What is Glyphosate? And why should we care?
Updated at 2020-05-28 03:01:06 Posted in (Primary)General,
GLYPHOSATE
Glyphosate
is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. Despite
its widespread use, the devastating effect it has on human health is only just coming
to the surface in the last decade or so – decades after it has been substantially
added to our ecosystem. Glyphosate originally started out as a
chelating agent prior to being acquired by a well-known powerful multinational
corporation in the 1970’s, where it then went on to be used as the main
chemical in a well known and widely used herbicide (chelating agents are
chemical compounds which can form bonds to a metal ion or other substrate).
Glyphosate residues are found in a high number of foods which are most commonly
consumed in the daily western diet - the top four being wheat, soy,
corn and sugar.
To put it frankly, glyphosate is a toxic
agent which can initiate damaging effects
on the body via several mechanisms leading to potential serious chronic health
issues. One of those mechanisms is by inhibiting a very important group of
liver enzymes in the body (called cytochrome P450 enzymes). These enzymes play
many roles in the body – a major one being their role in liver detoxification
of xenobiotics (synthetic chemicals which are foreign to the body). Not only is
glyphosate toxic to the body, but by inhibiting these
liver enzymes to detoxify other chemicals/toxins from the body – it
actually enhances the damaging effects of those other
chemicals and toxins (from our food and the environment).
In the United States, 80% of genetically
engineered crops are bioengineered for pesticide resistance –
which is more than likely due to the fact that by 2005 the top five biotech
companies were also chemical companies (1). One of the
most concerning food sources to watch out for is soybean products – in
particular the Roundup Ready GM (genetically modified) soy – which is
calculated at 94% of total global soy production in
2016. (2) These soybeans have been genetically modified to tolerate exposure to
glyphosate herbicides – therefore allowing for these plants to be sprayed
more intensively then conventional or organic soybeans
(conventional meaning no genetic modification but still using herbicides and
organic using no chemicals/herbicides).
Back in 1999, the multinational corporation using
this herbicide claimed the residues of glyphosate in their GM soy were
lower than conventional soy which measured up to 16-17mg/kg of
residue. They claimed that the maximum residue levels were 5.6mg/kg and this
was considered extreme levels and not
typically found in their GM soy. However, in a more recent study in
2014 (not produced by this corporation), the glyphosate/pesticide residues were
studied and it was found that 7 out of 10 of the GM-soy samples
tested between 10-15mg/kg of residue (remember – 5.6mg/kg was
considered extreme levels!) while the conventional soy and organic soy had no
residue. (3) The graph below shows the results from the study (AMPA is
aminomethylphosphonic acid which is what roughly 2% of glyphosate is
metabolized into in the body, while the rest enters the blood stream and is
eventually eliminated through our urine). (4)
So what
does this mean for consumers? This means that soy products,
more often than not, are genetically modified and also
contain extremely high amounts of glyphosate residue – and this is globally, so
Australia is definitely affected - all of which can have devastating
consequences on our genes and overall health. A list of the GM foods
currently grown and imported can be found on the Food Standards Australia New
Zealand website – the main ones being canola, cotton (found in many vegetable
oils), soybean, corn, potato, sugar beet, wheat and rice (5). Our fruits and
vegetables are not GM, however more and more GM ingredients are
sneaking into processed foods on the shelves – and it’s these
hidden GM products which may be causing havoc on our health and the health
of our children.
So, what exactly is it doing to our body?
The industry claims glyphosate is harmless and
non-toxic to humans. Short-term studies on rodents show no toxicity – therefore
it is considered safe to consume for humans. However, other studies on rodents
tell a very different story. “Studies involving life-long exposure in
rodents have demonstrated liver and kidney dysfunction and a greatly increased
risk of cancer, with shortened lifespan”. (4) The reason the industry
promotes glyphosate as safe in humans is due to its disruption of a biochemical
pathway which is present in plant cells, but not in human cells. This pathway
is called the shikimate pathway and is involved with
the synthesis of phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine –
essential amino acids found in plants and humans. The shikimate pathway is not
present in human cells; therefore it should be safe… right?
Unfortunately, what isn’t mentioned by the industry
is that the shikimate pathway is present in our gut
bacteria. And our gut bacteria is extremely important to our health as
it plays several key roles in the body – involved in our immunity, digestion,
the metabolism and synthesis of vitamins and minerals, detoxification of
xenobiotics and keeping our gut impermeable (which prevents something called
leaky gut – I have written a separate article about this which can be
found here). Therefore, glyphosate’s
disruption of this pathway is occurring in our own bodies; leaving a negative
impact on our health via increased chronic inflammation which
can damage various systems in the body on a cellular level. This long
term chronic inflammation and cellular damage could be linked with
many of the chronic disease states commonly found in our country today – such
as cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, cardiovascular and liver
disease, obesity, depression, infertility, autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
disease (4).
One study analysed the capacity of glyphosate to
alter gene expression of a variety of genes in vitro (meaning
they isolated cells in a test tube) – and it was found that this chemical has
the capacity to alter estrogen-regulated gene expression –
possibly causing damaging affects to both adult and foetal/infant
cells. (6) These alterations can affect cell apoptosis (cell death
which is required for normal health maintenance) in brain and heart tissues and
can aid tumour growth, hypertension and retardation in infants. (6)
So, how can we avoid or limit our exposure to these
GM products with high glyphosate levels? The best way is to aim for a whole
food diet (meaning fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes,
beans, nuts, seeds) while limiting or eliminating processed foods and processed
meats, as well as highly refined foods. Where
possible, organic foods are the best option but if price or access to organic
foods is an issue – ensure to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean
water before consuming. When buying processed foods – download an app on to your
phone which enables you to search ingredients to see if they are GM or
potentially unsafe (there are plenty of apps these days – chemical maze, eat
informed-food additives, e codes free etc). Avoid vegetable oils and
aim for olive or coconut oils as a healthier option.
In the end, making a conscious effort to know where
your food comes from, how it is grown and whether or not it is having a
negative or positive effect on your health, the health of your children and
future generations is crucial - especially while figures of chronic disease and
cancer are on the rise.
Sources cited:
- Shrader-Frechette, K 2005, 'Property rights and genetic engineering: developing nations at risk', Science And Engineering Ethics, 11:1, 137-149, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15727008
- Recent trends in GE Adoption, USDA, https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspx
- Bohn, T et al 2014, 'Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: Glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans', Food Chemistry, 153, 207-215, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24491722/
- Samsel, A, Seneff, S 2013, 'Glyphosate's Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases', Entropy, vol.15, no.4, pp. 1416-1463
- Food Standards, Australia and New Zealand, https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/gmfood/applications/pages/default.aspx#potato
- Hokanson, R et al 2007, 'Alteration of estrogen-regulated gene expression in human cells induced by the agricultural and horticultural herbicide glyphosate', Human & Experimental Toxicology, 26:9, 747-752, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17984146/
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