WHO Finds That Glyphosate is Probably Carcinogenic – Implications for Plan Colombia

Mar 23, 2015 | Doug Weir
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On the 20th March 2015, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the world’s most widely used herbicide Roundup as probably carcinogenic in humans. Roundup is widely used in US supported efforts to destroy poppy and coca fields in Colombia’s long running internal conflict and the decision will add to existing concerns over the health impact of aerial spraying. In a review of five organophosphates and herbicides, IARC classified Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine – C3H8NO5P) in Group 2A. This means that it is probably carcinogenic in humans based on limited evidence for an association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, gathered primarily from studies on agricultural workers in the US and Sweden. IARC also found evidence of carcinogenicity in animals and of biomarkers for chromosomal damage in people living in proximity to sprayed areas, suggesting that the substance can damage DNA. Previous studies had demonstrated that Glyphosate is an endocrine (hormone) disruptor.