Glyphosate Contaminates the Global Ecosystem: The Damning New PAN Report
PAN, the Pesticide Action Network International, issued a 96-page report dated October 2016 titled “GLYPHOSATE” that every person on the planet ought to be concerned about, especially if you are using it in agriculture and farming; as a homeowner on your weeds; or as an unsuspecting member of society who unknowingly is forced to eat food crops sprayed with it!
According to that Report’s Summary, glyphosate—Roundup—Monsanto are synonymous with the number one selling herbicide used in genetically modified crop agriculture, even though glyphosate is manufactured by many companies in other countries.
The herbicidal action of glyphosate is primarily due to its capacity to block the production of essential amino acids in plants and some microorganisms through a pathway called “shikimate”, which is present only in plants. Thus it was sold as ‘safe’ for animals and humans. [1]
The World Health Organization’s IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classified glyphosate as probable carcinogen [Group 2A] in 2015! How come it took so long? I find myself asking.
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According to the report, many deaths have resulted, especially in Asia. Unintentional cases of poisonings among users and bystanders have been reported resulting in severe chemical burns and respiratory problems.
Aerial spraying on crops can precipitate both acute and chronic health problems. Some acute health problems associated with glyphosate poisoning include:
Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal infections, itchy or burning skin, skin infections (particularly prevalent in children), blisters, burning or weeping eyes, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, headaches, fever, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, raised blood pressure, dizziness, chest pains, numbness, insomnia, depression, debilitation, difficulty in breathing, respiratory infections, dry cough, sore throat, and unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Less common effects reported include balance disorder, reduced cognitive capacity, seizures, impaired vision, smell, hearing and taste, drop in blood pressure, twitches and tics, muscle paralysis, peripheral neuropathy, loss of gross and fine motor skills, excessive sweating, and severe fatigue. [2]
As someone who was in practice as a consulting natural nutritionist, I came to realize that people who ate processed foods often suffered with gastric and/or digestive problems that resolved themselves once they switched to an organically-grown diet. Children on the Autism Spectrum also experience great relief when their diet is devoid of glyphosate residues and other chemicals.
Long-term toxicity effects of glyphosate can include:
[interference] with numerous mammalian organs and biochemical pathways, including inhibition of numerous enzymes, metabolic disturbances and oxidative stress leading to excessive membrane lipid peroxidation, and cell and tissue damage. Genotoxicity and endocrine disruption also lead to chronic health and developmental effects.
[….]
The IARC monograph on glyphosate, published in 2015, concludes that “there is limited evidence in humans for carcinogenicity of glyphosate” and “there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate”. [3]
On top of all the above,
Doctors in Argentina have reported a dramatic upsurge in long-term effects in areas where genetically modified soy crops are aerial sprayed with glyphosate. They include cancer, infertility, pregnancy problems, birth defects, and respiratory diseases. [4]
As an aside, please note that during the fall Halloween and Harvest seasons, many farms offer what are called “corn field mazes” for children to enjoy finding their way through a labyrinth of cornstalks.
However, since most corn in the USA is genetically modified and sprayed inordinately with Roundup® as part of the GMO seed contract farmers are forced to sign when they purchase GMO seeds, there possibly could be a hidden health threat to kids due to herbicide residue left on cornstalks. That ought to be taken into consideration by parents who have children with asthma or other respiratory allergies. If you’re not sure about what I’ve just written, maybe it would be advisable to have an EpiPen® on hand—just in case. Glyphosate is a very serious chemical that can cause serious harm.
Several epidemiological studies have linked exposure to glyphosate with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, hairy cell leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and DNA damage. [5]
Glyphosate, according to the Report, can cause endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental problems, neurological and immune issues. It has equally devastating effects upon the environment, e.g., aquatic effects, soil and plant health, earthworms and beneficial insects (Monarch butterflies and bees come to mind), birds and other animals, including livestock and domestic animals. [6]
Low concentrations of glyphosate can damage the liver, kidneys, skin cells and causes ageing and potentially cancer. [7]
Glyphosate can be found under numerous trade names, which can be read at pages 7 and 8 of the Report, which I encourage everyone to become familiar with so as not to be misinformed about any lawn or agricultural products you may purchase.
