No cancer correlation in glyphosate exposure

Shame on CBS 2 for their broadcast news story about glyphosate (Roundup herbicide) as a carcinogen in children's cereal.

The World Health Organization has listed glyphosate as a 'probable carcinogen” based on the studies of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, Reuters reports: 'Numerous national and international agencies have reviewed glyphosate. IARC is the only one to have declared the substance a probable carcinogen. Compared with other agencies, IARC has divulged little about its review process.”

On the other hand, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a 1,261-page report about their three-day scientific panel review of the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate. The IARC study, with its lack of transparency and consensus, cannot be used to incriminate farmers for harming children.

KGAN reported a California court awarded a groundskeeper $289 million for contracting non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma after using glyphosate. However, the University of Iowa has been studying 89,000 farmers and commercial pesticide applicators for the past quarter century, and it reported no cancer correlation for the group.

The reality is the EPA sets safe residue tolerances under regulations authorized by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Although KGAN quoted two cereal marketing corporations regarding cereal safety, many people distrust corporations. The media should take every precaution to avoid false suspicion that farmers are harming children.

Curt Zingula

Central City