PRESS RELEASE - 22 JUNE - New Study Links Monsanto's Roundup to Cancer
A recent study by eminent oncologists Dr. Lennart Hardell
and Dr. Mikael Eriksson of Sweden [1], has revealed clear links between one of
the world's biggest selling herbicide, glyphosate, to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a
form of cancer [2].
In the study published in the 15 March 1999 Journal of
American Cancer Society, the researchers also maintain that exposure to
glyphosate 'yielded increased risks for NHL.' They stress that with the rapidly
increasing use of glyphosate since the time the study was carried out, 'glyphosate
deserves further epidemiologic studies.'
Glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, is the world's most
widely used herbicide. It is estimated that for 1998, over a 112,000 tonnes of
glyphosate was used world-wide. It indiscriminately kills off a wide variety of
weeds after application and is primarily used to control annual and perennial
plants.
71% of genetically engineered crops planted in 1998 are
designed to be resistant to herbicides such as glyphosate, marketed by Monsanto
as Roundup. Companies developing herbicide resistant crops are also increasing
their production capacity for the herbicides such as glyphosate, and also
requesting permits for higher residues of these chemicals in genetically
engineered food. For example, Monsanto have already received permits for a
threefold increase in herbicide residues on genetically engineered soybeans in
Europe and the U.S., up from 6 parts per million (PPM) to 20 PPM.
According to Sadhbh O' Neill of Genetic Concern, 'this
study reinforces concerns by environmentalists and health professionals that far
from reducing herbicide use, glyphosate resistant crops may result in increased
residues to which we as consumers will be exposed in our food.'
'Increased residues of glyphosate and its metabolites are
already on sale via genetically engineered soya, common in processed foods.
However no studies of the effects of GE soya sprayed with Roundup on health have
been carried out either on animals or humans to date,' she continued.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
statistics from 1997 show that expanded plantings of Roundup Ready soybeans
(i.e. soybeans genetically engineered to be tolerant to the herbicide) resulted
in a 72% increase in the use of glyphosate. According to the Pesticides Action
Network, scientists estimate that plants genetically engineered to be herbicide
resistant will actually triple the amount of herbicides used. Farmers, knowing
that their crop can tolerate or resist being killed off by the herbicides, will
tend to use them more liberally.
O' Neill concluded: 'The EPA when authorising Monsanto's
field trials for Roundup-ready sugar beet did not consider the issue of
glyphosate. They considered this to be the remit of the Pesticides Control
Service of the Department of Agriculture. Thus nobody has included the effects
of increasing the use of glyphosate in the risk/benefit analysis carried out. It
is yet another example of how regulatory authorities supposedly protecting
public health have failed to implement the 'precautionary principle' with
respect to GMOs.'
ENDS
Further information: Sadhbh O' Neill at 01-4760360 or
087-2258599 or (home) 01-6774052
Notes
[1] Lennart Hardell, M.D., PhD. Department of Oncology,
Orebro Medical Centre, Orebro, Sweden and Miikael Eriksson, M.D., PhD,
Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 'A Case-Control Study
of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Exposure to Pesticides', Cancer, March 15, 1999/
Volume 85/ Number 6.
The findings are based on a population-based case-control
study conducted in Sweden between 1987 - 1990. The necessary data was
ascertained by a series of comprehensive questionnaires and follow-up telephone
interviews. Dr. Hardell and Dr. Eriksson found that 'exposure to herbicides and
fungicides resulted in significantly increased risks for NHL'.
[2] Lymphoma is a form of cancer that afflicts the
lymphatic system. It can occur at virtually any part of the body but the initial
symptoms are usually seen as swellings around the lymph nodes at the base of the
neck. There are basically two main kinds of lymphoma, i.e. Hodgkin's disease and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Original story: http://www.purefood.org/Monsanto/glyphocancer.cfm
"Our" government is obviously no longer of the people, by the people and for the people. Steve