Is Herbicide to Blame for Amphibian Decline?

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Monday, 11 April 2005

Glysophate-containing herbicides, of which Monsanto's Round Up is one of the most commonly used, may be contributing to the catastrophic world decline in amphibians.

In a test, spraying tanks with the herbicide resulted in a 70 per cent decline in amphibian biodiversity and an 86 per cent decline in the total mass of tadpoles. Monsanto dispute the results saying the concentration was too high.

However it may not be the glysophate that is the problem. The product also contains a surfactant which is needed to penetrate the waxy surfaces of plants and while the glysophate content is regulated, surfactants are not.

Source: New Scientist 9/4/05