Monsanto’s Roundup Herbicide Linked to Obesity, Cancer, Heart Disease and Autism
Roundup, the best-selling glyphosate-based herbicide marketed by Monsanto, has been linked to several new health risks including obesity, autism and cancer, according to new research.
Published in the April 18th issue of the journal Entropy and authored by Stephanie Seneff, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Anthony Samsel, a retired science consultant from Arthur D. Little, Inc., the peer-reviewed report found that Roundup may be a cause of gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Glyphosate exposure was connected with Parkinson’s disease in a study published last April in the journal Neurotixcology & Teratology, and a controversial study released last September connected GMOs with cancer.
“Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body,” says the study’s abstract. The researchers believe the chemicals “disrupt normal body functions and induce disease.” Reuters reports the researchers said the findings have “have hit upon something very important that needs to be taken seriously and further investigated.”
Commonly used on millions of acres of genetically modified crops such as Monsanto’s corn, soybeans, canola and sugar beets, traces of glyphosate end up in the food supply, as well as in air and water supplies near the crops. It’s also commonly used on lawns, home gardens, parks and golf courses. “In 2007, as much as 185 million pounds of glyphosate was used by U.S. farmers,” reports Reuters.
The EPA is now conducting a standard review of glyphosate’s safety, set to be complete by 2015. The findings will determine whether or not use of the chemical should be limited. Monsanto, and other chemical companies have long claimed the product is safe.
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Image: IRRI
