Urinary Glyphosate Exposure and Risk of Obstructive Airway Diseases in Youth and Adults: Population-Based Evidence from U.S. Biomonitoring Data
Highlights
- Glyphosate exposure is widespread and may affect respiratory health in the general population.
- Obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and COPD contribute substantially to global morbidity.
- Increased glyphosate exposure correlates with asthma attacks and emergency visits.
- Findings contribute evidence on environmental determinants of asthma and COPD in youths and adults.
- Results highlight the need for monitoring and prevention strategies to reduce glyphosate exposure.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal links between herbicide exposure and respiratory disease.
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Study Design and Sample
2.2. Exposure Measure: Urinary Glyphosate Level
2.3. Outcome Measure: Obstructive Airway Diseases
2.4. Covariates
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Study Population and Demographics
3.2. The Relationship Between Urine Glyphosate and Obstructive Airway Diseases in Adults
3.3. The Relationship Between Urine Glyphosate and Asthma in Youths
3.4. Subgroup Analyses by Age
3.5. Results of the Sensitivity Analyses by Time-Bound Outcomes
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Characteristic | Category | No Airway Disease | Airway Disease | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total N (%) | 3233 (80.2) | 798 (19.8) | ||
| Age Category, n (%) | 20–39 (Younger Adults) | 1066 (33.0) | 224 (28.1) | 0.001 |
| 40–59 (Middle Aged) | 1111 (34.4) | 261 (32.7) | ||
| ≥60 (Seniors) | 1056 (32.7) | 313 (39.2) | ||
| Sex, n (%) | Males | 1629 (50.4) | 357 (44.7) | 0.004 |
| Females | 1604 (49.6) | 441 (55.3) | ||
| Ethnicity, n (%) | White | 1235 (38.2) | 388 (48.) | <0.001 |
| Black | 644 (19.9) | 167 (20.9) | ||
| Asian | 420 (13.0) | 41 (5.1) | ||
| Hispanic | 820 (25.4) | 149 (18.7) | ||
| Other Non-Hispanic | 420 (13.0) | 41 (5.1) | ||
| Family Income to Poverty Ratio, n (%) | ≥1 | 2589 (80.1) | 618 (77.4) | 0.098 |
| <1 | 644 (19.9) | 180 (22.6) | ||
| Smoke Exposure, n (%) | No Smoke Exposure | 1401 (43.3) | 238 (29.8%) | <0.001 |
| Secondhand Smoking | 405 (12.5) | 103 (12.9) | ||
| Active Smoking | 594 (18.4) | 193 (24.2) | ||
| Both Active and Passive Smoking | 833 (25.8) | 264 (33.1) | ||
| Employment Status, n (%) | Unemployed | 1256 (38.8) | 432 (54.1) | <0.001 |
| Employed | 1977 (61.2) | 366 (45.9) | ||
| NHANES Cycle, n (%) | 2013–2014 | 1212 (37.5) | 274 (34.3) | 0.105 |
| 2015–2016 | 1037 (32.1) | 252 (31.6) | ||
| 2017–2018 | 984 (30.4) | 272 (34.1) | ||
| Mean Body Mass Index (SD) | 29.3 (7.0) | 31.0 (8.3) | <0.001 | |
| Body Mass Index Category, n (%) | Underweight, <18.5 | 44 (1.4) | 21 (2.6) | <0.001 |
| Normal, 18.5 to <25 | 890 (27.5) | 167 (20.9) | ||
| Overweight, 25 to <30 | 1053 (32.6) | 217 (27.2) | ||
| Obese, ≥30 | 1246 (38.5) | 393 (49.2) | ||
| Chronic Kidney Disease, n (%) | No | 2785 (88.0) | 648 (84.3) | 0.005 |
| Yes | 379 (12.0) | 121 (15.7) | ||
| Family History of Asthma, n (%) | No | 2603 (82.3) | 485 (63.1) | <0.001 |
| Yes | 561 (17.7) | 284 (36.9) | ||
| Mean Urinary Glyphosate (SD) | 0.49 (0.58) | 0.51 (0.5) | 0.33 | |
| Glyphosate Tertile, n (%) | 1 | 1101 (34.1) | 233 (29.2) | 0.021 |
| 2 | 1080 (33.4) | 274 (34.3) | ||
