We trust schools to keep our children safe—from playground hazards to food allergies.
But what about the chemicals being sprayed around them?
Many New Zealand schools still use glyphosate-based weedkillers, often during school hours and without any public notice. It’s time we asked the hard questions: Is this safe? Is it necessary? And are we truly honoring our duty of care?
Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable to Glyphosate
Children aren’t just small adults. Their developing bodies, faster metabolisms, and hand-to-mouth behaviors make them more susceptible to environmental toxins—including glyphosate.
Key vulnerabilities include:
- Body weight ratio: Children take in more air, food, and water per kilogram than adults, increasing exposure risk.
- Developing organs: The brain, endocrine system, and gut microbiome are still forming—precisely the systems most impacted by glyphosate in lab studies.
- Play habits: Kids are closer to the ground, barefoot, and more likely to touch sprayed surfaces or eat without washing hands.
What the Research Says: Glyphosate and Child Health
While industry groups claim glyphosate is safe when “used as directed,” a growing body of independent research suggests otherwise.
Here’s what’s been linked to early-life glyphosate exposure:
- Endocrine Disruption: Glyphosate has been shown to interfere with hormone function in multiple animal and cell studies.
- Neurodevelopmental Concerns: A 2022 study linked higher urinary glyphosate levels in children to increased risk of ADHD-like behaviors.
- Gut Health and Immunity: Glyphosate is patented as an antimicrobial and may alter the gut microbiome, which plays a key role in immunity and even mood regulation.
- Cellular and DNA Damage: Preclinical studies have shown oxidative stress and genotoxicity, particularly concerning for growing bodies.
If there’s even a chance these effects are real, should schools be gambling with children’s health?
Questionable Practices: Are Schools Cutting Corners?
Let’s consider some common practices reported in New Zealand schools:
- Spraying during school hours—with students present on the grounds.
- No PPE for maintenance staff—despite label instructions calling for protective gear.
- No signage or stand-down periods—kids return to recently treated areas, often the same day.
- Lack of transparency—parents rarely know what’s being sprayed, when, or why.
Would these practices pass the same scrutiny as a school lunch menu or safety inspection?
A Safer Path Forward: Rethinking Weed Control
Weed control is necessary. But is glyphosate the only tool? Absolutely not.
Schools around the world are phasing out glyphosate in favor of safer, non-chemical or low-toxicity alternatives—such as steam weeding, mulch, mechanical trimming, vinegar-based sprays, or pelargonic acid.
These methods may cost more up front but protect something far more valuable: our children’s long-term health.
Final Thought: The Responsibility We Share
Every school has a legal and moral duty of care. When we know a product is potentially harmful—especially to children—the burden shifts. It’s no longer about proving harm beyond a doubt. It’s about taking a precautionary approach.
We urge school boards, principals, and maintenance teams to ask themselves:
Is it worth the risk?
Could we choose a safer option?
Because when it comes to our kids, “good enough” is no longer good enough.
Resources and References
The following studies represent some of the peer-reviewed research raising valid concerns about glyphosate exposure—especially in relation to children’s health and development. While no single study tells the whole story, the weight of evidence continues to grow.
Independent Research Highlights Potential Risks
A comparative analysis revealed that regulatory agencies often rely on industry-sponsored studies, which are more likely to report no harm, whereas independent studies frequently find adverse effects associated with glyphosate exposure.
- Benbrook, C.M. (2019). “How did the US EPA and IARC reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the genotoxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides?” Environmental Sciences Europe, 31(1), 2.
https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-018-0184-7
Glyphosate and Endocrine Disruption
Research indicates that glyphosate and its formulations can disrupt hormonal functions, affecting reproductive health.
- Serra, L., et al. (2021). “Mechanisms of Glyphosate and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Action in Female and Male Fertility in Humans and Animal Models.” Cells, 10(11), 3079.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/3079 - Young, F., et al. (2015). “Endocrine disruption and cytotoxicity of Glyphosate and Roundup in human JAr cells in vitro.” Integrative Pharmacology, Toxicology and Genotoxicology, 1(1), 12-19.
https://www.oatext.com/Endocrine-disruption-and-cytotoxicity-of-Glyphosate-and-Roundup-in-human-JAr-cells-in-vitro.php
Neurodevelopmental Concerns in Children
Studies have linked prenatal glyphosate exposure to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
- Rauh, V.A., et al. (2024). “Associations of prenatal glyphosate exposure with child neurodevelopmental outcomes.” Environmental Research, 242, 116005
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002314
Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity
Evidence suggests that glyphosate-based herbicides can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage, which are particularly concerning for developing children.SpringerOpen
- National Toxicology Program (2023). “Glyphosate & Glyphosate Formulations.
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/glyphosate - Martínez, M.A., et al. (2020). “Comparative cyto- and genotoxicity assessment of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in human mononuclear white blood cells.” Environmental Research, 184, 109289.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935119306486
Gut Microbiome Disruption
Glyphosate exposure has been shown to alter the gut microbiota, which plays a crucial role in children’s immune and neurological development.
- Mesnage, R., et al. (2021). “Low-dose exposure of glyphosate-based herbicides disrupt the gut microbiome via Shikimate pathway.” Scientific Reports, 11, 2821.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-82552-2 - Nielsen, L.N., et al. (2022). “Glyphosate and its formulations Roundup Bioflow and RangerPro alter the gut microbiome in rats.” Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 888853
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.888853/full
Prevalence of Glyphosate in Children
A CDC analysis found that a significant majority of children tested had detectable levels of glyphosate in their urine.
Environmental Working Group (2022). “CDC finds toxic weedkiller in 87 percent of children tested.”
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2022/07/cdc-finds-toxic-weedkiller-87-percent-children-tested
Final Note
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding glyphosate and its potential impacts on children’s health. We encourage you to keep questioning, keep digging, and keep exploring the evidence because protecting kids means being willing to look a little deeper—even when it’s uncomfortable.
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