Health Canada Doubles Down on Glyphosate Cancer Fight

Health Canada has rejected allegations that a key ingredient in a popular pesticide is a cancer risk to humans based on typical use.

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The department announced Friday it had decided to stick with its decision in 2017 to approve the use of the ingredient, glyphosate, for 15 years. The result led to accusations from environmental groups that federal oversight of public health had eroded.

The department said in a statement that it underwent a "thorough scientific review" of its 2017 decision, including examining "numerous individual studies and raw scientific data" as well as "additional cancer and genotoxicity studies," and concluded that its "final decision will stand."

Nevertheless, there are still some concerns that regulators are 'ignoring' potential impacts of this decision. With some thinking that the department had failed to consider or dismissed certain pieces of evidence.

In 2017, several advocacy groups, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Équiterre, Environmental Defence and Prevent Cancer Now had objected to Canada's approvalof Glyphosate usage. Their stance has so far remained the same. 

Read more on this topic on Canada's National Observer

Two years ago, glyphosate was found in 100% of California wines Tested. 

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Taxonomy

• Agriculture
• Toxins
• Environment
• Public Health
• Toxicology