Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) widely used for weed control. Because it targets a pathway absent in animals, it has long been considered to have minimal effects on animal health. However, increasing evidence suggests potential reproductive toxicity. We investigated the effects of low-level exposure to a GBH in adult male Sprague Dawley rats (8-9 weeks old), administered orally via tap water for 30 days, corresponding to microgram-level glyphosate-equivalent exposure. We evaluated sperm parameters, reproductive organ weights, fertility outcomes, circulating hormones, and testicular oxidative stress markers. Estimated daily GBH (glyphosate-equivalent) intakes were 55 μg/kg/day (0.7 mg/L) and approximately 6 mg/kg/day (70 mg/L). Both exposure levels reduced male fertility, evidenced by increased embryonic resorptions in females mated with treated males. High-dose exposure reduced testicular and epididymal weights, whereas low-dose exposure decreased prostate weight. Sperm counts and daily sperm production were significantly reduced at both doses, with increased abnormal sperm morphology, indicating impaired fertilization potential. Hormonal analysis showed dose-dependent disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Testosterone and luteinizing hormone were reduced at the higher dose, whereas estradiol increased, and follicle-stimulating hormone decreased at the lower dose. In testicular tissue, low-dose GBH exposure enhanced antioxidant activity, whereas higher exposure suppressed key antioxidant enzymes and increased lipid peroxidation, indicating oxidative stress. Overall, even very low concentrations of GBH altered male reproductive function through disrupting hormonal balance, impairing sperm quality, and inducing oxidative stress in the testes. These findings suggest that exposure levels considered safe may still pose risks to male reproductive health.
A weekly roundup of information on newly offered instrumentation, apparatus, and laboratory materials of potential interest to researchers.
The intensive and recurring use of pesticides in agriculture has raised environmental concerns and impacts on ecosystem biodiversity. Glyphosate and 2,4-D are among the most widely used herbicides worldwide for weed control. Continuous and prolonged exposure of the soil to these compounds can compromise natural biogeochemical processes, affecting the structure and functioning of the edaphic microbiota, which plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and bioremediation processes. In this study, biodegradation of these pesticides was investigated by the Bartha and Pramer spirometry technique, which estimates the heterotrophic microbial activity by the quantification of carbon dioxide released. Experimental data obtained were analyzed via the Ford-Walford model, which enabled the description of the behavior of the microbial degradation of pesticides in soil, estimating the asymptotic limit of stabilization of the CO2 generation. Results indicated that glyphosate shows a more accelerated biodegradation rate, with less environmental persistence and, potentially, less risk of accumulation in the soil, compared to 2,4-D, which showed more environmental persistence. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in soil and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The integration of microbiological assays and mathematical modeling also provides valuable insights into xenobiotic degradation mechanisms, supporting strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of persistent agrochemicals.
暂无摘要（点击查看详情）
The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture has increased their levels in water bodies, threatening aquatic ecosystems. Among these, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are widely used in Mexico and can cause toxic effects even at low doses. In aquatic organisms, early exposure to these pollutants can disrupt vital processes, such as sex determination, through oxidative stress. This study assessed the effects of exposure to environmental concentrations of glyphosate (100 μg/L), chlorpyrifos (1.5 μg/L), and their combination on zebrafish (Danio rerio) from early stages to 90 days post fertilisation (dpf). Survival was measured using Kaplan-Meier curves; lipid peroxidation was assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA); sex-related gene expression was measured by qPCR of selected genes at 30 dpf; and gonadal development was assessed by histology at 65 dpf. The results showed increased MDA levels in exposed fish. Glyphosate caused early toxicity and a higher proportion of undifferentiated fish, implying delayed sex determination. Chlorpyrifos induced oxidative stress and affected amh gene expression linked to masculinisation. Combined exposure reduced survival and altered gene expression and gonadal development. Exposure shifted the sex ratio toward males, suggesting that pesticide-induced oxidative stress may alter the expression of sex determination genes during early development.
