Differential Growth Responses of Marine Phytoplankton to Herbicide Glyphosate*
• E huxleyi produces DMSP
• E huxleyi exhibited severe
growth inhibition when exposed
to glyphosate at both 36
micromolar and 360 micromolar
concentrations
*C. Wang et al. PLoS ONE 2016;
11(3): e0151633.
Suppression of the release of DMS from phytoplankton in the shallow seas may have a significant impact on climate change through insufficient cloud
formation over the oceans.
Summary
• Glyphosate is pervasive in our environment, and it is a significant
contributor to human health issues and harm to the ecosystem
• Glyphosate accumulates in biomass and harms water fleas, at the bottom
of the food chain
• Glyphosate disturbs the nutrients in the soil, chelating minerals and
interfering with nitrogen uptake and photosynthesis, potentially impacting
climate change
• Chemical-based agriculture in Florida is leading to toxic algae blooms,
citrus greening, and harm to the Florida manatees
• Marine phytoplankton can seed clouds, but glyphosate interferes with the
process
• We urgently need to drastically reduce the use of glyphosate on crops