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Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Quantification of the Potential Impact of Glyphosate-Based Products on Microbiomes
Published on: January 10, 2022
Genotoxic effects of glyphosate on Physalaemus tadpoles
Jéssica Samara Herek1, Luana Vargas1, Suélen Andressa Rinas Trindade1
1Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Erechim Campus, Brazil, ERS 135 - Km 72, nº 200, Erechim, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
Genotoxicity studies have revealed that pesticides bind to genetic material in non-target vertebrates, thereby impairing the genetic integrity of these animals. The main objective of this study was to determine the genotoxic damage in erythrocytes of two native South American amphibian Physalaemus cuvieri and Physalaemus gracilis, both species exposed to a glyphosate-based herbicide. We evaluated the presence of micronuclei (MN) and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENA) as biomarkers for potential genotoxic compounds. Tadpoles were exposed to doses permitted by Brazilian legislation and concentrations found naturally in Brazilian and Argentinian waters (500, 700 and 1000 μg/L). Glyphosate-based herbicide caused micronuclei formation and several types of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities in both Physalaemus species. The total frequency of MN and ENA demonstrated the occurrence of cell damage at all tested concentrations. Glyphosate herbicide can be considered a genotoxic that may impact the genetic integrity of native populations of P. cuvieri and P. gracilis.
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