World Health Organization (Photo : Reuters/Pierre Albouy)
World Health Organization claimed glyphosate, the widely used weed killer in the world, can probably lead to cancer, The New York Times reported.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO division, released a report reviewing the risk of cancer associated with five pesticides, namely, diazinon, parathion, etrachlorvinphos, malathion and glyphosate.
The IARC classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, which is developed by Monsanto. The WHO cancer group said that glyphosate may raise the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans who are exposed to the chemical at work. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas includes a diverse group of cancers of immune system cells, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The WHO division listed glyphosate as Group 2A, or "probably carcinogenic to humans." IARC said, "This category is used when there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals."
Meanwhile, Monsanto, the world's biggest seed company, is not ready to accept the findings of the World Health Organization report. The company said that conclusion is not supported by scientific data and it will hold a meeting with the group to discuss the findings. Monsanto is also the fourth largest pesticide company,
Philip Miller, Monsanto's vice-president for global regulatory affairs, said, "We don't know how IARC could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe."
He further said that declaring glyphosate as probable human carcinogen doesn't establish a relationship between glyphosate and an increased cancer risk.
According to the report, glyphosate has been found in water and food after it has been sprayed. However, the use of glyphosate is low in and near homes.
