World Health Organization (Photo : Reuters/Pierre Albouy)
A World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) panel made up of 17 representatives from 11 countries recently met to discuss and scrutinize evidence that particular herbicides may cause cancer in humans.
The WHO panel's findings which were published in the Lancet Oncology, concluded that the herbicide glycophosate is "possibly carcinogenic to humans". The findings also state that there was "limited" evidence linking the chemical to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer in humans.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the panel also found that there was "convincing evidence" that glycophosate causes cancer in animals. Glycophosate was invented in 1974 by one of the world's leading agricultural corporations, Monsanto and has been marketed by the company under the brand Roundup.
Roundup became the world's most popular herbicide in the 1990's when genetically modified crops such as corn and soybeans were developed to live through its effects.
In response, Monsanto VP for Global Regulatory Affairs Phillip Miller stated, "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."
As reported by Mashable, officials from Monsanto also expressed disagreement with the findings, insisting that glycophosates were safe if used as directed.
Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook, meanwhile, lauded the IARC panel's move and called for U.S. Agencies to limit the usage of glycophosate. "Consumers have the right to know how their food is grown and whether their food dollars are driving up the use of a probable carcinogen," Cook said.
