Before we talk about whether glyphosate can be absorbed through the skin, it’s important to note that there is a difference between the chemical by itself and the herbicide formulations using it as an active ingredient.

According to a February 2018 article in The Scientist, surfactants are added to herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup which encourage glyphosate to enter plant cells. Likewise, there are other ingredients which don’t have to be publicly disclosed which extend the shelf life of the product.

This fact somewhat complicates the question at hand. When we speak of the chemical’s ability to be absorbed through the skin, we are speaking of a variety of chemicals which contain glyphosate. These substances are available globally under many names, chief of which is Roundup.

As indicated by an April 2015 blog post in GM Free Scotland, the answer is yes—glyphosate can be and sometimes is absorbed through the skin, particularly when you look at the real world situation in which it is applied. Roundup is supposed to be applied with ‘healthy skin’ and using protective gloves and mask.

Nevertheless, individuals who make their living by taming the fields and other landscapes, as well as growing our food, rarely have uncompromised skin. Their arms are often beset with cuts, scrapes, abrasions, sunburn and chemical burns, and perhaps eczema. According to the blog, “Science has shown that glyphosate deposition in damaged skin is five times that of healthy skin, and penetration through damaged skin is increased twenty-fold.”

What if the Exposure to Glyphosate is Small?

When Roundup is sprayed, each exposure to glyphosate might be minor, but the problem is that familiarity breeds contempt. The repetition of a small absorption of glyphosate day in and day out without taking the time to rinse or wash off the prior ‘dose’ can increase risk over time.

This is especially true in less industrialized countries where availability of clean water to wash immediately or use protective equipment might be limited to nonexistent in the workplace. Compliance to occupational safety may also not be strictly enforced by law.

What Risk Does Skin Absorption of Glyphosate Pose?

Although glyphosate has been heavily relied upon for forty years by farmers and other landscapers, it has recently come into the spotlight after the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined after a year review of global studies that the chemical is a ‘probably human carcinogen’ in 2017.

This determination is highly controversial and hotly debated. It has resulted in numerous lawsuits against Monsanto. According to an article published in Interdisciplinary Toxicology, cancer is not the only way that glyphosate absorption affects human physiology. Purportedly, the chemical disrupts the functioning of several amino acids and enzymes that are normally present in the gastrointestinal system.

A particular enzyme known as cytochrome P450 is very important in detoxifying the body from environmental toxins. A disruption of this enzyme can express itself in many disease functions, one of which might be gluten intolerance or in the extreme—Celiac’s disease.

In an article published in Food Chemical Toxicology, another problem that ubiquitous glyphosate poses is that it is an endocrine disruptor which can mimic the female hormone estrogen. In common with other disruptors we are exposed to every day, glyphosate can lead to:

• Trouble processing information
• Problems with the reproduction system
• Problems controlling weight with men
• Hormonal imbalances

Additionally, estrogen mimickers present risks for breast cancer.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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