If there is a cancer-causing chemical in Roundup, University of Washington researchers say their conclusions point to glyphosate as the potential culprit.

Despite the fact that Health Canada renewed the legality of glyphosate for another 15 years in 2017, and recently backed that decision in a second review, independent researchers continue to cast doubt on the chemical’s safety.

What Is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide products, which have been used on crops, lawns, parks, school yards and golf courses to kill weeds throughout the world since 1974. According to OrganicConsumers.org, glyphosate was patented as an herbicide in 1970 by Monsanto scientist John Franz. However, according to some studies, Roundup and glyphosate may result in cancer and other negative health side effects.

What Groups Have Classified Glyphosate as a Cancer-causing Chemical in Roundup?

In 1985, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), classified glyphosate as a Class C Carcinogen, which means it has “suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential.” However, in 1991, the EPA changed glyphosate to be in Class E, which suggests “evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans.” According to SustainablePulse.com, that was the same year that Monsanto began creating Roundup Ready crops.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a research arm of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means it is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

What Is This New Research from the University of Washington?

Senior Author Lianne Sheppard, a professor in the UW departments of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and Biostatics, said the researchers took a comprehensive look at existing published studies with a concentration on groups with the most exposure to glyphosate.

The research included epidemiological data on humans and laboratory animals.

Their review of studies published from 2001 through 2018 found that glyphosate exposure might increase a person’s risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) by up to 41 percent.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and may spread throughout the body. Several victims who believe that their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was caused by years of exposure to glyphosate have won lawsuits against the manufacturers of Roundup.

How Has the Research Team at University of Washington Interpreted Their Results?

Sheppard is quoted as saying, “Our analysis focused on providing the best possible answer to the question of whether or not glyphosate is carcinogenic. As a result of this research, I am even more convinced that it is.”

Is Glyphosate Banned in Canada?

In an attempt to reduce the public’s exposure to glyphosate, the chemical has been banned by several Canadian cities and provinces.

Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces have banned or restricted the use of Roundup and glyphosate, as well as other non-essential pesticides. The weed killer is prohibited from being used in public areas. Additionally, the city of Vancouver has banned both the public and private use of glyphosate, except for the treatment of invasive weeds. The city of Montreal also announced plans to ban the chemical in late 2019.

Is the Mixture Known as Roundup More Dangerous Than Glyphosate Alone?

Some studies indicate that the mixture of chemicals known as Roundup herbicide is more lethal than glyphosate is by itself. A 2002 study by J. Marc and others in France determined that Roundup interfered with the first cell cycle of sea urchin embryos, but found glyphosate alone did not.

Researchers said this indicates a “synergy between glyphosate and Roundup formulation products.”

What Are Roundup Ready Crops?

Roundup Ready crops are created from genetically modified seeds that are able to survive being sprayed with Roundup herbicides. These popular genetically modified crops include soybeans, corn, canola, sugar beets, cotton, and alfalfa. At one point, almost 90 percent of soybean fields in the U.S. were planted with Roundup Ready crops.

What Specific Studies Indicate There Could be a Cancer-Causing Chemical in Roundup?

French Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini published a 2012 study that found rats developed severe damage to their livers and kidneys after being fed Roundup Ready maize or water containing Roundup at levels allowed in drinking water and genetically modified crops in the U.S.

What is the Process Known as “Green Burndown” Involving Roundup?

According to the University of Washington researchers, “green burndown” refers to the application of glyphosate-based herbicides to crops just prior to harvesting, which they say can lead to crops containing higher levels of herbicidal residue. The green burndown concept was introduced in the mid-2000s. Although spraying the crops with Roundup right before they are harvested may help to dry out crops that grow in moist areas, leading to a quicker and easier harvest, it may also make it more likely for the cancer-causing chemical in Roundup to wind up in food products made from these crops.