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Decision on Glyphosate Pesticide Not Carcinogenic?
Shortly before the upcoming decision to renew approval for the weed killer glyphosate, the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the pesticide poses no risk of cancer. As a result, the JMPR is in opposition to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is also a WHO institution.
With the new assessment of the JMPR, it becomes clear how different the views on the risk of cancer from glyphosate in the professional world. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is confirmed in its previous position, "that in humans with a proper use in agriculture, no carcinogenic, mutagenic or developmentally damaging risks of glyphosate are expected." But the multiple evidence of glyphosate residues in our Nonetheless, food still causes consumers more and more uncertainty - even without an obvious risk of cancer.
The WHO institutions have different views on the risk of cancer from glyphosate. (Image: farbkombinat / fotolia.com) Glyphosate in numerous foods
Recently, an investigation commissioned by Greenpeace revealed that glyphosate residues can also be detected in wine and grape juice from Germany. In seven out of eleven conventional products, residues of the total herbicide were detectable (tested organic products contained no residues), the environmental organization reported last week. Although the residues were so low that no acute risk could be assumed, "glyphosate in wine and fruit juice basically lost nothing," says Greenpeace agricultural expert Christiane Huxdorff. An assessment that is probably shared by most consumers. Added to this is the suspected cancer risk, which remains controversial even after the JMPR statement.
Cancer risk disputed by glyphosate
According to the assessment of BfR, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the JMPR, the increased use of glyphosate in agriculture does not increase the risk of cancer. The IARC assessment stands in sharp contrast to this, although this can be justified by the different approaches. Irrespective of dosages in everyday life, the IARC addressed the risk of cancer from glyphosate, while the other institutions assessed the risk of cancer in relation to an exercise value. For example, in the opinion of the JMPR, up to 1 mg / kg bodyweight per day will remain unaccompanied with respect to the risk of cancer. Although there is no immediate risk of cancer from the low levels of glyphosate in food, most consumers may find it unpalatable to pick up a weed killer with beer, wine, juice or other food.
Voting behavior of the Federal Government
In the forthcoming decision on an extension of glyphosate approval similar positions as well as in the professional world come to bear. Thus, it is assumed that the EU Commission favors a permit without restriction, while the European Parliament has already expressed clear concerns and here at least a shorter approval period (seven instead of 15 years) envisaged. Also a complete refusal of the admission is still discussed. This also applies within the federal government. Here, the Minister of the Environment Barbara Hendricks (SPD) has called for significant restrictions on the use of glyphosate and tries to persuade the lead Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt (CSU) to a corresponding voting behavior for Germany. "The health risks of glyphosate are unclear. In the interests of precautionary consumer protection, Germany must therefore call for a far-reaching ban and vote against the further approval of glyphosate. Minister of Agriculture Schmidt must now show the flag, "Huxdorff is quoted in the press release by Greenpeace.
Glyphosate most widely used pesticide worldwide
According to the environmental organization, around 6,000 tonnes of glyphosate were used by farmers in Germany in 2012, and a total of 30,000 tonnes of pure pesticide chemical is used each year. Glyphosate, which was developed by the US company Monsanto and is still sold under the brand name "Roundup", is the world's most widely used active ingredient in weedkillers. In viticulture, for example, glyphosate is used to keep the soil of the vines free of weeds. This happens manually in organic farming, which is much more complicated. With the massive use of pesticides in recent decades, the entry has also increased in our food and today can be detected in many products - from juice to beer - the corresponding residues. (Fp)