Glyphosate is a type of herbicide widely used by farmers around the world to prevent weed growth in plantations, facilitating the growth of the cultivated plant.
This herbicide acts by a mechanism that prevents the plant from producing the amino acids necessary for its growth and development, so it is not a selective herbicide, that is, applied to the soil eliminates any type of growing plant.Therefore, this herbicide is used in plantations especially after harvest or before planting, when only weeds remain to be removed.
- Because it has this powerful mechanism of action.
- And because it is so widely used.
- Glyphosate has raised several questions about the safety of its use.
- However.
- As long as it is applied with protective equipment and whenever all safety measures are followed.
- There appears to be little risk of toxicity.
When used in its pure form, glyphosate has a very low degree of toxicity and is therefore considered safe; however, most herbicides use the substance mixed with other products that facilitate their adhesion to plants and can increase toxicity.
The fastest effect is irritation and redness of the eyes, as well as inflammation of the skin, so when applying glyphosate it is very important to use protective equipment composed of gloves, glasses, mask and protective suit.Herbicide is inhaled, irritation to the throat and nose may also occur.In case of accidental ingestion, products containing glyphosate may cause mouth burns, nausea and vomiting.
These effects also apply to pets and therefore the place where it is applied must not be accessible to animals.
Several studies in laboratory rats indicate that high doses of this herbicide may increase the risk of developing cancer.
However, human tests have yielded mixed results, and this risk only appears to be present when glyphosate is used in a formula with other substances, and even under these conditions, there does not appear to be any concrete evidence that leads to a ban on the product..
Thus, its use is regulated by Anvisa and must be carried out mainly by professionals restrictively and in compliance with all safety standards.As for its use in the home, Anvisa regulates that it can only be sold in its diluted form.
The risk of exposure to glyphosate is higher in people working directly with the herbicide, such as farmers.The most common forms of exposure include skin and eye contact, product inspiration at application time, and accidental ingestion, which can occur when you wash your hands poorly after use.
With regard to the presence of this herbicide in foods purchased for use at home, food groups most likely to have been in contact with glyphosate at any given time include:
However, the health risk of these foods remains very low, as there are regulators that periodically test these foods to assess the maximum level of waste to keep them safe.
Since the highest risk of exposure occurs when herbicide is applied, it is very important to take certain precautions, such as wearing protective equipment consisting of gloves, glasses, mask and protective suit.
In addition, you should always wash your hands with soap and water, as well as any area of skin that may have come into contact with the substance.