations, not just glyphosate alone, and consider cumulative effects. Enhancing reporting transparency, and improving public access to pesticide data are essential for protecting environmental and public health. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60109environmental exposureglyphosateAMPAbiological monitoringdysbiosis |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Słojewska Mikołaj Łabuda Klaudia Królikowska Adrianna Bogucka Teresa Sowińska Oliwia Mentel Jakub Sikora Karolina Knychalska Agata Kotkowiak Agnieszka Szema Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review Journal of Education, Health and Sport environmental exposure glyphosate AMPA biological monitoring dysbiosis |
| title | Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review |
| title_full | Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review |
| title_short | Glyphosate: Human Exposure and Health Impacts — A Literature Review |
| title_sort | glyphosate human exposure and health impacts a literature review |
| topic | environmental exposure glyphosate AMPA biological monitoring dysbiosis |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60109 |
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