Glyphosate Drives Breast Cancer Proliferation, Study Warns
Urine Tests Show Europeans have this Weed Killer in Their
Bodies
June 25, 2013
Story at-a-glance
Tests show that people in 18 countries across Europe have
glyphosate in their bodies. Of the urine samples tested, an
average of 44 percent was found to contain glyphosate; 70
percent of Germans, Britons, and Polish tested positive
Researchers have determined the mechanism by which glyphosate
residues in food disrupt normal body functions and induce
disease; the pathway glyphosate uses to kill plants also exists
in human and mammals’ gut bacteria
Glyphosate has estrogenic properties and promotes breast cancer
in the parts-per-trillion range. Meanwhile, the EPA proposes
raising allowable residue levels in certain vegetables from 0.2
to as high as 6 parts-per-million
The phytoestrogen genistein, naturally found in soybeans, has
been found to heighten the estrogenic effects of glyphosate,
prompting the warning that genetically engineered soybeans may
therefore pose a breast cancer risk
A new EU-US free trade agreement has again cracked the door open
for genetically engineered (GE) crops and foods into Europe
By Dr. Mercola
Disturbing discoveries relating to
glyphosate—the active ingredient in Monsanto’s broad-spectrum
herbicide Roundup—keep emerging. No less than two shocking
discoveries recently went public on the same day...
Earlier this month, groundbreaking research was published
detailing a newfound
mechanism of harm of the chemical.
Now, testing shows that people in 18 countries across Europe have
glyphosate in their bodies1,
while yet another study reveals that the chemical has estrogenic
properties and drive breast cancer proliferation in the
parts-per-trillion range2.
As reported by GreenMedinfo.com:
“Does this help explain the massive mammary tumors that
the only
long term animal feeding study on Roundup and GM corn ever
performed recently found?”
Meanwhile, a new EU-US free trade agreement3,4
known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP),
has again cracked the door open for genetically engineered (GE)
crops and foods into Europe.
This may effectively negate the hard work Europeans have done to
limit the proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in
their food supply, and with genetically engineered “Roundup
Ready” crops and the food made from it come increased glyphosate
exposure...
People Across Europe Test Positive for Glyphosate
A 2011 study detected glyphosate in 60-100 percent of all US
air and rain samples, and last year another study revealed
widespread glyphosate contamination in
groundwater. When groundwater is used as a drinking
water source, this contamination poses a risk to animals, plants and
humans alike.
Now, the first-ever test for weed killer contamination in human
bodies was commissioned by Friends of the Earth Europe5.
Volunteers from 18 different countries provided urine samples.
Of the 182 urine samples tested, an average of 44 percent was
found to contain glyphosate, although the proportion of
contamination varied from country to country. All volunteers were
city dwellers who had not handled or used glyphosate, and only one
person per household was tested.
Macedonia and Bulgaria had the least number of positive tests (10
percent), while 90 percent of samples in Malta tested positive.
Seventy percent of volunteers in Germany, UK and Poland had the weed
killer in their bodies.
Can you even imagine what the results might be if similar testing
was conducted in the US, considering the fact that Americans eat
their own weight or more in genetically engineered foods6
each and every year—in large part because the US does not require GE
foods to be labeled, so many are still completely in the dark about
such stealth ingredients.
The fact that close to half of all people are testing positive
for glyphosate (including countries that don’t even use it) is
profoundly disturbing in light of the recent findings that this
commonly used weed killer may be among the most important factors in
the development of modern diseases, as the pathway by which
glyphosate kills plants is the identical pathway found in animal and
human gut bacteria.
According to Friends of the Earth Europe’s spokesperson Adrian
Bebb7:
“Most people will be worried to discover they may have
weed killer in their bodies. We tested people living in cities
in 18 countries and found traces in every country. These results
suggest we are being exposed to glyphosate in our everyday
lives, yet we don’t know where it is coming from, how widespread
it is in the environment, or what it is doing to our health.
