Glyphosate: the most controversial herbicide
What is glyphosate? Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It has been used since the 1970s, although it was in the mid-90s when its sales skyrocketed. It was a revolution because it killed every weed it came into contact with and was believed to be very low in toxicity, plus […]
What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It has been in use since the 1970s, though sales skyrocketed in the mid-90s. It was a revolution because it killed all weeds it came into contact with, and it was believed to have very low toxicity beyond the plant world. Until that moment, specific herbicides were used for each plant.
The start of the controversy
In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." This classification is based on limited evidence in humans and strong evidence that it is carcinogenic in animals. It is also suspected of acting as an endocrine disruptor and being toxic to reproduction.
Scientists have detected this "probable" human carcinogen in our air, rain, and even in our bodies.
Current situation
Alerted by this classification, the European Commission requested information from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which issued a report indicating that, based on the studies analyzed, "it is unlikely that glyphosate is genotoxic (causes DNA damage) or poses a cancer threat to humans."
To be more certain of its decision, the European Commission also requested an opinion from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The ECHA Committee for Risk Assessment published an opinion (March 15) concluding that "the available scientific evidence does not meet the criteria necessary to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, mutagen, or toxic for reproduction." This opinion will now go to the ECHA plenary to be subsequently sent to the European Commission. Based on their conclusions, the final decision will be issued before the end of the year: to ban the herbicide or extend its use for another decade.
However, environmental associations warn that these reports are not 100% reliable and provide others with scientific backing that appear to demonstrate the harmful effects of this herbicide. One example is that of Greenpeace.
And the environment?
Millions of hectares of farmland, parks, and even sidewalks are sprayed with glyphosate every year around the world. It is likely harmful to our health, but what is certain is that its environmental impact is highly detrimental.
It contaminates soil and water. From microscopic algae to fish and mollusks, as well as frogs and their tadpoles, it can also affect soil organisms, such as earthworms, which are essential for maintaining and increasing soil fertility.
It can have a direct impact on non-target plants, potentially leading to a loss of wild species that may even be threatened.
It can affect living beings crucial to agriculture, such as pollinators, since it reduces diversity and food supply: for example, the sharp decline in the monarch butterfly population is a very significant indicator. There are fewer every year because the plant where they lay their eggs is wiped out by glyphosate for being a "weed."
What can we do?
If you are a farmer, the best thing you can do is stop using glyphosate and, in the medium term, switch to organic farming, because even if you stop using herbicides, you will still be exposed to many other harmful pesticides.
Pressure the policymakers in your town or city to stop using it in public spaces, as they have achieved in Barcelona and are gradually achieving in Madrid.
And of course, increase your consumption of organic products and ask the shops where you usually buy to expand their selection of these products, and don't forget about cosmetics!
If you want to add your signature to call for the European Union to ban it and promote organic farming, go here. (update “The new proposal from the European Commission to reauthorize glyphosate does not receive the necessary support from the states”)
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References
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsGroupOrder.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4302/abstract
https://echa.europa.eu/es/chemicals-in-our-life/hot-topics/glyphosate
http://www.aepla.es/tmp/images/postura/DocPos%20IARC%20%20010915.pdf
http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Actualidad/Noticias/El-Ayuntamiento-dejara-de-utilizar-de-forma-progresiva-el-glifosato?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=36aa48a3f1153510VgnVCM1000001d4a900aRCRD&vgnextchannel=a12149fa40ec9410VgnVCM100000171f5a0aRCRD#
http://www.ecoticias.com/medio-ambiente/136660/El-glifosato-otra-vez-en-discusion-en-la-UE
