Glyphosate Reassessment: Health Canada's Ruling and Scientific Concerns

What's next? A foreshadowing of reregistration to come?

Feb 26, 2025

(OTTAWA) – In a decision issued on February 18, 2025, the Canadian federal government has directed Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to reassess its 2022 approval of glyphosate, deeming the decision unreasonable. Justice Zinn ruled that Health Canada failed to demonstrate consideration of new scientific evidence pointing to potential increased health risks associated with the herbicide. As a result, the agency has been given six months to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of glyphosate’s safety.

Mad Dog Plus Herbicide, which contains 41% glyphosate, is manufactured by Loveland Products (LINK). Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in Canada (LINK). News of the ruling gained some traction on social media, notably through the SafeFoodMatters account, which highlighted a key statement from the decision:

"Where administrative expertise is not demonstrated, deference is not warranted."

Notably, the ruling did not call into question the scientific expertise or competency of the PMRA. Rather, it focused on procedural shortcomings in the agency’s decision-making process.

Judgement excerpt follows:

I was unable to locate a direct court link to the full decision immediately; however, Safe Food Matters provides access to the ruling: Justice Zinn – 2025 FC 300. The decision, dated February 18, 2025, spans 46 pages and is the result of a joint legal effort by Friends of the Earth Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation, Safe Food Matters Inc., and Environmental Defence Canada Inc. Safe Food Matters also maintains a historical record of related filings dating back to 2017 (LINK).

Authored by Laura Bowman, Staff Lawyer at Ecojustice Canada, a letter addressed to Frédéric Bissonnette, Director General and Chief Registrar of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) at Health Canada, urges the suspension of all glyphosate product renewals pending a comprehensive review of new scientific research and risk assessments. Under the PMRA’s “continuous oversight lifecycle approach,” the agency is mandated to conduct a science-based evaluation of acceptable risk, as outlined in Section 7 of the Pest Control Products Act.

Ecojustice’s legal analysis of 2022 asserts that, in light of newly published research, the PMRA currently lacks reasonable certainty that glyphosate poses no harm. As a result, no renewals should be granted until a thorough reassessment of the latest scientific findings is completed. (LETTER LINK)

Concluding:

In our submission the PMRA must not renew existing glyphosate registrations without considering the above information. The PMRA must determine that it has reasonable certainty that no harm would occur. If the registrant has failed to provide additional research that resolves the concerns raised in the published literature and incident reports prior to seeking renewal then the registrant has not met its obligations under sections 6, 8 and 16 of the Pest Control Products Regulations nor under section 7 of the Pest Control Products Act and the PMRA must not renew the registrations. The information above points to new or more clearly established risks that the PMRA has not assessed as well as the potential for lower toxicology reference values and new information on increased exposures.

Crop Life Canada did respond to this ruling:

This was short and to the point:

"...the court was clear that when decisions involve complex scientific or technical issues that they should respect the expertise of the PMRA and its interpretation of its legislation." (LINK)

Having followed the glyphosate saga for several years, I am familiar with most of the cited publications related to human health risks. While I will not provide commentary here, I will compile and list the studies referenced in 2022 letter below. I appreciate the through effort, recognize several important citations, selection biases, and can acknowledge gaps in the literature. Additionally, I can anticipate possible responses from Health Canada following glyphosate’s reregistration, particularly given the recent data and reviews compiled by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) during the European reregistration process. (LINK) (LINK) (LINK). The European Union (EU) approved glyphosate for use until December 15, 2033. This extension was approved in November 2023.

The significance of this ruling & efforts and its potential impact on glyphosate reregistration in Canada, as well as in the United States—where regulatory agencies frequently collaborate—should not be underestimated. Upon reviewing the 2022 letter, the studies cited can be grouped into distinct domains

Microbiome, glyphosate in humans and other species
Carcinogenicity, extented to epigenetic and genotoxic effects
Formulations, the importance for assessment beyond the active ingredient
The 9th Circuit Remand (NRDC v. EPA), EPA withdraws, fails to defend.
Neurodegenerative and Reproductive Toxicology, with considerations of inflammation
Human Exposures, ubiquitous, water treatment insufficiencies, and drift.
Ecotoxicology, the relevance to pollinators and monarch butterflies
Forest Fires and the impact on certain plant species

These studies represent only a subset of those currently published and available for regulatory review. Notably, it has now been ten years since the Monograph 112 meeting classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen (Group 2A). A PubMed® search for “glyphosate,” indexed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information/National Library of Medicine from 2015 to the present, yielded 4,000 published studies—1,500 of which have been published since 2022. This figure does not account for numerous additional studies that exist outside of this indexed database.

