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Glyphosate Weed Killers Linked to Cancer in Landmark Study
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A groundbreaking study conducted by scientists from Europe and the U.S. reveals that low doses of glyphosate, the world’s moast widely used herbicide, can cause multiple types of cancer in rats.The research raises serious concerns about the safety of glyphosate-based products like Roundup, even at levels currently deemed safe by regulatory agencies.
Study Details: Glyphosate’s Impact on Cancer Rates
The long-term study, published this week, examined the effects of glyphosate alone and two commercial glyphosate-based formulations, Roundup BioFlow (used in the EU) and Ranger Pro (used in the U.S.), on rats.The rats were administered doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg of body weight per day via drinking water, starting in prenatal life and continuing for two years. These doses align with the EU Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and the EU’s No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for glyphosate.
the results showed a significant increase in both benign and malignant tumors across multiple anatomical sites in all three treatment groups compared to the control group. These tumors affected haemolymphoreticular tissues (leukemia), skin, liver, thyroid, nervous system, ovary, mammary gland, adrenal glands, kidney, urinary bladder, bone, endocrine pancreas, uterus, and spleen (hemangiosarcoma). The increased incidences were observed in both male and female rats.
Did You Know? The Sprague Dawley rat strain used in the study is a common model for toxicology research, allowing for comparisons across different studies.
Key Findings: Early Onset and Mortality
According to Dr. Daniele Mandrioli, Director of the Cesare Maltoni cancer Research Center of the Ramazzini Institute and Principal Investigator of the study, the research team observed early onset and early mortality for several rare malignant cancers, including leukemia, liver, ovary, and nervous system tumors. Notably, approximately half of the leukemia deaths in the glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicide treatment groups occurred before the rats reached one year of age, which is comparable to less than 35-40 years of age in humans. In contrast, no cases of leukemia were observed in the first year of life among more than 1,600 Sprague Dawley rats in historical control groups from carcinogenicity studies conducted by the Ramazzini Institute and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
Pro Tip: When evaluating scientific studies, consider the sample size, control groups, and the duration of the study to assess the reliability of the findings.
Global Collaboration: The Global Glyphosate Study
the Global Glyphosate Study (GGS) is a collaborative effort led by the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the Ramazzini Institute in Italy. The study involves scientists from Boston College, George Mason University, King’s College London, Icahn School of Medicine at mount Sinai, Scientific Centre of Monaco, University of Bologna, the Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology of the Italian National Research Council, the Italian National Institute of Health, and the National Food Safety Committee of the Italian Ministry of Health.
The Ramazzini Institute, with over 50 years of experience and more than 200 compounds studied, is the largest bioassay program in the EU. The institute has previously investigated carcinogenic agents such as vinyl chloride, asbestos, benzene, and radio frequencies. Recently, the Ramazzini Institute also published a peer-reviewed report in collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) on the toxicological effects of nicotine.
Implications and Expert Opinions
The new findings reinforce the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) 2015 classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. The study’s data align with epidemiological evidence on the carcinogenicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides.
Dr. Melissa Perry, study co-author and Environmental Epidemiologist at George Mason University College of Public Health, stated that the findings reinforce IARC’s classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen and are consistent with experimental animal studies, and also human correlational and weight-of-evidence evaluations that have reported associations between glyphosate exposure and certain cancers, notably hematological malignancies.
dr. alberto Mantovani, study co-author and member of the Italian National Food Safety committee (CNSA), emphasized that the robust study, based on a protocol encompassing pre- and post-natal progress, fulfills the need for sound scientific evidence on the toxicology of glyphosate. He added that the results highlight the tumorigenic potential of glyphosate and glyphosate-based products at dose levels considered as “safe” and that this new evidence must be carefully considered by regulatory authorities globally.
Glyphosate’s Impact: A Summary
| Finding | Details |
|---|---|
| Cancer Types | Increased incidence of leukemia, skin, liver, thyroid, nervous system, ovary, and other tumors. |
| Dosage Levels | Tumors observed at glyphosate doses considered safe by regulatory agencies (0.5, 5, 50 mg/kg bw/day). |
| Mortality | Early onset and increased mortality from rare malignant cancers, especially leukemia. |
| Study Design | Complete study encompassing pre- and post-natal development in rats. |
Looking ahead: Neurotoxicity Research