The extensive use of glyphosate (Glyp) in agriculture has led to persistent residues in food and the environment, which pose potential threats to ecosystems and human health. Thus, rapid, sensitive, and selective on-site detection strategies are urgently needed. Herein, we developed a smartphone-assisted paper sensor based on a dual-site nanozyme with atomically dispersed Zr-Cu centers anchored on a metal-organic framework (MOF). Compared with the monometallic Cu MOF, the obtained Zr-Cu MOF exhibits an 11.32-fold increase in peroxidase-like activity. In this system, the redox-active Cu site functions as the catalytic center, while the redox-inactive Zr site acts as a Lewis acidic cofactor, modulating the electronic structure of Cu and enhancing substrate binding. Their synergistic interaction facilitates efficient hydrogen peroxide heterolysis and avoids side reactions. Moreover, both Cu and Zr sites contribute to the specific recognition of Glyp, where the phosphonate, carboxyl, and amino groups chelate with Cu through Cu-N/O coordination to form two five-membered rings, while binding to Zr through Zr-O-P coordination. Integrated into a paper-based platform, this Zr-Cu MOF allows fast, naked-eye, and field-deployable Glyp sensing using a smartphone. This work not only provides a general strategy for designing heterometallic nanozymes with multicofactor synergy but also demonstrates a practical platform for pesticide monitoring.
Glyphosate may pose risks to non-target beneficial insects. We investigated the sublethal effects of a laboratory-simulated field-recommended concentration (3.5 g/L) of glyphosate on the predatory stink bug Arma chinensis. Although glyphosate exposure did not affect repellency or longevity, it was associated with significantly reduced weight gain and reproductive output. Integrated transcriptomic and physiological analyses revealed coordinated responses. Glyphosate exposure was associated with disruptions in central energy-sensing pathways, downregulation of lipid biosynthesis genes, and upregulation of pathways involved in lipid mobilization. Concurrently, key reproductive signaling pathways and core vitellogenin genes were suppressed, in association with delayed ovarian development and reduced reproductive fecundity. Although glyphosate altered the relative abundance of certain gut bacterial taxa, these changes were not statistically significant, and overall microbiota diversity remained unchanged. Collectively, our findings suggest that molecular-level perturbations are associated with adverse phenotypic outcomes. However, as this study was correlational, causality could not be established. Field-relevant concentrations of glyphosate may impair the fitness of this natural enemy, but this possibility requires functional validation under realistic conditions.
Glyphosate (GLY) is a widely used herbicide active ingredient applied in agricultural, residential, and public areas. Although the European Chemicals Agency has stated that current evidence is insufficient to classify GLY as an endocrine disruptor, increasing experimental data indicate that GLY may induce organ toxicity. This study aimed to investigate glyphosate-induced liver toxicity and to evaluate the potential protective effects of eugenol in a rat model. Eugenol is a phenolic compound predominantly found in clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum L.) and is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties. It is classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and non-mutagenic by the World Health Organization. Thirty-five male rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Control, EU-100, GLY, GLY + EU-50, and GLY + EU-100. All treatments were administered orally by gavage. Oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase), liver enzyme activities (ALT, AST, and ALP), and the expression of genes involved in antioxidant defense, apoptosis, and inflammation (HO-1, Nrf2, CAT, GPx, Bax, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, COX-2, NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were analyzed. Short-term GLY exposure resulted in oxidative imbalance, inflammatory activation, and apoptosis in hepatic tissue. Eugenol administration significantly alleviated these alterations by enhancing antioxidant defenses, activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and suppressing pro-inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that eugenol may represent a promising natural hepatoprotective agent against glyphosate-induced liver toxicity.
Planetary and human health including mental health are closely interrelated. Increasing evidence also points to a role for the microbiota-gut-brain axis in maintaining optimum mental health. Emerging evidence raises concerns about the unintended toxicity of environmental exposure to xenobiotics, any substance foreign to the body, on the brain and behavior. Glyphosate is one of the most widely used active ingredients for herbicides for both agricultural and domestic applications. However, investigations on the effects of glyphosate at regulatory reference dose exposures on this axis are currently neglected.Adult male and female mice were exposed to regulatory reference doses of glyphosate via drinking water for 7 weeks to assess its impact on gut microbiota composition, gut barrier function, physiology and behaviors including social interaction, anxiety, cognition, and the stress response. To establish causality, we conducted a microbiota transplantation examining whether behavioral phenotypes were phenocopied in naïve animals.Regulatory reference dose glyphosate exposure primarily affected male mice, leading to impaired social novelty preference and increased anxiety-like behavior, whereas females exhibited a reduction in locomotor activity without other robust behavioral alterations. Transcriptomic analysis of the amygdala revealed gene expression changes consistent with observed behavioral deficits in males. Importantly, microbiota transfer from glyphosate-exposed donors selectively reproduced the social impairments in recipient mice, establishing the role of the glyphosate-remodeled microbiota in modifying social behavior.These findings underscore the importance of evaluating ecologically relevant regulatory reference dose pesticide exposure and provide evidence that glyphosate impacts the microbiota-gut-brain axis to modify behavior. It further supports the concept that xenobiotics in the environment can impact mental health processes and further validates the concept of ecological psychiatry.
