Study first to link weed killer Roundup® to convulsions in animals
Using C. elegans, a soil-dwelling roundworm, researchers first tested glyphosate alone and then both the U.S. and U.K. formulations of Roundup® from two distinct time periods. Credit: Florida Atlantic University

According to a recent report by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 80% of urine samples from children and adults in the U.S. contained the weed killer glyphosate. A study by Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University is the first to link the use of a popular weed killer to animal convulsions.

Glyphosate is the most common weed killer used by volume and by land area. Almost 80 percent of the cultivated land in the world has glyphosate-resistant crops, which has resulted in an estimated 6.1 billion kilos of pesticides being sprayed over the course of a decade. The potential impact ofGlyphosate on the nervous system is yet to be fully understood.

The lead of the project said that it was concerning how little we knew about the impact ofGlyphosate. More evidence is mounting for how prevalent exposure toGlyphosate is, so this work hopefully pushes other researchers to expand on these findings and solidify where our concerns should be

The study found that the active ingredient glyphosate exacerbated convulsions in C. elegans and suggest the GABA-A receptor as a neurological target for the observed physiological changes. Credit: Nirthieca Suthakaran

The communication points are very important in regulating sleep and moods in humans. The research was done at less than recommended levels by the EPA andTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkias

According to Naraine, the concentration listed for the best results on the Super Concentrate label is 0.98 percent glyphosate, which is about 5 ounces of the weed killer. The study found that the difference between the lowest concentration recommended for consumer use and the highest one had a negative effect on the nervous system.

Before and after the U.K.'s 2016 ban on polyethoxylated tallowamine, researchers tested both the U.S. and UK versions of the pesticide. The conditions were chosen to find out which effects are specific to the active ingredient in the product.

According to the study, the active ingredient Glyphosate caused convulsions in C. elegans and may be a neurological target. There is an important distinction between exposure toGlyphosate andRoundup, with exposure toGlyphosate increasing the percentage of C. elegans that did not recover from seizure activity The non-recovery phenotype and convulsions in C. elegans from this study have helped to set a foundation for understanding nuanced physiological effects of herbicides.

Given how widespread the use of these products is, we must learn as much as we can about the potential negative impacts. There have been studies done in the past that have shown the potential dangers, and our study takes that one step further with some dramatic results.

Study first to link weed killer Roundup® to convulsions in animals
Akshay S. Naraine, MSc., project lead and a Ph.D. student at Florida Atlantic University and the International Max Planck Research School for Synapses and Circuits. Credit: Florida Atlantic University

Concerns over how the use of pesticides might affect organisms are generated by the findings.

Our data shows that roundworms undergo convulsions under thermal stress and that they are exposed toGlyphosate andRoundup. As we experience the effects of climate change, this could prove crucial.

Evidence has been provided to further investigate how chronic exposure and accumulate can lead to Parkinson's disease. There is a threshold that may impact the function of the brain.

There is no information on how exposure toGlyphosate andRoundup might affect people with seizure disorders. Our study shows that there is a lot of disruption in the movement of the body.

The lead chemist and professor of chemistry at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences was one of the study co- authors.

More information: Roundup and glyphosate's impact on GABA to elicit extended proconvulsant behavior in 12 Caenorhabditis elegans, Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17537-w Journal information: Scientific Reports