Glyphosate, an active ingredient of the herbicide Roundup, has long been under the scanner for its potential health risks. Now, a landmark long-term study has confirmed that glyphosate exposure starting before birth causes cancer in animals. Let’s find out more…
The StudyThe study, known as the Global Glyphosate Study, was led by the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the Ramazzini Institute in Italy, and involved scientists from multiple international institutions. It examined the effects of glyphosate and two glyphosate-based herbicide formulations on Sprague Dawley rats, a common model for toxicology studies.The study was designed this way: the rats were exposed to glyphosate starting from the prenatal stage and continuing for two years, which is essentially their lifespan. The doses given through drinking water were 0.5, 5, and 50 mg per kg of body weight per day — levels that correspond to what regulatory agencies currently consider safe for humans or what they are exposed to.The resultsThe results were shocking, to say the least. The study found a dose-related increase in both benign and malignant tumors in the rats exposed to glyphosate and its formulations compared to the control group. These tumors appeared in multiple organs, including the liver, ovary, thyroid, nervous system, and blood (leukemia). Not only this, about 40% of leukemia-related deaths occurred early in the animals’ lives, indicating that glyphosate exposure before birth heightened vulnerability to cancer at a young age, that can turn terminal.This study confirms and expands on previous findings by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015 based on animal and limited human evidence. However, glyphosate use has been constantly approved, due to insufficient evidence of risk. This new research challenges all previous approvals, by showing that even doses considered safe can cause cancer when exposure starts before birth. (in all mammals, including humans)The risk to humansThough this study was conducted on rats, long-term animal studies are a standard method to predict cancer risk in humans. Many carcinogens, such as asbestos and benzene, were first identified through rodent experiments only.Why it is alarmingThe finding that prenatal exposure increases cancer risk is particularly concerning, because it suggests that human fetuses and infants may be especially vulnerable. What makes this even more scary is that other studies have detected glyphosate in the urine of nearly all pregnant women tested in some regions, with higher levels linked to lower birth weight, and increased risk of neonatal intensive care admission.
Not only this, epidemiological studies have linked glyphosate exposure to an increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in humans, with some research showing up to a 41% higher risk among heavily exposed groups such as farmers and pesticide applicators. This growing body of evidence points to glyphosate as a potential health hazard not just for adults but also for developing babies.What can you do to reduce the riskGiven the evidence, one must make all efforts to minimize glyphosate exposure, especially for pregnant women and children. Here are some practical steps:Avoid using glyphosate-based herbicides at home or in gardens. If you must use them, wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and chemical-resistant gloves, and a thick mask. Avoid spraying on windy days to prevent inhalation or skin contact.Wash hands thoroughly (with soap and not just sanitizer) after handling glyphosate or touching plants that may have been sprayed. Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking during and immediately after application.Keep children and pets away from treated areas for at least 24 hours or as recommended on labels.Choose organic foods when possible. Glyphosate is banned in organic farming, and switching to organic has been shown to reduce glyphosate levels in the body by up to 70% within days.Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to reduce residues. Use warm water and baking soda if needed.
