Risks to Human and Environmental Health Associated with the Intensive Use of Glyphosate and Biological Alternatives for Its Treatment: A Mini-Review

Glyphosate is a non-selective, broad-spectrum herbicide commonly used to control various types of weeds in both urban and agricultural settings. Due to their high effectiveness, herbicide formulations containing glyphosate as the active ingredient are among the most widely used in agriculture worldwide. However, the extensive use of glyphosate has been associated with significant environmental contamination events and toxic effects on non-target organisms, including humans. To mitigate environmental contamination and the adverse impacts of glyphosate, it is essential to develop remediation alternatives and treatment methods. Bioremediation using microorganisms has been proposed as a viable solution to address glyphosate contamination. This review analyzes the environmental impacts and human health risks associated with glyphosate use, as well as biological alternatives based on the use of microorganisms, such as bacteria, for the treatment of glyphosate contamination.