Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.
Estimated use in the U.S. is between 19 and 26 million pounds per
year.

Most glyphosate-containing products are either made or used with a
surfactant, chemicals that help glyphosate to penetrate plant cells.

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including
humans. Symptoms include eye and skin irritation, cardiac depression,
gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, and accumulation of excess fluid in
the lungs. The surfactant used in a common glyphosate product
(Roundup) is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself; the
combination of the two is yet more toxic.

In animal studies, feeding of glyphosate for three months caused
reduced weight gain, diarrhea, and salivary gland lesions. Lifetime
feeding of glyphosate caused excess growth and death of liver cells,
cataracts and lens degeneration, and increases in the frequency of
thyroid, pancreas, and liver tumors.

Glyphosate-containing products have caused genetic damage in human
blood cells, fruit flies, and onion cells.

Glyphosate causes reduced sperm counts in male rats, a lengthened
estrous cycle in female rats, and an increase in fetal loss together
with a decrease in birth weights in their offspring.

It is striking that laboratory studies have identified adverse effects
of glyphosate or glyphosate-containing products in all standard
categories of toxicological testing.

Two serious cases of fraud have occurred in laboratories conducting
toxicology and residue testing for glyphosate and
glyphosate-containing products.

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Advertised as herbicides that can "eradicate weeds and unwanted
grasses effectively with a high level of environmental safety,"1
glyphosate-based herbicides can seem like a silver bullet to those
dealing with unwanted vegetation. However, an independent, accurate
evaluation of their health and environmental hazards can draw
conclusions very different than those presented by these
advertisements. The following summary of glyphosate's hazards is
intended to serve that purpose. It will appear in two parts: Part 1
discusses the toxicology of glyphosate, its metabolites, and the other
ingredients of glyphosate products and Part 2 will discuss human
exposure to glyphosate and its ecological effects.

Glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine (Figure 1), is a
post-emergent, systemic, and non-selective herbicide used to kill
broad-leaved, grass, and sedge species.2 It has been registered as a
broad spectrum herbicide in the U.S. since 1974 and is used to control
weeds in a wide variety of agricultural, lawn and garden, aquatic, and
forestry situations.3

Most glyphosate herbicides contain the isopropylamine salt of
glyphosate. A related chemical, the sodium salt of glyphosate, acts as
a growth regulator in sugar cane and peanuts and is marketed for that
purpose. The onoammonium salt of glyphosate is also marketed as an
herbicide and growth regulator.4

Glyphosate products are manufactured by Monsanto Company worldwide.
The herbicide is marketed under a variety of trade names: Roundup
(including Roundup D-Pak`, Roundup Lawn and Garden Concentrate, and
Roundup Ready-to-Use) and Rodeo are the most common U.S. trade names.2
The sodium salt is sold as Quotamaster. The monoammonium salt is sold
as Deploy Dry.2 Other brand names used for the isopropylamine salt are
Accord,5 Vision, Ranger, and Sting.2

As an herbicidal compound, glyphosate is unusual in that essentially
no structurally related compounds show any herbicidal activity.

Use

Glyphosate is the eighth most commonly used herbicide in U.S.
agriculture and the second most commonly used herbicide in
nonagricultural situations including aquatic environments. Estimated
annual use according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is between 15 and 20 million pounds in agriculture and between 4 and 6
million pounds elsewhere.7 The largest agricultural uses are in the
production of soybeans, hay and pasture, corn, and oranges.4

About 25 million applications per year are made in U.S. households;
most of these are made on lawns or outdoor areas where a total
vegetation kill is wanted.8

In California, where pesticide use reporting is more comprehensive
than in other states, about 3.4 million pounds were used in 1992;
about 25 percent of this was used along rights-of-way, while 15
percent was used on almonds and 10 percent was used on grapes.9

Mode of Action

The mode of action of glyphosate is "not known at this time,"4
according to EPA. However, "herbicidal action probably arises from the
inhibition of the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids."10 These amino
acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) are used in the
synthesis of proteins and are the essential for growth and survival of
most plants. One particular enzyme important in aromatic amino acid
synthesis, called 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, is
inhibited by glyphosate.10 Glyphosate also "may inhibit or repress"4
two other enzymes, chlorismate mutase and prephrenate hydratase,
involved in other steps of the synthesis of the same amino acids.
These enzymes are all part of what is called the shikimic acid
pathway, present in higher plants and microorganisms but not in
animals.11

Two of the three aromatic amino acids (tryptophan and phenylalanine)
are essential amino acids in the human diet because humans, like all
higher animals, lack the shikimic acid pathway, cannot synthesize
these amino acids, and rely on their foods to provide these compounds.
Tyrosine is synthesized in animals through another pathway.12

Glyphosate can affect enzymes not connected with the shikimic acid
pathway. In sugar cane, it reduces the activity of one of the enzymes
involved in sugar metabolism, acid invertase. This reduction appears
to be mediated by auxins, plant hormones.13

Glyphosate also affects enzyme systems found in animals and humans. In
rats, injection into the abdomen decreases the activity of two
detoxification enzymes, cytochrome P-450 and a monooxygenase, and
decreases the intestinal activity of the enzyme aryl hydrocarbon
hydroxylase (another detoxification enzyme).14

"Inert" Ingredients in Glyphosate-containing Products

Virtually every pesticide product contains ingredients other than what
is called the "active" ingredient(s), those designed to provide
killing action. Their purpose is to make the product easier to use or
more efficient. These ingredients are called "inert," although they
are often not biologically, chemically, or toxicologically inert. In
general, they are not identified on the label of the pesticide
product.

