Glyphosate in the tropical Andes pesticide hotspot: A review

Pesticide hotspots are areas of intensive agrochemical use that pollute the environment and present high ecological and/or social vulnerability due to factors such as rich biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, or poverty. These hotspots face serious environmental and social challenges, especially in regions where knowledge about the impacts of pesticides is limited. This study focuses on one such hotspot: the tropical Andes (comprising Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia), using glyphosate as a model for analysis, as it is one of the most widely used and controversial herbicides worldwide. Concerns about its use are debated and include potential effects on human health, biodiversity loss, negative environmental impacts, and the emergence of resistant weeds. Our objective was to systematically document and analyze the available scientific literature, quality assurance parameters for chemical measurements, and the characteristics of commercial products. Of 166 articles reviewed since 1985, less than 20% addressed glyphosate measurement. All techniques described seemed appropriate to the objectives of each study. However, 84.4% of studies applied at least one quality assurance parameter; a comprehensive assessment of all of them was not evident. Furthermore, inconsistencies were identified in the categorization of commercial products with the same formulation and concentration, which presented different acute toxicity labels under Andean Community regulations. These discrepancies, along with technological limitations, a lack of regional standardization, and a paucity of information, hamper these countries' ability to mitigate the impacts of pesticide use, such as glyphosate.