Dear researchers,
What do you think about Roundup herbicide that caused cancer to a gardener who decided to take the chemical giant (Monsanto) to trial??
The jury agreed that Roundup contributed to the cancer and decided then to award 289 million $ to the gardener (2 days ago).
It should be noted that Roundup is used by farmers for over 40 years for more than 100 crops and accounts for 25% of the global herbicide market in 130 countries.
The herbicide glyphosate sold under the trade name 'Roundup' has been used extensively worldwide since last 40 years to control wide range of weeds. However, in March 2015, Word Health Organization (WHO) classified glyphosate as"probably carcinogenic to humans". This has led to question mark regarding safety of this widely used herbicide. Please see the below given link for more details.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515989/
Dear Mohamad Issawi,
Please have a look at these useful PDF attachments regarding health effects of glyphosate.
Good luck!
Thanks Mr. Singh for your opinion and the provided PDF.
Do you think that Roundup could be effectively banned in Europe within the next few years??
Dear Mohammad Issawi,
Please also see the below given ResearchGate links and PDF attachments pertaining to harmful effects of Roundup (glyphosate) herbicide on human health.
Article Glyphosate induces human breast cancer cells growth via estr...
Article Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Potently Affect Cardiovascular S...
Article Glyphosate-based herbicides are toxic and endocrine disrupto...
Article Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Hum...
Article Endocrine disruption and cytotoxicity of Glyphosate and Roun...
Article Glyphosate, the Most Widely Used Herbicide. Health and safet...
Article In vitro effect of the herbicide glyphosate on human blood p...
Good luck!
To the company, the ruling is a disaster because more than 5,000 similar plaintiffs across the US is waiting on the corridors. Mosanto has vowed to appeal insisting the herbicide is safe.
I followed this news on BBC 2 days ago and I think its high time the use of glyphosphate be fully regulated. Here is the dilemma, WHO recognizes it as a potential carcinogen but US Environmental Protection Agency insists its safe. Even in the EU, Mosanto was even granted additional 5 years license. The French lawmakers has resisted the ban call by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Dear researchers/ farmers/extension workers,
The Roundup (glyphosate) herbicide is a miracle discovery and best weedicide so far being used by the farmers world wide on large scale. I have been using this weedicide since last 37 years, immediately after it came to the market or as testing material. Initially used in rice for killing most of permanent grassy weeds.
Regarding this chemical causin cancer to a gardener appears to be a shocking news for me which need to be verified with scientific evidences by a group of scientists and if not correct the appropriate court of law need to be approached by the Monsanto for spreading false news.
Till then we scientific community should refrain us to spread any false news about this weedicides. Because this is the only weedicids most effictively control weeds of graminaceous family.
Already Monsanto loss the battle in USA. It should be banned in India.
Mr. Arvind Singh
Other than its dangerous effects on human, Glyphosate has been reported to induce alteration of plant physiology (side effetcs on flora).
Mr. Chukwuebuka Egbuna
In France, the situation is complicated. Although the use of Roundup is prohibited particularly in public gardens and school yards, there is no unanimous agreement to completely ban it yet.
Mr. Ivo Carneiro de Sousa
I agree with you Mr. De sousa as the decision of the court is "historical" and reverses the balance of power.
Mr. Amrit Lal Singh
I think that the harmful and carcinogenic effects of glyphosate have been well reported in dozens of research papers.
Monsanto does not stop to deny the extremely dangerous character of Roundup and as Mr. Chukwuebuka Egbuna said "Mosanto has vowed to appeal insisting the herbicide is safe" !!!
We will see who will finally win..
@ Mohammad Issawi
Yes. Please see the below given RG links.
Article Alteration of plant physiology by glyphosate and its by-prod...
Article Impacts of glyphosate-based herbicides on disease resistance...
Article Effects of glyphosate acid and the glyphosate-commercial for...
Article Glyphosate interactions with physiology, nutrition, and dise...
Article Glyphosate affects chlorophyll, photosynthesis and water use...
Article Physiological Effects of the Herbicide Glyphosate on the Cya...
Roundup is a very popular herbicide, or weed killer. It is produced by biotech giant Monsanto, and was first introduced by them in 1974.
This weed killer is most commonly used in agriculture. It is also used by the forestry industry, cities and private homeowners.
The key ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, a compound with a molecular structure similar to the amino acid glycine. Glyphosate is also used in many other herbicides.
Roundup is a non-selective herbicide, meaning that it will kill most plants it comes in contact with.
Its use increased massively after genetically modified, glyphosate-resistant ("Roundup ready") crops were developed, such as soybeans, corn and canola .