Our testing highlights a serious lack of action by public
authorities across Europe and indicates that this weed killer is
being widely overused. Governments need to step-up their
monitoring and bring in urgent measures to reduce its use. This
includes rejecting any genetically modified crops that would
increase the use of glyphosate.”
Glyphosate Found to Be Carcinogenic in Infinitesimal Amounts
The second study pertains to the carcinogenic nature of this
popular weed killer. Contrary to Monsanto’s claims that Roundup is
“minimally toxic” to animal and humans, along with claims of it
being environmentally friendly and biodegradable—claims
found to be false in the highest court of law—Roundup is quite
the disaster... As reported by GreenMedinfo.com8:
“The study, titled, 'Glyphosate induces human breast
cancer cells growth via estrogen receptors,' compared the effect
of glyphosate on hormone-dependent and hormone-independent
breast cancer cell lines, finding that glyphosate stimulates
hormone-dependent cancer cell lines in what the study authors
describe as 'low and environmentally relevant concentrations.'"
The researchers concluded that glyphosate is a xenoestrogen that
is functionally similar to estradiol, the most potent human
estrogen, and concentrations in the parts-per-trillion range had
carcinogenic effects. Adding insult to injury—in light of the fact
that more than 90 percent of
soybeans grown in the US are genetically engineered (GE)—they
also found that the phytoestrogen genistein, naturally found in
soybeans, heightened the estrogenic effects when combined with
glyphosate. According to the authors:
“This study implied that the additive effect of
glyphosate and genistein in postmenopausal women may induce
cancer cell growth. In this present in vitro study, we
showed an estrogenicity of pure glyphosate... Furthermore, this
study demonstrated the additive estrogenic effects of glyphosate
and genistein which implied that the use of
glyphosate-contaminated soybean products as dietary supplements
may pose a risk of breast cancer because of their potential
additive estrogenicity." [Emphasis mine]
Glyphosate Implicated as Driver of Modern Diseases
Another groundbreaking report, published earlier this month in
the journal Entropy9,
argues that glyphosate residues, found in most commonly consumed
foods in the US, “enhance the damaging effects of other food-borne
chemical residues and toxins in the environment to disrupt normal
body functions and induce disease.” As explained by the authors,
Dr. Stephanie Seneff and Anthony Samsel:
“Glyphosate’s claimed mechanism of action in plants is
the disruption of the shikimate pathway... The currently
accepted dogma is that glyphosate is not harmful to humans or to
any mammals because the shikimate pathway is absent in all
animals.
However, this pathway is present in gut bacteria,
which play an important and heretofore largely overlooked role
in human physiology through an integrated biosemiotic
relationship with the human host. In addition to aiding
digestion, the gut microbiota synthesize vitamins, detoxify
xenobiotics, and participitate in immune system homeostasis and
gastrointestinal tract permeability. Furthermore, dietary
factors modulate the microbial composition of the gut.”
Remember, the bacteria in your body outnumber your cells by 10 to
1. For every cell in your body, you have 10 microbes of various
kinds, and all of them have the shikimate pathway, so they will
all respond to the presence of glyphosate! It causes extreme
disruption of the microbe’s function and lifecycle; worse yet,
glyphosate preferentially affects beneficial
bacteria, allowing pathogens to overgrow. At that point, your body
also has to contend with the toxins produced by the pathogens. Once
the chronic inflammation sets in, you’re well on your way toward
chronic and potentially debilitating disease. In a nutshell, Dr.
Seneff has summarized the two key problems caused by glyphosate in
the diet as:
Nutritional deficiencies
Systemic toxicity
She believes glyphosate is possibly the most important factor in
the development of multiple chronic diseases and conditions that
have become prevalent in Westernized societies, including but not
limited to:
Autism
Gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel
disease, chronic diarrhea, colitis and Crohn's disease
Obesity
Allergies
Cardiovascular disease
Depression
Cancer
Infertility
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
ALS
Meanwhile, the EPA Raises Allowable Glyphosate Limits...
Just as more independent reports are emerging confirming the
multivariate health hazards of glyphosate, the Environmental
Protection Agency10
(EPA) is proposing to RAISE the allowed residue limits of glyphosate
in food and feed crops11.