So how prevalent is Roundup® use? According to the Report, its use has increased fifteen-fold since the introduction of GM Roundup Ready crops in 1996!
Here’s what most folks don’t know about glyphosate and should:
It is also used for pre-harvest desiccation of cotton, cereals, peas, beans, and other crops, resulting in elevated residues in food and animal fodder from these crops. Germany has prohibited pre-harvest desiccation since May 2014 (Benbrook 2016). In the process known as hormesis, glyphosate at sublethal levels can actually stimulate plant growth and yield in older plants (Belz & Duke 2014). The sodium salt (e.g. Quotamaster) is used as a growth regulator on sugar cane—to hasten ripening, enhance sugar content, and promote earlier harvesting—and on peanuts. [8]
Several countries have restrictions and/or bans on the use of glyphosate, whereas in the USA, it’s used like water on crops!
Glyphosate residues have been found in humans in their breast milk, blood and urine. One place where one would not expect to find glyphosate residues is in vaccines. Well, it’s been confirmed in vaccines. See my article Another Vaccine “Bombshell” Glyphosate – Think Monsanto’s Roundup – Confirmed in Most Vaccines.
Interestingly, researchers have found that glyphosate can predispose crops to certain diseases! How cost-effective is that? According to the 2009 research of Johal and Huber:
The PAN Report is extremely comprehensive and really needs to be mainstreamed so that food growers, in particular, can understand the harm they are doing to crops, the soil, the environment, wildlife, pollinators, water resources and humans.
Personally, I’d like to see Monsanto be held accountable financially for crimes against the environment (ecocide) and humanity. However, with the Bayer Monsanto buyout, I don’t expect much relief from toxic chemicals. What I think will happen is the Monsanto brand will be phased out very soon, but humankind still will have to deal with multiple toxic chemicals Bayer will produce and sell, including glyphosate, I offer. Bringing class action lawsuits against chemical companies may send the message; see the Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit in the Resources below.
However, it will be up to consumers and farmers, in particular, to make their concerns and priorities known about saving the planet and humankind from toxic chemicals in food, water and the air, if we are to survive toxic chemicals and their currently unavoidable poisonings.
Glyphosate / Urine Lab Tests Available
The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. provides urine testing to determine the body’s burden of the toxic chemical/herbicide glyphosate found in numerous agricultural and garden products.
This test also is known as “Glifosato,” “Glyphosat,” “Glifosate,” and “Glifosat.
Parents with children on the Autism Spectrum may find it very helpful.
Information about the urine test is available here:
http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/glyphosate-test
 Glyphosate Test — The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. GLYPHOSATE GENERAL. Glyphosate is the world’s most widely produced herbicide and is the primary toxic chemical in Roundup™, as well as in many other herbicides. |
References:
[1] http://pan-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Glyphosate-monograph.pdf , Pg. 1
[2] Ibid., Pg. 2
[3] Ibid., Pg. 3
[4] Ibid., Pg. 3
[5] Ibid., Pg. 4
[6] Ibid., Pg. 5
[7] Ibid., Pg. 3
[8] Ibid., Pg. 11
[9] Ibid., Pg. 59
Resources:
National Pesticide Information Center / Glyphosate
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html
Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit / Baum Hedlund Aristei Goldman Consumer Attorneys
Glyphosate Detox: How to Remove Roundup From Your Body / Debra Lynn Dadd
http://www.debralynndadd.com/q-a/glyphosate-detox-how-to-remove-roundup-from-your-body/
The Detox Project http://detoxproject.org/
Glyphosate Info http://detoxproject.org/glyphosate/
Research Reveals Previously Unknown Pathway by which Glyphosate Wrecks Health
http://healthline.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/14/glyphosate.aspx
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This article (Glyphosate Contaminates the Global Ecosystem: The Damning New PAN Report) can be republished with attribution to Catherine Frompovich, source article and Natural Blaze.com, keeping all links and bio intact.
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Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.
Catherine’s latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Don’t Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com.
Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective & Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook.
Two of Catherine’s more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into What’s Probably Making Us Sick(2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008)
Catherine’s NEW book: Eat To Beat Disease, Foods Medicinal Qualities ©2016Catherine J Frompovich is now available
