Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cardiovascular Effects and Fatality May Differ According to the Formulation of Glyphosate Salt Herbicide

  • Published:
Cardiovascular Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to compare adverse cardiovascular events and fatalities and to identify the risk factors for fatalities associated with the glyphosate salt herbicide formulation. Additionally, we examined whether glyphosate ammonium salt herbicides increased serum ammonia levels. One hundred forty-seven patients were divided into an ammonium group (glyphosate ammonium salt herbicide) and an isopropylamine (IPA) group (glyphosate IPA salt herbicide) according to the type of glyphosate salt formulation ingested. Although no differences in the variables were observed between the groups, the IPA group had more fatalities, a higher incidence of QTc prolongation and a higher tendency for PR prolongation than the ammonium group. Additionally, the IPA group required a longer duration of vasopressor administration. PR prolongation and age were independently associated with fatalities in glyphosate IPA salt poisoning cases in the multivariate regression. Serum ammonia levels were higher at presentation and decreased continuously during the first 48 h after presentation in the ammonium group. This study is the first to suggest potentially different toxicities, especially cardiovascular effects, of glyphosate herbicide poisoning in humans based on the glyphosate salt herbicide formulation and to determine the association between PR prolongation and fatality in glyphosate IPA salt herbicide poisoning cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Seok, S. J., Park, J. S., Hong, J. R., Gil, H. W., Yang, J. O., Lee, E. Y., et al. (2011). Surfactant volume is an essential element in human toxicity in acute glyphosate herbicide intoxication. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, PA), 49, 892–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Moon, J. M., Chun, B. J., & Cho, Y. S. (2016). The characteristics of emergency department presentations related to acute herbicide or insecticide poisoning in South Korea between 2011 and 2014. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 79, 466–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mowry, J. B., Spyker, D. A., Brooks, D. E., McMillan, N., & Schauben, J. L. (2015). 2014 Annual report of the American association of poison control centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 32nd annual report. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, PA), 53, 962–1147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kim, Y. H., Lee, J. H., Cho, K. W., Lee, D. W., Kang, M. J., Lee, K. Y., et al. (2016). Prognostic factors in Emergency Department patients with glyphosate-surfactant intoxication: Point-of-care lactate testing. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 119, 604–610.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bradberry, S. M., Proudfoot, A. T., & Vale, J. A. (2004). Glyphosate poisoning. Toxicological Reviews, 23, 159–167.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Moon, J. M., & Chun, B. J. (2010). Predicting acute complicated glyphosate intoxication in the emergency department. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, PA), 48, 718–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sorensen, F. W., & Gregersen, M. (1999). Rapid lethal intoxication caused by the herbicide glyphosate-trimesium (touchdown). Human and Experimental Toxicology, 18, 735–737.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kamijo, Y., Takai, M., & Sakamoto, T. (2016). A multicenter retrospective survey of poisoning after ingestion of herbicides containing glyphosate potassium salt or other glyphosate salts in Japan. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, PA), 54, 147–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee, H. L., Kan, C. D., Tsai, C. L., Liou, M. J., & Guo, H. R. (2009). Comparative effects of the formulation of glyphosate-surfactant herbicides on hemodynamics in swine. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, PA), 47, 651–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Auron, A., & Brophy, P. D. (2012). Hyperammonemia in review: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Pediatric Nephrology, 27, 207–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Manini, A. F., Nelson, L. S., Skolnick, A. H., Slater, W., & Hoffman, R. S. (2010). Electrocardiographic predictors of adverse cardiovascular events in suspected poisoning. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 6, 106–115.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Manini, A. F., Nair, A. P., Vedanthan, R., Vlahov, D., & Hoffman, R. S. (2017). Validation of the prognostic utility of the electrocardiogram for acute drug overdose. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6, e004230. doi:10.1161/JAHA.116.004320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Manini, A. F., Nelson, L. S., Stimmel, B., Vlahov, D., & Hoffman, R. S. (2012). Incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in adults following drug overdose. Academic Emergency Medicine, 19, 843–849.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Gress, S., Lemoine, S., Séralini, G. E., & Puddu, P. E. (2015). Glyphosate-based herbicides potently affect cardiovascular system in mammals: review of the literature. Cardiovascular Toxicology, 15, 117–126.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lionte, C., Bologa, C., & Sorodo, L. (2012). Toxic and drug-induced changes of the electrocardiogram. In R. M. Millis (Ed.), Advances in electrocardiograms-clinical application, InTech, http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-electrocardiograms-clinical-applications/toxic-and-drug induced-changes-of-electrocardiogram. Accessed 22 Feb 2017.

