Glyphosate and health in Uruguay: A 25-year review of research on agricultural worker exposure.
TL;DR
Primary routes of exposure to glyphosate were dermal and inhalational, particularly during mixing, loading, and application activities, with reported acute symptoms involving gastrointestinal, neurological, and muscular manifestations, and chronic effects including respiratory and skin conditions.
Abstract
In Uruguay, glyphosate is a widely used herbicide, applied across both small- and large-scale horticultural crops. Agricultural workers in direct contact with glyphosate during its application and handling constitute a vulnerable population exposed to this herbicide. The purpose of this report is to assess the health impacts of exposure to glyphosate on workers within the Uruguayan context. A PRISMA-guided bibliographic review was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO, Google Scholar, and academic and governmental repositories in Uruguay. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 were selected, focusing on research that directly or indirectly addressed the effects of glyphosate on agricultural workers in Uruguay. Of the eight studies identified, only two centered specifically on glyphosate, while the remaining included exposure to multiple pesticides. Primary routes of exposure to glyphosate were dermal and inhalational, particularly during mixing, loading, and application activities, with reported acute symptoms involving gastrointestinal, neurological, and muscular manifestations, and chronic effects including respiratory and skin conditions. Several studies underscored the importance of biomarkers in improving correlations between exposure levels and clinical outcomes. Additionally, one study highlighted a common misconception among workers, who, due to lack of odor of glyphosate, perceive it as less hazardous than other pesticides. This belief underscored the need to enhance education on the risks associated with glyphosate and other pesticides. This report provides key insights by reviewing studies on exposure to glyphosate among agricultural workers in Uruguay. Additionally, this work supports the international research agenda by emphasizing the importance of educational and regulatory measures to reduce occupational health risks associated with pesticide exposure in diverse agricultural contexts.