Independent health agencies disagree with IARC’s glyphosate cancer designation

seaweed cancer sign

The list of [Proposition 65] labeled substances [in California] includes marijuana smoke (but eating marijuana is fine, by California standards), acrylamide (which appears in toast, potato chips, and fries), and as of this week, glyphosate—a popular herbicide (or weed killer) better known as Round-Up. This decision comes despite the fact that several health organizations have said that glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer.

In May of [2016], the United Nations released a joint report from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization which said that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans. It was followed a few months later by an EPA report which also said that it was unlikely that glyphosate causes cancer. And both of these followed yet another report by the European Food Safety Authority agency determining that glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer.

[For a complete review of various global agencies’ review of potential risks of glyphosate, read the GLP FAQ on the controversy here.]

But in March 2015—before the three aforementioned reports came out—a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), associated with the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as possibly carcinogenic. … The IARC’s assessment straddled the line between almost-definitively-does-cause-cancer and almost-definitely-doesn’t.

[I]f cancer risk is your primary concern in picking a weed killer, California’s decision to label glyphosate shouldn’t send you into a panic.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: California says a popular herbicide causes cancer

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.