Continuous use of glyphosate followed by glufosinate-ammonium has selected for multiple resistance to both herbicides in Eleusine indica worldwide. Managing such resistant weeds requires fast, accurate molecular detection assay. To address this critical need, we developed a robust multiplex TaqMan quantitative (q)PCR assay that simultaneously detects five well-characterized target-site resistance markers in E. indica: EPSPS copy number variation; T102I in EPSPS; P106A and P106S in EPSPS; and S59G in GS1-1. The multiplex qPCR assay showed analytical specificity when tested on genomic DNA from nine reference accessions: three susceptible, three glyphosate-resistant (with EPSPS CNV) and three multiple-resistant. Subsequent analysis of 56 field-collected samples demonstrated 98.2% concordance (55 of 56) with Sanger sequencing across all five resistance-associated markers: EPSPS CNV, T102I, P106A, P106S and GS1-1 S59G, confirming the reliability and practical value of the multiplex qPCR assay. Only samples 7-8 showed discordance at EPSPS position 102, where Sanger chromatograms showed overlapping peaks at this position, which is likely to be a result of heterozygous mutation distribution among amplified EPSPS gene copies. This case further underscores the advantages of the multiplex qPCR assay over Sanger sequencing in detection sensitivity and accuracy. Moreover, a strong correlation (R2 = 0.8935) in gene copy number estimation between the two methods across all samples further supports the reliability of the qPCR assay. In summary, this study delivers a simple, robust and high-throughput diagnostic tool for the rapid, simultaneous identification of dual herbicide target-site resistance in goosegrass, offering superior sensitivity, quantitative resolution and throughput compared with Sanger sequencing. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Environmental contaminant mixtures present complex toxicological challenges, especially in transgenic organisms where genetic modifications may alter toxicity mechanisms. This study addresses the uncharacterized influence of GFP fusion proteins on mixture interactions using Caenorhabditis elegans. We employed uniform design ray methodology to evaluate 6 compounds, including ionic liquids (ILs) such as 1-butylpyridinium chloride ([bpy]Cl) and 1-butylpyridinium bromide ([bpy]Br), pesticides (dichlorvos and glyphosate), and substituted phenols (4-chlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol), in transgenic DAF-16::GFP (DAF-16) versus wild-type N2 strains. Toxicity interactions were quantified using the improved combination index (CIimp) with 95% observation confidence intervals (OCIs) at 12 h and 24 h. Results showed that while ILs exhibited negligible lethality in N2, they induced marked toxicity in DAF-16. The transgenic strain demonstrated 10-100 times greater lethality to the mixtures compared to N2, with 95% OCIs confirming significant leftward shifts in concentration-response curves. A time-dependent interaction shift occurred: initial antagonism at 12 h (CIimp 1.315-7.340) transitioned to significant synergism exclusively in the DAF-16 strain at 24 h (CIimp <1; 95% OCIs excluded 1). Molecular docking provided a preliminary structural hypothesis, suggesting that GFP fusion might alter the accessibility of potential binding sites on DAF-16. These findings suggest that genetic modifications and exposure duration jointly modulate mixture toxicity, highlighting the need for cautious interpretation when using transgenic models in environmental risk assessment.
This study assessed toxicological effects of anthropogenic pollution in Las Catonas stream (Reconquista River basin, Argentina) on the freshwater gastropod Biomphalaria straminea and water physicochemical parameters including Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and the pesticides chlorpyrifos and glyphosate detection. Water samples were collected (April 2022 and 2023) downstream of industrial treatment facilities and peri urban farms and acute and subchronic bioassays were performed exposing B. straminea snails to the samples. A multibiomarker approach was employed, including biochemical and reproductive responses. Although most physicochemical variables were within guideline values, fluctuations in pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonium and nitrites levels were noted. Metals and pesticides were not above the detection limits (Cu and Zn: 50 μgL1; Cd and Pb: 0.1 μgL1; chlorpyrifos and glyphosate: 0.01 μgL1). Water samples from both sites elicited some variable biological responses, indicating site and year dependent alterations, so longer term and seasonal assessments are required to obtain conclusions more robust. The reduction in hatching success in snails exposed to water samples reinforces the importance of incorporating early life stages of B. straminea into ecotoxicological water assessments.