In the case of glyphosate products, many "inerts" have been
identified. Roundup contains a polyethoxylated tallowamine surfactant
(usually abbreviated POEA), related organic acids of glyphosate,
isopropylamine, and water. Both Rodeo and Accord contain glyphosate
and water.15 (However, label instructions usually require adding a
surfactant during use.15) See "Toxicology of 'Inert' Ingredients of
Glyphosate-containing Products," p. 17, for basic information about
these "inert" ingredients.

Many of the toxicology studies that will be summarized in this
factsheet have been conducted using glyphosate, the active ingredient,
alone. Some have been conducted with commercial products containing
glyphosate and "inert" ingredients. When toxicology testing is not
done with the product as it is actually used, it is impossible to
accurately assess its hazards.

We will discuss both types of studies, and will identify insofar as is
possible exactly what material was used to conduct each study.

Acute Toxicity to Laboratory Animals

Glyphosate's acute oral median lethal dose (the dose that causes death
in 50 percent of a population of test animals; LD50) in rats is
greater than 4,320 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight.
This places the herbicide in Toxicity Category III (Caution).4 Its
acute dermal toxicity (dermal LD50) in rabbits is greater than 2,000
mg/kg of body weight, also Toxicity Category III.4

If animals are given glyphosate in other ways, it is much more acutely
toxic. When given intraperitoneally (the dose applied by injection
into the abdomen), glyphosate is between 10 and 20 times more toxic to
rats (with an LD50 between 192-467 mg/kg)2,16 than it is when given
orally. Intraperitoneal injection also caused fever, cessation of
breathing, and convulsions.17 While this kind of exposure is not one
that would be encountered under conditions of normal use, these
studies indicate the kinds of effects glyphosate can potentially cause
in mammals.

Commercial glyphosate-containing products are more acutely toxic than
glyphosate alone. Two recent (1990 and 1991) studies compared the
amount of Roundup required to cause death in rats with the amount of
either glyphosate alone or POEA alone that would cause death. The
studies found that in combination, the amount of glyphosate and POEA
required to kill was about 1/3 of a lethal dose of either compound
separately. The Roundup formulation tested was also more toxic than
POEA alone.18,19

As with glyphosate alone, glyphosate-containing products are more
toxic when administered other ways than orally. Inhalation of Roundup
by rats caused "signs of toxicity in all test groups,"20 even at the
lowest concentration tested. These signs included a dark nasal
discharge, gasping, congested eyes, reduced activity, hair standing
erect,21 and body weight loss following exposure.20 Lungs were red or
blood-congested.21 The dose required to cause lung damage and
mortality following pulmonary administration of Roundup Lawn and
Garden Concentrate or Roundup-Ready-to-Use (the glyphosate product is
directly forced into the trachea, the tube carrying air into the
lungs) was only 1/10 the dose causing damage through oral
administration.18

Effects on the Circulatory System: When dogs were given intravenous
injections of glyphosate, POEA, or Roundup so that blood
concentrations were approximately those found in humans who ingested
glyphosate, a variety of circulatory effects were found. Glyphosate
increased the ability of the heart muscle to contract. POEA reduced
the output of the heart and the pressure in the arteries. Together
(Roundup), the result was cardiac depression.22

Eye Irritation: Glyphosate is classified as a mild eye irritant by
EPA, with effects lasting up to seven days4 although more serious
effects were found by the World Health Organization. In two of the
four studies they reviewed, glyphosate was "strongly irritating"2 to
rabbits' eyes and a third test found it "irritating."2 In tests of
glyphosate-containing products, all eight products tested were
irritating to rabbit eyes, and four of the products were "strongly" or
"extremely" irritating.2

Skin Irritation: Glyphosate is classified as a slightly irritating to
skin. Roundup is a "moderate skin irritant" and causes redness and
swelling on both intact and abraded rabbit skin. Recovery can take
more than two weeks.20

Acute Toxicity to Humans

The acute toxicity of glyphosate products to humans was first widely
publicized by physicians in Japan who studied 56 cases of Roundup
poisoning. Most of the cases were suicides or attempted suicides; nine
cases were fatal. Symptoms of acute poisoning in humans included
gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, excess fluid in the lungs, pneumonia,
clouding of consciousness, and destruction of red blood cells.23 They
calculated that the mean amount ingested in the fatal cases was
slightly more than 200 milliliters (about 3/4 of a cup). They believed
that POEA was the cause of Roundup's toxicity.23 More recent reviews
of glyphosate poisoning incidents have found similar symptoms, as well
as lung congestion or dysfunction,24-26, erosion of the
gastrointestinal tract,24,26 abnormal electrocardiograms,26 massive
gastrointestinal fluid loss,27 low blood pressure,23,26 and kidney
damage or failure.24,25,27

