Herbicides

Glyphosate

Herbicide widely applied to control weeds on agricultural crops, including many fruits, vegetables, nuts, corn, and soybean. It is also used for non-agricultural uses like conservation land, rangeland, rights of way, and aquatic environments.

Health Guideline Level (HGL)

0.5 ppb

Maximum level that poses minimal health risk based on the latest science

Health Effects

Drinking water standards for glyphosate have been developed based on potential kidney and reproductive toxicity. Additional health protective benchmarks have been developed based on developmental and gastrointestinal toxicity. EPA finds that glyphosate is nontoxic to humans when applied properly during its use as a pesticide, while IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classifies it as probably carcinogenic to humans.

Affected Organs & Systems:

Developmental
Reproductive M
Reproductive F
Kidneys
Gastrointestinal

Common Sources

  • May enter the environment and drinking water sources through runoff from areas where it is used as an herbicide, direct application to aquatic environments, and through accidental spills from sites where it is produced or stored
  • Glyphosate binds tightly to soil, so it is unlikely to be found in groundwater sources

How to Remove It

Water filters certified under the following NSF standards are effective at removing Glyphosate:

Health Guideline Level

The HGL represents the maximum level that poses minimal health risk based on the latest scientific research. It's often more protective than federal legal limits.

Contaminant Type

Glyphosate is classified as a Herbicides contaminant.

This contaminant primarily affects the developmental, reproductive-m, and other systems.

Check Your Water

Find out if Glyphosate is in your tap water.

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