ORIGINAL ABSTRACT

Glyphosate is an active ingredient in the plethora of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) products available, such as Roundup, and is the most commonly used pesticide worldwide. Studies recognize that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, with a notable correlation between the increased use of glyphosate and reported ASD cases. ASD is a neurological disorder characterized by social impairments, anxiety, repetitive behavior, etc. Animal models simulating ASD - like behavior exhibited changes in behavior, such as increased repetitive behavior and social deficits, after prenatal glyphosate/GBH exposure. Furthermore, geographic and human surveys identified correlations between glyphosate/GBH exposure and development of ASD in children. Taken together, results demonstrate a strong relationship between the deleterious effects of glyphosate/GBH exposure and ASD development in children. Even if the individual contribution of GBH exposure represents only one of many environmental risk factors, ubiquitous exposure to GBH in public spaces, through occupational exposure, and as food residue contribute to its importance. Additional research is needed to distinguish glyphosate's impact during prenatal and postnatal exposure, test differences between pure glyphosate and various GBH formulations, and further elucidate the relationship between exposure and ASD development in humans.