Roundup Exposure During Pregnancy May Increase Risk of Premature Delivery, Lower Birth Weight: Study

Prenatal exposure to Roundup had a significant impact on infants who were already expected to be low birth weight, and on babies in disadvantaged communities.

The introduction of genetically modifying crops designed to resist glyphosate has led to a sharp increase in Roundup use in U.S. agriculture, which researchers from the University of Oregon now suggest may be responsible for a rise in birth complications among rural communities and historically disadvantaged groups.

Monsanto began marketing modified seeds in 1996, which was designed to allow use of the weedkiller Roundup directly on crops. As a result, the use of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides has increased 750% in the U.S.

According to the findings of a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 14, this rise in use of Roundup appears to be linked to a corresponding rise in preterm and low-weight births, leading researchers to warn about the potential side effects of Roundup exposure during pregnancy.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, which has been widely used for decades in the agricultural industry, as well as for residential purposes as a weed killer. Although it has been marketed as safe for humans, research over the last several years has linked Roundup exposure to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other adverse health effects.

As a result of the manufacturers’ failure to warn about the potential cancer risks, Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary have faced more than 120,000 Roundup lawsuits, each raising similar allegations that users developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the weed killer, either when using the product in an agricultural setting or around the home.

After spending more than $10 billion in Roundup settlements, Bayer announced in 2021 that it would reformulate Roundup and remove the active ingredient glyphosate from consumer versions of the weed killer. However, glyphosate is still in the formulation for agricultural users, potentially leading to increased risks of cancer and other adverse health conditions for those coming in contact with the product.

In this new study, two researchers from the University of Oregon highlight Roundup exposure also has an effect on unborn infants.

Emmett Reynier and Edward Rubin looked at data on rural U.S. birth records nationwide, and the areas’ history of pesticide application and genetically modified crop suitability. The researchers then matched that data with the mother’s county to determine potential Roundup exposure. The data included more than 9 million birth records from rural counties between 1990 and 2013.

According to Reynier and Rubin’s findings, birthweight and gestation data was similar across the counties until 1996, when genetically modified seeds were introduced along with a corresponding increase in the use of Roundup. After 1996, the researchers spotted a spike in the rates of low-weight births and preterm births in the areas where glyphosate was likely used.

The researchers calculate that average Roundup exposure reduced gestation by one day and the infant’s average birthweight by about an ounce. However, they determined that the smaller the expected size of the infant, the more profound an effect glyphosate appeared to have.

“Further, historically disadvantaged groups disproportionately bear these health effects,” they wrote. “These results conflict with current regulatory guidance, suggest current regulations may be inadequate, and highlight the need to improve pesticide use and exposure monitoring.”