PubMed® - search glyphosate 2015-2025 = ~4000

CONUNDRUMS - Is the clock running?

Perhaps more intriguing is the question: what comes next? Regarding the registration of glyphosate, the situation is complex, nuanced, and fraught with challenges. With a defined six-month timeframe to provide a response, how will this response clarify the science of glyphosate for both the court and the public?

Does this ruling have broader legal implications beyond the specific decision on Mad Dog Plus Herbicide? What appeal mechanisms are available, and does Health Canada have the authority to set aside or disregard the ruling? Could Health Canada potentially withdraw the individual registration, like the U.S. EPA’s response to its interim health decision?
With the continuous publication of new studies, does Health Canada review only the relatively few studies identified by these litigants, or does it undertake a comprehensive re-registration process that includes an exhaustive review of the literature for a full evaluation? Limiting the review to only a few studies may result in an ongoing cycle of new legal challenges.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to reevaluate glyphosate in 2026. However, the recent change in administration, along with the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has introduced significant shifts in leadership. Additionally, the EPA, USDA, and FDA are experiencing organizational upheaval, including staffing reductions and the introduction of new personnel, which may influence regulatory priorities and decision-making processes.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has financially benefited from glyphosate litigation through his association with Baum Hedlund, reportedly receiving approximately $2.5 million. He continues to advocate for glyphosate as a contributor to chronic disease. While the EPA does not fall directly under his authority, it is likely that he will collaborate with the USDA to implement changes he deems necessary to advance his objectives.
Does Health Canada perform an independent assessment in absence of collaboration with the United States?
- Health Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborate closely on pesticide regulation to ensure the safety of human health and the environment while promoting regulatory alignment between the two countries. Their cooperation focuses on scientific assessments, policy alignment, and information-sharing to streamline pesticide evaluation and approval processes. Does this change? Does Health Canada perform a more independent assessment given the changes in US administration?

These are just a few observations and questions that may evolve within the ongoing timeline of the glyphosate debate. Given the length of this post, I will limit further commentary here and instead present the most significant studies cited in the 2022 EcoJustice letter that I believe are most relevant to this decision. (Note: below, I will use the ‘code’ feature Substack to shade text for some clarification, do see the actual letter text for accurate context).

MICROBIOME

That 1.75 mg/kg bw/day can modify the gut microbiota in early development, particularly before the onset of puberty

