The Herbicide Glyphosate and Its Apparently Controversial Effect on Human Health: An Updated Clinical Perspective

Abstract

Background:: Glyphosate (G) is the most common weed-killer in the world. Every year tons and tons of G are applied on crop fields. G was first introduced in the mid 1970s and since then its usage has gradually increased to reach a peak since 2005. Now G usage is approximately 100 -fold what it was in 1970. Its impact on human health was considered benign at the beginning. But over the years, evidence of a pervasive negative effect of this pesticide on humans has been mounting. Nonetheless, G usage is allowed by government health control agencies (both in the United States and Europe), that rely upon the evidence produced by the G producer. However, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in 2015 has stated that G is probable carcinogenic (class 2A), the second highest class in terms of risk. Objective:: In this review, we explore the effect of G on human health, focusing in particular on more recent knowledge. Results:: We have attempted to untangle the controversy about the dangers of the product for human beings in view of a very recent development, when the so -called Monsanto Papers, consisting of Emails and memos from Monsanto came to light, revealing a coordinated strategy to manipulate the debate about the safety of glyphosate to the company’s advantage. Conclusions:: The story of G is a recurrent one (see the tobacco story), that seriously jeopardizes the credibility of the scientific study in the modern era.

Cardiovascular damage associated with subchronic exposure to the glyphosate herbicide in Wistar rats

“…Although the use of glyphosate is permitted by government regulatory agencies in the United States and Europe, over the years, there has been increasing evidence of a harmful effect of this herbicide on humans (Caiati et al, 2020). Glyphosate is moderately persistent in the surface and groundwater, which increases the diversity of possible animal and human exposure routes.…”

Minimal Cardiac Perforation by Lead Pacemaker Complicated with Pericardial Effusion and Impending Tamponade: Optimal Management with No Pericardiocentesis Driven by Echocardiography

“…The major finding in our case is that a precise diagnosis with echocardiography allowed pericardiocentesis to be avoided. As a general and golden rule in medicine, the elimination of the cause(s) brings about the healing process [7]. Thus, it is necessary to make a considerable effort to find out all the causes of a malady [7].…”

“…As a general and golden rule in medicine, the elimination of the cause(s) brings about the healing process [7]. Thus, it is necessary to make a considerable effort to find out all the causes of a malady [7]. In particular, echocardiography was able to visualize the helix (fixation screw) minimally protruding into the fluid-filled pericardial space; that prompted us to retract it by simply unscrewing it (the helix is retractable), with minimal disturbance for the patient, minimal fluoroscopy time and most of all, minimal postponement of the pericardiocentesis.…”

Coronary Flow and Reserve by Enhanced Transthoracic Doppler Trumps Coronary Anatomy by Computed Tomography in Assessing Coronary Artery Stenosis

“…Microcirculation dysfunction, as recently reviewed, can be due to several conditions that can exert oxidative stress on endothelium with the consequent reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide and reduced activity of coronary ions channels ending in reducing both vasodilation and CFR [31,32]. These factors are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco smoke, oxidized low density lipoproteins, pesticide, heavy metals, electromagnetic field, viruses, alcohol and ionizing radiation to name some [33]. Atherosclerosis with the associated paradoxical vasoconstriction, is in part the extreme consequence of the previously listed factors [34].…”

“…Such radiation exposure significantly increases cancer risk [52] especially in consideration that ionizing radiation genotoxic effect adds up to other DNA oxidative damage exerted by other numerous genotoxic agent present in the modern environment like pesticide, electromagnetic field, heavy metals, industrial solvent (toluene, benzene etc.) to name some [33]. In addition, CTA requires the use of iodinated contrast medium, that is highly nephrotoxic.…”