Quick Guide: Alternatives to Roundup Weed Killer

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world. It is found to be highly toxic and can cause many short-term and long-term health effects. Notably, research has linked long-term exposure to glyphosate to Parkinson's Disease.

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and several other commercial weed killers. The widely used herbicide is available as an acid, a salt, a solid and an amber-coloured liquid.

Common Side Effects of Glyphosate Exposure

Interaction with glyphosate may lead to a variety of side effects, the severity of which depends on the amount and duration of contact. The most common health issues stem from inhalation or skin contact. Side effects include:

Asthma	Burns in the mouth and throat	Diarrhea	Eye irritation	Increased saliva
Nausea	Respiratory irritation	Skin irritation	Vomiting

National Pesticide Information Centre studies show that glyphosate leaves the body soon after it’s ingested. Humans pass the chemical through urine and faeces without changing its chemical composition.

For more information on the symptoms of glyphosate exposure, visit the consumer notice website by clicking here

Long-Term Effects, Cancer Risks and Glyphosate

The International Agency for Research on Cancer officially ruled in 2015 that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic.” While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contends that there is “no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans,” a growing number of studies are examining links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other forms of cancer.

Natural Alternatives to Roundup & Similar Products

Natural Roundup alternatives don’t contain glyphosate. Most available products contain plant-based oils or soaps. They may also have acetic acid, or vinegar, that damages the leaf cuticle and causes cell leakage to rapidly kill weeds. Various soap, vinegar and salt combinations are readily available, safe and natural Roundup alternatives. These products also kill weeds and other plants on contact, so you should only apply them directly to weeds.

Manual weed control methods, such as mulching, are very effective at controlling young weeds. Pouring boiling water over adult plants also deters growth. Other natural Roundup alternatives like corn gluten meal and iron-based herbicides have mixed efficacy.

For an article entitled "Is Roundup Safe" by Mark C Howell Ph.D, please click here.

For a full list of natural alternatives and how to use them, please visit the drugwatch website here.