The world's most common weed killer is 'probably carcinogenic'
Before doing your spring gardening, you might want to read this report from the World Health Organization.
The WHO has classified the herbicide glyphosate, which Monsanto sells as the "Roundup" weedkiller, as "probably carcinogenic" to humans. The study, published Friday in the journal Lancet Oncology, claims the International Agency for Research on Cancer has found "convincing evidence" that the glysophate in Roundup caused cancer in lab animals.
And glysophate isn't only found in Roundup — according to the report, it's used in more than 750 herbicides.
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Monsanto, meanwhile, said the classification was "dramatic." Philip Miller, vice president of global regulatory affairs at Monsanto, said in a statement that the report is a "dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the world."
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
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