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CDC Finds Glyphosate in Urine of Majority of Children in U.S.

young girl

A recent analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that urine samples of approximately 87 percent of 650 children living in the United States had detectable levels of the weed killer pesticide glyphosate.1

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the U.S. in the agricultural industry and the second most used in the home and garden industry to control broadleaf weeds and grasses that affect fruit, vegetable and cereal crops. The use of the chemical glyphosate, which is registered as a pesticide with the U.S. government, has increased more than 200 times since 1974 when Monsanto, an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, commercialized it under the trade name Roundup.2 German pharmaceutical company Bayer now owns glyphosate after it bought Monsanto in 2018.3

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stated that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen” based on limited evidence of cancer in humans (from real world exposures) and sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals.4 however, the European Food Safety Authority and the joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) determined that glyphosate is unlikely to be a carcinogen.5

In 2016, Ronnie Cummins, co-founder and international director of Organic Consumers Association (OCA) said, “In 1992, the U.S. government at the behest of Monsanto and corporate agribusiness, using the excuse of “sound science” and streamlining government restrictions on industry, declared that genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their accompanying pesticides, such as Roundup, would be allowed into the U.S. food supply, with no labeling nor special pre-market safety testing required The so-called scientific justification for this proclamation was the doctrine of “substantial equivalence,” the industry promoted but scientifically indefensible theory that patented genetically engineered foods and crops are the same as non-genetically engineered crops and, therefore, are inherently safe.”6

In 2019, the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released an analysis that connected glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and recommended monitoring children’s exposure to this chemical.7

Children are Exposed to Glyphosate Through Food

Food is the primary mode of exposure to glyphosate in children under the age of eighteen.8 The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has determined that major food companies like General Mills market and sell popular children’s breakfast cereals and other foods contaminated with high levels of glyphosate in it. EWG conducted its own testing and found that glyphosate was detected in all 21 oat-based cereal and snack products sampled. All except four products contained levels of glyphosate higher than what EWG scientists consider safe for children’s health.9

The products with the highest glyphosate levels were found in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch with 833 parts per billion (ppb), and Cheerios with 729 ppb. The EWG children’s health benchmark for glyphosate is is 160 ppb.10

Glyphosate is mainly used as a weed killer on genetically modified corn and soybeans. It is also sprayed on oats as a drying agent. Glyphosate dries out crops so it can be harvested quickly, which increases the likelihood that it ends up in foods children enjoy eating.11

Alexis Temkin, PhD, an EWG toxicologist said:

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the country, yet until now we had very little data on exposure. Children in the U.S. are regularly exposed to this cancer-causing weed killer through the food they eat virtually every day.12

Glyphosate Detected in Childhood Vaccines

Glyphosate has also been detected in a number of  vaccines given to children and adults. An organization known as Moms Across America submitted five childhood vaccines to Microbe Inotech Laboratories, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri to test for the presence of glyphosate. The tests were conducted using the ELISA method.13

On Mar. 14, 2016, Moms Across America received results from Microbe Inotech Laboratories, which indicated that all five of the vaccines tested positive for glyphosate. Glyphosate was detected in the following vaccines:14

  • MMR II (Merck) had 2.671 ppb of glyphosate
  • DTap Adacel (Sanofi Pasteur) had 0.123 ppb of glyphosate
  • Influenza Fluvirin (Novartis) had 0.331 ppb of glyphosate
  • HepB Energix-B (GlaxoSmithKline) had 0.325 ppb of glyphosate
  • Pneumonoccal Vax Polyvalent Pneumovax 23 (Merck) had 0.107 ppb of glyphosate

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Click here to view References:

1 Environmental Working Group. CDC finds toxic weedkiller in 87 percent of children tested. July 11, 2022.
2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Glyphosate (GLYP) – Urine (SSGLYP_H). June 2022.
3 Gleeson C. Cancer-causing herbicide found in 80% of US urine samples. Beckers Hospital Review July 12, 2022.
4 International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC Monograph on Glyphosate. March 2015.
5 CDC. Glyphosate (GLYP) – Urine (SSGLYP_H). June 2022.
6 Cummins R. Don’t Trust the Feds on GMOs, Pesticides and Chemicals. Organic Consumers Association (OCA) Oct. 25, 2016.
7 U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Glyphosate. August 2020.
8 Environmental Working Group. CDC finds toxic weedkiller in 87 percent of children tested. July 11, 2022.
9 Naidenko O, Temkin A. In New Round of Tests, Monsanto’s Weedkiller Still Contaminates Foods Marketed to Children. Environmental Working Group June 19, 2019.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Environmental Working Group. CDC finds toxic weedkiller in 87 percent of children tested. July 11, 2022.
13 Honeycutt Z. Glyphosate in Vaccines Administered to Children. Cornucopia Sept. 12, 2016.
14 Moms Across America. Glyphosate in Childhood Vaccines.

