13. New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup
Sources:
Third World Resurgence, No. 176, April 2005
Title: “New Evidence of Dangers of Roundup Weedkiller”
Author: Chee Yoke Heong
Faculty Evaluator: Jennifer While
Student Researchers: Peter McArthur and Lani Ready
New studies from both sides of the Atlantic reveal that Roundup, the
most widely used weedkiller in the world, poses serious human health
threats. More than 75 percent of genetically modified (GM) crops are
engineered to tolerate the absorption of Roundup—it eliminates
all plants that are not GM. Monsanto Inc., the major engineer of GM
crops, is also the producer of Roundup. Thus, while Roundup was formulated
as a weapon against weeds, it has become a prevalent ingredient in most
of our food crops.
Three recent studies show that Roundup, which is used by farmers and
home gardeners, is not the safe product we have been led to trust.
A group of scientists led by biochemist Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini
from the University of Caen in France found that human placental cells
are very sensitive to Roundup at concentrations lower than those currently
used in agricultural application.
An epidemiological study of Ontario farming populations showed that
exposure to glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, nearly doubled
the risk of late miscarriages. Seralini and his team decided to research
the effects of the herbicide on human placenta cells. Their study confirmed
the toxicity of glyphosate, as after eighteen hours of exposure at low
concentrations, large proportions of human placenta began to die. Seralini
suggests that this may explain the high levels of premature births and
miscarriages observed among female farmers using glyphosate.
Seralini’s team further compared the toxic effects of the Roundup
formula (the most common commercial formulation of glyphosate and chemical
additives) to the isolated active ingredient, glyphosate. They found
that the toxic effect increases in the presence of Roundup ‘adjuvants’
or additives. These additives thus have a facilitating role, rendering
Roundup twice as toxic as its isolated active ingredient, glyphosate.
Another study, released in April 2005 by the University of Pittsburgh,
suggests that Roundup is a danger to other life-forms and non-target
organisms. Biologist Rick Relyea found that Roundup is extremely lethal
to amphibians. In what is considered one of the most extensive studies
on the effects of pesticides on nontarget organisms in a natural setting,
Relyea found that Roundup caused a 70 percent decline in amphibian biodiversity
and an 86 percent decline in the total mass of tadpoles. Leopard frog
tadpoles and gray tree frog tadpoles were nearly eliminated.
In 2002, a scientific team led by Robert Belle of the National Center
for Scientific Research (CNRS) biological station in Roscoff, France
showed that Roundup activates one of the key stages of cellular division
that can potentially lead to cancer.
Belle and his team have been studying the impact of glyphosate formulations
on sea urchin cells for several years. The team has recently demonstrated
in Toxicological Science (December 2004) that a “control point”
for DNA damage was affected by Roundup, while glyphosate alone had no
effect. “We have shown that it’s a definite risk factor, but
we have not evaluated the number of cancers potentially induced, nor
the time frame within which they would declare themselves,” Belle
acknowledges.
There is, indeed, direct evidence that glyphosate inhibits an important
process called RNA transcription in animals, at a concentration well
below the level that is recommended for commercial spray application.
There is also new research that shows that brief exposure to commercial
glyphosate causes liver damage in rats, as indicated by the leakage
of intracellular liver enzymes. The research indicates that glyphosate
and its surfactant in Roundup were found to act in synergy to increase
damage to the liver.
UPDATE BY CHEE YOKE HEONG
Roundup Ready weedkiller is one of the most widely used weedkillers
in the world for crops and backyard gardens. Roundup, with its active
ingredient glyphosate, has long been promoted as safe for humans and
the environment while effective in killing weeds. It is therefore significant
when recent studies show that Roundup is not as safe as its promoters
claim.
This has major consequences as the bulk of commercially planted genetically
modified crops are designed to tolerate glyphosate (and especially Roundup),
and independent field data already shows a trend of increasing use of
the herbicide. This goes against industry claims that herbicide use
will drop and that these plants will thus be more “environment-friendly.”
Now it has been found that there are serious health effects, too. My
story therefore aimed to highlight these new findings and their implications
to health and the environment.
Not surprisingly, Monsanto came out refuting some of the findings of
the studies mentioned in the article. What ensued was an open exchange
between Dr. Rick Relyea and Monsanto, whereby the former stood his grounds.
Otherwise, to my knowledge, no studies have since emerged on Roundup.
For more information look to the following sources:
Professor Gilles-Eric, criigen@ibfa.unicaen.fr
Biosafety Information Center, http://www.biosafety-info.net
Institute of Science in Society, http://www.i-sis.org.uk