Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide usually mixed with formulants (POEA),
something that helps the product penetrate the plant. Previously thought to be
inert substances, many formulants are now known to be as toxic or even more
toxic than the weed-killer itself. Glyphosates are known to be poisonous to
animals, including humans, and when combined with a formulant, the result
becomes very toxic.
In the past, glyphosates were thought to break down into harmless substances
within a couple of days after application. Many lawn “care” employees
are still repeating this fallacy. Studies now show that the half-life of
glyphosates can be up to two and one-half years. Other studies may show
otherwise, particularly those funded by the chemical corporations, but if there
were any question at all about a product’s toxicity to humans, animals, or the
environment, why would anyone want to take a chance? Does anyone have the right
to impose this risk on the environment?
In my opinion there is enough evidence to suggest that Roundup use poses an
unacceptable risk to all life forms and to the environment. We, as responsible
stewards of the Earth, have a moral responsibility to take as good care of the
Earth as we do our own bodies. Would you drink Roundup?"
Add to this the fact that Roundup is not approved for use near waterways ...
but what about the seasonal wetlands that appear in the spring, where frogs
breed & migratory waterfowl stop to feed & rest....
GLYPHOSATE - Roundup, Vision (Vision is coloured Roundup)
The initial registration of glyphosate (Roundup) was based upon studies that
proved invalid. The safety tests have been done by Industrial Biotest
Laboratories (IBT), whose officers were jailed for fraud. A later review by the
EPA on mice showed that renal tubule adenomas
(cancer)appeared in male mice treated with glyphosate.(FED.reg.50,42818,november
30, 1985)
Vigfusson and Vyse (mut. res. 79, page 53 to 57, 1980) reported glyphosate
caused significant genetic damage in human cells in cultures. Young and Khan(J.
Envir. Sci. and Health, B 13, 59-72, 1978) found that glyphosate formed a
mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic nitrosamine in acidic soils (Ph 4 to 5)
containing nitrite.
Four physicians at Kagoshima University, Japan, report that an analysis of 56
cases of Roundup poisoning suggests that the surfactant (a so-called inert
ingredient) in Roundup causes the herbicide's acute toxicity rather than the
herbicidal ingredient, glyphosate. Most of the victims ingested Roundup
accidentally or as attempted suicides.
15 percent of Roundup's volume is the surfactant polyoxethyleneamine(POEA)
while 41 percent is glyphosate. POEA is over three times as acutely toxic as
glyphosate and belongs to a class of surfactants which includes a spermicidal
agent. This class of compounds is known to cause gastrointestinal and central
nervous system symptoms and hemolysis.
Glyphosate has been assumed to have low animal toxicity because the enzyme
system which it inhibits is specific to plants. This study is further evidence
that estimates of the toxicity of a pesticide need to be based on the entire
formulation, rather than just the active ingredients.
Although the public did not learn that POEA is present in Roundup and Vision
until 1988 when 4 Japanese medical professionals published the information in an
American medical journal, the EPA knew dioxane was present in Roundup by at
least 1981.
This failure to list dioxane as a carcinogen is surprising: dooxane causes
kidney tumours in female rats, nasal cancer in both sexes of rats, kidney cancer
in both sexes of rats and liver and gall bladder tumours in guinea pigs and is
" active as a promoter " of skin tumours in mice.
The EPA considers dioxane an " inert of toxicological concern"(ie.
a List 1 inert). Since dioxane is an unintentional contaminant of Roundup, and
not an intentionally added inert, it is not identified on the label as being
present in Roundup."
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