Herbicide-related health risks: key mechanisms and a guide to mitigation strategies

Herbicides are a group of substances used to control undesired vegetation in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. They are recorded as the most consumed class among other pesticides, reaching nearly two million tons worldwide. Despite their effectiveness in weed control, the extensive utilization of herbicides has raised concerns regarding adverse effects on human health. However, comprehensive reviews addressing herbicide-related human health risks remain limited. This work aims to compile scientific evidence and possible underlying mechanisms to emphasize the hazards that need to be acknowledged, as well as to explore novel strategies for minimizing the impact on human health. Scientific data on herbicide-related human health risks, including human-related data and non-human experimental research, were retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Pre-determined eligibility criteria were applied to select the final studies. A narrative summary of evidence-based human incidence and laboratory experiments is presented to organize and highlight key findings. This indicates the life-threatening nature of herbicide exposure in humans, ranging from acute toxicity to the development of chronic diseases at any stage of life. Herbicidal chemicals can harm individuals through various pathways, especially by inducing oxidative stress or directly disrupting molecular and cellular processes. Despite some conflicting findings, effective mitigation strategies are urgently needed to promote a safer society and protect human well-being.