Study shows direct evidence of exposure of pregnant women to herbicide ingredient Mar 26th, 2018   [viewed 45 times]

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Pregnant women are vulnerable to accumulate detectable levels of glyphosate, the active chemical in Roundup, the widely used herbicide in the world today. This according to a study that examines glyphosate exposure among pregnant women in the United States using urine samples to directly measure the exposure to the chemical.

 Researchers from Indiana University and University of California San Francisco had reported that around 90 percent of pregnant women in Central Indiana had higher levels of glyphosate, which correlated with shorter lengths of pregnancy.

 “There is growing evidence that even a slight reduction in gestational length can lead to lifelong adverse consequences,” Shahid Parvez, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Science at the Indiana University, said.

 Around 93 percent of 71 pregnant women had higher levels of glyphosate in their urine.

 “We found higher urine glyphosate levels in women who lived in rural areas, and in those who consumed more caffeinated beverages,” Parvez, the lead author of the study, said.

 There is heavy usage of glyphosate in the Midwest, a corn and soybean producer.

 “One thing we cannot deny is that glyphosate exposure in pregnant women is real,” Parvez said.

 There is good news, however, according to Parvez.

 “The public drinking water supply may not be the primary source of glyphosate exposure as we initially anticipated,” he declared.

 Parvez said, “none of the tested drinking water samples showed glyphosate residues.” It is possible that the expected residues are eliminated in the process of treating the water.

 “The bad news is that the dietary intake of genetically modified food items and caffeinated beverages is suspected to be the main source of glyphosate intake,” he added.

 The levels of glyphosate exposure among pregnant women, which is correlated with shortened pregnancy lengths, should be enough cause for alarm.

 A more comprehensive study involving a more geographically and racially diverse pool of pregnant women should be conducted to determine if the results are the same.

 The study is published in Environmental Health. (Antonio Manaytay, Email: antonio.manaytay@yahoo.com)

(Antonio Manaytay is a pastor, husband, and father. He is a blogger who loves to write everything there is under the sun. He also pastors a church, Grace Christian Fellowship of Ipil in Ipil township in the western region of Southern Philippines. He makes home at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines with her wife, Elvie, and their five children. You may email him: antonio.manaytay@yahoo.com.)