News
80% of us might have glyphosate in our bodies – how does that make you feel?
An American health study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that 80% of urine samples collected had detectable levels of glyphosate. Samples were analysed from a group of 2316 US male and female citizens, with a third from children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 18.
Of those tested 1885 samples were found to have glyphosate at or above detectable levels, that’s 8 out of 10 people.
The study was carried out by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Would you like to know if you have glyphosate in your body?
Given the uncertainty around the safety of this ubiquitous chemical substance we are considering offering a new test to help concerned people to find out if they have detectable levels of glyphosate in their body.
If you like to receive updates about testing for glyphosate please sign up at the bottom of this page,
How widely is glyphosate used?
Glyphosate is a herbicide used across the globe in agricultural and domestic settings. It’s been estimated that 8.6 billion kilograms of glyphosate has been sprayed worldwide since its introduction in the early 1970’s. That’s enough to fill more than 3000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Is glyphosate carcinogenic?
Glyphosate is classed by the World Health Organization as “probably carcinogenic” based on data from animal studies.
In 2015 experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency) classed glyphosate as a group 2a carcinogen, a substance that probably causes cancer in people.
Even before the report was published it was alleged by Reuters that the final version was changed, weakening the language used to describe the possible links between glyphosate exposure and the development of tumours in animals.
To date, it has not been re-classified by the IARC but opinion remains divided. In 2022 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reviewed its classification, concluding:
Glyphosate: no change proposed to hazard classification
ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) agrees to keep glyphosate’s current classification as causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life.
Based on a wide-ranging review of scientific evidence, the committee again concludes that classifying glyphosate as a carcinogen is not justified.
How does the body manage exposure to glyphosate?
Glyphosate usually passes through the human body quite quickly, but evidence is emerging that it might stay in the body for longer. Glyphosate has been detected in animal cells such as intestine, liver, muscles, spleen, and kidney. In the same study, chronically ill humans glyphosate was detected in urine samples at higher rates than a healthier population.
This new study is now suggesting that 8 out of 10 people might be carrying detectable levels of glyphosate in their urine.
For more information about glyphosate please download our EDC Insights 5 – Glyphosate.
We would love to hear your views about glyphosate, you can do this via our contact page.
Further reading:
Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases. Samsel, Anthony; Seneff, Stephanie. 2013
The Global Glyphosate Study by the Ramazzini Institute. Learn more.