Smaller amounts of Roundup also cause adverse effects. In general
these include the skin or eye irritation documented in animal studies,
as well as some of the symptoms seen in humans following ingestion.
For example, rubbing of Roundup in an eye caused swelling of the eye
and lid, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, and elevated blood pressure.
Wiping the face with a hand that had contacted leaky Roundup spray
equipment caused a swollen face and tingling of the skin. Accidental
drenching with Roundup (horticultural strength) caused recurrent
eczema of the hands and feet lasting two months.25

Different symptoms have been observed when a different type of
exposure has occurred. In Great Britain, a study compared the effects
of breathing dust from a flax milling operation that used flax treated
with Roundup with the effects of dust from untreated flax. Treated
flax dust caused a decrease in lung function and an increase in throat
irritation, coughing, and breathlessness.28

Subchronic Toxicity

Experiments in which glyphosate was fed to laboratory animals for 13
weeks showed a variety of effects. In experiments conducted by the
National Toxicology Program (NTP), microscopic salivary gland lesions
were found in all doses tested in rats (200 - 3400 mg/kg per day) and
in all but the lowest dose tested in mice (1,000-12,000 mg/kg per
day). Both the parotid and submandibular salivary glands were affected
in rats; in mice the lesions were confined to the parotid gland. Based
on further experiments, NTP concluded the lesions were mediated by the
adrenal hormone adrenalin.29

The NTP study also found evidence of effects on the liver: increases
in bile acids as well as two liver enzymes were found in both males
and females. Other effects found in this study were reduced weight
gain in male and female rats and mice; diarrhea in male and female
rats; and changes in the relative weights of kidney, liver and thymus
in male rats and mice.29

Other subchronic laboratory tests found decreased weight gains (using
doses of 2500 mg/kg per day)30 along with an increase in the weights
of brain, hearts, kidney, and livers in mice.2 In rats, blood levels
of potassium and phosphorus increased at all doses tested (60-1600
mg/kg/day) in both sexes. There was also an increase in pancreatic
lesions in males.4

As in acute toxicity tests, glyphosate-containing products are more
toxic than glyphosate alone in subchronic tests. In a 7 day study with
calves, 790 mg/kg of Roundup caused labored breathing, pneumonia, and
death of 1/3 of the animals tested. At lower doses decreased food
intake and diarrhea were observed.2

Chronic Toxicity

Glyphosate is also toxic in long-term studies. The following effects
were found in lifetime glyphosate feeding studies using mice:
decreased body weight, excessive growth of particular liver cells,
death of the same liver cells, and chronic inflammation of the kidney.
Effects were significant only in males and at the highest dose tested
(about 4800 mg/kg of body weight per day). In females, excessive
growth of some kidney cells occurred.31 At a lower dose (814 mg/kg of
body weight per day) excessive cell division in the urinary bladder
occurred.2

Lifetime feeding studies with rats found the following effects:
decreased body weight in females; an increased incidence of cataracts
and lens degeneration in males; and increased liver weight in males.
These effects were significant at the highest dose tested (900-1200
mg/kg of body weight per day).4 At a lower dose (400 mg/kg of body
weight per day) inflammation of the stomach's mucous membrane occurred
in both sexes.2

Carcinogenicity

The potential of glyphosate to cause cancer has been a controversial
subject since the first lifetime feeding studies were analyzed in the
early 1980s. The first study (1979-1981) found an increase in
testicular interstitial tumors in male rats at the highest dose tested
(30 mg/kg of body weight per day).32 as well as an increase in the
frequency of a thyroid cancer in females.33 The second study
(completed in 1983) found dose-related increases in the frequency of a
rare kidney tumor in male mice.34 The most recent study (1988-1990)
found an increase in the number of pancreas and liver tumors in male
rats together with an increase of the same thyroid cancer found in the
1983 study in females.35

All of these increases in tumor incidence are "not considered
compound-related"35 according to EPA. In each case, different reasons
are given for this conclusion. For the testicular tumors, EPA accepted
the interpretation of an industry pathologist who said that the
incidence in treated groups (12 percent) was similar to those observed
in other control (not glyphosate-fed) rat feeding studies (4.5
percent).36 For the thyroid cancer, EPA stated that it was not
possible to consistently distinguish between cancers and tumors of
this type, so that the incidences of the two should be considered
together. The combined data are not statistically significant.33 For
the kidney tumors, the registrants reexamined slides of kidney tissue,
finding an additional tumor in untreated mice so that statistical
significance was lost. This was despite a memo from EPA's pathologist
stating that the lesion in question was not really a tumor.34 For the
pancreatic tumors, EPA stated that there was no dose-related trend and
no progression to malignancy. For the liver tumors and the thyroid
tumors, EPA stated that pairwise comparisons between treated and
untreated animals were not statistically significant and there was no
progression to malignancy.35

