Researchers at an Irish university are assessing the level of exposure of glyphosate to farmers and their families.
Ireland’s bioMonitoring Assessment of Glyphosate Exposures (IMAGE) project is recruiting farmers and their families to participate in the study.
Non-farming families have also been recruited for the project, but the final call for participants is for farmers and their families.
A total of 100 families are required for the project – 50 farm families and 50 non-farming families.
Requirements
The IMAGE project is looking for families of two parents and one child between the ages of five and 17 years-of-age to take part.
At least one family member must use glyphosate based pesticide products on the farm.
Each family member will be asked to give one urine sample and complete a questionnaire about their diet and lifestyle.
The samples will be collected by the end of September 2020.
The research project is based at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Lack of data
Dr. Marie Coggins who is the principal investigator of the IMAGE project stated: “There is a lack of data across Europe on human exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.
“Although detectable levels are low, studies such as this one are required to fully understand how chemical exposures affect human health, and to inform policy and manage exposure.”
Glyphosate exposure
Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide and is found in over 750 products around the world.
According to the IMAGE project, dietary exposure through pesticide residues on fruit, vegetables and grain, as well as home use of glyphosate-based products are thought to be the most common exposure routes among the general population.