ABOUT APPLICATION OF GLYPHOSATE-BASED HERBICIDES

Tendency to growth of agricultural products in the domestic market and increase in the area of the planted acreage encourages increase in ubiquitous use of agrochemicals. Recently more and more attention has been given to application of imported highly effective glyphosate herbicide in the agriculture. The authors discuss the economical aspect of the stated problem and present statistical data on the amounts of used glyphosate-based pesticides in our country and abroad. Up to the moment the extent of danger of using pesticides synthesized on the basis of glyphosate remains a matter of dispute. The article presents the main pro and cons of active introduction of glyphosate-based pesticides for clearing out weed and scrub. A long half-life period of glyphosate and its wide yearly use posed a problem of persistence of the chemical compound and of its derivative – amino methyl phosphonic acid – in the environment. A problem of detection of the residual amounts of glyphosate in the objects of the environment, forage and food products remains poorly studied. Of special interest is an issue about unfavorable effect of glyphosate-based pesticides on the health of those who deal with it and on the population. The authors present results of experimental studies conducted by domestic and international scientists, that indicate polytropic effect of the studied compounds. Comparative studies of these compounds were conducted in in vitro and in vivo experiments. There were found significant deviations of biochemical and hematological parameters of blood of laboratory animals from the norm, there were noted influence on the reproductive function of mammals, and connection between action of glyphosate and development of malignant diseases.