EPA Urged to Put Public Health Over Monsanto Profits by Banning Cancer-Linked Glyphosate

[appalachiablue]

Source: Common Dreams

As the Environmental Protection Agency moves to greenlight the continued use of glyphosate in the United States for another 15 years, a coalition of environmental and consumer advocacy groups on Wednesday delivered nearly 150,000 petitions urging the agency to ban the cancer-linked herbicide.

The coalition's call comes ahead of the July 5 deadline for public comment on the EPA's interim registration review of glyphosate, which says the herbicide poses no health risks to humans.

Jason Davidson, food and agriculture campaign associate at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement that the scientific evidence contradicts the EPA's assessment of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup.

"The science is clear about glyphosate," Davidson said. "This dangerous herbicide causes serious health risks, including cancer, and threatens our environment. EPA must do its job and ban this toxic pesticide instead of prioritizing corporate profits." In a press release, Friends of the Earth said the EPA cited "Monsanto-funded studies in its evaluation" of glyphosate. - MORE...


Read more: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/26/epa-urged-put-public-health-over-monsanto-profits-banning-cancer-linked-glyphosate

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In May this year a California jury ordered Monsanto—which was acquired by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer last year—to pay a record $2 billion in damages to a couple that was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) after using Roundup for years.

The verdict was the third time in less than a year that Monsanto was found liable for cancer.

"It's time for the EPA to stand up to Monsanto-Bayer and protect farmers, farm workers, lawn care workers, and consumers," said Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director of the Organic Consumers Association. "If Trump's EPA chooses to ignore the science, Congress should step in."

[lagomorph777]

1. This is one prime reason to avoid GMO frankenfoods.

One of the main things GMO are crafted to do is resist the effects of Glyphosate, so the crops can be heavily doused with it. Unfortunately, humans have not been crafted to resist the effects of Glyphosate.

[PatSeg]

2. Exactly

Monsanto apologists will jump all over anyone who does not want to eat GMO foods, avoiding the real issue - Glyphosate.

[Bayard]

3. So, what about all the generic glyphosate?

It looks like just the big bucks company is being singled out.

I think the real solution is to come up with a commercially viable, safe alternative to glyphosate. It wouldn't surprise me to learn it has already been developed.

[LanternWaste]

4. Monsanto is being singled out because...

the EPA cited "Monsanto-funded studies in its evaluation" of glyphosate.

In effect, the critics are asking the EPA to place the safety of the public over listening to Monsanto-funded studies.

[Brainfodder]

5. Ban HFCS too finally once and for all?

So many public health issues to get to!

[NickB79]

6. That would be the end of no-till farming then

You'd have to go back to plowing millions of acres again to control weeds, with all the erosion issues that come with it

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

7. Tell that to the organic farmers - meanwhile, Im voting with my wallet and you can too! nt

[NickB79]

8. Organic farmers currently till the hell out of their soil

Cultivating between the rows is the primary means of knocking back weeds if herbicides aren't allowed. It's not as benign as people think.

That, or massive sheets of nonbiodegradeable plastic applied every year.