Glyphosate and its toxicology: A scientometric review

Abstract

Glyphosate (Gly) is a broad-spectrum herbicide and currently one of the most studied pesticides. New Gly-related data are published daily worldwide. Despite the large number of publications, there is no published scientometric revision that presently addresses this issue systematically. We aimed to scientometrically analyze the publication patterns of main topics related to Gly research. Web of Science data was obtained searching the topic "Glyphosate" (10,069 publications). Toxicology was the most influential area, and a subset was delimited containing the categories "Environmental Sciences", "Toxicology" and "Ecology" (2077 publications). The datasets were analyzed using Citespace. The publications number presented a high correlation with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in both datasets. USA was the leader of general publication about Gly, followed by Brazil, Canada and China. USA, Canada, Argentina, China and Brazil were the main countries in Gly toxicology. This subset was related with data of the GDP spending on Research & Developing and with the number of researchers by country. Thus, we ranked the main countries interested in the Gly and its toxicology and that invest their economic and human resources in these researches. Based on a keyword analysis by CiteSpace of the Gly toxicology, it was highlighted the "glyphosate-induced habitat alteration", that reflected the concern about Gly impact on agricultural and natural ecosystems. The researchers are also focused in studies involving AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), the main Gly degradation product, the genotoxicity, herbicides mixture and in its presence in drinking water. More researches about Gly genotoxicity and carcinogenicity to humans are needed and more studies to compile the results of independent researches, such as meta-analytical reviews. Our study can support decisions and future efforts about Gly impacts and use, since more sustainable agriculture with less environment impact is important to the maintenance of ecosystem services and consequently the human health.

Keywords: AMPA; CiteSpace; Gross Domestic Product; Organophosphate; Pesticides; Toxicity.