EPA concluded that glyphosate should be classified as Group E,
"evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans."35 They added that this
classification "is based on the available evidence at the time of
evaluation and should not be interpreted as a definitive conclusion
that the agent will not be a carcinogen under any circumstances." 35
From a public health perspective, the results of the laboratory tests
leave many questions unanswered. An EPA statistician wrote in a memo
concerning one of the carcinogenicity studies, "Viewpoint is a key
issue. Our viewpoint is one of protecting the public health when we
see suspicious data."36 Unfortunately, EPA has not taken that
conservative viewpoint in its assessment of glyphosate's
cancer-causing potential.

There are no studies available to NCAP evaluating the carcinogenicity
of Roundup or other glyphosate-containing products. Without such
tests, the carcinogenicity of glyphosate-containing products is
unknown.

Mutagenicity

Laboratory studies of a variety of organisms have shown that
glyphosate-containing products cause genetic damage:

* In fruit flies, Roundup and Pondmaster (an aquatic herbicide
consisting of glyphosate and a trade secret surfactant)37 both
increased the frequency of sex-linked, recessive lethal mutations.
(These are mutations that are usually visible only in males because
two damaged genes are required in order to be expressed in females.)
In this study, the frequency of lethal mutations was between 3 and 6
times higher in fruit flies that had been exposed to glyphosate
products during their larval development than in unexposed flies.38

* A laboratory study of human lymphocytes (one type of white blood
cell) showed an increase in the frequency of sister chromatid
exchanges following exposure to high doses of Roundup.39 (Sister
chromatid exchanges are exchanges of genetic material during cell
division between members of a chromosome pair. They result from point
mutations.)

* In Salmonella bacteria, Roundup was weakly mutagenic at high
concentrations. In onion root cells, Roundup caused an increase in
chromosome aberrations.40

Glyphosate alone has rarely caused genetic damage in laboratory tests.
None of the mutagenicity studies required for registration of
glyphosate have shown it to be mutagenic. Tests included studies of
mutations in hamster ovary cells, bacteria, and mouse bone marrow
cells.4 Glyphosate was also not mutagenic in other studies of rats,
mice,2 and onion cells40 but caused chromosome stickiness and
fragmentation in water hyacinth root cells.41

Reproductive Effects

Laboratory studies have demonstrated a number of effects of glyphosate
on reproduction, including effects on mothers, fathers, and offspring.

In rat feeding studiess, glyphosate reduced sperm counts (at the two
highest doses tested) and lengthened the estrous cycle, how often a
female comes into heat (at the highest dose tested).29 Other effects
on mother rats in laboratory tests include soft stools, diarrhea,
breathing rattles, red nasal discharge, reduced activity, growth
retardation, decreased body weights, and increased mortality.2 Effects
on offspring included an increase in fetal loss, a decrease in the
number of embryos successfully implanted into the uterus, a decrease
in the number of viable fetuses, a slight decrease in litter size, a
decrease in fetal and pup weights, and an increase in problems with
breast bone formation.2 Effects were observed at the highest doses
tested (1500 and 3500 mg/kg of body weight per day).2

In a study of rabbits using doses that were lower than those used in
the rat studies above, glyphosate caused diarrhea, nasal discharge,
and death in mothers.2 The only effect on offspring was a decrease in
fetal weight in all treated groups.42

A study in which glyphosate was fed to rats for three generations
after which the offspring were examined for birth defects found kidney
damage at a relatively low dose (30 mg/kg of body weight). However, a
second study (only two generations long) did not find similar effects,
and EPA called the damage in the first study "spurious."4 From a
public health perspective, however, a new three generation study is
crucial.

Toxicology of Glyphosate's Major Metabolite

In general, studies of the breakdown of glyphosate find only one
metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA).2 (See Figure 5.)
Although AMPA has low acute toxicity (its LD50 is 8,300 mg/kg of body
weight in rats)20 and is only slightly irritating to eyes,43 it causes
a variety of toxicological problems. In subchronic tests on rats, AMPA
caused decreased weight gain in males; an increase in the acidity of
urine in both males and females; an increase in the activity of an
enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase, in both sexes; a decrease in liver
weights in males at all doses tested; and excessive cell division in
the lining of the urinary bladder and in part of the kidney in both
sexes.20 AMPA is much more persistent than glyphosate; studies in
eight states found that the half-life in soil (the time required for
half of the original concentration of a compound to break down or
dissipate) were between 119 and 958 days.2

Quality of Toxicology Testing

Tests done on glyphosate to meet registration requirements have been
associated with fraudulent practices. Laboratory fraud first made
headlines in 1983 when EPA publicly announced that a 1976 audit had
discovered "serious deficiencies and improprieties" in toxicology
studies conducted by Industrial Biotest Laboratories (IBT).44 Problems
included "countless deaths of rats and mice that were not reported,"
"fabricated data tables," and "routine falsification of data."44

IBT was one of the largest laboratories performing tests in support of
pesticide registrations.44 About 30 tests on glyphosate and
glyphosate-containing products were performed by IBT, including 11 of
the 19 chronic toxicology studies.45 A compelling example of the poor
quality of IBT data comes from an EPA toxicologist who wrote, "It is
also somewhat difficult not to doubt the scientific integrity of a
study when the IBT stated that it took specimens from the uteri (of
male rabbits) for histopathological examination."46 (Emphasis added.)

