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Whiteman Tennis Center | Sun Devil Athletics
A recent study conducted by Arizona State University has highlighted the potential long-term effects of glyphosate, a common ingredient in weed killers, on brain health. The research indicates that even brief exposure to this chemical can lead to significant brain inflammation and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Researcher Ramon Velazquez from ASU stated, "Our work contributes to the growing literature highlighting the brain’s vulnerability to glyphosate." He emphasized the need for further research, especially given the increasing incidence of cognitive decline in rural communities where glyphosate exposure is more prevalent due to large-scale farming.
The study was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation and involved collaboration with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope. Using mice models, researchers demonstrated that brains might be more susceptible to glyphosate's damaging effects than previously understood. Glyphosate is noted as the most widely used chemical herbicide globally.
Findings revealed that glyphosate exposure resulted in neuroinflammation and symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease. These symptoms persisted even after a six-month recovery period following exposure cessation. Samantha Bartholomew, an ASU PhD candidate and first author on the paper, expressed hope that their work would prompt further investigation into glyphosate's effects and its long-term safety.
Co-author Patrick Pirrotte from TGen remarked on the ubiquity of herbicides worldwide: "These findings highlight that many chemicals we regularly encounter, previously considered safe, may pose potential health risks."
The study also points out concerns regarding current regulations by agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sets tolerance levels for pesticide residues on food crops. Despite EPA assertions about safety levels, recent studies challenge these perceptions.
Velazquez concluded by stating their goal: "Our goal is to identify environmental factors that contribute to the rising prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases in our society."
The research received funding from several institutions including the National Institutes on Aging and ASU Biodesign Institute.