Glyphosate

Exposure:

Recent studies have discovered glyphosate exposure to be a cause of many chronic health problems. It can enter the body by direct absorption through the skin, by eating foods treated with glyphosate, or by drinking water contaminated with glyphosate. The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer published a summary in March 2015 that classified glyphosate as a probably carcinogen in humans. Possible cancers linked to glyphosate exposure include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, renal tubule carcinoma, pancreatic islet-cell adenoma, and skin tumors. Studies have also indicated that glyphosate disrupts the microbiome in the intestine, causing a decrease in the ratio of beneficial to harmful bacteria. The relationship between the microbiome of the intestine and overall human health is still unclear, but current research indicates that disruption of the microbiome could cause diseases such as autism, metabolic disorder, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disease.

Possible treatment options:

Treatment of glyphosate toxicity should be centered on determining the route of introduction and avoiding future exposure. Glyphosate is readily metabolized in the body. However, a recent study found that glyphosate accumulates in mammalian bones. Another study found glyphosate to be detectable in mammalian intestine, spleen, liver, muscle, and kidney. Kidney impairment is common in regions where glyphosate may accumulate in ground water as metal chelates. The most effective way to reduce glyphosate exposure is to avoid living in areas where glyphosate is applied and to avoid eating GMO foods or animal products such as milk or meat for which GMO foods were used to feed the animals. Since glyphosate is now commonly combined with the weed killer 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), testing for this chemical with the GPL-TOX test may wish to be considered also.

Glyphosate is the world's most widely produced herbicide. It is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is used in more than 700 different products for agriculture and forestry to home use.

Possible treatment options if in higher ranges:

Treatment of glyphosate toxicity should be centered on determining the route of introduction and avoiding future exposure. Glyphosate is readily metabolized in the body. However, a recent study found that glyphosate accumulates in mammalian bones. Another study found glyphosate to be detectable in mammalian intestine, spleen, liver, muscle, and kidney. Kidney impairment is common in regions where glyphosate may accumulate in ground water as metal chelates. The most effective way to reduce glyphosate exposure is to avoid living in areas where glyphosate is applied and to avoid eating GMO foods or animal products such as milk or meat for which GMO foods were used to feed the animals. Since glyphosate is now commonly combined with the weed killer 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), testing for this chemical with the GPL-TOX test may wish to be considered also.