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Is it time to reassess current safety standards for glyphosate-based herbicides?

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Chuck Benbrook

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).


Abstract

Use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) increased ~100-fold from 1974 to 2014. Additional increases are expected due to widespread emergence of glyphosateresistant weeds, increased application of GBHs, and preharvest uses of GBHs as desiccants. Current safety assessments rely heavily on studies conducted over 30 years ago. We have considered information on GBH use, exposures, mechanisms of action, toxicity and epidemiology. Human exposures to glyphosate are rising, and a number of in vitro and in vivo studies challenge the basis for the current safety assessment of glyphosate and GBHs. We conclude that current safety standards for GBHs are outdated and may fail to protect public health or the environment. To improve safety standards, the following are urgently needed: (1) human biomonitoring for glyphosate and its metabolites; (2) prioritisation of glyphosate and GBHs for hazard assessments, including toxicological studies that use state-of-the-art approaches; (3) epidemiological studies, especially of occupationally exposed agricultural workers, pregnant women and their children and (4) evaluations of GBHs in commercially used formulations, recognising that herbicide mixtures likely have effects that are not predicted by studying glyphosate alone.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Vandenberg LN, Blumberg B, Antoniou MN, Benbrook CM, Carroll L, Colborn T, Everett LG, Hansen M, Landrigan PJ, Lanphear BP, Mesnage R, vom Saal FS, Welshons WV, Myers JP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Year: 2017

Volume: 71

Issue: 6

Pages: 613-618

Print publication date: 01/06/2017

Online publication date: 12/05/2017

Acceptance date: 30/01/2017

Date deposited: 30/05/2017

ISSN (print): 0143-005X

ISSN (electronic): 1470-2738

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2016-208463

DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208463


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