Glyphosate Basics: Understanding Exposure, Health Impacts, and Testing

The unfortunate reality is that much of the world that we interact with has pollutants, many of which can have negative impacts on our health. One of the most common and widely used chemicals in both agriculture and residential yards is glyphosate. It is easy to find glyphosate, just take a walk down the aisle of almost any garden center. You can find it on the shelf in herbicide products like Roundup, Bronco, Glifonox, Kleen-up, Rodeo, and Weedoff. The common usage and pervasive presence of glyphosate in our environment raises concerns about its potential impact on human health.

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide first developed by Monsanto in the 1970s. It works by inhibiting a specific enzyme pathway essential for plant growth, making it highly effective in controlling weeds. Glyphosate-containing products, such as Roundup, are extensively used in both agricultural settings for crops like soy, corn, and cotton, and in non-agricultural areas, including residential gardens, public spaces, and industrial sites. Glyphosate is also commonly used as a desiccant (drying agent) for non-organic grains, meaning that grains being dried for later use are doused in the chemical. And while rinsing and washing can reduce the amount of glyphosate in foods, it does not remove all traces of the chemical.

Where is Glyphosate Found?

Glyphosate's extensive use means it is ubiquitous in our environment. It is commonly detected in agricultural fields, but it also contaminates soil, water, and air, spreading far beyond its initial application sites. This widespread presence results in potential exposure through various routes, including food consumption, water, and even the air we breathe.

Symptoms of Glyphosate

Symptoms of glyphosate can vary from person to person and can show up in different severities depending on each person's unique biochemical make-up and can differ between short-term or direct exposure or sustained, long term exposure.

Short-term Exposure

Acute exposure to glyphosate can cause skin irritation, eye damage, and respiratory issues. These symptoms are particularly relevant for individuals applying the herbicide or coming into direct contact with treated areas.

Long-term Exposure

The potential chronic effects of glyphosate exposure are more concerning. Research suggests links between glyphosate and various health issues, including cancer (notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma), ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), endocrine disruption, type 2 Diabetes, and reproductive problems. Glyphosate has also been implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction, affecting cellular energy production and leading to a range of systemic health issues. Some of the most common symptoms/conditions related to glyphosate exposure include: 

In the conventional medicine world, there are conflicting feelings about the health impact and public safety hazards of glyphosate largely due to major health organizations having differing views on glyphosate's safety. While the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans," other organizations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have deemed it safe when used appropriately. These conflicting positions highlight the need for ongoing research and vigilance.

Importance of Testing for Glyphosate in Humans

For medical professionals, understanding the health implications of glyphosate and monitoring glyphosate levels in patients as needed can be a vital component in improving patients' symptoms and overall health.

Testing for glyphosate in human tissues and fluids, particularly urine, is crucial. Urine testing is a preferred method due to its non-invasive nature, ease of collection, and ability to reflect recent exposure levels. Monitoring these levels helps in understanding the extent of exposure and potential health impacts.

How to Test for Glyphosate

There are different ways to measure glyphosate, but when looking at the preferred non-invasive urine sample ELISA or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay is the preferred method.

• At the Doctor's Office: Patients can provide urine samples at medical facilities, where they are then sent to specialized laboratories for analysis. This method ensures accuracy and reliability in detecting glyphosate levels.
• At-Home Testing Kits: For convenience, patients can also use at-home urine testing kits. These kits typically involve collecting a urine sample, following specific instructions, and sending the sample to a lab for analysis. Practitioners can order kits to be drop-shipped to their patients if an in-office visit isn't an option.

When testing for toxins it is also commonly advised to pair the toxin test with an Organic Acids profile to better understand how the toxic exposure may be impacting the body on a mitochondrial level and to fully understand the body’s ability or needs to properly detoxify.

Additional Resources

Borke, J. (2023, April 1). Grass and weed killer poisoning. Medline.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002838.htm

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2015. Conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance glyphosate. EFSA Journal 2015; 13(11):4302, 107 pp. https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4302

Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, August 27). Ingredients Used in Pesticide Products: Glyphosate. EPA.gov. https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate

Gillam, C. 2021. The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice. Island Press.

Gillam, C. 2017. Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science. Island Press.

World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2018, July 19). IARC Monograph on Glyphosate. World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer. https://www.iarc.who.int/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/