The article reviewed discussed the topic of human cytotoxicity in response to exposure to glyphosate, its major metabolite (AMPA), and the commonly added surfactant compounds found in major herbicides. Glyphosate exposure has increased world-wide at an exponential rate along with the production of genetically modified crops. Currently up to 75% of genetically modified crops are treated with glyphosate containing herbicides. As this increase has occurred glyphosate and its associated chemical additives contaminated rivers, springs, and other natural sources of drinking water. The compounds added to many of the most widely used herbicides are …show more content…
In order to be considered a metabolite a compound must be the product of an enzymatic chemical reaction inside of a cell. Additionally, metabolites typically degrade over time, serve some kind of function within the cell and are often acted on by enzymes to form products which become part of subsequent cellular biochemical reactions. Metabolites essentially belong to one of two distinct classes, primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are actively synthesized through cellular processes and are vital contributors to the growth and development of an organism. Some common examples of primary metabolites in the human body are amino acids and the vitamins B12 and B2. Secondary metabolites on the other hand, do not play an essential role in an organisms function but are produced as a result of the breakdown of pharmaceutical or recreational drugs (Harris, 2005). Thus, the secondary metabolite activates cellular process which may be involved in defense as is the case in antibiotics or cause intoxication as in recreational