Mao Q, Manservisi F, Panzacchi S, Mandrioli D, Menghetti I, Vornoli A, Bua L, Falcioni L, Lesseur C, Chen J, Belpoggi F, Hu J. The Ramazzini Institute 13-week pilot study on glyphosate and Roundup administered at human-equivalent dose to Sprague Dawley rats: effects on the microbiome. Environ Health. 2018 May 29;17(1):50. PMID: 29843725; PMCID: PMC5972442. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0394-x
Leino L, Tall T, Helander M, Saloniemi I, Saikkonen K, Ruuskanen S, Puigbò P. Classification of the glyphosate target enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) for assessing sensitivity of organisms to the herbicide. J Hazard Mater. 2021 Apr 15;408:124556. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124556. Epub 2020 Nov 14. PMID: 33243645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124556
Motta EVS, Raymann K, Moran NA. Glyphosate perturbs the gut microbiota of honey bees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 9;115(41):10305-10310. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1803880115. Epub 2018 Sep 24. PMID: 30249635; PMCID: PMC6187125. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1803880115
Ruuskanen S, Rainio MJ, Gómez-Gallego C, Selenius O, Salminen S, Collado MC, Saikkonen K, Saloniemi I, Helander M. Glyphosate-based herbicides influence antioxidants, reproductive hormones and gut microbiome but not reproduction: A long-term experiment in an avian model. Environ Pollut. 2020 Nov;266(Pt 1):115108. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115108. Epub 2020 Jul 5. PMID: 32768925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115108
Aitbali Y, Ba-M'hamed S, Elhidar N, Nafis A, Soraa N, Bennis M. Glyphosate based- herbicide exposure affects gut microbiota, anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2018 May-Jun;67:44-49. Epub 2018 Apr 7. PMID: 29635013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2018.04.002
Mesnage R, Teixeira M, Mandrioli D, Falcioni L, Ducarmon QR, Zwittink RD, Mazzacuva F, Caldwell A, Halket J, Amiel C, Panoff JM, Belpoggi F, Antoniou MN. Use of Shotgun Metagenomics and Metabolomics to Evaluate the Impact of Glyphosate or Roundup MON 52276 on the Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolome of Sprague-Dawley Rats. Environ Health Perspect. 2021 Jan;129(1):17005. Epub 2021 Jan 27. PMID: 33502259; PMCID: PMC7839352. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp6990
Blot N, Veillat L, Rouzé R, Delatte H. Glyphosate, but not its metabolite AMPA, alters the honeybee gut microbiota. PLoS One. 2019 Apr 16;14(4):e0215466. PMID: 30990837; PMCID: PMC6467416. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215466
Mesnage R, Antoniou MN. Computational modelling provides insight into the effects of glyphosate on the shikimate pathway in the human gut microbiome. Curr Res Toxicol. 2020 Apr 22;1:25-33. doi: 10.1016/j.crtox.2020.04.001. PMID: 34345834; PMCID: PMC8320642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crtox.2020.04.001
Puigbò P, Leino LI, Rainio MJ, Saikkonen K, Saloniemi I, Helander M. Does Glyphosate Affect the Human Microbiota? Life (Basel). 2022 May 9;12(5):707. doi: 10.3390/life12050707. PMID: 35629374; PMCID: PMC9145961. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12050707
Hu J, Lesseur C, Miao Y, Manservisi F, Panzacchi S, Mandrioli D, Belpoggi F, Chen J, Petrick L. Low-dose exposure of glyphosate-based herbicides disrupt the urine metabolome and its interaction with gut microbiota. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 5;11(1):3265. PMID: 33547360; PMCID: PMC7864973. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82552-2
Suppa A, Kvist J, Li X, Dhandapani V, Almulla H, Tian AY, Kissane S, Zhou J, Perotti A, Mangelson H, Langford K, Rossi V, Brown JB, Orsini L. Roundup causes embryonic development failure and alters metabolic pathways and gut microbiota functionality in non-target species. Microbiome. 2020 Dec 15;8(1):170. PMID: 33339542; PMCID: PMC7780628. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00943-5
Leino L, Tall T, Helander M, Saloniemi I, Saikkonen K, Ruuskanen S, Puigbò P. Classification of the glyphosate target enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) for assessing sensitivity of organisms to the herbicide. J Hazard Mater. 2021 Apr 15;408:124556. Epub 2020 Nov 14. PMID: 33243645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124556
Benchimol EI, Bernstein CN, Bitton A, Carroll MW, Singh H, Otley AR, Vutcovici M, El-Matary W, Nguyen GC, Griffiths AM, Mack DR, Jacobson K, Mojaverian N, Tanyingoh D, Cui Y, Nugent ZJ, Coulombe J, Targownik LE, Jones JL, Leddin D, Murthy SK, Kaplan GG. Trends in Epidemiology of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Distributed Network Analysis of Multiple Population-Based Provincial Health Administrative Databases. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jul;112(7):1120-1134. Epub 2017 Apr 18. PMID: 28417994; PMCID: PMC5527278. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2017.97
O'Sullivan DE, Hilsden RJ, Ruan Y, Forbes N, Heitman SJ, Brenner DR. The incidence of young-onset colorectal cancer in Canada continues to increase. Cancer Epidemiol. 2020 Dec;69:101828. Epub 2020 Sep 28. PMID: 32998071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2020.101828

CARCINOGENICITY

The PMRA’s approach to carcinogenicity is out of date and has been found to be arbitrary and capricious by US courts.

Portier CJ. A comprehensive analysis of the animal carcinogenicity data for glyphosate from chronic exposure rodent carcinogenicity studies. Environ Health. 2020 Feb 12;19(1):18. PMID: 32050978; PMCID: PMC7014589. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-020-00574-1
Zhang L, Rana I, Shaffer RM, Taioli E, Sheppard L. Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis and supporting evidence. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res. 2019 Jul-Sep;781:186-206. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.02.001. Epub 2019 Feb 10. PMID: 31342895; PMCID: PMC6706269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.02.001
Weisenburger DD. A Review and Update with Perspective of Evidence that the Herbicide Glyphosate (Roundup) is a Cause of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2021 Sep;21(9):621-630. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2021.04.009. Epub 2021 Apr 24. PMID: 34052177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2021.04.009

