The biggest problem that I have with Monsanto is their interference with peer reviewed science to make sure that any results that indicated possible dangers and a need for further study would be disbelieved, ridiculed, retracted etc. This is not the way that peer review is supposed to keep science on track. Cherry picking results or studies to support one point of view, or ghostwriting positive articles which are then signed and published by respected authors, is the kind of behind the scenes scheming that defeats the purpose of science. And this is why such a large punitive damages award was made in this cancer lawsuit, because this undermining of the scientific process was confirmed in their internal documents.
I don't dispute that every one of us is free to decide, whether we agree or disagree with a particular assessment of risks, and what level of risk is acceptable for us personally - or the risk/benefit in a specific situation, whether you personally use or endorse Roundup in your garden, farm enterprise, etc etc. Just as we each decide whether or how much ham, bacon, sausage is good for us to eat, how much we enjoy the smell of the barbecue
, a wood fire, sunbathing, or any other product or activity which has some associated risks according to the science of the day. As Coastal pointed out, some risks are voluntary, others are not especially if the facts are hidden. I personally want as much information as possible before I decide if a risk is serious enough for me to take further measures or not. There's no place for corporate deception in my respect for peer reviewed science.
Anyway, I will just point out that there is no closed book or bible on glyphosate, there is new research ongoing, and may help us to better understand risks vs benefits in the future. Whether the risks are acceptable or not, depends on you the individual.
For those who enjoy peer reviewed science, this article in Nature (2016) gives a comprehensive overview of interactions of environmental toxicants and microbiota in the human body.
The gut microbiota: a major player in the toxicity of environmental pollutants?
https://www.nature.com/articles/npjbiofilms20163
Roundup is among the substances reviewed:
"Glyphosate is the active component of Roundup (Montsanto, St Louis, MO, USA), the most widely used herbicide worldwide. It has been shown that the growth of Enterococcus faecalis bacteria isolated from cattle and horse faeces is inhibited by the lowest concentrations of glyphosate and the herbicide formulation tested.90 Further studies demonstrated that sensitivity to glyphosate is dependent on the bacterial strain. In particular, in poultry, pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella gallinarum, Salmonella typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum are highly resistant to glyphosate, whereas beneficial bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus badius, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus sp. are moderately to highly susceptible.91 If it were demonstrated that glyphosate induced similar dysbiosis in mammals, then this would be of toxicological relevance because it would lead to a reduction of potentially beneficial bacteria in the GI tract of the host."
Although not mentioned by the authors, this also raises a red flag for me, with regards the use of roundup-ready feed for meat animals, and the likelihood of pathogenic bacteria in the product.
Secondly, the use of Roundup as a dessicant on oat crops, which leaves residues in cereal, could be harmful to children, according to this 2018 research which used amounts considered safe for ingestion by the EPA:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5972442/
The Ramazzini Institute 13-week pilot study on glyphosate and Roundup administered at human-equivalent dose to Sprague Dawley rats: effects on the microbiome
"Microbiome profiling revealed that low-dose exposure to Roundup and glyphosate resulted in significant and distinctive changes in overall bacterial composition in F1 pups only. Specifically, at PND31, corresponding to pre-pubertal age in humans, relative abundance for Bacteriodetes (Prevotella) was increased while the Firmicutes (Lactobacillus) was reduced in both Roundup and glyphosate exposed F1 pups compared to controls."
"This study provides initial evidence that exposures to commonly used GBHs, at doses considered safe, are capable of modifying the gut microbiota in early development, particularly before the onset of puberty. These findings warrant future studies on potential health effects of GBHs in early development such as childhood."
Yes it's just a 13 week pilot study in rats. Nonetheless, it's enough for me personally, and I'll be buying organic oats if I'm going to make cookies for any of the little ones in my circle.
(Are the oats in my cupboard right now organic? No. Did I know they were being kill- sprayed with glyphosate at harvest time? NO!!!
)
In fact the use of glyphosate as a dessicant at harvest time seems really gratuitous to me, and a really unnecessary risk that will certainly leave a residue on the product.