In 1991, laboratory fraud returned to the headlines when EPA alleged
that Craven Laboratories, a company that performed contract studies
for 262 pesticide companies including Monsanto, had falsified test
results.47 "Tricks" employed by Craven Labs included "falsifying
aboratory notebook entries" and "manually manipulating scientific
equipment to produce false reports."48 Roundup residue studies on
plums, potatoes, grapes, and sugarbeets were among the tests in
question.49

The following year, the owner/president of Craven Laboratories and
three employees were indicted on 20 felony counts. A number of other
employees agreed to plead guilty on a number of related charges.50 The
owner was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $50,000; Craven
Labs was fined 15.5 million dollars, and ordered to pay 3.7 million
dollars in restitution.48

Although the tests of glyphosate identified as fraudulent have been
replaced, these practices cast shadows on the entire pesticide
registration process.

References

1. Monsanto, the Agricultural Group. Undated. Roundup into the
twenty-first century. St. Louis, MO.

2. World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme,
the International Labour Organization. 1994. Glyphosate. Environmental
Health Criteria #159. Geneva, Switzerland.

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1986. Pesticide fact sheet:
Glyphosate. No. 173. Washington, D.C.: Office of Pesticide Programs.
(June.)

4. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticide Programs. Special Review and
Reregistration Division. 1993. Reregistration eligibility decision
(RED): Glyphosate. Washington, D.C. (September.)

5. Monsanto Company Agricultural Products. 1992. Accord label. St.
Louis, MO. (December 1.)

6. Carlisle, S.M. and J.T. Trevors. 1988. Glyphosate in the
environment. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 39:409-420.

7. Aspelin, A.L. 1994. Pesticide industry sales and usage: 1992 and
1993 market estimates. U.S. EPA. Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances. Office of Pesticide Programs. Biological and
Economic Analysis Division. Washington, D.C. (June.)

8. Whitmore, R.W., J.E. Kelly, and P.L. Reading. 1992. National home
and garden pesticide use survey. Final report, Vol. 1: Executive
summary, results, and recommendations. Research Triangle Park, NC:
Research Triangle Institute.

9 California Environmental Protection Agency. Dept. of Pesticide
Regulation. Information Services Branch. 1994. Pesticide use report:
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10. Cremlyn, R.J. 1991. Agrochemicals: Preparation and mode of action.
Chichester, U.K: John Wiley & Sons. Pp.257-258.

11. Gilchrist, D.G. and T. Kosuge. 1980. Aromatic amino acid
biosynthesis and its regulation. In Miflin, B.J. (ed.) The
biochemistry of plants. New York: Academic Press. Pp. 507-513

12. Metzler, D.E. 1977. Biochemistry: The chemical reactions of living
cells. Pp. 849-850. New York, NY: Academic Press.

13. Su, L.Y. et al. 1992. The relationship of glyphosate treatment to
sugar metabolism in sugarcane: New physiological insights. J. Plant
Physiol. 140:168-173.

14. Hietanen, E., K. Linnainmaa, and H. Vainio. 1983. Effects of
phenoxy herbicides and glyphosate on the hepatic and intestinal
biotransformation activities in the rat. Acta Pharma. et Toxicol.
53:103-112.

15. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest
Region. 1994. Glyphosate herbicide information profile. (October.)

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Intern. Cong. of Toxicol. (Toronto, Canada). Cited in Olorunsogo,
O.O., E.A. Bababunmi, and O. Bassir. 1979. Effect of glyphosate on rat
liver mitochondria in vivo. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.
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17. Olorunsogo, O.O. 1976. Ph.D. thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
Nigeria. Cited in Olorunsogo, O.O., E.A. Bababunmi, and O. Bassir.
1979. Effect of glyphosate on rat liver mitochondria in vivo. Bull.
Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 22:357-364.

18. Martinez, T.T., W.C. Long, and R. Hiller. 1990. Comparison of the
toxicology of the herbicide Roundup by oral and pulmonary routes of
exposure. Proc. West. Pharmacol. Soc. 33:193-197.

19. Martinez, T.T. and K. Brown. 1991. Oral and pulmonary toxicology
of the surfactant used in Roundup herbicide. Proc. West. Pharmacol.
Soc. 34:43-46.

20. Agriculture Canada. Food Production and Inspection Branch.
Pesticides Directorate. 1991. Discussion document: Pre-harvest use of
glyphosate. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (November 27.)

21. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1982. Memo
from William Dykstra, Toxicology Branch, to Robert Taylor,
Registration Division. (April 29.)

