Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Human Umbilical, Embryonic, and Placental Cells

• Abstract
• Full Text HTML
• Hi-Res PDF[6426 KB]
• PDF w/ Links[494 KB]

• Figures
• Citing Articles

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

• PDF/HTML,
  figures/images,
  references and tables,
  (where available)

Abstract

We have evaluated the toxicity of four glyphosate (G)-based herbicides in Roundup (R) formulations, from 10⁵ times dilutions, on three different human cell types. This dilution level is far below agricultural recommendations and corresponds to low levels of residues in food or feed. The formulations have been compared to G alone and with its main metabolite AMPA or with one known adjuvant of R formulations, POEA. HUVEC primary neonate umbilical cord vein cells have been tested with 293 embryonic kidney and JEG3 placental cell lines. All R formulations cause total cell death within 24 h, through an inhibition of the mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity, and necrosis, by release of cytosolic adenylate kinase measuring membrane damage. They also induce apoptosis via activation of enzymatic caspases 3/7 activity. This is confirmed by characteristic DNA fragmentation, nuclear shrinkage (pyknosis), and nuclear fragmentation (karyorrhexis), which is demonstrated by DAPI in apoptotic round cells. G provokes only apoptosis, and HUVEC are 100 times more sensitive overall at this level. The deleterious effects are not proportional to G concentrations but rather depend on the nature of the adjuvants. AMPA and POEA separately and synergistically damage cell membranes like R but at different concentrations. Their mixtures are generally even more harmful with G. In conclusion, the R adjuvants like POEA change human cell permeability and amplify toxicity induced already by G, through apoptosis and necrosis. The real threshold of G toxicity must take into account the presence of adjuvants but also G metabolism and time-amplified effects or bioaccumulation. This should be discussed when analyzing the in vivo toxic actions of R. This work clearly confirms that the adjuvants in Roundup formulations are not inert. Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death around residual levels to be expected, especially in food and feed derived from R formulation-treated crops.

Citing Articles

View all 4 citing articles

Citation data is made available by participants in CrossRef's Cited-by Linking service. For a more comprehensive list of citations to this article, users are encouraged to perform a search in SciFinder.

This article has been cited by 4 ACS Journal articles (4 most recent appear below).

• 

  Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding Our Article (Paganelli et al., 2010)

  Andrés E. Carrasco (Investigador Principal CONICET)
  Chemical Research in Toxicology2011 24 (5), 610-613

  • Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding Our Article (Paganelli et al., 2010)

    Andrés E. Carrasco (Investigador Principal CONICET)
    Chemical Research in Toxicology2011 24 (5), 610-613
    Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
• 

  Letter to the Editor Regarding the Article by Paganelli et al.

  David Saltmiras (Toxicology Manager) , James S. Bus (Director External Technology Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting) , Terri Spanogle (Toxicologist) , Judith Hauswirth (Consultant on behalf of United Phosphorus Inc.) , Abraham Tobia (Government Affairs Manager) , Simon Hill (Toxicologist)
  Chemical Research in Toxicology2011 24 (5), 607-608

  • Letter to the Editor Regarding the Article by Paganelli et al.

    David Saltmiras (Toxicology Manager) , James S. Bus (Director External Technology Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting) , Terri Spanogle (Toxicologist) , Judith Hauswirth (Consultant on behalf of United Phosphorus Inc.) , Abraham Tobia (Government Affairs Manager) , Simon Hill (Toxicologist)
    Chemical Research in Toxicology2011 24 (5), 607-608
    Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
• 

  Degradation of the Herbicides Clomazone, Paraquat, and Glyphosate by Thermally Activated Peroxydisulfate

  Elena M. Diaz Kirmser, Daniel O. Mártire, Mónica C. Gonzalez, and Janina A. Rosso
  Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry2010 58 (24), 12858-12862

  • Degradation of the Herbicides Clomazone, Paraquat, and Glyphosate by Thermally Activated Peroxydisulfate

    Elena M. Diaz Kirmser, Daniel O. Mártire, Mónica C. Gonzalez, and Janina A. Rosso
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry2010 58 (24), 12858-12862

    Activated sodium peroxydisulfate has the potential to in situ destruct many organic contaminants because of the generation of the stronger oxidant sulfate radical. From photochemical activation of peroxydisulfate in flash-photolysis experiments, the ...

    Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
• 

  Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Produce Teratogenic Effects on Vertebrates by Impairing Retinoic Acid Signaling

  Alejandra Paganelli, Victoria Gnazzo, Helena Acosta, Silvia L. López, and Andrés E. Carrasco
  Chemical Research in Toxicology2010 23 (10), 1586-1595

  • Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Produce Teratogenic Effects on Vertebrates by Impairing Retinoic Acid Signaling

    Alejandra Paganelli, Victoria Gnazzo, Helena Acosta, Silvia L. López, and Andrés E. Carrasco
    Chemical Research in Toxicology2010 23 (10), 1586-1595

    The broad spectrum herbicide glyphosate is widely used in agriculture worldwide. There has been ongoing controversy regarding the possible adverse effects of glyphosate on the environment and on human health. Reports of neural defects and craniofacial ...

    Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

SciFinder Links

• Get Reference Detail
• Get Substances
• Get Cited
• Get Citing