Roundup is a popular residential and commercial weed killer made with glyphosate. Farmers, landscapers and agricultural workers have used it since 1974. However, some studies have linked heavy glyphosate use to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
What Is Roundup?
Roundup is a popular weed killer containing glyphosate as its active ingredient. Initially registered in 1974 by Monsanto and now owned by Bayer, it’s extensively used in agricultural and residential settings.
Glyphosate is the most used herbicide in American agriculture according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Users apply approximately 280 million pounds of glyphosate annually to an average of 298 million acres of land. Users apply Roundup in various forms, like liquid concentrate and ready-to-use versions, using different methods like spraying and wiping.
Roundup is highly effective at managing weeds and is widely used in producing grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. However, recent studies raise concerns about its potential health risks, particularly regarding Roundup’s links to cancer.
How Does Roundup Work?
Glyphosate disrupts plant growth by inhibiting crucial enzymes. After application, it’s absorbed by plants and travels to the roots, shoots and leaves, ultimately killing them.
It’s non-selective and doesn’t differentiate between weeds and other plants. Roundup kills most plants it contacts, requiring precise application. Some Roundup formulas affect plants within hours.
Monsanto engineered its Roundup Ready crops, which can resist Roundup, in 1996. Using Roundup Ready crops allows farmers to spray fields without fear of crop loss. The innovation revolutionized agriculture and immediately led to a boom in Roundup use.
Is Roundup Safe to Use?
In 2022, the EPA reaffirmed its claim that there are “no risks of concern to human health from current uses of glyphosate” when used correctly. However, independent studies suggest a link to non-Hodgkin lymphoma with long-term exposure. Bayer disputes these claims, citing over 800 studies affirming Roundup’s safety.
In opposition to the EPA’s claims, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015 based on evidence of DNA damage and tumor formation in animal studies. The study conducted by the IARC aimed to recognize potential causes of cancer, but it failed to account for the likelihood of exposure to doses that may be encountered in the environment, according to researchers at Penn State University.
A further study by the University of Washington published in Mutation Research found a 41% higher risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with heavy glyphosate exposure.
These differing conclusions highlight ongoing debates about Roundup’s safety. While the EPA reassures consumers, the IARC’s findings and independent research underscore the importance of continued scrutiny regarding the potential health risks associated with glyphosate and Roundup use.
Written By Michelle Llamas, BCPA Edited By Emily Miller
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