A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Ulm has found that the controversial herbicide glyphosate, even without its additional ingredients, can cause deformities in the hearts and brains of tadpoles at minimal concentrations. The scientists are now calling for a ban or at least a restriction on the use of glyphosate. Glyphosate is widely used in agriculture, despite studies showing that it causes deformities in tadpoles and reduces the number of ants. The European Union (EU) has classified the herbicide as safe, but previous studies have not examined pure glyphosate, only the herbicide with its additional ingredients. The researchers at the University of Ulm conducted a new study to investigate whether pure glyphosate without additional ingredients affects the development of tadpoles.
The study found that even at very low concentrations, pure glyphosate without additional ingredients caused deformities in tadpoles, including smaller hearts, malformed cranial nerves, and curved bodies. The researchers also observed changes in the behavior of the animals. The study showed that increasing concentrations of glyphosate had a direct correlation with the severity of deformities and the restlessness of tadpoles. The researchers also found possible evidence of the negative impact of glyphosate on the development of nerves in the brain and the inhibition of a crucial gene responsible for the proper development of the animals’ hearts.
The study’s findings support the idea that glyphosate can cause significant deformities in amphibians and possibly other organisms. Glyphosate has been observed to increase mortality rates, developmental disorders, organ damage, and behavioral abnormalities in various animal species. The authors of the study believe that glyphosate may have played a significant role in the global decline of amphibians and should be re-evaluated for its use. The herbicide has even become part of the food chain and has been detected in human urine.
The study’s results have led to calls for a ban or at least a restriction on the use of glyphosate. The researchers believe that the herbicide’s effects on the environment and animal species are too significant to ignore. The study’s findings also highlight the need for further research into the impact of glyphosate on other organisms and the environment.
