Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Recent studies conducted in various laboratories around the world have yielded some disturbing findings that the “inert” ingredients found in common pesticides and herbicides are not as harmless as they were once thought to be. New evidence that emerged recently from studies conducted by the University of Caen in France suggest one ingredient in Roundup, a popular herbicide manufactured by Monsanto of St. Louis, Missouri, can damage and kill human cells. Polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA), an “inert” ingredient in Roundup, was found to be particularly destructive of human reproductive cells, especially embryonic, placental, and umbilical cord cells.

POEA is a substance that is derived from animal fat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers POEA to be safe, both for the environment and for human health. The EPA even allows it to be added to ingredients that are USDA-certified organic. However, new studies show that POEA is actually deadlier to human cells than Roundup’s active ingredient, an herbicide called glyphosate.

Scientists call the finding “astonishing.” How can the government endorse the safety of both chemicals when they’re actually very destructive to human health?

The answer lies in the fact that POEA and glyphosate, both of which are FDA-approved for public use, are relatively safe by themselves. It’s when they’re combined that they become so dangerous.

The authors of the Roundup study said that their findings clearly confirm that the product’s inert ingredients are not inert at all. According to a report in the Environmental Health News, “the research team suspects that Roundup might cause pregnancy problems by interfering with hormone production, possibly leading to abnormal fetal development, low birth weights or miscarriages.”

POEA is a surfactant that is added to Roundup to help the glyphosate penetrate cell membranes more easily, thus intensifying the active ingredient’s toxicity. Similar studies conducted with other chemicals had similar results. In one Croatian study, researchers found an herbicide mixture containing the active ingredient atrazine damaged DNA structures, yet the atrazine by itself did not.

Monsanto stands by its claim that Roundup is completely safe when used as directed. The manufacturer contends that hundreds of studies spanning 35 years have demonstrated the safety of glyphosate.

“Roundup has one of the most extensive human health safety and environmental data packages of any pesticide that’s out there,” Monsanto spokesman John Combest was quoted as saying in the Environmental Health News. “It’s used in public parks, it’s used to protect schools. There’s been a great deal of study on Roundup, and we’re very proud of its performance,” he said.

The authors of the French University allege that even residual levels of Roundup and other “proprietary mixtures” can cause cell damage and even death. Many commercial crops are commonly treated with the herbicide. In the broader market, consumers use Roundup on their lawns and gardens.

These conflicting points of view should at least warrant a closer look and further research by the EPA and CDC. Even if the inert and active ingredients by themselves are safe, scientific evidence and real-life examples suggest their properties and abilities mutuate and intensify when combined.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 8:13 am and is filed under product liability, safety, toxic injury. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.