Common weed killer may affect hormones tied to pregnancy and fetal development, new research finds

Article excerpt

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in widely used weedkillers, may disrupt hormones critical to pregnancy and fetal development, according to new research. The study examined how exposure to the herbicide affects the body during pregnancy, a relatively understudied area despite glyphosate's ubiquity in agriculture and consumer products. Researchers found links between glyphosate exposure and changes in several hormones that support gestation and fetal growth. The findings add to growing concerns about the herbicide's effects on human reproduction, though scientists stopped short of declaring causation. The research underscores gaps in understanding how common agricultural chemicals affect maternal and fetal health.