| 3 | 1052 (32.5) | 291 (36.5) |
| Characteristic | Category | No Asthma | Asthma | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total N (%) | 1346 (79.6) | 346 (20.4) | ||
| Mean Age (SD), years | 12.0 (4.0) | 12.3 (4.0) | 0.004 | |
| Age Category, n (%) | 3–6 (Early childhood) | 120 (8.9) | 24 (6.9) | 0.478 |
| 7–12 (Middle childhood) | 636 (47.3) | 164 (47.4) | ||
| 13–19 (Adolescence) | 590 (43.8) | 158 (45.7) | ||
| Sex, n (%) | Males | 699 (51.9) | 197 (56.9) | 0.096 |
| Females | 647 (48.1) | 149 (43.1) | ||
| Ethnicity, n (%) | Asian | 129 (9.6) | 21 (6.1) | 0.015 |
| White | 402 (29.9) | 99 (28.6) | ||
| Black | 273 (20.3) | 97 (28.0) | ||
| Hispanic | 448 (33.3) | 109 (31.5) | ||
| Other non-Hispanic | 94 (7.0) | 20 (5.8) | ||
| Family Income to Poverty Ratio, n (%) | ≥1 | 900 (66.9) | 252 (72.8) | 0.034 |
| <1 | 446 (33.1) | 94 (27.2) | ||
| Smoke Exposure, n (%) | No smoke exposure | 1243 (92.3) | 312 (90.2) | 0.552 |
| Secondhand smoking | 41 (3.0) | 15 (4.3) | ||
| Active smoking | 14 (1.0) | 5 (1.4) | ||
| Both active and passive smoking | 48 (3.6) | 14 (4.0) | ||
| Employment Status, n (%) | Employed | 210 (65.2) | 66 (67.3) | 0.697 |
| Unemployed | 112 (34.8) | 32 (32.7) | ||
| NHANES Cycle, n (%) | 2013–2014 | 502 (37.3) | 140 (40.5) | 0.552 |
| 2015–2016 | 459 (34.1) | 111 (32.1) | ||
| 2017–2018 | 385 (28.6) | 95 (27.5) | ||
| Mean Body Mass Index (SD), kg/m3 | 21.4 (5.9) | 22.7 (6.2) | <0.001 | |
| Body Mass Index Category, n (%) | Underweight, <18.5 | 500 (37.1) | 96 (27.7) | 0.002 |
| Normal, 18.5 to <25 | 551 (40.9) | 146 (42.2) | ||
| Overweight, 25 to <30 | 179 (13.3) | 61 (17.6) | ||
| Obese, ≥30 | 116 (8.6) | 43 (12.4) | ||
| Chronic Kidney Disease, n (%) | No | 1176 (87.4) | 313 (90.5) | 0.114 |
| Yes | 170 (12.6) | 33 (9.5) | ||
| Family History of Asthma, n (%) | No | 973 (72.3) | 137 (39.6) | <0.001 |
| Yes | 373 (27.7) | 209 (60.4) | ||
| Mean Urinary Glyphosate (SD) | 0.61 (0.65) | 0.63 (0.64) | 0.594 | |
| Glyphosate Tertile, n (%) | 1 | 400 (29.7) | 97 (28.0) | 0.481 |
| 2 | 487 (36.2) | 119 (34.4) | ||
| 3 | 459 (34.1) | 130 (37.6) |
| Tertiles | aOR | 95% UI | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COPD * N = 4031 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.17 | 0.87, 1.57 | 0.31 | |
| 3 | 1.19 | 0.87, 1.65 | 0.28 | |
| Asthma ** N = 3932 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.16 | 0.91, 1.48 | 0.24 | |
| 3 | 1.32 | 1.02, 1.73 | 0.04 | |
| Any obstructive airway disease (asthma and/or COPD) ** N = 3933 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.17 | 0.94, 1.46 | 0.15 | |
| 3 | 1.29 | 1.02, 1.62 | 0.03 | |
| Tertiles | aOR | 95% UI | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma N = 1692 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 0.97 | 0.69, 1.36 | 0.85 | |
| 3 | 1.08 | 0.74, 1.58 | 0.69 | |
| Age Category | Tertiles | aOR | 95% UI | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COPD * | ||||
| 20–39 (Younger Adults) N = 1136 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 2.10 | 0.95, 4.65 | 0.07 | |
| 3 | 1.53 | 0.62, 3.79 | 0.36 | |
| 40–59 (Middle Aged) N = 1372 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 0.92 | 0.55, 1.54 | 0.76 | |
| 3 | 1.18 | 0.68, 2.05 | 0.56 | |
| ≥60 (Seniors) N = 1369 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 1.06 | 0.70, 1.60 | 0.78 | |