7 Responses

  1. Bad enough this stuff is everywhere like vaccines and in our foods. We don’t need to add to it. So why do (estimated) millions of parents pay lawn care companies to spray pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides all over their lawns which their children then run and play upon? Don’t fall for the dumb response of “resale value.” If you are convinced that you need a perfect and green lawn as a high priority criterion to sell your home, I feel sorry for you. If everyone stops using this junk on their lawns, it will help. In my own neighborhood, otherwise loving and deeply caring parents keep on paying these lawn care companies (or worse, they go and buy the stuff themselves) to put down 3-4 applications per growing season. What is more important: a perfect lawn or yours and your kids’ health? Please don’t let the lawncare companies keep doing this. They tell you it is safe to get your dollars. So just stop–clover and weeds are perfectly wonderful for kids to play on. I have been an organic gardener (absolutely no chemicals) for over 30 years. There are ways to use safe materials like corn gluten (for crabgrass) and natural fertilizers. All you need to do is adjust your thinking and your priorities.

  2. Pam,
    What natural fertilizers do you use, and where do you get crab grass eliminator made of corn?
    Thanks,

  3. So, from what I hear, glyphosate kills the oat crop prematurely in order to attain the highest fiber content. If the oat plant dies naturally in the summer, it loses some of its fiber content. So, in the interest of a “high fiber” diet, they poison the cereal!

  4. Thanks, Pam. Right on! Also goes for schools, city parks, and playgrounds. Parents should be demanding that this stuff be banned from such public places, especially where kids spend a lot of time. Not mentioned in this article is the fact that all non-organic wheat is sprayed to the hilt with glyphosate prior to harvest (acts as a desiccant to dry it out). Therefore, it’s not just the breakfast cereals one needs to avoid (or exchange for organic), but all the breads, cakes, cookies, pastas…shall I go on? —!! You won’t be able to avoid glyphosate completely (due to over-sprays, water contamination, air contamination), but growing and eating organic will definitely lessen your load.

  5. Common knowledge that a cancer causing contamination is in the food supply, what is it going to take for the powers that be to act on it.

  6. Thank you all for your enlightening comments. As an organic gardener of many years and a Master Gardener I truly am appreciative of all the people who try to keep us safe by using the least harmful materials for gardening and agriculture, etc. To answer Tracy’s question, to stop crab grass you put down corn gluten prior to germination of the seeds; I used todo this every spring and once it was available at Gardener’s Supply. Not sure now, but places like Fedco Seeds and garden supplies (catalog and online) of Maine may have some, else check with Mother Earth website. I fear the corn gluten now is GMO based, but I am not sure. I stopped corn gluten because I just no longer cared if there were weeds in my lawn; it is mostly clover now and my lawn (on one-third acre can be cut in 7 minutes. I use mostly permaculture which does not need lawn). Other natural fertilizers I use is my own compost, Coast of Maine lobster compost, Neptune’s Harvest Sea kelp liquid (they are in Gloucester MA and sea kelp provides micronutrients. For larger garden areas I have used Espoma organic fertilizer–it is as close to really organic as I can find. I look for mostly the OMRI certification for it being organic; it is shown on the bags that are certified. Bless you all for wanting to stop the spraying of parks, playgrounds and those wheat fields you mention. As to the issue of wheat, you can get ancient flour from Italy from Jovial; it is called Einkorn. Italy has stricter laws on what they allow in crops. I can obtain this at my local co-op, or online. My husband who has gluten allergies can easily eat Einkorn products. The gluten is very low and not in the form of today’s wheats. It has excellent baking qualities. So that means I must regularly make my own baked goods; a small price to pay for safety. May we all find ways to affect the minds of our communities and demand we protect our kids and planet from harmful chemicals. Thank you all for your responses.

  7. Glyphosate is one of the most effective weedacides across the planet and if used wisely allows otherwise useless land to be farmed!
    The CDC is one of the most untrustworthy government agencies currently propagandising Glyphosate and making out It is an issue as they did with Ivermectin and hydroxichloriquine!
    The Marxist Death Cult are adamant that reducing the population is an answer to them being weirdos.
    If you believe this to be true Go an Get yourself tested and then publish the results!

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