1. 1 A Summary of the Glyphosate Biomonitoring Results from the Farm Family Exposure Study Fred Fishel, Ph.D. Department of Agronomy University of Florida/IFAS

2. 2 A study conducted by… John Acquavella, Christophe Gustin and Marian Bleeke, Monsanto Company Bruce Alexander and Beth Baker, University of Minnesota Jack Mandel, Emory University Pamela Chapman, Exponent Corporation

3. 3 Study Background 48 licensed farm pesticide applicators and their families from MN and SC Pesticide studied – glyphosate (Roundup TM and other trade names)

4. 4 Glyphosate Background Widely-used herbicide for non-selective weed control Used in farm, lawn, garden, aquatic, forest and right-of-way settings LD 50 of 5,000 mg/kg (test animals) Not a mutagen, carcinogen, teratogen, or reproductive or developmental toxicant

5. 5 Farm Family* Background Farmers (#)Spouses (#) Avg. age4542 Avg. yrs applied pesticides24--- Have additional job2035 Current cigarette smokers77 *Total of 48 farmers and their families

6. 6 Farm Family* Habits Applied glyphosate within 7 days of study14 – yes 34 – no Applied glyphosate within 3 days of study14 – yes 34 - no Enclosed cab on application equipment29 – yes 19 – no Spouse mixed pesticides in week prior to study 2 – yes 46 - no *Total of 48 farmers and their families

7. 7 Field Observers’ Notes YesNo Rubber glove use when mixing3414 Enclosed cab on application equipment2919 Pesticide spills during mixing741 Pesticide spills during applying840 Skin contact with pesticides1533 Repaired equipment during application1335

8. 8 Detection of Urinary Glyphosate ApplicatorSpouseChildren Preapplication715 Day of application2929 1 day after2307 2 days after1615 3 days after1314 # of Detections *Total of 48 farmers and their families

9. 9 Farmer Urine Concentration on Day of Application Number of Farmers PPB Glyphosate PPB Range Acres Treated 10-44 45-124 125-439 16 2.9 3.8 <1-34 <1-233 <1-101 No. of Loads 1-2 3 4-6 7-12 12 15 12 9 1.2 2.9 3.8 10.7 <1-19 <1-233 <1-34 <1-101

10. 10 Farmer Urine Concentration on Day of Application Practice Number of Farmers PPB Glyphosate PPB Range Repaired equipment during application No Yes 35 13 2.3 7.2 <1-66 <1-233 Spills while mixing No Yes 41 7 2.7 7.3 <1-101 <1-233 Spills during app. No Yes 40 8 2.5 9.2 <1-66 <1-233

11. 11 Farmer Urine Concentration on Day of Application Practice Number of Farmers PPB Glyphosate PPB Range Wore Rubber Gloves No Yes 14 34 9.7 1.5 <1-233 <1-66 Closed Cab No Yes 19 29 6.5 2.0 <1-233 <1-101

12. 12 Farmer Urine Concentration on Day of Application by Glove Use Practice # of Farmers Yes No PPB Yes No Repaired equipment during application No Yes 27 8 7 6 1.9 4.6 2.4 26.0 Spills while mixing No Yes 28 13 6 1 1.7 7.6 4.1 232.7 Spills during app. No Yes 28 12 6 2 1.7 6.1 3.6 153.6

13. 13 Conclusions Highest concentrations of glyphosate were found in those who didn’t wear gloves For children and spouses, exposures could have been prevented by avoiding the area during mixing and application In all detections, doses were well below EPA’s reference dose for glyphosate

14. 14 Limitations Study evaluated only one application per family Only tractor and boom sprayers were evaluated in the survey Participation in the study may have influenced application practices Study evaluated only glyphosate; what would be the consequences if active ingredients with much lower LD 50 ’s were studied in a similar manner?

15. 15 Credits Fred Fishel, Ph.D. Department of Agronomy University of Florida/IFAS Photos: University of Missouri Extension Copyright 2005 University of Florida