A quick 'roundup' of the probable human carcinogenic risks of Glyphosate
A few years ago the EPA in the US massively increased the limit of allowable glyphosate* residue in foods. (*e.g. the active component in Monsanto's Ready Roundup) . This meant in 'oilseed' crops like soy beans it increased from 20 ppm (parts per million) to 40 ppm, and in 'food' crops - e.g. potatoes from 200ppm to 6,000ppm.
It was always the proud claim of pesticide manufacturers that these targeted poisons would decrease spraying / chemical input - yet a combination of factors - especially the recent resistance of weeds - meant that this has never been a claim that holds water.
Glyphosate is an “endocrine disruptor” - shown to have long-term effects on reproductive health. (leading to plenty of conspiracy talk) Amounts at 40ppm are over 100,000 times the concentration needed to induce the growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro.
Couple this with the fact that the poison seems to bio-accumulate - and has been found in urine samples and breast milk across the planet - and we have a worrying scenario developing into a monster health issue in plain view.
Worrying developments include the fact that glyphosate is now being combined with other weed killers - due to the aforementioned glyphosate resistant weeds - and such chemical combinations have never been tested thoroughly - denying any 'precautionary principle' safeguard. As anyone who knows of the organophosphate sheep dip debacle - farmers are often the guinea pigs - and the multinationals have a very casual attitude / deny responsibility for their customers. They have ensured that their legal accountability stops short of liability, for sure - unlike most other walks of life. Strange really - not being liable for poisons you sell on one hand - when on the other you rave about how safe it all is.
I'm sure we've all seen the video of the lobbyist repeating the party line - asserting roundup is perfectly safe to drink - but then refusing to actually do the deed.
Anyhow - Monsanto argue - their lawyers are on it.. reminds me of the decades of battle that the tobacco firms fought - from the days of getting doctors to sell cigarettes on the health benefits - to the final acknowledgement that they knew the risks all along..
Another case of letting 'the market decide' (who lives and who dies?) It's interesting that there are a few reports you can find - where those who are the execs and decision makers - are reported to be choosing to eat organic foods - as pesticide free as you can get on the planet as it exists today.. makes you wonder!
In conclusion - well done California - joining the swelling ranks of countries around the globe saying 'NO!' to this mass poison.
Thanks for your article!
Pleasure - something I've been trying to keep tabs on since GMOs were invented!
An important issue. Happy to read your article here.
Pleasure - it certainly is - and something I've been trying to keep tabs on since GMOs were invented!