Is It Time to Round Up Roundup?
A new study by French scientists has found the inert ingredients in Roundup to be toxic to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cells. Expect intense debate.
Roundup is a top-selling weed killer that has been used for years by homeowners and farmers. It’s always been considered a safe product with health studies consistently finding that its most active ingredient, the herbicide glyphosate, acceptable to use near humans.
However, the new study shows that Roundup’s inert ingredients - solvents, preservatives and surfactants – can kill human cells even when the ingredients have a dilute presence.
In fact, the study found that one specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was even more more deadly than the herbicide itself to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies inert ingredients as any ingredient that doesn’t harm pests. POEA is on the EPA’s list of nearly 4,000 inert chemicals approved for use.
But calling them “inert” is misleading. These ingredients, while safe for insects, pests or weeds, are not exactly harmless.
Because specific herbicide formulations are often protected as trade secrets, the amount and types of inert ingredients is never disclosed and therefore, the effects of exposure are studied less than the active herbicide ingredients.
This may soon change. Petitioned by a group of 250 plus environmental, health and labor organizations, the EPA is due to make a decision later this year.
To learn more about this issue, read the in-depth Scientific American article, “Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells.”
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2 Comments
July 1st, 2009 at 9:53 am
I strongly agree with the need to evaluate the damage caused by the chemicals in Roundup; we have gone beyond what is healthy for our human cells by focusing on commercial gain. Somehow, we humans overlooked the fact that what keeps us healthy is the thriving of our own cells. Attention to this cellular damage situation is needed immediately.
A book I have recently written highlights this viewpoint and I want to draw it to your attention, as you may be interested in it. The title is “Soul Talk With Cells: What We Really Want Is To Play” and information is available at http://www.strategicbookpublis.....cells.html If you have any qestions, I am most willing to offer my views on this topic.
Flora Sue Gardner
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hello,
I took a composting and worm farming workshop at Quiet Creek Herb Farm in Pennsylvania for teachers 4 yrs. ago and we were told that agriculture has developed “ROUND UP READY” corn seeds and soy bean seeds which are coated with Round-Up…So the farmer can plant the seeds and no weeds will grow around the plants…. so when you look at those beautiful corn rows with no weeds- remember the “ROUND UP READY” seeds…..agh..
Alice
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