Glyphosate is finally getting a lot of attention. It is about time. It has been wreacking havoc here on planet Earth for way too long. Now that many people know about the health and planetary hazards or at least have an idea it is unsafe, they think they can simply eat organic and be done with the glyphosate. However, this is not true. Glyphosate has been found in our water, in our air, tainting some organic foods and even in the breast milk of mother's who are only eating organic. Sadly, it can bioaccumulate in all the organs and tissues of the body. At least this is what animal research has shown us. If we were dissecting humans to look for it in their organs and tissues, I am sure we would see it there too. In humans, it is found in urine, feces and mothers milk.
So why can't you simply eat organic and forget about it?
Well, you can severely limit your body burden, if you eat organic. This has been shown when you compare the urine of people who eat conventional foods with those of folks eating organic foods. So eating organic is definitely helpful. However what about the fact that we know it is found in the water and in the air. This is probably where some of the smaller amounts of glyphosate come from in those organic eaters that were tested.
Although the glyphosate in the water is a problem, what I really want to focus on here is an aspect of glyphosate that is mostly ignored. That is the glyphosate in the air we breath. It appears from recent research that some of the inhaled glyphosate may go directly to our brains. (There will be more on this research further down in the article.)
Glyphosate Spraying
I know the smell of glyphosate
all too well. I can easily identify it if glyphosate has been sprayed in areas around me. It would behoove you to learn what it smells like so you can avoid
it. It is sprayed heavily in cities as well as on conventional and GMO farms.
Driving down the freeway or country road with your car window open in the
spring can be a health hazard due to the heavy spraying and volatization that
goes on at this time of year. It is around at other times of the year, especially in the fall, but the spring is when it lies heavy in the air.
Volatilized Glyphosate
I have found that the time of spraying
is not the only time it is in the air. If they spray on a cloudy or somewhat cool day and then a few days later
the sun comes out in all its glory, the glyphosate on the plant or on the ground, volatilizes into the air. The
hotter it is, the more it volatilizes quickly and thickens the air. If not as hot,
less glyphosate goes into the air, but then I have noticed the smell can linger for many days. There is data on glyphosate volatilization and therefore it is recommended to spray at certain temperatures to keep the glyphosate on the plants. However, these people who write up these directions for use of glyphosate seem to ignore the fact that it can linger for many days on plants while the temperature is low. If not washed off by longer periods of rain it will volatilize into the air as soon as the air becomes hot enough.
Besides roadways, the other area to be aware of it is around
your neighbors yards who spray it. Also be cautious around most apartment complexes and most
city businesses where they spray weeds. This is a huge problem my friends.
Research on Glyphosate Absorption into the Nasal respiratory and olfactory tissues
I read a frightening research article this summer that showed glyphosate can be absorbed through the nasal mucosa via amino acid
transporters and could end up in much higher concentrations in the brain than
would be predicted. Monsanto has claimed all along that glyphosate is not absorbed into the body. Well we know that statement is not true since glyphosate is found in tissues and organs. However, this research showed that it is not just passively absorbed in the gut. It appears to be actively transported into the body. The large amino acid transporters are picking it
up and actively transporting it into our tissues. This is probably since the body appears to be thinking it is glycine. (Glyphosate is an analogue for the amino acid glycine. I will write about this very soon. You can also read Samsel and Seneff's research review about this.) The researchers in this wonderful study theorize that since it is transported in the nasal respiratory and olfactory
tissues (these were the tissues they were examining in the lab,) by large amino acid transporters, that inhalation of it may lead to high nasal mucosal tissue
concentration and the potential for glyphosate associated with the olfactory
epitehlium to transfer along the nose to brain pathways directly to the Central Nervous System (Your brain)!
They think this is the reason for the occurrence of reported neurological
toxicities. Reading this made me so happy I had proof that inhalation of glyphosate was dangerous. Up until now, my concerns had pretty much been ignored by everyone I talked to. Unfortunately, the news also gives you that creepy feeling of wanting to go hide in the closet.
What To Do
So, although eating organic will certainly help protect you to some degree and it will route your dollars away from support of conventional food growing, into support of organic growing, we ultimately have to stop using glyphosate on the planet ASAP. Education is key. Tell everyone you know why they should grow organic and eat organic. Show them this article. Show them other articles about glyphosate. (There are many, but see my articles below for easy access.) If we all do it, no more glyphosate will be sprayed. Also tell your representatives you want to stop all GMO farming and all use of glyphosate. However, we have to be careful here as the companies selling glyphosate are getting ready to simply use other herbicides in its place. Don't let them fool you into thinking they are safer. Remember, they told us glyphosate was safe, did not accumulate in the soil, did not absorb in the body etc. etc. Liars, liars, pants on fire! Ok, that is enough of my Donald Trump/Hilary Clinton moment.
