For years, Monsanto has faced criticism for its practices and how those practices put the general health and safety of consumers at risk. Now, the company is dealing with new accusations regarding its Roundup-resistant seeds and glyphosate, a substance declared “probably carcinogenic” to humans by the World Health Organization.
Glyphosate exposure is common. It was approved for use as an herbicide in 1974 and is one of the most commonly used in the United States. Most scientists agree that at low levels there is limited danger, but more recently, farmers have been spaying crops with glyphosate right before harvest, increasing the risk for higher levels of exposure.
Glyphosate Spraying Used to Protect Harvest, But at What Risk?
According to Ken Roseboro, writer with The Organic & Non-GMO Report, farmers are actually killing crops with glyphosate to make it possible to harvest earlier than usual, which is beneficial for fall harvests in areas prone to colder temperatures. The practice is most common in the upper Midwest and Canada where wheat is grown. Glyphosate works by preventing plants from making certain proteins that enable growth. When this process ceases, the wheat dies and crops dry, leading to an easier harvest.
Like many crops, wheat is modified (in this case using a technique known as mutagenesis) in order to make it more resistant to glyphosate and other chemicals. This means heavier rounds of spraying are needed for the chemical to be effective. Monsanto’s PowerMAX Roundup herbicide even instructs users to spray pre-harvest.
Some farmers are reportedly concerned about the practice, but Monsanto has invested a lot of time and effort into marketing glyphosate as safe and biodegradable, so the majority of users don’t realize they are exposing consumers to poison.
Glyphosate Exposure and Health Problems
Glyphosate becomes even more toxic when mixed with other ingredients in products and direct exposure can create irritation in the nose or throat, or on the skin. When ingested, glyphosate often passes through the body quickly without changing, but there is evidence the chemical has the potential to cause cancer, and there is some evidence that the use of glyphosate is related to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Some studies have also shown high levels of glyphosate exposure could be linked to developmental and reproductive issues. Research from Drs. Stephanie Seneff and Anthony Samsel, published in the journal Entropy, showed glyphosate residues found in sugar, corn, soy, and wheat, “enhance the damaging effects of other food-borne chemical residues and toxins in the environment to disrupt normal body functions and induce disease.” The scientists have also speculated Roundup use could be related to autism and are conducting further research to test that link.
If you are worried you or a loved one has been injured because of exposure to glyphosate or that eating certain foods may have played a role in the development of a health disorder we’d like to discuss your concerns. For more infomation, visit our Roundup Injury lawyer website or call 866.534.5014.
