Association between Glyphosate Exposure and Erythrograms in a Representative Sample of US Adults: NHANES 2013–2014

Glyphosate is the most commonly utilized herbicide globally, and a growing body of experimental research has linked its exposure to red blood cell damage. However, the potential toxicity of glyphosate exposure on erythrocytes in the general population remains poorly understood. Therefore, we analyzed data from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of 1466 adults (≥ 18 years) to explore the potential relationship between glyphosate exposure and erythrocyte profiles. Our results indicated a significant negative association between urinary glyphosate levels and hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) in multiple regression analysis, with ß coefficients of -0.157 (S.E. = 0.055, P = 0.012) and -0.431 (S.E. = 0.195, P = 0.043), respectively. Additionally, the odds ratio showed a significant increase in individuals with anemia with a one-unit increase in ln-glyphosate levels (odds ratio = 1.523 (95% CI = 1.301 – 1.783), P < 0.001 in the final model). The negative correlation between glyphosate and Hb was more pronounced in subjects older than 60 years, non-Hispanic white ethnicity, lower income, and those with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 and ≥ 30. In conclusion, our results provide preliminary evidence of a plausible association between glyphosate exposure and anemia in a subset of the adult population in the United States. However, further research is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this association.