What Are the Dangers of Roundup?
Weeds are a problem for anyone seeking a neat and tidy lawn. Roundup, one of the most popular brands of weed killer, has been marketed as being safe for humans and animals. Because it is a chemical product, there is always the risk of it having adverse effects on living organisms.
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Active Ingredient
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Glyphosate is used in farming and lawn products.
The active ingredient in Roundup, and some other similar products, is glyphosate. Glyphosate is used in commercial farming and consumer lawn products. Its use is so prevalent that some crops have been genetically modified to resist the poisonous effects of it so farmers can use it to kill weeds without harming the cash crop. Of course, the problem is that the chemical is present on the plants and in the water runoff. The manufacturer's website, monsanto.com, states that the product is safe to humans and animals once it is dry.
Effects on Amphibians
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Roundup can kill frogs, according to a study.
Roundup has been found to be lethal to amphibians. Rick Relyea of the University of Pittsburgh's Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology conducted an experiment in 2005 in a frog tank where he added Roundup to see whether it kills the algae, which is the food supply of the frogs. When the tanks were checked, it was found that the frogs were dead rather than the algae.
Effects on Human Placental Cells
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Glyphosate can kill human placental cells, according to a study.
A study done on human placental cells by Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen in 2005 showed that glyphosphate caused significant, even deadly, damage. The other ingredients, such as the detergent used to help the poison stay on the weed long enough to kill it, make the deadly effects more pronounced. According to an article published in April 2005 called "Third World Resurgence," it was found that farm families in Ontario who were exposed to glyphosate had a much higher incidence of miscarriage than the norm. The Monsanto company published a response to this study, saying, "This study, while interesting, has no relevance to a living animal. ... The direct exposure used in this study intentionally bypasses normal processes limiting absorption and cellular exposure, and avoids normal metabolism, digestion and excretion that would protect cells from the minute amounts of chemical."
Possible Carcinogen
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Cell abnormalities can occur with exposure, according to a study.
In 2002, Robert Belle of the National Center for Scientific Research, Roscoff, France, conducted a study that shows that Roundup has an effect on part of the cell division process. This effect could lead to cancer. The active ingredient glyphosate itself does not cause this. Only the particular formulation found in commercially sold Roundup.
Precautions
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Although many people believe Roundup to be a safe way to keep their weeds under control, you should take precautions when using this herbicide. Wear long pants, long sleeves and gloves as well as eye protection when you spray this chemical in your yard. Avoid letting it get into water supplies or on any vegetables grown for human consumption. More studies are planned for this product.