EPIGENETICS

The PMRA has also not yet incorporated new information on genotoxicity. TET3-mediated global DNA hypomethylation in MCF10A cells

Kubsad D, Nilsson EE, King SE, Sadler-Riggleman I, Beck D, Skinner MK. Assessment of Glyphosate Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Pathologies and Sperm Epimutations: Generational Toxicology. Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42860-0. PMID: 31011160; PMCID: PMC6476885. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42860-0
Duforestel M, Nadaradjane A, Bougras-Cartron G, Briand J, Olivier C, Frenel JS, Vallette FM, Lelièvre SA, Cartron PF. Glyphosate Primes Mammary Cells for Tumorigenesis by Reprogramming the Epigenome in a TET3-Dependent Manner. Front Genet. 2019 Sep 27;10:885. PMID: 31611907; PMCID: PMC6777643. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.00885

GENOTOXICITY

Siegfried Knasmueller – Armen Nersesyan -  have questioned the reliability of many of the industry studies recently relied upon by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to conclude that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. The PMRA used the same flawed approach of assuming that genotoxic effects are due to cytotoxicity that the EPA used, and which were critiqued by the 9th circuit court.

Armen Nerseyan and Siegfried Knasmueller* Evaluation of the cientific quality of studies concerning genotoxic properties of glyphosate - an non-reviewed document - An evaluation of industrial studies that concer the mutagenic properties of glyphosate and its formulations. https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.sumofus.org/images/Evaluation_scientific_quality_studies_genotoxic_glyphosate.pdf

FORMULATIONS

There is a known line of evidence that formulants and adjuvants increase the risks of glyphosate exposure.

Defarge N, Takács E, Lozano VL, Mesnage R, Spiroux de Vendômois J, Séralini GE, Székács A. Co-Formulants in Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Disrupt Aromatase Activity in Human Cells below Toxic Levels. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Feb 26;13(3):264. PMID: 26927151; PMCID: PMC4808927. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13030264
Mesnage R, Antoniou MN. Ignoring Adjuvant Toxicity Falsifies the Safety Profile of Commercial Pesticides. Front Public Health. 2018 Jan 22;5:361. PMID: 29404314; PMCID: PMC5786549. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00361
Mesnage R, Benbrook C, Antoniou MN. Insight into the confusion over surfactant co-formulants in glyphosate-based herbicides. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019 Jun;128:137-145. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.03.053. Epub 2019 Apr 3. PMID: 30951798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.03.053
Sheldon Krimsky "Glyphosate-based herbicides and public health: making sense of the science" Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics (2022) 35(1) (no index PMID or PMC) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-021-09874-z
Defarge N, Spiroux de Vendômois J, Séralini GE. Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides. Toxicol Rep. 2017 Dec 30;5:156-163. PMID: 29321978; PMCID: PMC5756058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.12.025
Hao Y, Zhang Y, Cheng J, Xu W, Xu Z, Gao J, Tao L. Adjuvant contributes Roundup's unexpected effects on A549 cells. Environ Res. 2020 May;184:109306. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109306. Epub 2020 Feb 25. PMID: 32120119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109306
Mesnage, R., Clair, E., & Séralini, G.-E. “Roundup® in genetically modified plants: Regulation and toxicity in mammals” In B. Breckling & R. Verhoeven (Eds.), Implications of GM-crop cultivation at large spatial scales. Theorie in der Ökologie16. https://www.seralini.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Mesnageal.GMLS2_2010.pdf
Nagy K, Duca RC, Lovas S, Creta M, Scheepers PTJ, Godderis L, Ádám B. Systematic review of comparative studies assessing the toxicity of pesticide active ingredients and their product formulations. Environ Res. 2020 Feb;181:108926. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108926. Epub 2019 Nov 20. PMID: 31791711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108926
Benbrook, C.M. How did the US EPA and IARC reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the genotoxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides?. Environ Sci Eur31, 2 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-018-0184-7

COURTS - NRDC V. EPA

NRDC v EPA -- EPA’s own conclusion from that epidemiological evidence is inconsistent with its ultimate selection of the “not likely” hazard descriptor - PMRA collaboraties with USEPA on the re-evaluation of glyphosate.
A repeated argument regards the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) generally selected to provide the maximum ability to detect treatment-related carcinogenic effects while not compromising the outcome of the study through excessive toxicity. -- this a continuing issues as 1,000 mg/kg in OECD regulations.

