Thursday, 9 June 2022

Never Mind the Tumours?

Glyphosate is the most widely-used weed killer. The European Chemical Agency (Echa) are currently relicensing this herbicide (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/09/eu-regulators-dismissed-evidence-linking-glyphosate-to-rodent-tumours). Echa have managed to discount most of the evidence (10 out of 11 studies on rodents), linking glyphosate to tumour development. Most scientists would have concluded, on the available evidence, that this herbicide is likely to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in humans. So, as well as glyphosate decimating insect pollinators (massive amounts of evidence), unprotected users may increase their risk of cancers. The precautionary principle doesn't seem much in evidence in Echa's thinking. Surely, commercial pressures couldn't be impacting here?
-

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Sandwich Island Saga 41. Overview

At the end of my first return to the Hawaiian Islands for some 30 years, a recap seems appropriate.  The islands are American without quite ...

  • Stepping On the Gas?
      It should hardly be called a study. A  Which comparison looked at levels of nitrogen dioxide and small particulates (PM 2.5s) in 5  Londo...
  • Gridlock in European Cities
      Europe has a city congestion problem. In 2023, London was the most gridlocked location, closely followed by Paris and Dublin. In that year...
  • Charging Electric Vehicles (For Road Use)
    It's necessary, where possible, to replace diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles by electrical equivalents. Electric vehicles (EVs) don...