The Hidden Threat of the Herbicide Glyphosate

Most concerns about glyphosate have been ecotoxological. In addition there is the fact that glyphosate, C3 H8NO5P, adds phosphorus to any area receiving it. Across US agricultural lands, P added by glyphosate increased from 1.6 kg P per square kilometre in 1993 to 9.4 kg P per square kilometre in 2014 with peak values exceeding 20 kg P per square kilometre.

 

The amounts of phosphorus are small compared to amounts added in fertilizers but the phosphorus from glyphosate is in addition to that from fertilizers and in some applications the phosphorus is added directly into aquatic ecosystems.

 

For more information see: Hèbert, Fugére and Gonzalez. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 2019; 17(1): 48-56

 

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