The mode of herbicidal activity of glyphosate is based on
inactivation of an enzyme of the shikimate metabolic
pathway (Figure 1). Glyphosate kills nonselectively and
efficiently nearly all herbaceous plants. However, it has
been regarded harmless to animals and humans, because
the shikimate pathway does not occur in animals [4].
Glyphosate should also have limited long-term risks, because
it is assumed to be rapidly inactivated in soils by
strong sorption to soil particles and fast microbial degradation
[5–7]. Thus, glyphosate has been proclaimed safe to
nontarget organisms [4,8].