October 5, 2023 - Some misleading allegations implicating CRIIGEN, concerning our study on techniques for measuring glyphosate in urine, have been relayed on social networks. This obliges me, as President, to put an end to this outrageous campaign and to clarify several points:
Background: Since 2009, the question of whether or not glyphosate is found in urine has been a source of conflict, as two analytical techniques are on the market: liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In 2020, the results of the urinary glyphosate assay were highly controversial, as contradictory results were obtained depending on the detection methods used. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) found glyphosate in urine, while the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) method found little or no glyphosate.
Sorting things out was a real scientific question.
After being contacted by various groups of " involuntary glyphosate pissers " with questions about glyphosate dosing in urine, CRIIGEN decided to scientifically evaluate the two methods, setting up a very strict comparative experimental protocol. The two glyphosate dosage methods were tested in both water and urine.
The study: Knowing that this study, whatever the results, would be a source of controversy and even battle, we carried it out in the presence of a chemical engineer who is a court-appointed expert. The experiment was carried out and financed by CRIIGEN, under the supervision of a bailiff, present from the time the urine was collected until it was deposited in the transport vehicle.
After an initial unsuccessful attempt in June 2020 (due to a problem with sample preservation linked to a transport problem), the study was carried out on September 21, 2020.
Because of all the problems caused by the Covid pandemic, the scientific article was filed at the end of 2021 in " Environmental Sciences Europe ". The study was published in early 2022. It has been in the public domain ever since.
Results: This study showed that liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) was more appropriate for water, while ELISA was more appropriate for urine.
Since the publication (early 2022), no comments have been made about this study. But last September, with the controversy surrounding the re-authorization of glyphosate, the media battle began...
False allegations: - The results of this study have been hidden since June 2020, whereas it was only published in 2022.
- This study would be scientifically invalid even though it was published in a peer-reviewed journal...
- Participation of Me Corinne Lepage, which is false, as she has not been an active member of CRIIGEN since 2009, and cannot take part in any vote. However, as honorary president, she can take part in board meetings, which is very rare, in order to keep abreast of the latest developments on the committee of this association, of which she was the founder. She has nothing to do with the study in question.
- Me Tumerelle, cited in this case, has never been a lawyer for CRIIGEN, and can in no way be associated with the Committee's work.
- The various protagonists of these allegations relay, notably on X (ex Twitter), internal documents, intended for Board members only, to which we ourselves no longer have access since our site was hacked in November 2021. This makes us wonder ...
These clarifications are important to put an end to these misleading allegations, and to do so transparently...
Joël Spiroux de Vendômois
Chairman of CRIIGEN