In this update we examine the inaugural report of the Health Economics Methods Advisory group on defining appropriate benefits for economic evaluation and the responses it has generated. We also review recent research on the timeliness of commercial health plan coverage policy updates following US FDA label revisions, which reveals substantial delays and wide variation across plans that may limit patient access to specialty therapies.
Glyphosate (Glyph) exposure during the gestational and lactational periods have been linked to neurodevelopmental alterations in humans and animal models, and it has been proposed to induce autistic-like traits in rodents. This study evaluated the effects of gestational and lactational exposure to Glyph and a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) on neurodevelopmental and monoaminergic outcomes in male and female rat offspring, using valproic acid (VPA) as a pharmacological model of autism. Pregnant dams were orally treated with 50 mg Glyph/L in distilled water or with GBH throughout gestation and lactation. The VPA group received a single intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg on gestational day 12.5, while controls received only distilled water. Male and female pups underwent a battery of neurodevelopmental tests from postnatal day (PND) 3-21, and brains were collected at PND 21 to assess monoaminergic markers. Offspring exposed to VPA showed alterations in early social interactions. Female pups treated with Glyph or VPA mainly exhibited reduced body weight during lactation. Delayed performance in the negative geotaxis test was observed in female pups exposed to Glyph 9, and in VPA pups at PND 5 and 9. Only male GBH-exposed pups exhibited impairments in righting reflexes on PND 7. Neurochemical analyses revealed sex-dependent alterations in dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, ventral midbrain, hippocampus, and amygdala. These findings show that gestational and lactational exposure to low levels of Glyph or GBH induces some sexually dimorphic effects on behavior and neurochemistry, resembling those seen in ASD-like models.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are important environmental risk factors for urogenital malignancies, but the shared molecular mechanisms underlying their carcinogenic effects remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically investigated the common pro-tumorigenic mechanisms of 12 prevalent EDCs, including anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), bisphenol A, clofenotane, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diazinon, dibutyl phthalate, glyphosate, malathion, perfluorooctanoic acid, polychlorinated biphenyls, and triclosan, across four urogenital cancers, including bladder cancer (BLCA), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD), and testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). By integrating network toxicology and protein-protein interaction analysis, we identified shared hub targets linking EDC exposure to tumor progression. EGFR and CASP3 were identified as core targets in BLCA, EGFR and CASP9 in RCC, and CASP3, ESR1, and EGFR in PRAD, whereas KIT emerged as a broadly relevant target in TGCT. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations supported the stable binding of EDCs to these targets. Among the predicted interactions, BaP showed strong binding affinity for CASP9 (ΔG = -9.8 kcal/mol) and was therefore selected for experimental validation. Analysis of TCGA data showed that elevated CASP9 expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival in patients with RCC. In 786-O and ACHN cells, chronic exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of BaP significantly increased CASP9 protein stability without altering its mRNA expression, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. Collectively, these findings identify shared molecular targets of EDCs across urogenital cancers and provide new mechanistic insight into EDC-driven tumor progression, prioritizing potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for environmentally related malignancies.
Zinc ions (Zn2+) are essential trace elements that play crucial roles in numerous physiological processes. However, their imbalance can induce harmful effects. This dual nature renders the monitoring and removal of Zn2+ critical for public health. In addition, the widespread use of glyphosate (Glyp) pesticide in the environment poses a serious threat to the eco-system. Therefore, developing integrated platforms that combine precise tracking with efficient absorption of Zn2+/Glyp from environmental and food matrices is essential for ensuring food safety and safeguarding public health. Herein, we developed a high-performance Zn2+ chemosensor, X6, via one-step condensation of pyridoxal hydrochloride and 1H-indole-2-carbohydrazide. X6 rapidly (within 30 s) and selectively reacted with Zn2+ to form a stable 1:1 complex (X6-Zn2+), accompanied by a distinct colorless-to-yellow color change and an immediate fluorescence "turn-on" response. Meanwhile, the resulting metal complex, X6-Zn2+, demonstrated high performance in glyphosate (Glyp) detection within 20s, achieving a detection limit of 33.6 nM. Taking advantage of the three-dimensional network structure of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for controlled loading and release, X6 was embedded into a PVA hydrogel, enabling both dual-signal sensing and efficient removal of Zn2+ from aqueous environments. For practical applications, X6-based test strips were integrated with smartphone-assisted analysis, enabling real-time visual and sequential detection of Zn2+ and Glyp residues in complex matrices. Moreover, X6 was successfully applied to the qualitative detection of Zn2+ and Glyp residues in food and biological samples. This work presents a multifunctional sensor platform for Zn2+ that integrated rapid visual detection, quantitative analysis, efficient removal, and bioimaging capabilities. Furthermore, this platform also provided a versatile strategy for monitoring Glyp residues, demonstrating considerable potential for applications in environmental monitoring, food safety, and biological imaging.
