In southern California in the United States, the average levels of the levels of the herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite increased between 1993 and 2016 in the urine of the population, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Since the introduction of genetically modified crops in the United States in 1994, glyphosate levels have increased. The environmental exposure through dietary ingestion of these cultures can be assessed by measuring the urine.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego measured levels of glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in the urine of participants in the Rancho Bernardo Aging Study. Five clinical visits were organized between 1993 to 1996 and 2014 to 2016 with 112 participants randomly selected for this study. Their average age in 2014-2016 was 78 and 60% were female.
Glyphosate levels have increased
The researchers found that the mean level of glyphosate increased from 0.024 µg / L in 1993-1996 to 0.314 µg / L in 2014-2016 and reached 0.449 µg / L in 2014-2016 for the 70 participants with levels above detection limits. Average AMPA levels fell from 0.008 µg / L in 1993-1996 to 0.285 µg / L in 2014-2016 and reached 0.401 µg / L in 2014-2016 for the 71 participants whose levels were above the limit. detection.
“We are increasingly exposed to glyphosate and most people are not even aware that they are getting it from their food,” notes Prof. Mills, author of the study.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicidal active ingredient declared in the world, while it is classified as “probably carcinogenic” to humans.
Already withdrawn from sale in France since the beginning of 2017 for communities, this herbicide will be banned for individuals, including farmers, from January 1, 2019, until a total prohibition for 2022. The European Commission has proposed to renew its authorization for a term of five to seven years.
“Animal and human studies suggest that chronic exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides may induce adverse health effects. In July 2017, in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water and Toxics Elimination Act 1986, the State of California classified glyphosate on the list of probable carcinogens, ”recalls the author of the study. “Future studies on the relationships between chronic exposure to glyphosate and human health are needed.”
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