Glyphosate in northern ecosystems.
Glyphosate is the main nonselective, systemic herbicide used against a wide range of weeds. Its worldwide use has expanded because of extensive use of certain agricultural practices such as no-till cropping, and widespread application of glyphosate-resistant genetically modified crops. Glyphosate has a reputation of being nontoxic to animals and rapidly inactivated in soils. However, recent evidence has cast doubts on its safety. Glyphosate may be retained and transported in soils, and there may be cascading effects on nontarget organisms. These processes may be especially detrimental in northern ecosystems because they are characterized by long biologically inactive winters and short growing seasons. In this opinion article, we discuss the potential ecological, environmental and agricultural risks of intensive glyphosate use in boreal regions.
Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland. helander@utu.fi
Marjo
M
Helander
Irma
I
Saloniemi
Kari
K
Saikkonen
D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D020387:Food Chain; D005998:Glycine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D053209:Herbicide Resistance; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000097797:Glyphosate
D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; D000097797:Glyphosate