Summary
This narrative review, published in Science of the Total Environment, synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on the environmental and health consequences of glyphosate, the world's most widely used herbicide. The paper examines effects on soil biology, biodiversity, and aquatic ecosystems alongside epidemiological evidence linking glyphosate exposure to human health outcomes. It is likely to conclude that current regulatory risk assessments may insufficiently account for indirect ecological and sub-lethal health effects.
UK applicability
Glyphosate is widely used in UK arable systems, including as a pre-harvest desiccant, making this review directly relevant to UK pesticide policy debates and ongoing regulatory review by the Health and Safety Executive post-Brexit. Findings on soil microbial disruption are particularly pertinent given UK ambitions to improve soil health under the Environmental Land Management schemes.
Key measures
Glyphosate residue levels in soil, water and food; microbial community composition; epidemiological associations with disease incidence; ecotoxicological endpoints in non-target species
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews evidence on glyphosate's effects on soil microbial communities, non-target organisms, and potential human health risks. It likely examines pathways through which glyphosate residues enter food chains and ecosystems, drawing on epidemiological and ecotoxicological literature.
Topic tags
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