Glyphosate Mixtures Show Lethal and Sublethal Effects to Embryos, Highlights Regulatory Deficiencies

Glyphosate Mixtures Show Lethal and Sublethal Effects to Embryos, Highlights Regulatory Deficiencies

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A study in Chemosphere, conducted by researchers from the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Germany, reveals the varied lethal and sublethal effects of different glyphosate mixtures through tests on the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis (X. laevis). After exposing embryos to four glyphosate formulations, mortality, morphological defects, altered heartbeat rate, and impaired heart-specific gene expression are observed. Glyphosate, an herbicide and popular weed killer in many Roundup® products, is one of the most commonly detected pesticides in waterbodies worldwide, threatening aquatic organisms and overall biodiversity.

This study investigates the effects of Glyphosat TF, Durano TF, Helosate 450 TF, and Kyleo, four formulations containing glyphosate, as compared to the effects of pure glyphosate on embryonic development in amphibians. The formulations consist of varying concentrations of the active ingredient glyphosate, as well as other active and inert ingredients. The authors share that, “Glyphosat TF contains 34% glyphosate and 10–20% d-glucopyranose, while Durano contains 39–44% glyphosate and 1–5% N–N-dimethyl-C12-C14-(even numbered)-alkyl-1-amines. In Helosate most of the ingredients are listed – 50–70% glyphosate, 1–10% isopropylamine, 1–3% lauryl dimethyl betaine, 0.25–1% dodecyl dimethylamine. Kyleo only lists the active ingredients glyphosate (27.9%) and 2,4-D (32%).”

2-cell stage embryos (early stage of embryonic development) were utilized as the exposure start point to assess embryo developmental effects within the pesticide solutions. All solutions were prepared with glyphosate concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L. “The exposure of embryos to 0.01–10 mg/L glyphosate reflects environmentally relevant concentrations already measured in different countries, with 100 mg/L glyphosate representing ‘worst-case’ scenarios (e.g., incorrect handling or improper disposal), but already measured in water bodies in Argentina,” the researchers state.