Roundup—the American Weed-Killer—Is Likely Killing American People, Too
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Monsanto, Monsanto, Monsanto. Is it simply a scary coincidence that nearly every time bad news hits, they’re involved? (Hint: No.) This time, new research has intensified the debate that Roundup, the popular weed killer created by Monsanto, also kills human cells. The research posits that the inert ingredients in Roundup, or inactive ones, are not quite so inactive. And by that I mean they may be deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells.
Those are cells we use to make babies, ya’ll.
According to Environmental Health News:
Used in yards, farms and parks throughout the world, Roundup has long been a top-selling weed killer. But now researchers have found that one of Roundup’s inert ingredients can kill human cells, particularly embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells. The new findings intensify a debate about so-called “inerts” — the solvents, preservatives, surfactants and other substances that manufacturers add to pesticides. Nearly 4,000 inert ingredients are approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. […]
The research team suspects that Roundup might cause pregnancy problems by interfering with hormone production, possibly leading to abnormal fetal development, low birth weights or miscarriages. […]
Until now, most health studies have focused on the safety of glyphosate, rather than the mixture of ingredients found in Roundup. But in the new study, scientists found that Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns.
One specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself — a finding the researchers call “astonishing.”
“This clearly confirms that the [inert ingredients] in Roundup formulations are not inert,” wrote the study authors from France’s University of Caen. “Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death [at the] residual levels” found on Roundup-treated crops, such as soybeans, alfalfa and corn, or lawns and gardens.
Think about it: Roundup has been around since the early 1970s. And if 100 million pounds of Roundup are used per year, that’s about forty billion pounds of Roundup we’ve been exposed to since its inception. And if you didn’t know this, prepare to cry. Monsanto is not only the world’s leading producer of weed-killer that also kills human cells—they’re also the leading producer of genetically engineered seeds (GMOs), which means somewhere between 70 and 100 percent market share for a variety of crops—namely corn and soy—which makes up the diet of factory-farmed cows and chickens, which are then eaten by humans.
Read the entire article here, on Environmental Health news.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
If you put a detergent of any sort on cells in a petri dish, the cells get sick. These Petri dish experiments, like the previous related experiments from Seralini’s group, have no relevance to a living animal and provide no information about real-world risks to humans. Instead, they tell us what we already know; that substances can injure unprotected cells in a test tube. To put this kind of study in context, consider that caffeine can also disrupt cell function. Caffeine was used in a similar Petri dish experiment also using cells from veins of human umbilical cords and produced the same result – cell death – by the same pathway (Matsuoka et al., 2006; see http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1012804061.html).
Of course, caffeine - in its natural and added forms - is found in coffee, tea, cola beverages, new “energy” drinks, chocolate and even some medicines.
If you are interested in learning more about Monsanto’s position on Seralini’s studies, read this http://blog.monsantoblog.com/2009/06/23/seralini-safety-study/
Thanks so much,
Daniel A. Goldstein, M.D.
Director, Medical Sciences and Outreach
Monsanto Company
June 26th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Great information about Roundup - I kicked off a “Replace Roundup” challenge on Tuesday trying to get people to forego their next Roundup purchase and use a natural alternative instead. We’re trying to divert revenue from Monsanto AND educate about/reduce Roundup use…
We’ve already diverted over $32k from Monsanto, if you’re interested in checking it out:
http://bytestyle.tv/node/55
I’ll add this article to the resources section on my site :)
Shelly
June 27th, 2009 at 1:50 am
If you put a detergent of any sort on cells in a petri dish, the cells get sick. These Petri dish experiments, like the previous related experiments from Seralini’s group, have no relevance to a living animal and provide no information about real-world risks to humans. Instead, they tell us what we already know; that substances can injure unprotected cells in a test tube. To put this kind of study in context, consider that caffeine can also disrupt cell function. Caffeine was used in a similar Petri dish experiment also using cells from veins of human umbilical cords and produced the same result – cell death – by the same pathway (Matsuoka et al., 2006; see http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1012804061.html).
Of course, caffeine - in its natural and added forms - is found in coffee, tea, cola beverages, new “energy” drinks, chocolate and even some medicines.
If you are interested in learning more about Monsanto’s position on Seralini’s studies, read this http://blog.monsantoblog.com/2009/06/23/seralini-safety-study/
Thanks so much,
Daniel A. Goldstein, M.D.
Director, Medical Sciences and Outreach
Monsanto Company
June 29th, 2009 at 10:26 am
That is just absurd. What about if I soak my testicles in coffee overnight? Will that have the same result as if i soaked them in RoundUp overnight? What level of cellular issues will I see from each?
