{"id":33339,"date":"2023-08-11T00:01:35","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T04:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=33339"},"modified":"2023-08-09T16:33:41","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T20:33:41","slug":"study-cites-multiple-chemical-characteristics-strengthen-weed-killer-glyphosate-cancer-ranking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2023\/08\/study-cites-multiple-chemical-characteristics-strengthen-weed-killer-glyphosate-cancer-ranking\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Cites Multiple Chemical Characteristics, Strengthening Weed Killer Glyphosate Cancer Ranking"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides, <\/em>August 11, 2023) Reinforcing earlier findings, a systematic review published in\u00a0Chemosphere<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>finds the popular herbicide glyphosate and its formulations (glyphosate-based formulations-GBF) exhibit five out of the ten key characteristics (KC) of carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). Specifically, glyphosate exhibits strong evidence of genotoxicity, epigenetic alterations (heritable changes in gene expression), oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endocrine disruption, and disturbs gut microbiota implicated in lymphomagenesis (growth and development of lymphoma). Although organizations like the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) designate glyphosate as a\u00a0probable human carcinogen<\/em><\/a>, and\u00a0scientific literature<\/a>\u00a0supports the findings on these adverse effects purported by glyphosate, the chemical remains on the U.S. market in various formulations.<\/p>\n

Glyphosate<\/a>\u00a0is the most commonly used active ingredient worldwide, appearing in many herbicide formulas, not just Bayer\u2019s (formerly Monsanto) Roundup\u00ae. The use of this chemical has been increasing since the inception of crops genetically modified to tolerate glyphosate over two decades ago. The toxic herbicide readily contaminates the ecosystem with residues pervasive in food and water commodities. In addition to this study, literature proves time and time again that glyphosate has an association with cancer development, as well as human,\u00a0biotic<\/a>, and ecosystem\u00a0harm<\/a>. Therefore, advocates point to the need for national policies to reassess hazards associated with disease development and diagnosis resulting from or exacerbated by exposure to chemical pollutants. The study highlights, \u201cOur findings strengthen the mechanistic evidence that glyphosate is a\u00a0probable<\/em>\u00a0human carcinogen and provide biological plausibility for previously reported cancer associations in humans, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Using\u00a0in vivo, ex vivo<\/em>, and\u00a0in vitro<\/em>\u00a0human and mammalian mechanistic studies, researchers compare exposure to glyphosate\/GBF with little to no exposure counterparts for evidence of the ten KCs of carcinogens. All known human carcinogens have one or more of the ten KCs, and these mechanisms cause cancer through,<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Electrophilic (an affinity towards electrons) or metabolic activation (KC1),<\/li>\n
  2. Genotoxicity (KC2),<\/li>\n
  3. Alterations in DNA repair, causing genome instability (KC3),<\/li>\n
  4. Inducing epigenetic changes (KC4),<\/li>\n
  5. Inducing oxidative stress (KC5),<\/li>\n
  6. Inducing chronic inflammation (KC6),<\/li>\n
  7. Immunosuppression (KC7),<\/li>\n
  8. Reducing receptor-mediated effects\/endocrine disruption (KC8),<\/li>\n
  9. Immortalizing cancer cells (KC9),<\/li>\n
  10. Alterations in cell proliferation, death, or nutrient supply (KC10).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Researchers screened all\u00a0in vivo, ex vivo,<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0in vitro<\/em>\u00a0studies of glyphosate\/GBF exposure in humans\/mammals, reporting any KC-related outcome available in PubMed before August 2021. The researchers used the selected studies to construct a matrix, analyzing the matrix in program R to determine the strength of evidence and quality assessments. Although only 175 of the 2,537 articles met inclusion criteria, the researchers extracted over 50,000 data points related to the aforementioned KC outcomes.<\/p>\n

    The results of the analysis find strong evidence for KC2, KC4, KC5, KC6, and KC8, limited evidence for KC1 and KC3, and inadequate evidence for KC7, KC9, and KC10. Specifically, genotoxicity (KC2) and endocrine disruption (KC8) from GBF have the strongest association with carcinogenicity. The reviewed studies demonstrate that the evidence of genotoxicity is stronger among humans than in animal studies, with GBF having a greater impact on both study groups than just glyphosate alone. Additionally, the review indicates glyphosate can alter hormone (endocrine) levels and receptor activity, with the estrogen receptors being most sensitive to glyphosate and GBFs.<\/p>\n

    Almost five decades of extensive glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) use has put human, animal, and environmental health at risk. The chemical\u2019s ubiquity threatens\u00a093 percent<\/a>\u00a0of all U.S. endangered species,\u00a0resulting<\/a>\u00a0in biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption (e.g.,\u00a0soil erosion<\/a>\u00a0and loss of services<\/a>). Exposure to GBHs has implications for specific alterations in\u00a0microbial gut composition<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0trophic cascades<\/a>. Similar to this paper, past studies find a strong association between glyphosate exposure and\u00a0the development of various health anomalies,<\/a>\u00a0including\u00a0cancer<\/a>,\u00a0Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a>, and\u00a0autism<\/a>. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies glyphosate herbicides as \u201cnot likely to be carcinogenic to humans,\u201d\u00a0stark evidence<\/a>\u00a0demonstrates links to various cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Thus, EPA\u2019s classification perpetuates environmental injustice among individuals disproportionately exposed to chemicals like farmworkers, especially in marginalized communities. Chemical companies knowingly fail and continue to fail to warn farmers adequately about the dangers of glyphosate. Additionally, the manufacturer\u2019s (Bayer\/Monsanto) discredited chemical review conclusions<\/a>\u00a0challenge the European Union research.<\/p>\n

    The territory for research on pesticides\u2019 potential carcinogenicity and other impacts on human health is exceedingly complicated. Yet there is some convergence across research that exposure to certain pesticides increases the risk of developing some cancers. The association that has been in the blinding spotlight for the past few years is between exposures to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides and\u00a0the risk of developing cancer, particularly non-Hodgkin Lymphoma<\/a>\u00a0(NHL). Beyond Pesticides has covered the\u00a0mounting evidence<\/a>\u00a0of the dangers of glyphosate, including a\u00a0meta-study<\/a>\u00a0that suggests a compelling link between exposures to glyphosate-based herbicides and increased risk of NHL.<\/p>\n

    In addition, Beyond Pesticides has traced the developments in the science and regulatory arena, including:<\/p>\n