| 3 | 1.03 | 0.66, 1.60 | 0.91 | |
| Asthma ** | ||||
| 3–6 (Early Childhood) N = 767 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 0.97 | 0.54, 1.74 | 0.92 | |
| 3 | 0.74 | 0.38, 1.44 | 0.38 | |
| 7–12 (Middle Childhood) N = 805 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 0.71 | 0.43, 1.17 | 0.18 | |
| 3 | 1.06 | 0.62, 1.80 | 0.83 | |
| 13–19 (Adolescent) N = 759 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 1.33 | 0.83, 2.15 | 0.24 | |
| 3 | 1.20 | 0.69, 2.07 | 0.52 | |
| 20–39 (Younger Adults) N = 1289 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 1.05 | 0.70, 1.57 | 0.83 | |
| 3 | 1.10 | 0.70, 1.71 | 0.69 | |
| 40–59 (Middle Aged) N = 1372 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 1.19 | 0.79, 1.79 | 0.39 | |
| 3 | 1.52 | 0.98, 2.35 | 0.06 | |
| ≥60 (Senior) N = 1369 | 1 | 1 (base) | ||
| 2 | 1.18 | 0.77, 1.80 | 0.45 | |
| 3 | 1.25 | 0.79, 1.96 | 0.34 | |
| Tertiles | aOR | 95% UI | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults’ sensitivity analysis | ||||
| Asthma emergency visits N = 345 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.40 | 0.61, 3.21 | 0.43 | |
| 3 | 1.58 | 0.66, 3.82 | 0.31 | |
| Asthma attacks N = 345 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.60 | 0.87, 2.95 | 0.13 | |
| 3 | 1.75 | 0.92, 3.36 | 0.09 | |
| Youths’ sensitivity analysis | ||||
| Asthma emergency visits N = 204 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.54 | 0.55, 4.33 | 0.41 | |
| 3 | 0.49 | 0.15, 1.59 | 0.24 | |
| Asthma attacks N = 209 | ||||
| 1 | 1 (base) | |||
| 2 | 1.01 | 0.44, 2.30 | 0.99 | |
| 3 | 0.45 | 0.18, 1.13 | 0.09 | |
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Siddiqui, H.F.; Siddiqui, S.F.; Rabadi, M.; Shalaby, A.M.; Al-Hor, A.I.; Al-Khulaifi, M.A.; Rajha, H.E.; Babu, G.R.; Tartour, A.I. Urinary Glyphosate Exposure and Risk of Obstructive Airway Diseases in Youth and Adults: Population-Based Evidence from U.S. Biomonitoring Data. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040442
Siddiqui HF, Siddiqui SF, Rabadi M, Shalaby AM, Al-Hor AI, Al-Khulaifi MA, Rajha HE, Babu GR, Tartour AI. Urinary Glyphosate Exposure and Risk of Obstructive Airway Diseases in Youth and Adults: Population-Based Evidence from U.S. Biomonitoring Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(4):442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040442
Chicago/Turabian StyleSiddiqui, Hiba Farooq, Sundus Farooq Siddiqui, Marrita Rabadi, Anfal Mohamed Shalaby, Abdullatif Ibrahim Al-Hor, Maryam A. Al-Khulaifi, Humam Emad Rajha, Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu, and Angham Ibrahim Tartour. 2026. "Urinary Glyphosate Exposure and Risk of Obstructive Airway Diseases in Youth and Adults: Population-Based Evidence from U.S. Biomonitoring Data" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 4: 442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040442
APA StyleSiddiqui, H. F., Siddiqui, S. F., Rabadi, M., Shalaby, A. M., Al-Hor, A. I., Al-Khulaifi, M. A., Rajha, H. E., Babu, G. R., & Tartour, A. I. (2026). Urinary Glyphosate Exposure and Risk of Obstructive Airway Diseases in Youth and Adults: Population-Based Evidence from U.S. Biomonitoring Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(4), 442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040442

