Glyphosate, the active ingredient in many herbicides like Roundup, is generally considered to have lower toxicity to humans compared to many other herbicides. Specifically, glyphosate exhibits lower acute toxicity than 94% of all herbicides and has lower chronic toxicity than 90% of all herbicides. Acute toxicity refers to the risk associated with a single exposure, while chronic toxicity involves long-term exposure risks. Glyphosate's structure—a linear carbon chain—differs from most herbicides, which are based on aromatic ring structures, leading to lesser persistence in the environment. Its use, particularly in crops genetically modified to resist it, has increased its exposure risk to applicators. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that the general public and non-applicators have a low potential for exposure to biologically relevant doses. Glyphosate binds tightly to soil particles, preventing it from leaching into groundwater, but its residues can occur in food products, especially if used close to the harvesting period.
The references below provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific understanding of glyphosate's toxicity, comparing it with other herbicides, and its implications for human health and the environment. Sorry, you'll have to put your thinking cap on as I don't have a good reference in YouTube format to spoon feed you with.
- Glyphosate vs. Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Exposure: A Review on Their Toxicity: This review article provides an overview of the toxicity of glyphosate, its metabolite AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), and glyphosate-based herbicides, evaluated in various experimental models.
- Terrestrial ecotoxicity of glyphosate, its formulations, and co-formulants: This study discusses the environmental impact and toxicity of glyphosate, its formulations, and co-formulants. It highlights the importance of considering both active ingredients and co-formulants in evaluating the environmental risk of herbicides.
- Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review: This systematic review examines the potential toxic effects of glyphosate on the nervous system, contributing to the understanding of its health impacts compared to other herbicides.
- Safety evaluation and risk assessment of the herbicide Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, for humans: This publication by Williams GM et al., in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, evaluates the safety and risk of glyphosate and its formulations for human health.
- Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures: a consensus statement: This consensus statement by Myers JP et al., published in Environmental Health, discusses the concerns and risks associated with the use of glyphosate-based herbicides.
- Controversies over human health and ecological impacts of glyphosate: Is it to be banned in modern agriculture?: This review article by Meftaul IM et al. in Environmental Pollution discusses the controversies surrounding the impact of glyphosate on human health and the environment, and whether it should be banned in modern agriculture.