NRDC v EPA

Andreotti G, Koutros S, Hofmann JN, Sandler DP, Lubin JH, Lynch CF, Lerro CC, De Roos AJ, Parks CG, Alavanja MC, Silverman DT, Beane Freeman LE. Glyphosate Use and Cancer Incidence in the Agricultural Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018 May 1;110(5):509-516. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djx233. PMID: 29136183; PMCID: PMC6279255. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djx233

NEURODEGENERATIVE and REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY

Glyphosate is also increasingly linked to neurodegenerative disorders in humans as it infiltrates the brain.

Winstone JK, Pathak KV, Winslow W, Piras IS, White J, Sharma R, Huentelman MJ, Pirrotte P, Velazquez R. Glyphosate infiltrates the brain and increases pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα: implications for neurodegenerative disorders. J Neuroinflammation. 2022 Jul 28;19(1):193. doi: 10.1186/s12974-022-02544-5. Erratum in: J Neuroinflammation. 2024 Jan 17;21(1):20. d PMID: 35897073; PMCID: PMC9331154. (note correction exists) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02544-5
Marino M, Mele E, Viggiano A, Nori SL, Meccariello R, Santoro A. Pleiotropic Outcomes of Glyphosate Exposure: From Organ Damage to Effects on Inflammation, Cancer, Reproduction and Development. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 22;22(22):12606. PMID: 34830483; PMCID: PMC8618927. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212606
Torretta, V.; Katsoyiannis, I.A.; Viotti, P.; Rada, E.C. Critical Review of the Effects of Glyphosate Exposure to the Environment and Humans through the Food Supply Chain.Sustainability 2018, 10, 950. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040950
Madani NA, Carpenter DO. Effects of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup™ on the mammalian nervous system: A review. Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 4):113933.Epub 2022 Jul 19. PMID: 35868581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113933
Liu JB, Li ZF, Lu L, Wang ZY, Wang L. Glyphosate damages blood-testis barrier via NOX1-triggered oxidative stress in rats: Long-term exposure as a potential risk for male reproductive health. Environ Int. 2022 Jan 15;159:107038. Epub 2021 Dec 11. PMID: 34906888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.107038

REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY (some INFLAMMATION)

REPRODUCTIVE - INFLAMMATION: Several of these studies show significant health consequences for mothers, fetuses, and offspring, even several generations after exposure

Mendez, F., Ordoñez-Betancourth, J. & Abrahams, N. Effects of Glyphosate Exposure on Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review of Human, Animal and In-Vitro Studies. Expo Health14, 635–669 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-021-00442-4
Liu JB, Chen K, Li ZF, Wang ZY, Wang L. Glyphosate-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis facilitates male reproductive toxicity in rats. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jan 20;805:150368. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150368. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34543792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150368
Parvez S, Gerona RR, Proctor C, Friesen M, Ashby JL, Reiter JL, Lui Z, Winchester PD. Glyphosate exposure in pregnancy and shortened gestational length: a prospective Indiana birth cohort study. Environ Health. 2018 Mar 9;17(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12940-018-0367-0. PMID: 29519238; PMCID: PMC5844093. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0367-0

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION

Stated as excluded from the PMRA in the 2017 assessment.

Muñoz JP, Bleak TC, Calaf GM. Glyphosate and the key characteristics of an endocrine disruptor: A review. Chemosphere. 2021 May;270:128619. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128619. Epub 2020 Oct 19. PMID: 33131751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128619