$5.00 says the most the coffee will do is some staining, and I am sure that can not be said for the RoundUp.
I apologize for the new context here - but please - lets be reasonable.
I can’t wait till you Monsanto money-drenched drones see this. Hopefully a small smile and new thought will pass thru.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I am so sick of big business hiding behind one study or slanted version of another to avoid recognizing the products they sell are bad for people, bad for the environment and generally without any principle other than profit motive.
Ed
June 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
No single study — whether it suggests a chemical is safe or unsafe — is enough to act on. Science doesn’t work that way. This study is certainly interesting and *suggestive.* But as a consumer, I’d like some information about *relative* risk. The first thing that occurred to me when I read this is that lots of things probably kill cells in vitro, including lots of stuff we consider safe. Does POEA do more, or less, damage in vitro than say salt, or dish detergent, or vodka? Or are its effects different in kind, rather than just different in degree?
Dr Goldstein is perhaps overstating the case when he says this study has “no” relevance. I’d think it at least suggests reason for doing more testing, including animal testing, on POEA, etc., if those haven’t already been done.
Chris.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Of course, caffeine - in its natural and added forms - is found in coffee, tea, cola beverages, new “energy” drinks, chocolate and even some medicines.
All of which are things that a person can *CHOOSE* to expose themselves to or not, and in most cases the caffeine content is written on the package,[1] so if you choose to avoid it, you can. Caffeine isn’t being sprayed on the cornfield next to my house, there isn’t caffeine residue on the vegetables I get at the supermarket,[2] I don’t have caffeine seeping into my water supply via runoff. When I have the same degree of control over my POEA intake as I do over my caffeine intake, then we can talk about the relative risks posed by each chemical.
As it is, the general population is taking all the risk, based on Monsanto’s assertion that Roundup is safe, and I don’t think Monsanto has demonstrated that this is the case yet, particularly when it comes to the “inert” ingredients.
-
[1] I think tea and coffee include caffeine by definition, so they don’t have to show how much is in their products. Colas do, though, and medicines do. Not sure about energy drinks.
[2] Though I am intrigued by the idea of caffeinated vegetables, and think someone should look into this.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
[…] Week’s Popular News Roundup—the American Weed-Killer—Is Likely Killing American People, Too UN Backs Drug Decriminalization In World Drug Report Announcement: Landmark Gift Registry Program […]
June 29th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives away from the care of the slave masters.
Step 5: Admitted the exact nature of its wrongs.
Step 9: Stopped the harm to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others more gravely.
Read all the suggested steps of Slaves Anonymous …
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
hmmm, it could be the reason that male fertility is down in the developed world - weed killer is frying men’s baby making equipment!
Good luck with your quest!
Zara
July 10th, 2009 at 12:30 am
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July 17th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Well what do I know except that my 9 year old son had an allergic reaction to Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Round Up, and the main ingredient in the herbicide that our newly hired lawn care company used on our lawn, a service we quickly cancelled as soon as we made the connection! My son experienced the same reaction you would have if you were allergic to peanuts! He couldn’t breath! Glyphosate is a respiratory irritant. After a bit of research I learned Glyphosate is often used on soybean and peanut crops. It’s been around since the 1970’s and food allergies have been on the rise ever since about that time too! Are our kids allergic to the peanut or the chemical residue in the peanut? I believe I know the answer! I’ve read herbicide and pesticide residue can remain in a food for 2-3 years! Now that’s frustrating! My family has since gone organic!
October 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Round Up is not sprayed from the air on corn fields!
And why was a lawn care company using round up on a lawn?
I use round up occasionally on weeds around our place, and I don’t use that much, and we had had zero problems with it. I think this is just another scare tactic that has it’s roots in some rich person or persons getting even more rich. It’s all about making money, at the expense of others. I don’t put much trust in science these days, it’s all about making money, not about what the real truth is.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Thanks for the list of stuff to avoid, Monsanto. Anything else? I’ve replaced my household cleaners including most detergents, garden chemicals, and personal care products and plastics, wherever possible with the simplest stuff I can find,..lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar, food oils, glass and wood etc, and old fashioned scrubbing and weeding. And I take a pass on caffeine and junk. Can’t digest it anymore.
While Monsanto and everyone else duke it out, just close your wallet and rewind by about 150 years. It’s cheaper and good exercise.
Check out How to Get Your Lawn off Grass
How to Get Your Lawn Off Drugs
November 12th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Why would anyone use roundup when there are similarly priced organic products with the same results? This is ridiculous, no study is needed to tell me that roundup is necessary. Come on people! Think
February 19th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
i am currently doing a science project using round up were i use different weed and grass killer to kill ssome grass i grew.