Quantifiable urine glyphosate levels detected in 99% of the French population, with higher values in men, in younger people, and in farmers

Abstract

France is the first pesticide-consuming country in Europe. Glyphosate is the most used pesticide worldwide and glyphosate is detected in the general population of industrialized countries, with higher levels found in farmers and children. Little data was available concerning exposure in France. Our objective was to determine glyphosate levels in the French general population and to search for an association with seasons, biological features, lifestyle status, dietary habits, and occupational exposure. This study includes 6848 participants recruited between 2018 and 2020. Associated data include age, gender, location, employment status, and dietary information. Glyphosate was quantified by a single laboratory in first-void urine samples using ELISA. Our results support a general contamination of the French population, with glyphosate quantifiable in 99.8% of urine samples with a mean of 1.19 ng/ml + / − 0.84 after adjustment to body mass index (BMI). We confirm higher glyphosate levels in men and children. Our results support glyphosate contamination through food and water intake, as lower glyphosate levels are associated with dominant organic food intake and filtered water. Higher occupational exposure is confirmed in farmers and farmers working in wine-growing environment. Thus, our present results show a general contamination of the French population with glyphosate, and further contribute to the description of a widespread contamination in industrialized countries.

Does Glyphosate Affect the Human Microbiota?

“…Recent studies with several animal species suggest that traces of glyphosate in food may lead to alterations of the gut microbiota [ 6 , 9 , 11 , 26 , 27 , 37 , 38 ] and changes in the urine metabolome [ 27 , 39 ]. The main elimination route of glyphosate is via urine excretion; thus, glyphosate is frequently found in the urine [ 40 , 41 ]. Glyphosate exposure via nutrition, inhalation, or dermal absorption has been proven by the urinal glyphosate residues detected in several studies [ 40 , 42 ].…”

Chronic dietary exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide results in total or partial reversibility of plasma oxidative stress, cecal microbiota abundance and short-chain fatty acid composition in broiler hens

“…However, several studies have shown that glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) formulations can induce tissue damage ( Jasper et al, 2012 ; Larsen et al, 2014 ), act as endocrine disruptors in various models ( Walsh et al, 2000 ; Romano et al, 2010 ; Gill et al, 2018 ), and induce developmental issues in rats brain ( Cattani et al, 2021 ). The use of GBHs is therefore very controversial, since scientific organizations have drawn contrasting conclusions about its dangerousness and recent studies have shown that populations are widely exposed to it ( Grau et al, 2022 ).…”

Comparative analysis of detection techniques for glyphosate in urine and in water

“…However, GLY in urine is also controversial since contradictory results have been obtained depending on the detection methods used. A vast campaign was launched in France to detect GLY in urine, and all tests conducted in a laboratory (Biocheck, Germany) using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method were found to be positive [26]. Other studies commissioned by other individuals and carried out in other laboratories (for instance, Labocéa, France) using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) gave systematically lower rates or even negative results.…”