Glyphosate
was introduced by Monsanto
in 1974 for the commercial use of killing weeds by blocking proteins needed for
plant growth. Glyphosate is sold under the name Roundup.
In 2015, Roundup was
ranked the second most used lawn and garden weed killer in the United States.
160 countries around the world in 2015 used glyphosate leading to 1.4 billion
pounds being applied. Roundup is advertised for use to easy kill dandelions,
kudzu, poison ivy and other types of weeds. The primary use for glyphosate in
the United States is in agriculture because nearly all cotton, corn and soy
plants in United States are treated with glyphosate.
The United States
government does not test for glyphosate in the blood and tissues of humans, so
there is no way to tell how much glyphosate people are exposed to by living
near farms that use Roundup, eating foods that have been treated with Roundup,
or even using Roundup in their own lawns.
Glyphosate binds to the soil, so when
groundwater was tested, not much glyphosate was found. Glyphosate was found in
the majority of rivers, streams, ditches and wastewater treatment plant
outfalls that were a part of the waterways tested in 38 states in a 2014 study done
by the United States Geological Survey. Glyphosate was also found in 70 percent
of the rainwater that was collected in a study done by the United States
Geological Survey. Glyphosate residues were not prevalent in food at the outset
of use, but when genetically modified crops were created, glyphosate became
more prevalent in humans. Roundup Ready crops were first created in 1996 when
soybean plants that were resistant to Roundup was developed. This then spread
to corn, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sorghum and wheat. These crops are known as Roundup
Ready because they have a resistance to glyphosate, so Roundup can be sprayed on
these crops and they will not die. This allows farmers to spray Roundup on the
entire field to control pests, and they will not have to worry about the crops
dying. This may have harmful effects on humans, however. Glyphosate residue in
food has increased since the creation of Roundup Ready crops.
Glyphosate when
consumed by humans or other types of mammals raises the risk of cancer
according to International Agency for Research on Cancer. The group that is a
United Nations agency did studies on humans, animals and cells. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer found glyphosate in the blood and urine
of farmworkers. Animals had some tumor formation. Chromosomal damage was found
in cells, which could signal non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Separate studies have shown that glyphosate is the cause of gluten allergies and kidney failures. It has also been called an endocrine disrupter, which can lead to an increase in weight. Monsanto disputes these
claims along with CorpLife America, the American Soybean Association and the National
Corn Growers Association saying that glyphosate only attacks an enzyme that is
only in plants. Monsanto does its own safety research on all its products.
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that there is not
enough evidence to show that glyphosate causes cancer. Other countries have
made their own decisions about glyphosate, however, Mexico and the Netherlands
have restrictions on the chemical, while
Sri Lanka has banned it. As of 2015,
Brazil was considering banning glyphosate, and Canada was considering new
rules.
