Over half of sperm samples contained high levels of glyphosate, study finds
Published: June 19, 2024
Category: Pesticide Hazards
A French fertility clinic reported that over 55% of sperm samples showed significant levels of the weedkiller glyphosate—suggesting potential harm to reproductive health. In addition, researchers found impacts on DNA and a link between glyphosate concentrations and oxidative stress on seminal plasma. The evidence points to “a negative impact of glyphosate on human reproductive health and possibly on progeny.”
With global fertility rates in decline, the study suggests glyphosate could be a culprit. The most popular glyphosate-based weedkiller, Roundup, has been implicated in increased cancer rates in farmers—96% of whom had at least some glyphosate in their blood. Landscapers and smokers also showed high levels.
Public health advocates petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency in 2023 to ban the chemical, to no avail. Glyphosate amounts in sperm were four times higher than in the men’s blood, a worrisome finding.
Oxidative stress greatly impacts male fertility, and a “significant positive correlation” was found between stress and glyphosate levels. The authors conclude: “[It] would be wise for regulators to apply a precautionary principle” moving forward, erring on the side of caution until further exploration measures the potential risks the study brought to light.
Source: Sustainable Pulse
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