Genetically Engineered crops like herbicide-resistant corn, soybeans and cotton are a major source of glyphosate residues. Such crops led to a 527 million-pound increase in herbicide use in the U.S. from 1996 to 2011. However, even non-GE foods often contain glyphosate because the chemical is used as a pre-harvest drying agent, or desiccant.

About two weeks prior to harvest of grain crops like wheat, oats and barley, glyphosate may be sprayed onto the crop, which accelerates the drying process, allowing for earlier harvest. The use of glyphosate as a desiccant may be particularly problematic because it’s sprayed so near to harvest, which could result in higher residue levels and greater exposures to consumers.

Oat-based cereal and snack products, including popular breakfast foods often marketed to children, have been found to contain concerning levels of glyphosate as a result of the desiccation process. In 2020, food giant Kellogg announced they’re phasing out the use of glyphosate as a desiccant by 2025.

However, glyphosate has also been detected in PediaSure Enteral Formula nutritional drink, which is given to infants and children via feeding tubes, to get an idea of just how widespread it is.

Glyphosate was also detected in a variety of honey samples tested worldwide, including that taken directly from 59 beehives on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. There, glyphosate residues were found in 27% of honey samples, at levels as high as 342 parts per billion (ppb). Manuka honey from New Zealand — prized for its medicinal properties and purity — is also contaminated with glyphosate.

Out of 300 samples tested, 22.3% contained glyphosate residues above the laboratory limit of reporting, with clover or pasture floral types testing positive more often than other varieties. About 1.7% of the unblended or unprocessed (raw extracted) honey samples contained glyphosate residues at levels above the regulatory limit.

Research published in Frontiers in Genetics supports glyphosate’s cancer link, finding that exposure in low concentrations (in parts per trillion) may induce cancer in cells when combined with microRNA-182-5p (miR182-5p).

MicroRNA-182-5p is a gene regulatory molecule found in everyone, and overexpression of the molecule has been linked to cancer. Michael Antoniou of King’s College London, who peer reviewed the study, stated, “These observations highlight for the first time a possible biomarker of glyphosate activity at the level of gene expression that could be linked with breast cancer formation.”

In a separate study that compared cancer in children with exposure to environmental contaminants, including metals and pesticides, in Idaho, the environmental burden index was significantly associated with pediatric cancer incidence. “The study identified that the counties with high Environmental Burden were more closely associated with cancer incidence among children than counties with low Environmental Burden,” the researchers noted.

Alan Kolok, a University of Idaho professor and director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, who led both studies, told Sustainable Pulse that the findings warrant further research into the correlation between pesticides and cancer:

“We’re not trying to be alarmist, and we’re not trying to say, ‘Oh, look, there’s a direct relationship between (the data).’ That’s not at all what they’re saying. But at the same time, it would be disingenuous of us to not recognize that in a darkened room, we keep seeing a shiny object. It really is a call to action of let’s do more research and let’s elaborate on what’s going on relative to that shiny object.

… It is absolutely striking how different states are from each other and counties are from each other. Which begs the question of if the pesticide load is different that’s being used in the state, does that cascade to a potential exposure to people? And the answer, from our two papers, is that there is suggested information that argues that it very well may. It’s a first step down that road, but it’s a significant first step.”

Reducing Exposure

One of the best ways to reduce your pesticide exposure is to choose organic or biodynamically grown foods, which are not genetically engineered nor sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant. Also, stop using glyphosate-based chemicals and other agricultural chemicals in your backyard and garden immediately.

Because glyphosate is so widespread, with the majority of people likely exposed, you may also want to consider a detox geared at this particular chemical. Consuming organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is one strategy, as it contains acetobacter, which can break down glyphosate, according to Stephanie Seneff, a senior research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has been studying glyphosate for years.

She also suggests eating garlic and cruciferous vegetables, which are good sources of sulfur. Glycine supplementation may also be a good option to help detoxify glyphosate, because to eliminate glyphosate you need to saturate your body with glycine.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, who is a specialist in metal toxicity and its connection to chronic infections, recommends taking 1 teaspoon (4 grams) of glycine powder twice a day for a few weeks and then lower the dose to one-fourth teaspoon (1 gram) twice a day. This forces the glyphosate out of your system, allowing it to be eliminated through your urine.

If you prefer foods instead of supplements, organic, grass-fed collagen is naturally rich in glycine, as is organic bone broth, which is an excellent source of glycine-rich collagen, to support your glyphosate detoxification. (Check for Hechsher, likely not Parve – there are Kosher Fish Collagen alternatives).

Pesticide Associated Cancers:

• Bladder Cancer
• Bone Cancer
• Brain Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Eye Cancer
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Kidney/Renal Cancer
• Larynx Cancer
• Leukemia
• Lip Cancer
• Liver/Hepatic Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Mouth Cancer
• Multiple Myeloma
• Neuroblastoma
• Oesophageal Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Sinonasal Cancer
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma
• Stomach Cancer
• Testicular Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Uterine Cancer

Sources:

1. U.S. CDC, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Glyphosate in Urine June 2022
2. Substack, Carey Gillam, UnSpun July 9, 2022
3. The Lancet Oncology March 20, 2015
4. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Apr 4
5. Environmental Pollution January 2020, Volume 256, 113334
6. Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry January 2015, 15(3):121-159
7. Moms Across America, Glyphosate in Childhood Vaccines
8. JAMA. 2017;318(16):1610-1611
9. Environmental Sciences Europe February 2, 2016
10. GM Watch October 24, 2017
11. Time October 26, 2017
12. Environmental Sciences Europe volume 24, Article number: 24 (2012)
13. Environmental Health News October 30, 2017
14. EWG January 27, 2020
15. Natural Society January 13, 2015
16. PLoS One. 2018; 13(7): e0198876
17. National Chemical Residues Programme Report January 2020. Summary
18. Environmental Health News October 14, 2021
19. U.S. Right to Know, Monsanto Roundup & Dicamba Trial Tracker
20. Front. Genet., 27 September 2019
21. GM Watch October 1, 2019
22. GeoHealth May 2022, Volume 6, Issue 5
23. GeoHealth March 2022, Volume 6, Issue 3
24. Sustainable Pulse July 11, 2022