22. Tai, T. 1990. Hemodynamic effects of Roundup, glyphosate and
surfactant in dogs. Jpn. J. Toxicol. 3(1): 63-68. Cited in World
Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, the
International Labour Organization. 1994. Glyphosate. Environmental
Health Criteria #159. Geneva, Switzerland.

23. Sawada, Y., Y. Nagai, M. Ueyama, and I. Yamamoto. 1988. Probable
toxicity of surface-active agent in commercial herbicide containing
glyphosate. Lancet 1(8580):299.

24. Tominack, R.L. et al. 1991. Taiwan National Poison Center: Survey
of glyphosate-surfactant herbicide ingestions. Clin. Toxicol.
29(1):91-109.

25. Temple, W.A. and N.A. Smith. 1992. Glyphosate herbicide poisoning
experience in New Zealand. N.Z. Med. J. 105:173-174.

26. Talbot, A.R. et al. 1991. Acute poisoning with a
glyphosate-surfactant herbicide ('Roundup'): A review of 93 cases.
Human Exp. Toxicol. 10:1-8.

27. Menkes, D.B., W.A. Temple, and I.R. Edwards. 1991. Intentional
self-poisoning with glyphosate-containing herbicides. Human Exp.
Toxicol. 10:103-107.

28. Jamison, J.P., J.H.M. Langlands, R.C. Lowry. 1986. Ventilatory
impairment from pre-harvest retted flax. Brit. J. Ind. Med.
43:809-813.

29. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service.
National Institutes of Health. NTP technical report on toxicity
studies of glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6) administered in dosed feed
to F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. (NIH Publication 92-3135). Toxicity
Reports Series No. 16. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Toxicology
Program.

30. U.S. EPA. Office of Toxic Substances. 1980. EPA Reg. #524-308;
glyphosate; 3-month mouse feeding study. Memo from William Dykstra,
Health Effects Division, to Robert Taylor, Registration Division.
Washington, D.C. (September 29.)

31. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1985.
Glyphosate; EPA Reg.#524-308; Mouse oncogenicity study. Washington,
D.C. (April 3.)

32. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1982. EPA
Reg. #524-308; Lifetime feeding study in rats with glyphosate. Memo
from William Dykstra, Health Effects Division to Robert Taylor,
Registration Division. Washington, D.C. (February 18.)

33. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1983.
Glyphosate; EPA Reg. #524-308; A lifetime feeding study of glyphosate
in Sprague-Dawley rats; a preliminary addendum to review dated
2/18/83. Memo to Robert Taylor, Registration Division. Washington,
D.C. (February 15.)

34. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1985.
Glyphosate Q Evaluation of kidney tumors in male mice. Chronic feeding
study. Memo from L. Kasza, Toxicology Branch, to W. Dykstra,Toxicology
Branch. Washington, D.C. (December 4.)

35. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1991. Second
peer review of glyphosate. Memo from W. Dykstra and G.Z. Ghali, Health
Effects Division to R. Taylor, Registration Division, and Lois Rossi,
Special Review and Reregistration Division. Washington, D.C. (October
30.)

36. U.S. EPA Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1985. Use of
historical data in determining the weight of evidence from kidney
tumor incidence in the glyphosate two-year feeding study; and some
remarks on false positives. Memo from Herbert Lacayo to Reto Engler
(both Office of Pesticide Programs, Health Effects Division).
Washington, D.C. (February 26.)

37. Monsanto Co. 1988. Material safety data sheet: Pondmaster aquatic
herbicide. St. Louis, MO. (April.)

38. Kale, P.G. et al. 1995. Mutagenicity testing of nine herbicides
and pesticides currently used in agriculture. Environ. Mol. Mutagen.
25:148-153.

39. Vigfusson, N.V. and E.R. Vyse. 1980. The effect of the pesticides,
Dexon, Capton and Roundup on sister-chromatid exchanges in human
lymphocytes in vitro. Mutation Research 79:53-57.

40. Rank, J. et al. 1993. Genotoxicity testing of the herbicide
Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate isopropylamine using the
mouse bone marrow micronucleus test, Salmonella mutagenicity test, and
Allium anaphase-telophase test. Mut. Res. 300:29-36.

41. Goltenboth, F. 1977. The effect of glyphosate and ametryn on the
root tip mitosis of water hyacinth. Proc. Asian Pac. Weed Sci. 6th
Conf. 2:255. Cited in Hess, F.D. 1989. Herbicide interference with
cell division in plants. Chapter 5 of Bgez, P and Sandmann, G. (eds.)
Target sites of herbicide action. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc.

42. U.S. EPA. Office of Toxic Substances. 1980. EPA Reg. #524-308;
glyphosate; submission of rat teratology, rabbit teratology, dominant
lethal mutagenicity assay in mice. Memo from W. Dykstra, Health
Effects Division, to Robert Taylor, Registration Division. Washington,
D.C. (Undated.)

43. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1986.
Guidance for the reregistration of pesticide products containing
glyphosate as the active ingredient. Washington, D.C. (June.)

