How long does it take for symptoms to appear after glyphosate poisoning?

Under normal circumstances, the onset time of glyphosate poisoning is not fixed and mainly depends on the route of exposure and the dose ingested. Symptoms may appear as quickly as several minutes to one hour, or be delayed for several hours to days, with considerable variation. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Oral ingestion is the most common and severe form of glyphosate poisoning, typically resulting in a rapid onset of symptoms. If a large dose is ingested, local irritant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and burning sensations in the mouth and throat may appear within 10 minutes to 1 hour. With smaller doses, symptoms may be delayed for 2–4 hours or even longer. Subsequently, systemic symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty breathing may gradually develop.

Skin or mucous membrane exposure to glyphosate generally results in a slower absorption rate through the skin, leading to a relatively longer latency period. Local symptoms usually appear several hours to 1–2 days after exposure and may include skin redness, itching, rashes, or conjunctival congestion, eye pain, and tearing if the eyes are affected. Systemic symptoms occur only in severe cases when significant absorption has taken place.

Inhalation of glyphosate spray mist is less common, with symptoms typically appearing within several hours after exposure. The main manifestations are respiratory tract irritation symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, and chest tightness. In severe cases, pulmonary edema may develop.

It is particularly important to emphasize that glyphosate poisoning may progress over time to cause serious complications such as liver and kidney damage or respiratory failure. Regardless of the exposure route, any sign of discomfort requires immediate medical attention. Delayed onset of symptoms should never be used as a reason to postpone treatment.