A mass of information on the subject of glyphosate and Monsanto has been pouring down on us for some time. What is glyphosate and who benefits from it? Is this pesticide really as toxic as is always claimed? Have you ever heard of the name "Roundup"? Can I now only buy organic products so that I can avoid the consequences of this product? We have got to the bottom of the whole matter and want to provide some clarity with this article.
What is glyphosate?
Rumor number 1: Glyphosate is a plant poison and not an insecticide
Glyphosate is a herbicide that is used to kill weeds. It is not only used in agriculture, especially in fruit and grain cultivation, but is also very popular with allotment gardeners because it effectively kills weeds. "Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, and 51 different applications of it are still permitted in Germany for home and allotment gardens," says NABU.
Who sells glyphosate?
Rumor number 2: The main producer is China, not the USA
On average, over 600 thousand tons of the pesticide are produced annually, mainly by producers in China, India and the USA (Farm Chemicals International, 2015). The global market leader in the sale of glyphosate-containing products is the company Zhejiang Wynca Chemical Group Co., Ltd., with a turnover of 296 million US dollars.
Who markets glyphosate?
The main consumer is the USA, where 750 different products containing this herbicide are counted (NPIC, 2010). They also contain numerous additives (surfactants and chemicals) (Székács & Darvas, 2012).
In 1971, the company Monsanto patented glyphosate as a herbicide. "Roundup" is the name of the first glyphosate product from Monsanto, which appeared on the market in 2000. Since this product was cheap to buy, many companies got involved in order to be able to grow wheat more cheaply. Today, it is also an important part of soy farming. In 2015, Monsanto had an annual turnover of two billion US dollars (Deutsche Wirtschaftsnachrichten, 2015). "Roundup" is freely available for sale in Germany.
What consequences does glyphosate have for my health?
Rumor number 3: Glyphosate alone is unproblematic but can have serious consequences in combination with other substances
A WHO study from 2015 classified the pesticide as probably carcinogenic. In contrast, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) cites four long-term studies that were carried out on rats and mice. According to these studies, glyphosate has only minor effects on the liver and salivary glands and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder. The BfR therefore suspects that "damage from residues is not to be expected". The WHO/FAO committee came to the conclusion "that no carcinogenic risk is to be expected" at an expert conference on May 16, 2016. The whole issue is therefore very controversial.
Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Massachusetts, researched glyphosate in connection with autism and allergies and found connections: "Aluminum, glutamate, mercury - all of these things are more toxic when combined with glyphosate and I think that's why the vaccines are linked to autism," said Dr. Seneff. She found that the herbicide can have a damaging effect on the liver and kidneys and thus on the body's natural detoxification. In addition, when combined with other chemicals, it can damage the intestinal tract and intestinal bacteria and thus impair intestinal function.
So is glyphosate harmless to health?
The massive use of chemicals, which has been causing unrest in Argentinian soy fields for some time, is barely mentioned in the studies. Investigations show that people in Argentina who live near sprayed fields suffer three times more from cancer and four times more from deformities. Farmers in Germany are also complaining about increasing illnesses among their livestock, as well as fertility problems, miscarriages and deformed calves.
What can I do to avoid glyphosate and other poisons?
Since glyphosate usually does not occur alone, but in combination with other pollutants, it makes sense to buy organic products to avoid pollutants. If you are a gardener yourself, avoid using pesticides. A healthy ecosystem usually regulates itself without us having to chemically destroy the weeds. This also applies to the body. The more we manage to live without toxins, the better our organism regulates itself. Support your body with a healthy and balanced diet.
Sources
www.euractiv.de/section/gesundheit-und-verbraucherschutz/news/who-studie-unkrautvernichter-glyphosat-wahrscheinlich-krebserregend
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol112/mono112-09.pdf
http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/2015/06/12/monsanto-deutsche-unternehmen-stoppen-glyphosat-verkauf/
www.wiglafjournal.com/pricing/2012/06/monsanto-the-global-glyphosate-market-case-study/
www.bfr.bund.de
http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/160516_WHO_FAO-Gremium%20%28JMPR%29%20bewertet%20Glyphosat%20neu.pdf
http://info.kopp-verlag.de/medizin-und-gesundheit/was-aerzte-ihnen-nicht-erzaehlen/jonathan-benson/mit-aerztin-entlarvt-verbindung-zwischen-glyphosat-gvo-und-der-autismus-epidemie.html
Arte documentary: Chronically poisoned: Monsanto and glyphosate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ivpJx3gkMY