44. U.S. Congress. House of Representatives. Committee on Government
Operations. 1984. Problems plague the Environmental Protection
Agency's pesticide registration activities. House Report 98-1147.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

45. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1983. Summary
of the IBT review program. Washington, D.C. (July.)

46. U.S. EPA. 1978. Data validation. Memo from K. Locke, Toxicology
Branch, to R. Taylor, Registration Branch. Washington, D.C. (August
9.)

47. U.S. EPA. Communications and Public Affairs. 1991. Note to
correspondents. Washington, D.C. (March 1.)

48. U.S. EPA. Communications, Education, And Public Affairs. 1994.
Press advisory. Craven Laboratories, owner, and 14 employees sentenced
for falsifying pesticide tests. Washington, D.C. (March 4.)

49. U.S. EPA. Communications and Public Affairs. 1991. Press advisory.
EPA lists crops associated with pesticides for which residue and
environmental fate studies were allegedly manipulated. Washington,
D.C. (March 29.)

50. U.S. Dept. of Justice. United States Attorney. Western District of
Texas. 1992. Texas laboratory, its president, 3 employees indicted on
20 felony counts in connection with pesticide testing. Austin, TX.
(September 29.)

=======================================

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| P.O. Box 1393 Eugene, OR 97440 |

| Phone: (541) 344-5044 |

| email: |

========================================

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|Phone: (415) 541-9140 | *For general information|

|Fax: (415) 541-9253 | about PANNA, send an |

|email: | email message to |

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========================================

Return to Poison Page

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--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

"Malcolm" wrote in message
news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews...
Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.
snip war and piece!

If I wanted to read a book about pesticides I'd go to a bookshop!
Jeez!
L

"Malcolm" wrote in message
news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews...
Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.

I'm confused.... This article is from the Journal of Pesticide Reform, and
yet the whole thing is about an herbicide????

M

On Thu, 15 May 2003 16:27:17 GMT, "Zizz"
wrote:


"Malcolm" wrote in message
news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews. ..
Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.
snip war and piece!

If I wanted to read a book about pesticides I'd go to a bookshop!

No you don't, you just need to read the label on the weedkiller box!


--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

On Thu, 15 May 2003 16:36:12 GMT, "Michelle Fulton"
wrote:

"Malcolm" wrote in message
news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews. ..
Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.

I'm confused....

No doubt.



--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

In article 1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.
Estimated use in the U.S. is between 19 and 26 million pounds per
year.

Most glyphosate-containing products are either made or used with a
surfactant, chemicals that help glyphosate to penetrate plant cells.
More or less right so far.

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

--
Paul

On Thu, 15 May 2003 16:52:53 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

In article 1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.
Estimated use in the U.S. is between 19 and 26 million pounds per
year.

Most glyphosate-containing products are either made or used with a
surfactant, chemicals that help glyphosate to penetrate plant cells.
More or less right so far.

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

Talk about select vision. Try quoting it in context and in conjunction
with all the other research into this highly toxic substance.

You sees the facts, you makes up your mind. (do it quick while you
still have one)
..

Human Toxicity

Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. Glyphosate can interfere with some
enzyme functions in animals but symptoms of poisoning are only seen at
very high doses. However, products containing glyphosate also contain
other compounds which can be toxic. In particular most contain
surfactants known as polyoxyethyleneamines (POEA). Some of these are
much more toxic than glyphosate. These account for problems associated
with worker exposure. They are serious irritants of the respiratory
tract, eyes and skin and are contaminated with dioxane (not dioxin)
which is a suspected carcinogen. Some are toxic to fish.

In California, glyphosate is the third most commonly-reported cause of
pesticide related illness among agricultural workers. Glyphosate is
the most frequent cause of complaints to the UK’s Health and Safety
Executive’s Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel. New formulations,
with less irritating surfactants, have been developed by Monsanto
(e.g. Roundup Biactive), but cheaper, older preparations are still
available.

Environmental Toxicity

Glyphosate is one of the most toxic herbicides, with many species of
wild plants being damaged or killed by applications of less than 10
micrograms per plant. Glyphosate can be more damaging to wild flora
than many other herbicides, as aerial spraying with glyphosate can
give average drifts of 1200 to 2500 feet and ground spraying with
glyphosate may cause damage to sensitive plants up to 300 feet from
the field sprayed. Glyphosate use is thought to affect hedgerow trees,
causing die-back, and may reduce trees' winter hardiness and
resistance to fungal disease

The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low.
However, its effect on flora can have a damaging effect on mammals and
birds through habitat destruction. The US EPA concluded that many
endangered species of plants, as well as the Houston toad, may be at
risk from glyphosate use.

Fish and invertebrates are more sensitive to formulations of
glyphosate. As with humans, the surfactants are responsible for much
of the harm . Toxicity is increased with higher water temperatures,
and pH. In Australia, guidelines state that most formulations of
glyphosate should not be used in or near water because of their toxic
effects on tadpoles and adult frogs. The newer, non-irritant
formulations such as Roundup Biactive are not included in this advice.

