Glyphosate Exposure in a Farmer’s Family
Author(s)
Robin Mesnage,
Christian Moesch,
Rozenn Le Grand Grand,
Guillaume Lauthier,
Joël Spiroux de Vendômois,
Steeve Gress,
Gilles-Eric Séralini
Affiliation(s)
Network on Risks, Quality and Sustainable Environment MRSH-CNRS, Institute of Biology, University of Caen, Caen, France. Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France. CRIIGEN, Paris, France.
Network on Risks, Quality and Sustainable Environment MRSH-CNRS, Institute of Biology, University of Caen, Caen, France. Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France. CRIIGEN, Paris, France.
ABSTRACT
We tested the presence of glyphosate in the urines of a farmer who sprayed a glyphosate based herbicide on his land, and in his family, as his children were born with birth defects that could be due to or promoted by pesticides. Glyphosate residues were measured in urines a day before, during, and two days after spraying, by liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Glyphosate reached a peak of 9.5 μg/L in the farmer after spraying, and 2 μg/L were found in him and in one of his children living at a distance from the field, two days after the pulverization. Oral or dermal absorptions could explain the differential pesticide excretions, even in family members at a distance from the fields. A more detailed following of agricultural practices and family exposures should be advocated together with information and recommendations.
We tested the presence of glyphosate in the urines of a farmer who sprayed a glyphosate based herbicide on his land, and in his family, as his children were born with birth defects that could be due to or promoted by pesticides. Glyphosate residues were measured in urines a day before, during, and two days after spraying, by liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Glyphosate reached a peak of 9.5 μg/L in the farmer after spraying, and 2 μg/L were found in him and in one of his children living at a distance from the field, two days after the pulverization. Oral or dermal absorptions could explain the differential pesticide excretions, even in family members at a distance from the fields. A more detailed following of agricultural practices and family exposures should be advocated together with information and recommendations.
Cite this paper
R. Mesnage, C. Moesch, R. Grand, G. Lauthier, J. Vendômois, S. Gress and G. Séralini, "Glyphosate Exposure in a Farmer’s Family," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 9, 2012, pp. 1001-1003. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.39115.
R. Mesnage, C. Moesch, R. Grand, G. Lauthier, J. Vendômois, S. Gress and G. Séralini, "Glyphosate Exposure in a Farmer’s Family," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 9, 2012, pp. 1001-1003. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.39115.
References
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[1] R. Mesnage, E. Clair, J. S. de Vendomois and G. E. Seralini, “Two Cases of Birth Defects Overlapping the Stratton-Parker Syndrome after Multiple Pesticide Exposure,” Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 69, No. 5, 2009, p. 359. [2] R. F. Stratton and M. W. Parker, “Growth Hormone Deficiency, Wormian Bones, Dextrocardia, Brachycamptodactyly, and Other Midline Defects,” American Journal of Medical Genetics, Vol. 32, No. 2, 1989, pp. 169-173. doi:10.1002/ajmg.1320320205 [3] H. E. McDermid and B. E. Morrow, “Genomic Disorders on 22q11,” American Journal of Medical Genetics, Vol. 70, No. 5, 2002, pp. 1077-1088. doi:10.1086/340363 [4] E. W. Wong and C. Y. Cheng, “Impacts of Environmental Toxicants on Male Reproductive Dysfunction,” Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2011, pp. 290- 299. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2011.01.001 [5] C. Gasnier, C. Dumont, N. Benachour, E. Clair, M. C. Chagnon and G. E. Seralini, “Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Are Toxic and Endocrine Disruptors in Human Cell Lines,” Toxicology, Vol. 262, No. 3, 2009, pp. 184-191. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2009.06.006 [6] A. Jauhiainen, K. Rasanen, R. Sarantila, J. Nuutinen and J. Kangas, “Occupational Exposure of Forest Workers to Glyphosate during Brush Saw Spraying Work,” American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 52, No. 2, 1991, pp. 61-64. doi:10.1080/15298669191364334 [7] R. C. Wester, J. Melendres, R. Sarason, J. McMaster and H. I. Maibach, “Glyphosate Skin Binding, Absorption, Residual Tissue Distribution, and Skin Decontamination,” Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1991, pp. 725-732. doi:10.1016/0272-0590(91)90158-Z [8] M. Valcke and K. Krishnan, “Evaluation of the Impact of the Exposure Route on the Human Kinetic Adjustment Factor,” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Vol. 59, No. 2, 2011, pp. 258-269. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2010.10.008 [9] J. F. Acquavella, B. H. Alexander, J. S. Mandel, C. Gus- tin, B. Baker, P. Chapman, et al., “Glyphosate Biomonitoring for Farmers and Their Families: Results from the Farm Family Exposure Study,” Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, No. 3, 2004, pp. 321-326. doi:10.1289/ehp.6667 [10] B. D. Curwin M. J. Hein, W. T. Sanderson, C. Striley, D. Heederik, H. Kromhout, et al., “Pesticide Dose Estimates for Children of Iowa Farmers and Non-Farmers,” Environmental Research, Vol. 105, No. 3, 2007, pp. 307-315. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2007.06.001 [11] A. D. Ngo, R. Taylor and C. L. Roberts, “Paternal Expo- sure to Agent Orange and Spina Bifida: A Meta-Analysis,” European Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2010, pp. 37-44. doi:10.1007/s10654-009-9401-4 [12] D. A. Savitz T. Arbuckle, D. Kaczor and K. M. Curtis, “Male Pesticide Exposure and Pregnancy Outcome,” Amer- ican Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 146, No. 12, 1997, pp. 1025-1036. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009231 [13] C. Gasnier, C. Laurant, C. Decroix-Laporte, R. Mesnage, E. Clair, C. Travert, et al., “Defined Plant Extracts Can Protect Human Cells against Combined Xenobiotic Ef- fects,” Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011, p. 3. doi:10.1186/1745-6673-6-3