  16. Kim, Y. H., Lee, J. H., Hong, C. K., Cho, K. W., Park, Y. H., Kim, Y. W., et al. (2014). Heart rate-corrected QT interval predicts mortality in glyphosate-surfactant herbicide-poisoned patients. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 32, 203–207.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee, C. H., Shih, C. P., Hsu, K. H., Hung, D. Z., & Lin, C. C. (2008). The early prognostic factors of glyphosate-surfactant intoxication. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 26, 275–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Talbot, A. R., Shiaw, M. H., Huang, J. S., Yang, S. F., Goo, T. S., Wang, S. H., et al. (1991). Acute poisoning with a glyphosate-surfactant herbicide (‘Roundup’): A review of 93 cases. Human and Experimental Toxicology, 10, 1–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kwok, C. S., Rashid, M., Beynon, R., Barker, D., Patwala, A., Morley-Davies, A., et al. (2016). Prolonged PR interval, first-degree heart block and adverse cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart, 102, 672–680.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cheng, S., Keyes, M. J., Larson, M. G., McCabe, E. L., Newton-Cheh, C., Levy, D., et al. (2009). Long-term outcomes in individuals with prolonged PR interval or first-degree atrioventricular block. JAMA, 301, 2571–2577.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Hisamatsu, T., Miura, K., Fujiyoshi, A., Okamura, T., Ohkubo, T., Nagasawa, S. Y., et al. (2015). Long-term outcomes associated with prolonged PR interval in the general Japanese population. International Journal of Cardiology, 184, 291–293.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. You, Y., Jung, W. J., & Lee, M. J. (2012). Effect of intravenous fat emulsion therapy on glyphosate-surfactant–induced cardiovascular collapse. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 30, 2097-e1.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lin, C. M., Lai, C. P., Fang, T. C., & Lin, C. L. (1999). Cardiogenic shock in a patient with glyphosate-surfactant poisoning. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 98, 698–700.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chan, Y. C., Chang, S. C., Hsuan, S. L., Chien, M. S., Lee, W. C., Kang, J. J., et al. (2007). Cardiovascular effects of herbicides and formulated adjuvants on isolated rat aorta and heart. Toxicology in Vitro, 21, 595–603.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lin, C. C., Liao, S. C., Shih, C. P., & Hsu, K. H. (2014). QTc prolongation as a useful prognostic factor in acute paraquat poisoning. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 47, 401–407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Vandenberk, B., Vandael, E., Robyns, T., Vandenberghe, J., Garweg, C., Foulon, V., et al. (2016). Which QTc correction formulate to use for QT monitoring? Journal of the American Heart Association, 5, e003264. doi:10.1161/JAHA.116.003264.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a Grant (CRI11080-22) from the Chonnam National University Hospital Research Institute of Clinical Medicine.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hak Dong 8, Donggu, Gwangju, 501-747, South Korea

    Jeong Mi Moon, Byeong Jo Chun, Yong Soo Cho, Sung Do Lee, Eu Jene Jung & Hyun Ho Ryu

  2. The Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, The Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 501-747, South Korea

    Young Joon Hong

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 501-747, South Korea

    Min Ho Shin

Authors
  1. Jeong Mi Moon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Byeong Jo Chun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Soo Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sung Do Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Young Joon Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Min Ho Shin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eu Jene Jung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hyun Ho Ryu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Byeong Jo Chun.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Geolocation Information

This study was conducted at Gwangju, South Korea, Asia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Moon, J.M., Chun, B.J., Cho, Y.S. et al. Cardiovascular Effects and Fatality May Differ According to the Formulation of Glyphosate Salt Herbicide. Cardiovasc Toxicol 18, 99–107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-017-9418-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-017-9418-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation