People who use herbicides have signs of cancer in their urine, according to a study.
The federally funded study took samples from farmers in Iowa and North Carolina and found high levels of biomarkers linked to the development of the disease.
It comes after a separate study found that “screamingly high levels” of extremely persistent toxic chemicals are present in most pesticides used in the US, which can cause birth defects and kidney disease if ingested.
In addition to farmers working with the pesticide, people can be exposed to the herbicide by eating contaminated food or drinking water
The latest study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, measured levels of glyphosate – the world’s most widely used herbicide – in the urine of 268 male farmers. 100 other men were matched for age and geography.
They found that farmers with recent, high glyphosate use in the past 12 months or long-term glyphosate use had increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in their urine compared to non-farmers.
Oxidative stress damages DNA and is considered a key feature of carcinogens – substances that can cause cancer.
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The authors, including 10 scientists from the National Institutes of Health and two from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said they “contributed[s] the weight of evidence supporting a link between glyphosate exposure and oxidative stress in humans.”
Oxidative stress can cause certain cancers such as lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia.
People can be exposed to the herbicide by eating contaminated food or drinking water.
Although the study focused on farmers who worked with glyphosate, the scientists saw similar results among “non-farmers”.
Phil Landrigan, a pediatrician and epidemiologist who previously worked at the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency, told The Guardian that the study should be reviewed by regulators.
He said: “This is a top team of researchers and a very credible study that regulators should pay attention to.”
The most widely used glyphosate product is Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup.
Bayer, the owner of the chemical manufacturer, has long claimed that exposure to the herbicide has no adverse effects on human health.
A statement said: “The increased oxidative stress found in the study may be caused by a number of factors unrelated to glyphosate, or a combination thereof, and the study does not support the conclusion that glyphosate is the cause is not.”
Meanwhile, Bayer and Monsanto face lawsuits from tens of thousands of cancer patients who claim that their exposure to Roundup caused their cancer.
The new federally funded study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
