Roundup, a widely used commercial and residential weed killer, is the root of thousands of lawsuits nationwide. Claimants allege that prolonged exposure to the herbicide and its active ingredient, glyphosate, caused them to develop various forms of cancer. Recently, a study conducted by Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University established a link between Roundup and convulsions in animals.
Prior Studies Suggest Roundup May Cause Cancer
Agrochemical giant, Monsanto, introduced Roundup in the 1970s. The herbicide has steadily risen in popularity since it first hit the market, with farmers applying millions of pounds of Roundup annually. Yet, Roundup’s application extends far beyond commercial agricultural purposes as well. People have included Roundup in their home gardening artillery to maintain pristine residential landscaping for decades. However, countless individuals have filed lawsuits against Monsanto for claims that Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, b-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
The World Health Organization categorizes glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, and several studies support this classification. The Journal of Toxicology published a report in 2017 that glyphosate may damage DNA, which can lead to cancers like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Furthermore, in 2019, the University of Washington published a study that determined that high-exposure groups subjected to glyphosate-based herbicides, like Roundup, are 41% more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additionally, scientists at the Lerner Research Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, examined the effects of glyphosate in mice and discovered that glyphosate activates an enzyme that impacts genetic mutations that result in multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Scientists in the United States and globally have dedicated years to analyzing the possible effects of this prevalent herbicide. These listed studies are a few among many that suggest a strong correlation between Roundup and certain forms of cancer.
Newly Published Research Shows Roundup Causes Convulsions in Animals
A few months ago, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published a long-term study that found glyphosate in roughly 80% of urine samples from U.S. adults and children. Now, research from Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University sheds light on the impact of Roundup on the nervous system.
Results revealed that Roundup increased seizure-like behavior in soil-dwelling roundworms. The study also showed that the herbicide impacts vital communication receptors, called GABA-A receptors, which regulate locomotion, sleep, and mood in humans. Alarmingly, scientists conducted this examination with significantly fewer levels set forth by the EPA and used in other research.
The Roundup label advises users to mix a concentration of 0.98% glyphosate to achieve the best results. However, project lead Akshay S. Naraine stated, “A significant finding from our study reveals that just 0.002 percent glyphosate, a difference of about 300 times less herbicide than the lowest concentration recommended for consumer use, had concerning effects on the nervous system.” Evidence proved that glyphosate in Roundup aggravated convulsions in roundworms and noted a difference between glyphosate exposure alone and glyphosate in Roundup. Roundworms subjected to Roundup were less likely to recover from seizures than those exposed to just glyphosate.
This research is yet another piece of the puzzle that exhibits how prolonged exposure to Roundup may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Even though this does not definitively prove any causation between neurodegenerative problems and Roundup in human beings, it does prompt the scientific community to continue investigating the relationship between Roundup and humans with seizure disorders.