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting a metabolic pathway called the shikimate pathway. This pathway is crucial for plants and some microorganisms, but does not exist in humans .
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" .
Put simply, this means glyphosate has the potential to cause cancer. The agency based their conclusion on observational studies, animal studies and test tube studies.While mice and rat studies link glyphosate to tumors, there is limited human evidence available. The studies that are available mainly include farmers and people who work with the herbicide.A few of these link glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that originates in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system . However, several other studies have found no connection. One huge study of more than 57,000 farmers found no link between glyphosate use and lymphoma . Two recent reviews also found no association between glyphosate and cancer, although it should be mentioned that some of the authors have financial ties to Monsanto .
The most recent update on the matter comes from the European Union Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who concluded that glyphosate is not likely to cause DNA damage or cancer .
However, the EFSA looked at studies of only glyphosate, while the WHO looked at studies on both isolated glyphosate and products containing glyphosate as an ingredient, such as Roundup.
For more details about the subject>please follow the link below:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/roundup-glyphosate-and-health#section3
Thanks Dr. Ali for this concise overview. So do you think that we really need to conduct more and more studies to be sure and certain about Roundup (or glyphosate) side effetcs especillay on human??
Nothing is harmless. In any new discovery some inherent harm is present. But people accept it in +/- benefit and loss. Now time has come to ban it. Gradual pile up of any harm thing create more problems. If there is no check on more harmful materials then how the less harmful materials are to be evolved? Side effects of this material is now known.
Dear Dr. Ali Alhayany, Dr. R. K. Sarkar, I agree with your views. Like Dr Amrit Lal Singh noted based on his experience in using Roundup (glyphosate) since 37 years now, I think there is need for an independent studies free from political interference to ascertain the toxicity level of it. If it does causes or stimulate the cause of cancer, maybe the market can be regulated. A total ban may not be given but some form of regulation.
The "chemical giant" claims that glyphosate does not induce cancer.
Wether it will be regulated or labelled, there will be still question marks about Monsanto products.
First, I agree with the opinion that the this herbicide does not cause cancer. Second, this herbicide is the most efficient and effective in most noxious weeds species. I have used it in many experiments and gave great results, but the subject of causing the cancer is still theoretical and needs to be carried out many practical experiments to prove That or exile.
There are papers in respectable journals which do raise concerns about the potential health risk of the world wide use of glyphosate formulations: Food and Chemical Toxicology, 84, 133-153. Environmental Sciences Europe 2014, 26:14, Toxicology 2013, 313: 122–128. 10.1016/j.tox.2012.09.006, Toxicology 2009, 262: 184–191. 10.1016/j.tox.2009.06.006
this is well considered in Sri Lanka. the gvt first took step forward and banded it. however later many planters (large estate owners who have great problem of agriculture labor) with supporting of many academics highlighted the loss due to band of glyphosate (roundup). it was mainly due to shortage of labor for weeding. many tea lands (major agricultural export of SL) left un weeded and then as a result productivity and production dropped. after about 4 years, with ongoing demand by many planters, gvt lift the band.
as you can see this is very complicated situation. some researchers assume these chemicals are responsible for many health issues including chronic kidney disease found in the country. however we lack substitution or alternative to replace the role of these chemicals. especially in economical turn that is considerable.
It is correct, if any good alternative is not found, we have to expose ourselves with it. Immediate benefit is most important. This is always true in any scientific development and the business associated with it and progress of science.
Most of the pesticides have formulations which target for killing of an individual or a group of species, ignoring impact on other species. As a result some times the heavy use of pesticide imbalanced the ecosytem loosing the biodiversity. No chemicals as such are safe for human being, environment and ecosystem in toto. However, regulation of use of any pesticide is more important than the banning the same for its small demerits. Glyphosate is a wonder discovery which has helped in the sustainability of green revolution effects to a greater extent throughout world. There are many other herbicides , but no substitute of this one, which has become part and parcel of the farming system. Blanket banning of the same would increase the production cost and discourage the farmer growing crops, which will finally result in increase in cost of agricultural produce, reducing the availability of food to poor people due to low purchasing power and social unrest.
Update from France: the administrative court of Lyon has cancelled the marketing authorization for Monsanto’s weed killer.
The role of Scientist here is highlight the point and convince the people about it. It is up to the people who use it, consume it can do something. Of course political good sense is important.
Update 13th May 2019:
California jury hits Bayer with $2 billion award in Roundup cancer trial.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bayer-glyphosate-lawsuit/california-jury-hits-bayer-with-2-billion-award-in-roundup-cancer-trial-idUSKCN1SJ29F
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