The new allowable level of glyphosate in teff animal feed will be
100 parts per million (ppm). Allowed levels in some fruits and
vegetables eaten by humans will also rise. Root and tuber
vegetables, with the exception of sugar, will get one of the largest
boosts, with allowable residue limits being raised from 0.2 ppm to
6.0 ppm. The new level for sweet potatoes will be 3 ppm.
This is unconscionable, considering the finding that glyphosate
is carcinogenic in parts-per-TRILLION concentrations. Previous
research by Professor Andres Carrasco documented malformations in
frog and chicken embryos at just over 2 ppm glyphosate12.
Not surprisingly, Monsanto has petitioned and received approvals
for increases in glyphosate residue levels for several crops.
Clearly, they need allowable levels to be raised because farmers are
increasingly forced to use more glyphosate due to
glyphosate-resistant weed growth. The question is, how many of its
citizens will the US government sacrifice in order for Monsanto to
continue making money from its failing products?
Help Spread the Word, as Most Consumers Are Still Unaware of Risks
from GMOs
The biotech industry, led by Monsanto, is increasing their
propaganda efforts to sway opinion against the need to label
genetically engineered foods. Many consumers are still in the dark
about the very real risks that GE crops pose, both to the
environment and human health. This is precisely what the biotech
industry wants, even as increasing research demonstrates the many
dangers associated with GE foods.
For example, one recent study found that rats fed a type of
genetically engineered corn that is prevalent in the US food
supply for two years developed massive mammary tumors, kidney and
liver damage, and other serious health problems. This was at dietary
amounts of about 10 percent. Does 10 percent or more of your
diet consist of genetically engineered ingredients? Or are you
like the average American who eats his or her own weight in
genetically engineered foods each year?
If processed foods form the basis of your diet, then you’re
likely in the latter category. Unfortunately, you can't know for
sure which items might contain GMOs since the US does not require
genetically engineered foods to be labeled. With the latest
revelations discussed above, the need for labeling couldn’t possibly
be greater.
Last but not least, I would also encourage you to educate
yourself a bit more on the topic of food sovereignty, and the
critical nature of biodiversity for food sustainability and
security. Because aside from the human health hazards associated
with GE foods, seed patenting endangers the very future of life on
Earth, as it destroys biodiversity and effectively prevents
agricultural methods from flourishing that call for less, or no,
agricultural chemicals.
An excellent resource is the free e-book, The Law of the Seed13;
the result of a working group meeting of leading lawyers,
scientists, and members of the International Commission on the
Future of Food and Agriculture, including the tireless environmental
activist
Dr. Vandana Shiva14.
Total Video Length: 40:21
In the first video, Bill Moyers talks to scientist and
philosopher Vandana Shiva, who's become a rock star in the
global battle over genetically modified seeds. The second video
is the documentary Seeds of Freedom, which illustrates how
patenting seeds turns farmers into slaves, and food into a
weapon of mass poverty and, ultimately, starvation.
Keep Fighting for Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods
While California Prop. 37 failed to pass last November by a very
narrow margin, the fight for GMO labeling is far from over. The
field-of-play has now moved to the state of Washington, where the
people's initiative 522, "The People's Right to Know Genetically
Engineered Food Act," will require food sold in retail outlets to be
labeled if it contains genetically engineered ingredients.
Remember, as with CA Prop. 37, they need support of people like
YOU to succeed. Prop. 37 failed with a very narrow margin simply
because we didn't have the funds to counter the massive ad campaigns
created by the No on 37 camp, led by Monsanto and other major food
companies. Let's not allow Monsanto and its allies to confuse and
mislead the people of Washington and Vermont as they did in
California. So please, I urge you to get involved and help in any
way you can.
No matter where you live in the United States, please donate
money to these labeling efforts through the
Organic
Consumers Fund.
Sign up to learn more about how you can get involved by
visiting
Yeson522.com!
For timely updates on issues relating to these and other
labeling initiatives, please join the Organic Consumers
Association on
Facebook, or follow them on
Twitter.
Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to
actively support the Washington initiative.