Of nine herbicides tested for their toxicity to soil microorganisms,
glyphosate was found to be the second most toxic to a range of
bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeasts. However, when glyphosate
comes into contact with the soil it rapidly binds to soil particles
and is inactivated. Unbound glyphosate is degraded by bacteria. Low
activity because of binding to soil particles suggests that
glyphosate's effects on soil flora will be limited. However, some
recent work shows that glyphosate can be readily released from certain
types of soil particles, and therefore may leach into water or be
taken up by plants.


--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

Malcolm gets my vote on a knockout

Zizz wrote:
: "Malcolm" wrote in message
: news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews...
:: Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
:: By Caroline Cox.
:: Journal of Pesticide Reform
:: Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
:: Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.
:: snip war and piece!
:
: If I wanted to read a book about pesticides I'd go to a bookshop!
: Jeez!
: L

Robert

On Thu, 15 May 2003 17:22:18 +0000 (UTC), "The Devil's Advocate"
wrote:

Malcolm gets my vote on a knockout

Why bother going to a bookshop anyway, when you can read it here!
lol... I love my own jokes I shirley do.



Zizz wrote:
: "Malcolm" wrote in message
: news:1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews...
:: Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
:: By Caroline Cox.
:: Journal of Pesticide Reform
:: Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
:: Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.
:: snip war and piece!
:
: If I wanted to read a book about pesticides I'd go to a bookshop!
: Jeez!
: L

Robert


--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

In article e891b90db90798f6f9d71605e451c328@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,
including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the
acute toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

Talk about select vision. Try quoting it in context and in conjunction
with all the other research into this highly toxic substance.
OK, how about this bit :

Journal of Pesticide Research :
Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,

Greenpeace :
Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low.

I understand.
Obviously not


--
Paul

On Thu, 15 May 2003 17:34:56 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

In article e891b90db90798f6f9d71605e451c328@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,
including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the
acute toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

Talk about select vision. Try quoting it in context and in conjunction
with all the other research into this highly toxic substance.
OK, how about this bit :

Journal of Pesticide Research :
Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,

Greenpeace :
Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low.

I understand.
Obviously not

Such a shame to see someone bury their head in the sand, an ostrich,
it's what it does, but a human!

You carry on consuming it then, cheers!


--








So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

/´¯/)
/¯../
/..../
/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
/'/.../..../......./¨¯\
('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
\.................'...../
''...\.......... _.·´
\..............(
\.............\..

In article 5481fffa68f7b3fbc81b621fc7c0004d@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

On Thu, 15 May 2003 17:34:56 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

In article e891b90db90798f6f9d71605e451c328@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,
including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the
acute toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

Talk about select vision. Try quoting it in context and in
conjunction
with all the other research into this highly toxic substance.
OK, how about this bit :

Journal of Pesticide Research :
Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,

Greenpeace :
Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the
acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low.

I understand.
Obviously not

Such a shame to see someone bury their head in the sand, an ostrich,
it's what it does, but a human!
So is glyphosate acutely toxic to animals or not then ?

You carry on consuming it then, cheers!
I don't consume it. I use it on ragwort, which *is* toxic.

--
Paul

In article e891b90db90798f6f9d71605e451c328@TeraNews,
Malcolm wrote:

Human Toxicity

Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. Glyphosate can interfere with some
enzyme functions in animals but symptoms of poisoning are only seen at
very high doses. However, products containing glyphosate also contain
other compounds which can be toxic. In particular most contain
surfactants known as polyoxyethyleneamines (POEA). Some of these are
much more toxic than glyphosate. These account for problems associated
with worker exposure. They are serious irritants of the respiratory
tract, eyes and skin and are contaminated with dioxane (not dioxin)
which is a suspected carcinogen. Some are toxic to fish.

In California, glyphosate is the third most commonly-reported cause of
pesticide related illness among agricultural workers. Glyphosate is
the most frequent cause of complaints to the UK’s Health and Safety
Executive’s Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel. New formulations,
with less irritating surfactants, have been developed by Monsanto
(e.g. Roundup Biactive), but cheaper, older preparations are still
available.

this is misleading. In the first part we are told that it isn't the
glyphosate that is toxic but the surfactant. Then in the second part the
word 'glyphosate' is used in place of 'glyphosate containing
formulations' or Roundup (old formulations). The last sentence even
argues against your case.

The following stuff (snipped) points out it is highly toxic to plants.
Wouldn't be much use as a herbicide if it wasn't now would it?

If you want to quote stuff, at least make sure it supports your position.

Peter

--
Peter Ashby
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded.
Reverse the Spam and remove to email me.

In article ,
wrote:

OK, how about this bit :

Journal of Pesticide Research :
Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals,

Yes, and other stuff posted and the original post points out that the
detergents are the toxic bits, not the glyphosate. So campaign against
toxic detergents, not a highly effective, low toxicity, biodegradable
herbicide.

Peter

--
Peter Ashby
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded.
Reverse the Spam and remove to email me.