Don’t put business over science when dealing with pesticides

Congratulations for the recent series focusing on the abnormally high rate of cancer in Iowa. Recently, The Gazette followed up with a column and a letter on the subject of farm chemicals and pesticides. which are potentially toxic. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported elevated cancer biomarkers in the urine of people who also showed high glysophate concentrations[4/3]. In addition, Todd Dorman noted that the World Health Organization's International Research Agency on Cancer had stated some years ago that "glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans." The University of Washington has found that long-term exposure to glyphosate increases the risk of non-Hodgkins leukemia, Yet ironically, the company that now makes it, Bayer, is also doing research on a treatment for this very disease.

As a result, one could imagine that glyphosate could be a dangerous chemical. However our Iowa Legislature is currently considering a bill which would prevent Iowans' ability to go to court to claim damages from the use of the product that may have harmed them. The GOP, the party of individual self-government, is once again aiming to control Iowans for the benefit of a big company. Is it possible that our legislators are not experts in science? Think of water pollution from nitrogen overflow that counties cannot legislate on, liquefied gas in pipes damaging farmers' land, and now farm chemicals. It is time to respect science, and scientists, not just business.

Sonia Ettinger

Iowa City