EPA updating its classification of Glyphosate, and we should care because it is everywhere
The EPA has scheduled public meetings about updating its classification of the carcinogenic potential (no mention of endocrine disruption) of glyphosate for October 18th to 21st in Washington DC.
2002 was the first time the US Geologic Survey looked for glyphosate and its biologically active breakdown product AMPA in streams. Glyphosate was found in 36% of streams tested and AMPA was found in 69%. But this is not our only exposure to this herbicide. It is everywhere.
Tests in 2014 by scientists from Boston University and Abraxis labs found that 45% of samples of organic honey and 62% of conventional honey had glyphosate. Glyphosate isn’t used on beehives or honey. It gets into honey because bees forage in areas where it has been used.
An article in the Huffington Post by Carey Gillam reveals that the FDA was pressured into testing food for glyphosate this year. He showed emails that it has had trouble locating honey without glyphosate that is introduced by the bees, not the bee keepers. He said both the FDA and USDA have found glyphosate widely distributed in basic foods and even processed foods.
It is not just bees. Studies in Germany found glyphosate in the blood of most people tested.
While the EPA has not come to a final decision on the classification of glyphosate, in a paper they released September 12th they said they do not believe glyphosate is carcinogenic in amounts that people are exposed to. This position differs from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and considers it a probable carcinogen.
While industry can affect regulation, we can all use common sense in our backyards and stop using glyphosate and other synthetic chemicals that we know can harm us, especially because there are other good choices.