The World Health Organization (WHO) just picked a fight with one of the world's top agrochemical giants, Monsanto.
A 17-member WHO panel from 11 countries recently met to evaluate the evidence that particular organophosphate herbicides can cause cancer in humans. The panel, from an arm of the WHO known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published its findings on March 20 in the journal The Lancet Oncology.
The WHO-sponsored review concluded that glyphosate, which is an herbicide widely used by St. Louis-based Monsanto and other companies, is "possibly carcinogenic to humans." The classification came after some studies showed an association between exposure to the herbicide and the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Monsanto sells the product under the label "Roundup," which is used by farmers and home gardeners alike. It is also contained in more than 750 products worldwide, according to the IARC report.
Glyphosate is among the most widely-used pesticides by volume in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and its use has been increasing in recent years due to the increased use of genetically modified crops that are resistant to its use.
The IARC panel reviewed studies published since 2001 that examined groups of healthy male agricultural and farming workers, as well as studies using mice. Due to limitations in the studies the panel examined, the panel was not able to say what level of exposure to glyphosate might be a safe level, nor were they able to zero in on any specific cancer-causing mechanism.
While environmental and consumer groups have long advocated restrictions on glyphosate containing products, such as Roundup, officials from Monsanto vigorously pushed back at the WHO panel's findings, saying that the products are safe when used as labeled. As Quartz report reported, Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides accounted for a sizable chunk of Montanto's nearly $1 billion net sales increase between 2013 and 2014. Sales of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides increased by 7% during that period.
"IARC’s classification does not establish a link between glyphosate and an increase in cancer. It’s important to put IARC’s classifications into perspective," the company stated, noting that coffee, cell phones and pickled vegetables have also been identified by the panel as possible carcinogens. "... We are reaching out to the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand how, despite the wealth of existing science on glyphosate, the IARC panel could make a classification that disagrees with scientific and regulatory reviews."
"We don’t know how IARC could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe," said Phillip Miller, Monsanto's vice president for global regulatory affairs.
Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the advocacy consumer group Environmental Working Group, praised the WHO's findings and urged U.S. regulatory agencies to act to limit its use. “The widespread adoption of GMO corn and soybeans has led to an explosion in the use of glyphosate –- a main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup and Dow’s Enlist Duo,” Cook said. “Consumers have the right to know how their food is grown and whether their food dollars are driving up the use of a probable carcinogen.”