Dr. Stephanie King, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Lethbridge, has long been interested in the effects of stress on the developing fetus and how those effects show up in subsequent generations.
Dr. Stephanie King, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Lethbridge, has long been interested in the effects of stress on the developing fetus and how those effects show up in subsequent generations.
While a PhD student at Washington State University, King was involved in a study that looked into whether glyphosate, the primary ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, increased susceptibility to disease across several generations.
“Glyphosate has been a very controversial compound in the public eye, primarily due to the creation of genetically modified Roundup-resistant strains of vegetables and legumes, like corn and soy,” says King. “Many studies have found that glyphosate appears to be safe for single exposures. However, in 2019, there were several studies that called its safety into question.”
One study showed an increased risk of developing Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in individuals with prolonged high-dose exposure to glyphosate, such as agricultural workers. Another study found people living within one kilometre of where glyphosate was sprayed had an increased risk of dying from Parkinson’s disease below the age of 75.
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