Glyphosate

Glyphosate is an herbicide that is applied to the leaves of plants to kill certain plants and grasses. It is the active chemical in the very popular weed killer called Roundup. There are three patents on Glyphosate. It was first patented in 1964 by Stauffer Chemical as a metal chelator. The chelator was used to clean commercial boilers and pipes. It was then patented again in 1974 as an herbicide by Monsanto, a sustainable agriculture company. The third patent was granted in 2010 for the same company, Monsanto, to be used for parasitic control. It is interesting, what was once used as a means of cleaning pipes is now being applied to the food that we eat! According to a report published in Environmental Science Europe, Roundup is the “most heavily used weed killer in the history of chemical agriculture in both the United States and globally.” Since 1974, when Monsanto patented glyphosate in Roundup, more than 3.5 billion pounds of glyphosate has been used in the United States. Furthermore, over 18.9 billion pounds of glyphosate has been applied globally. The usage of glyphosate in the United States makes up nineteen percent of usage worldwide. Roundup is spread by being mass-sprayed over crops on farms. This rids the farmers of unwanted plants and weeds.

Roundup can also be used to dry out crops so that they can be harvested quicker. Since glyphosate is being applied in such large quantities, it has begun to concern people.

Glyphosate has found its way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Research has been able to connect high levels of glyphosate to a number of illnesses. One article from ecowatch.com lists known health problems that may be linked to exposure to glyphosate:

1. ADHD- There is a strong correlation between Roundup exposure and ADHD in farming communities.
2. Anencephaly- Babies born to women who live within 1,000 meters of pesticide application are more likely to have this birth defect.
3. Autism-  Glyphosate has a number of known biological effects that align with the known pathologies associated with autism.
4. Birth defects- Roundup and Glyphosate can disrupt the babies ability to get Vitamin A.
5. Brain cancer- Chances of developing brain cancer doubled in with parents exposure to Glyphosate up to two years before the child’s birth.
6. Breast cancer- Glyphosate is known to induce human breast cancer cell growth.
7. Cancer (in general)
8. Celiac disease and Gluten intolerance
9. Chronic kidney disease- There has been a recent surge in kidney failure among agricultural workers in Central America. Many think that the recent growth in Glyphosate use may be the cause.
10. Heart Disease- Glyphosate can disrupt the body’s enzymes, causing lysosomal dysfunction, a major factor in cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
11. Respiratory Illness- House-to-house surveys in Argentina have shown that communities where Roundup is used, there are higher rates of chronic respiratory illness.
12. Glyphosate has been called, by some scientists, an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with human hormonal systems. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors and birth defects, as listed above.

Aside from health problems related to Glyphosate use, there is also a number of environmental concerns. Glyphosate can stay in the soil for up to six months! Some vegetables, such as carrots and lettuce, can take up the Glyphosate in the soil when growing. Some weedkillers that have Glyphosate in them can even be toxic to the wildlife. The farming industry has gone as far as to create Roundup Ready crops. These crops are genetically modified to withstand herbicides such as Roundup. The first of these crops were created in the 1990s. Since they are fairly new, many people are concerned about the long term effects these genetically modified foods will have. Some of the most common Roundup Ready crops are soybeans, corn, cotton, and wheat.