HUMAN EXPOSURE

CDC (June 2022) “National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey – Glyphosate (GLYP) - Urine (SSGLYP_H)” https://www.ncdcgov/Nchs/Nhanes/2013-2014/SSGLYP_Hhtm(open in a new window). — Ospina M, Schütze A, Morales-Agudelo P, Vidal M, Wong LY, Calafat AM. Exposure to glyphosate in the United States: Data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Environ Int. 2022 Dec;170:107620. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107620. Epub 2022 Nov 4. PMID: 36368224; PMCID: PMC10240384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107620
Schütze A, Morales-Agudelo P, Vidal M, Calafat AM, Ospina M. Quantification of glyphosate and other organophosphorus compounds in human urine via ion chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Chemosphere. 2021 Jul;274:129427. Epub 2021 Jan 12. PMID: 33529959; PMCID: PMC8717241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129427
Grau D, Grau N, Gascuel Q, Paroissin C, Stratonovitch C, Lairon D, Devault DA, Di Cristofaro J. Quantifiable urine glyphosate levels detected in 99% of the French population, with higher values in men, in younger people, and in farmers. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 May;29(22):32882-32893. dEpub 2022 Jan 12. PMID: 35018595; PMCID: PMC9072501. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18110-0
Gillezeau C, van Gerwen M, Shaffer RM, Rana I, Zhang L, Sheppard L, Taioli E. The evidence of human exposure to glyphosate: a review. Environ Health. 2019 Jan 7;18(1):2. PMID: 30612564; PMCID: PMC6322310. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0435-5
Álvarez Bayona María Angélica, “Occurrence of glyphosate in surface and drinking water sources in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, and its removal using membrane technology” Frontiers in Environmental Science 10 2022 https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.941836
Kruse-Plaß, M., Hofmann, F., Wosniok, W. et al.Pesticides and pesticide-related products in ambient air in Germany.Environ Sci Eur33, 114 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00553-4

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS – POLLINATORS AND MONARCHS

Helander M, Lehtonen TK, Saikkonen K, Despains L, Nyckees D, Antinoja A, Solvi C, Loukola OJ. Field-realistic acute exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide impairs fine-color discrimination in bumblebees. Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jan 20;857(Pt 1):159298. Epub 2022 Oct 7. PMID: 36216073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159298
Thompson LJ, Smith S, Stout JC, White B, Zioga E, Stanley DA. Bumblebees can be Exposed to the Herbicide Glyphosate when Foraging. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2022 Oct;41(10):2603-2612. Epub 2022 Aug 29. PMID: 35866464; PMCID: PMC9804218. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5442
Weidenmüller A, Meltzer A, Neupert S, Schwarz A, Kleineidam C. Glyphosate impairs collective thermoregulation in bumblebees. Science. 2022 Jun 3;376(6597):1122-1126. doi: 10.1126/science.abf7482. Epub 2022 Jun 2. PMID: 35653462. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf7482
Crall J. Glyphosate impairs bee thermoregulation. Science. 2022 Jun 3;376(6597):1051-1052. doi: 10.1126/science.abq5554. Epub 2022 Jun 2. PMID: 35653485. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq5554
Monarch Butterflies - PMRA Response to Equiterre Objection (No. 2017-3055) January 11, 2019, p.7. - IUCN “Migratory monarch butterfly now on Endangered IUCN Red List” (2022)

FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS and PHOSPHORUS

Naíla Barbosa da Costa, Vincent Fugère, Marie-Pier Hébert, Charles C.Y. Xu, Rowan D.H. Barrett, Beatrix E. Beisner, Graham Bell, Viviane Yargeau, Gregor F. Fussmann, Andrew Gonzalez, B. Jesse Shapiro “Resistance, resilience, and functional redundancy of freshwater bacterioplankton facing agricultural stress” Molecular Ecology 34(5) 0962-1083 https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16100
Hébert, M.-P., V. Fugère, B. E. Beisner, N. Barbosa da Costa, R. D. H. Barrett, G. Bell, B. J. Shapiro, V. Yargeau, A. Gonzalez, and G. F. Fussmann. 2021. Widespread agrochemicals differentially affect zooplankton biomass and community structure.Ecological Applications 31(7):e02423. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2423
Fugère V, Hébert MP, da Costa NB, Xu CCY, Barrett RDH, Beisner BE, Bell G, Fussmann GF, Shapiro BJ, Yargeau V, Gonzalez A. Community rescue in experimental phytoplankton communities facing severe herbicide pollution. Nat Ecol Evol. 2020 Apr;4(4):578-588. doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-1134-5. Epub 2020 Mar 2. PMID: 32123321. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1134-5
Hébert, Marie-Pier, et al. “The overlooked impact of rising glyphosate use on phosphorus loading in agricultural watersheds” Front Ecol Environ 17(1) 1540-9295 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1985 and or {{Hébert, Marie‐Pier, Vincent Fugère, and Andrew Gonzalez. "The overlooked impact of rising glyphosate use on phosphorus loading in agricultural watersheds." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 17.1 (2019): 48-56.}}

