All articles tagged with #herbicides
A long-term study on Sprague–Dawley rats found that exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides at levels similar to EU safety limits increased the incidence of multiple benign and malignant tumors, including leukemia, skin, liver, thyroid, and nerve tumors, supporting the classification of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen based on experimental evidence.
A study by Arizona State University researchers reveals that even brief exposure to glyphosate, a common herbicide, can cause lasting brain damage, including neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's-like symptoms. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, highlights the potential risks of glyphosate, especially in rural areas with high exposure due to farming. The findings suggest a need to reassess the safety of glyphosate and other environmental toxins, as current regulations may underestimate their long-term impact on brain health.
A study presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting has linked the use of pesticides and herbicides in farming to higher rates of Parkinson’s disease in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region of the U.S. The research found that certain chemicals, including simazine, atrazine, and lindane, were associated with an increased risk of the disease, with those in counties with the highest exposure being more likely to develop Parkinson’s. The study highlights the need for further research and potential reduction in pesticide usage to mitigate the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Public health groups are suing the US Environmental Protection Agency over the reapproval of two toxic herbicides made with an active ingredient in Agent Orange, a chemical weapon deployed by the US to destroy vegetation in the Vietnam war, and which caused huge health problems among soldiers and Vietnamese residents. The suit alleges the EPA failed to properly calculate the human health risks and harm to endangered species associated with widely spreading the chemical on US cropland during the reapproval process. The herbicide is also prone to damaging non-GMO crops or vegetation on neighboring fields.
A molecule that was initially developed as an antibiotic to treat tuberculosis but failed to progress out of the lab is now showing promise as a powerful weed killer. Scientists at the University of Adelaide discovered that by tweaking its structure, the molecule became effective at killing two of the most problematic weeds in Australia, annual ryegrass and wild radish, without harming bacterial and human cells. Weeds cost the Australian agriculture industry more than $5 billion each year, and this discovery could lead to the development of new and safe herbicides to the market.