(STUDY) Glyphosate linked to preterm births, low birth weights


The following is from Children’s Health Defense.


New research highlights the alarming effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, on infant health in rural US communities. The study links maternal exposure to glyphosate to a significant increase in premature births and low birth weights, particularly among disadvantaged populations.

Since the introduction of genetically modified seeds in 1996, glyphosate use has skyrocketed by over 750%. Researchers from the University of Oregon found that maternal exposure to glyphosate:

  • Reduced average birth weight by 29.8 grams (0.07 pounds).
  • Shortened pregnancy duration by 1.49 days.
  • Increased the chances of preterm birth by 2.14%.

The study authors, Emmett Reynier and Edward Rubin emphasized that “Even at the mean level of intensity in the United States, glyphosate exposure significantly deteriorates infant health.”

Disadvantaged populations, including Black mothers, single parents, and infants already expected to have low birth weights—most often female— bore the brunt of glyphosate’s impacts. In rural areas where glyphosate levels are highest, infants faced birth weight losses of up to 9% of their expected weight.

Glyphosate, widely used in Monsanto’s Roundup and made ubiquitous by genetically modified crops, has increasingly been linked to severe health risks. A 2017 study reported a 500% increase in glyphosate exposure in Americans since 1996, with detectable levels found in human urine and blood, including in pregnant women. Recent research in Brazil connected glyphosate exposure to higher rates of infant mortality and pediatric cancers, further challenging the EPA’s assertion that glyphosate is “safe at registered levels.”

“With a growing body of evidence that glyphosate adversely affects human health, it may be time for the EPA to reconsider its stance.”
— Edward Rubin, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon

Federal regulators, including the EPA, maintain that glyphosate is safe at registered levels, despite growing evidence linking it to serious health risks like endocrine disruption and fetal development issues.

For more details, read the full article here.

Follow The Science by Sharyl Attkisson

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1 thought on “(STUDY) Glyphosate linked to preterm births, low birth weights”

Scroll to Top