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I EXTOXNET PIP - GLYPHOS E Page 2 of 4 <br /> i <br /> E <br /> reported to be approximately 750 mg/kg in rats,which indicates moderate toxicity [58]. <br /> Formulations may show moderate toxicity as well (LD50 values between 1000 mg/kg and 5000 <br /> mg/kg) [58]. Oral LD50 values for glyphosate are greater than 10,000 mg/kg in mice,rabbits, and <br /> goats [8,95]. It is practically nontoxic by skin exposure, with reported dermal LD50 values of <br /> greater than 5000 mg/kg for the acid and isopropylamine salt. The trimethylsulfonium salt has a <br /> reported dermal LD50 of greater than 2000 mg/kg. It is reportedly not irritating to the skin of <br /> rabbits, and does not induce skin sensitization in guinea pigs [58]. It does cause eye irritation in <br /> rabbits [58]. Some formulations may cause much more extreme irritation of the skin ar eyes [58]. <br /> In a number of human volunteers, patch tests produced no visible skin changes or sensitization <br /> [58]. The reported 4-hour rat inhalation LC50 values for the technical acid and salts were 5 to 12 <br /> mg/L [58], indicating moderate toxicity via this route. Some formulations may show high acute <br /> inhalation toxicity [58]. While it does contain a phosphatyl functional group, it is not structually <br /> similar to organophosphate pesticides which contain organophosphate esters, and it does not <br /> significantly inhibit cholinesterase activity [1,58]. <br /> • Chronic toxicity: Studies of glyphosate lasting up to 2 years,have been conducted with rats, <br /> dogs, mice, and rabbits, and with few exceptions no effects were observed [961. For example, in a <br /> chronic feeding study with rats, no toxic effects were observed in rats given doses as high as 400 <br /> mg/kg/day [58]. Also, no toxic effects were observed in a chronic feeding study with dogs fed up <br /> to 500 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested [58,97]. <br /> • Reproductive effects: Laboratory studies show that glyphosate produces reproductive changes in <br /> test animals very rarely and then only at very high doses (over 150 mg/kg/day) [58,96]. It is <br /> unlikely that the compound would produce reproductive effects in humans. <br /> . Teratogenic effects: In a teratology study with rabbits, no developmental toxicity was observed <br /> in the fetuses at the highest dose tested (350 mg/kg/day) [97]. Rats given doses up to 175 <br /> mg/kg/day on days 6 to 19 of pregnancy had offspring with no teratogenic effects, but other toxic <br /> effects were observed in both the mothers and the fetuses. No toxic effects to the fetuses occurred <br /> at 50 mg/kg/day [97]. Glyphosate does not appear to be teratogenic. <br /> . Mutagenic effects: Glyphosate mutagenicity and genotoxicity assays have been negative [58]. <br /> These included the Ames test, other bacterial assays, and the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell <br /> culture, rat bone marrow cell culture, and mouse dominant lethal assays [581. It appears that <br /> glyphosate is not mutagenic. <br /> • Carcinogenic effects: Rats given oral doses of up to 400 mg/kg/day did not show any signs of <br /> cancer, nor did dogs given oral doses of up to 500 mg/kg/day or mice fed glyphosate at doses of <br /> up to 4500 mg/kg/day [58]. It appears that glyphosate is not carcinogenic [97]. <br /> . Organ toxicity: Some microscopic liver and kidney changes,but no observable differences in <br /> function or toxic effects, have been seen after lifetime administration of glyphosate to test animals <br /> [97]. <br /> . Fate in humans and animals: Glyphosate is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract and is <br /> largely excreted unchanged by mammals. At 10 days after treatment,there were only minute <br /> amounts in the tissues of rats fed glyphosate for 3 weeks [98]. Cows, chickens, and pigs fed small <br /> amounts of glyphosate had undetectable levels (less than 0.05 ppm) in muscle tissue and fat. <br /> Levels in milk and eggs were also undetectable (less than 0.025 ppm). Glyphosate has no <br /> significant potential to accumulate in animal tissue [99]. <br /> E Ecological Effects: <br /> • Effects on birds: Glyphosate is slightly toxic to wild birds. The dietary LC50 in both mallards <br /> and bobwhite quail is greater than 4500 ppm [1]. <br /> . Effects on aquatic organisms: Technical glyphosate acid is practically nontoxic to fish and may <br /> http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/glyphosa.htm 1/23/2005 <br />