The European legislation sets the maximum residue levels for glyphosate in sesame seeds at 0.1 mg/kg (EU Regulation n. 293/2013) and for glufosinate and N-Acetyl-glufosinate expressed as glufosinate at 0.03 mg/kg (EU Regulation n. 2016/1002). The present work describes a rapid methodology to determine glyphosate, glufosinate and its metabolite and N-Acetyl-glufosinate in sesame seeds by LC/MS/MS. The method was studied in the framework of EU proficiency tests on sesame seeds. The analytical method was developed using methanol acidified with formic acid (1%, v/v) extraction with an isotope internal standard, followed by LC/MS/MS detection. The recoveries were performed in the range of 0.05-0.5 mg/kg for glyphosate and 0.02-0.2 mg/kg for glufosinate and N-Acetyl-glufosinate. All the recovery values were between 70 and 114%, which is the acceptable interval according to SANTE/11312/2021; the relative standard deviation (%RSD) values met the requirement of <20%. Linearity for each substance in solvent and matrix was studied, and the response was linear with R2 > 0.999. We considered precision, matrix effect, LOD and LOQ in the validation. All the parameters were in agreement with the acceptability criteria of the document SANTE/11312/2021. The method was considered suitable for the determination of the studied substances on sesame seeds.
Agricultural work involves exposure to airborne pollutants including dust and pesticides that can cause respiratory effects, yet little is known about these impacts in females. The inflammatory effects of inhaled glyphosate, alone or in combination with common agricultural exposures like lipopolysaccharide (LPS), remain unclear. The objective was to evaluate the inflammatory potential of single and combined exposures to glyphosate and LPS in female mice using physiological and structural measures, and synchrotron imaging. C57BL/6 female mice (n = 20) were intranasally treated with glyphosate (GLY), LPS, LPS + glyphosate (LG), or HBSS (CTL) for 5 days. On day 5, an additional group of mice were transported to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron (CLS) for multiple image x-radiography (MIR) to assess lung injury. Following treatment, mice were euthanized and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and lung tissue were collected. Mice exposed to LG had significantly higher airway restriction; expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines TNF-α, KC, IL-6, MCP-1, and MIP-2; levels of myeloperoxidase expression; greater recruitment of cells into the alveolar regions, disruption to the bronchial epithelium in the lungs, and compromised lung air-tissue interfaces in the MIR images compared to other treatment groups. It is likely that inflammatory adaptation is already occurring in the female mice by five days of exposure. These results reveal that female mice exposed to LG displayed physiological, structural, and lung injury effect that were different from mice exposed to LPS and GLY alone.
Here, we report on inheritance and intra-individual variation in gene copy number associated with the rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in the dioecious, agricultural weed Amaranthus palmeri. Copy number variation for the glyphosate resistance gene EPSPS was quantified using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction within individuals and for parents and offspring of controlled crosses, with copy numbers ranging from 1 to approximately 160. The nonlinear pattern of gene copy number inheritance from parent to offspring exhibits shifting directionality. Below the threshold of approximately 33 copies, the slope of the parent-offspring relationship is high (1.60) because parents with fewer gene copies yield similar or increased mean offspring copy numbers, relative to parents. By contrast, above the threshold, the slope is low (0.21), and offspring of high copy number parents carry increasingly fewer EPSPS copies than parents. Intra-individual variance in copy number increases with mean individual copy number, probably contributing to variation in offspring copy number, but not sufficient to explain extreme transgressive copy number variants nor the loss of high copy number. In short, the copy number is less stable and transmitted to offspring at a lower rate in parents with more copies. This suggests a constraint on the evolution of herbicide resistance through increased EPSPS copy number.