Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide) — outdoor safety profile
High riskRoundup is the world's most widely used herbicide.
What is this product?
Roundup is the world's most widely used herbicide. The controversy: regulators evaluated glyphosate alone, but people are exposed to the full formulation including POEA surfactant.
What's in it
Click any compound name for its full safety profile, regulatory consensus, and exposure data.
Who's most at risk
- Children — Developmental neurotoxicity; residential drift exposure from neighboring agricultural use
- Pregnant Women — Potential reproductive and developmental effects from glyphosate and POEA surfactant exposure
How to use it more safely
- Apply only to actively growing weeds in dry conditions
- Wear protective equipment: gloves, long sleeves, eye protection
- Keep away from children, pets, and food crops during application
- Use only at recommended label rates on designated plant species
Red flags — when to walk away
- Contains suspected carcinogen — Glyphosate — classified by IARC or NTP as carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans
- Overall risk level: high — Multiple hazard pathways identified for this product category
Green flags — what to look for
- Third-party safety tested — Independent laboratory verification of safety claims
Safer alternatives
- Acetic acid-based herbicides (vinegar) — Lower toxicity, natural ingredient, faster biodegradation
- Mechanical removal or mulching — Chemical-free method, no toxicity or environmental concerns
- Citric acid herbicides — Plant-based, biodegradable, lower health risk profile
Frequently asked questions
Is Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide) safe for your yard?
Formulated product (with surfactants) shows higher toxicity than glyphosate alone in many studies
What's in Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide)?
This product type can contain: Glyphosate, Glyphosate isopropylamine salt, Glyphosate potassium salt, Polyethoxylated tallow amine, among others. Click any compound name above for the full safety profile.
Who should be careful with Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide)?
Vulnerable populations identified for this product type: children, pregnant women.
How can I use Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide) more safely?
Apply only to actively growing weeds in dry conditions; Wear protective equipment: gloves, long sleeves, eye protection; Keep away from children, pets, and food crops during application
Are there safer alternatives to Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide)?
Yes — consider: Acetic acid-based herbicides (vinegar); Mechanical removal or mulching; Citric acid herbicides. See the Safer alternatives section above for details.
Look up Roundup (Glyphosate-based herbicide) in the outdoor app
Search by ingredient, browse by category, or compare to alternatives in the live app.
Open in outdoor View raw API dataReference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific information. Why we built ALETHEIA →