The well-known weed killer glyphosate is repeatedly described as harmless to humans. Researchers at the University of Essen have now shown that glyphosate or glyphosate-containing preparations can damage the nervous system.
Glyphosate harmful to the nerves
Glyphosate is an over-the-counter herbicide. It may affect the cells of the peripheral nervous system, said neuroscientists at the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Essen in November 2018.
However, not only the glyphosate plays a role here. For glyphosate-containing weedkillers often contain not only glyphosate but also other ingredients that are usually neither declared nor specified. The study of the Essen researchers was published in the renowned journal Acta Neuropathologica.
Influence on the nervous system has not been studied yet
Glyphosate-containing agents are considered harmless by their proponents. Glyphosate opponents, however, indicate the possible carcinogenic effect of these agents. Although 40 years after its market launch, it is still not clear whether glyphosate can actually cause cancer or has pro-inflammatory properties. But only the suspicion should be alert.
The influence of glyphosate on the nervous system has not been studied so far, as scientists from the working group for clinical and experimental neuroimmunology under the direction of Dr. med. Mark Stettner of the University Hospital Essen has now made up for. They investigated both the effects of pure glyphosate and over-the-counter glyphosate preparations (such as the broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup) on the peripheral nervous system cells.
Weed killers contain undeclared substances
Especially the commercially available glyphosate preparations (Roundup) contain unclearly declared excipients that are suspected to be highly toxic, which is toxic to humans and animals, explained Dr. med. Stettner.
It is only known that Roundup products contain glyphosate in various concentrations as well as so-called wetting agents, which ensure that the herbicide adheres better to the plants. As a wetting agent, Talgamin is often used (also POEA abbreviated, which may account for a share of up to 15 percent.) Other additives are not available.
Roundup programs cells
The scientists now gave different concentrations of both substances, ie pure glyphosate and Roundup (mixed preparations) to cell cultures from nerve cells and Schwann cells. Then latter form the myelin sheath of the nerve cells, ie the protective insulating layer, which is, inter alia, relevant for the survival of the nerve cells.
Roundup led to a breakdown of myelin sheaths and prevented that they could be formed again (and thus their regeneration). The Schwann cells are literally "reprogrammed" by Roundup, namely from the myelin-forming cell with the protective function for the nervous system to an inflammatory cell without any protective function.
Glyphosate less problematic than the unnamed additional ingredients
"Our data indicate that unnamed ingredients in glyphosate-containing crop protection agents have a deleterious effect on myelin. The glyphosate itself may only play a minor role, "says dr. Fabian Szepanowski, (biologist in the Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology, UK Food), who was instrumental in the study. Of course, since these are cell studies, the results of the study can not yet be directly transferred to humans. However, it is now known that there is definitely the possibility of nerve damage by glyphosathaltige weed killers.
Do not use glyphosate-containing agents!
Weed killers are very popular not only in agriculture but especially among hobby gardeners! Please do not use these dubious remedies anymore! Weeds can usually be removed with completely harmless methods. Many wild plants are also edible and extremely healthy!
Also think of insects, butterflies, and birds! All of these animals can not survive in sterile turf-conifers cultures. Give birth to habitat by treating weeds no longer as enemies to be eradicated, but as valuable wild plants and, wherever possible, simply leaving them to stand.