FOREST FIRES and FLOWERS

Daniels, L.D., R.W. Gray and P.J Burton. (2020). “Megafires in British Columbia - Urgent need to adapt and improve resilience to wildfire”. In: Hood, Sharon M.; Drury, Stacy; Steelman, Toddi; and Steffens, Ron, eds. Proceedings of the Fire Continuum – preparing for the future of wildland fire; 2018 May 21-24; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Online; Lisa J. Wood. “The presence of glyphosate in forest plants with different life strategies one year after application” Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 49(6): 586-594.
Timms, K., Wood, LJ. “Sub-lethal glyphosate disrupts photosynthetic efficiency and leaf morphology in fruit-producing plants, red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and highbush cranberry (Viburnum edule)” Global Ecology and Conservation (2020) 2351-9894; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01319
Golt, AR, Wood LJ. “Glyphosate-based herbicides alter the reproductive morphology of Rosa acicularis (prickly rose)” Frontiers in Plant Science – Functional Plant Ecology. Manuscript Accepted, May 24, 2021. Manuscript ID #698202; (now (2021) Volume 12 at https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.698202
Botten, N. Wood LJ, & Werner JR. “Glyphosate remains in forest plant tissues for a decade or more” Forest Ecology and Management 493 (1). (Corrigendum) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119259
Briere, B., Wood, LJ., Kirby, B., Botten, N. “Sensitivity of non-target annual plants to glyphosate-based herbicide, according to growth form” (2020) Canadian Journal of Pesticides and Pesticide Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.34195/can.j.ppm.2020.02.002

TRANSCRIPT FOR VIDEO INTRODUCTION

[SLIDE 1] TRANSCRIPT FOR VIDEO INTRODUCTION

OK, I know there is a lot going on, but I thought I would share some thoughts on a recent Canadian ruling and glyphosate as there are some important implications.

[SLIDE 2]

So, a Canadian court recently ordered Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency, or PMRA, to reassess - an approval - of glyphosate that occurred in 2022. The court ruled that the approval was –unreasonable- … because it did not consider -- new scientific evidence. So, does this matter? Well, I think it’s some pretty big news.

[SLIDE 3]

BIG – in terms of -- WHAT’S NEXT?

Can Health Canada clarify glyphosate science
Respond in six months - the clock is running, and
What will be the scope of that response.

But there are also more UNKNOWNS

[SLIDE 4]

In Regards the Ruling:

Does -- [this ruling] --have broader legal implications beyond the registration of Mad Dog Plus Herbicide in 2022
Are there appeal options available, and
Does Health Canada have other options available - to override or delay a response? And why could that be important?

[SLIDE 5]

And there are more issues with response

Does Health Canada limit respond to only the studies mentioned by litigants (back in 2022), or
Do they conduct a thorough re-registration that includes a comprehensive literature search and review?
There is about 4000 published studies on glyphosate since the monograph meeting of 2015.
And – there is a lot of scientific areas covered in filings
Then there is the problem with a limited response – in that - this leads to more legal challenges as new studies emerge.

[SLIDE 6]

There are also issues with harmonized and uniform regulations and registration:

It is believed that the United States EPA is set to reevaluate glyphosate in 2026, and
If you haven’t noticed, there have been recent changes in the US administration,
Staffing cuts and new personnel at the USEPA, USDA, and FDA could significantly alter regulatory focus - and that is an understatement.

[SLIDE 7]

There is also a new Human Health and Services Secretary in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,

Kennedy, through disclosure, has made about $2.5 million US dollars from glyphosate-related lawsuits,
He believes glyphosate contributes to chronic disease
And he is likely to work with agencies outside of his direct oversight to promote changes that align with his views.

And then there is more

[SLIDE 8] Regarding CA US Collaboration:

Health Canada has historically collaborated closely with the U.S. EPA for decades.

This, through joint reviews --- harmonized risk assessments
Data sharing --- and uniformity in methods and procedures, --- where
Bboth, also engage in international acceptance of data from the EU & OECD programs

This -- bilateral -- cooperation -- is important in reducing trade barriers -- and -- increases efficiency in registrations that aim to protect and improve public health and environmental protection.

[SLIDE 9] CHANGE

To wrap up, we are seeing some historic changes in international politics and policies…

Will the US Canadian relationship now change? - because of the new US Administration?
Will Health Canada adopt a more independent approach? And…
Will the Canadian response and adjudication of glyphosate science align with the current EU opinions and registration of glyphosate abroad?

[SLIDE 10]

So many questions, and unfortunately, we have few answers at this point, but thanks for taking some time to listen. Keepwatching this story --- as it evolves!

All Things Tox

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