A landmark study has reignited fears about glyphosate’s safety, linking higher exposure to a higher risk of death.
A newly published study in Scientific Reports (2025) has dropped a bombshell in the ongoing debate about glyphosate’s safety: people with higher levels of glyphosate in their urine face a significantly higher risk of death from all causes.
The researchers, using robust data from the respected National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found that each 1 ng/mL increase in urinary glyphosate was associated with a 40% higher risk of all-cause mortality. Individuals in the highest glyphosate exposure group had a 50% increased risk of dying compared to those in the lowest group.
These numbers should worry us all — because glyphosate is everywhere.
What the Study Looked At
The scientists analyzed 4,740 adults whose urine was tested for glyphosate across three NHANES survey cycles between 2013 and 2018, with mortality tracked over approximately eight years. The statistical models adjusted for age, sex, race, income, diet, smoking, BMI, and other potential confounding factors.
Even after controlling for those variables, glyphosate levels remained a powerful predictor of death risk. The data showed especially strong associations among women, and highlighted that people with hypertension may face even greater cancer-related mortality if they also have high glyphosate levels.
Why This Matters
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in products like Roundup, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It shows up in water, soil, food, and even rainfall. Biomonitoring studies have consistently found glyphosate in human urine samples around the globe — proof of how deeply it has infiltrated our environment.
While regulatory agencies often argue that glyphosate is safe “at typical exposure levels,” this new study challenges that claim by linking those same “typical” levels to increased mortality risk.
What Could Be Happening in the Body?
Researchers suggest several pathways:
- Oxidative stress: glyphosate may generate harmful free radicals, damaging cells and tissues.
- Gut microbiome disruption: glyphosate is a patented antimicrobial, which could alter gut flora and weaken the immune system.
- Endocrine effects: glyphosate has been linked to hormone disruption, which may in turn affect metabolism, cancer risk, or chronic disease pathways.
Of course, no single study proves causation beyond all doubt, and the authors acknowledge some limitations. But in public health, the precautionary principle says that credible evidence of harm — especially from a ubiquitous chemical — demands immediate attention.
What Should Happen Next?
This is a wake-up call. There are simply too many signals pointing to glyphosate’s harms for governments to keep dragging their feet. New Zealand regulators should urgently review the approval, regulation, and use of glyphosate on food crops, sports fields, and public spaces.
In the meantime, there are steps that everyone can take to reduce their risk. Switching to organic food, supporting community bans, and demanding more transparent testing are all steps in the right direction.
If a chemical is showing up in our urine, and scientists are now tying that chemical to a higher risk of death — the question becomes clear: How much longer will we allow it to be sprayed nearly everywhere?
Note: While the US has large-scale biomonitoring programs, glyphosate urine testing is not readily available in New Zealand. For more on why it’s so difficult to test here, see our article: “Glyphosate Urine Testing in NZ: Barriers and Challenges”.
Further Reading & Resources
Before you look away and think, “it couldn’t happen here,” consider this: glyphosate is in our bodies whether we choose it or not. The research below shows just how far-reaching its consequences might be — and why ignoring the science is no longer an option.
The Relationship Between Urinary Glyphosate and All-Cause and Specific-Cause Mortality: A Prospective Study
This 2025 peer-reviewed study in Scientific Reports analyzes NHANES data from 4,740 U.S. adults, revealing a significant association between urinary glyphosate levels and increased all-cause mortality. Notably, the study found a 40% higher risk of death per 1 ng/mL increase in urinary glyphosate.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-95139-y
Can You Get Tested for Glyphosate in New Zealand?
An article from No More Glyphosate NZ highlights the challenges New Zealanders face in accessing glyphosate urine testing. It discusses the lack of public testing options and the reliance on private clinics that send samples overseas.
Link: Want to Know Your Glyphosate Levels?
Associations Between Environmental Glyphosate Exposure and Glucose Homeostasis Indices in U.S. Adults
This 2024 study examines the relationship between glyphosate exposure and glucose metabolism, finding that higher urinary glyphosate levels are associated with disruptions in glucose homeostasis, particularly in obese individuals.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-84694-5.pdf
Association Between Urinary Glyphosate Levels and Serum Neurofilament Light Chain in U.S. Adults
A 2024 study investigating the link between glyphosate exposure and neuroaxonal damage. The research found a significant association between higher urinary glyphosate levels and increased serum neurofilament light chain, a biomarker for neurological disorders.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-023-00594-2
Glyphosate in NZ: Are We Ignoring the Health Risks?
An article discussing the potential health risks of glyphosate exposure in New Zealand, including concerns about reproductive harm and the need for more comprehensive testing and regulation.
Link: https://nomoreglyphosate.nz/glyphosate-health-risks-nz/
Every data point, every peer-reviewed study, every story of someone trying to get tested — it all leads back to a simple question: if a chemical is silently shortening our lives, will we act before it’s too late?
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