World's Most Popular Herbicide Causes Dramatic Convulsions in Worms

The weed killer, originally made by Monsanto, has been found to cause convulsions in roundworms.

When a soil-dwelling species, Caenorhabditis elegans, was exposed to highlyDiluted samples of Roundup 300 times lower than the lowest concentration recommended for consumer use, researchers found the herbicide elicitedProlonged Paroxysms.

In a third of the worm models, the toxic effects ofGlyphosate could only be stopped with drug intervention.

Researchers say their findings are dramatic, and they come at a crucial moment for the future of the product.

The impact ofGlyphosate on the nervous system is not understood.

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

Glyphosate is the most widely used weed killer. More than 80 percent of urine samples given by children and adults were found to contain traces of this weed-killer.

The health effects of exposure are very controversial.

The leaders at Monsanto and now Bayer argue that the weed killer is safe. In recent years, scientists, policymakers and the public have begun to question those assertions, which tend to be based on industry-led research and not on independent scientific investigation

People who say they have been diagnosed with cancer because of using a weed killer from a different company. The United Kingdom banned POE-tallowamine from being used in the formula after learning of its potential toxicity.

The United States has not taken action against the ingredient. The EPA determined in 2020 that there were no risks to human health from the use of the pesticide.

Some critics are not sure. The federal court ruled that this Trump-era decision had overlooked important evidence on the toxic effects of Roundup.

The EPA has until October to change its mind. The European Union is considering whether to reauthorize the use of the weed killer.

Even if the study is based on animal models, it's worth looking at. There is a lot of research on the possible effects of the weed killer, but also on the possible effects on the brain.

There is a correlation between the level of toxicity measured in the brain and the level of toxicity in mammals.

The findings are so concerning because of that.

The US version of Roundup caused convulsions that lasted for just over a minute, nearly twice as long as the effect ofGlyphosate on its own.

There were more seizures caused by the UK formula than by the one on its own.

When researchers bred worms with no GABA-A, they didn't have convulsions.

This shows that the chemicals acting on the brain are related to seizures. Anti-epileptic treatments are common in humans.

There is no information on how exposure to the two pesticides may affect people with seizure disorders.

Our study shows that there is a lot of disruption in the movement of the body.

Some scientists are worried about how little independent research has been done because of the projected increase in use ofGlyphosate.

There are very few studies on the effects of exposure toGlyphosate andRoundup.

The study found that those who drank sugar water found it harder to keep their bees warm.

According to a study published in the year 2018, glyphosy may be contributing to colony collapse disorder.

It might be more than bees and worms that are falling prey to the chemicals. We don't know enough.

The study was published in a scientific journal.