Glyphosate Exposure and Increased Frequency of Cancer in Argentina

Glyphosate Exposure and Increased Frequency of Cancer in Argentina

In 1996, Argentina began to grow genetically modified (GM) crops, which currently cover 25 million hectares on which 12 million people live. These crops have generated a substantial increase in pesticide use. In 2013, Argentina sprayed 240,000 tons of glyphosate.

The town of Monte Maiz lies at the heart of Argentina’s agricultural area, where soy, maize, and wheat are grown. In recent years, local governmental authorities along with local residents and doctors have been worried about an apparent increase in the number of people suffering from cancer, in particular since the introduction of GM herbicide-resistant crops and the massive use of glyphosate in conjunction. The Mayor and residents of Monte Maiz requested an environmental health study.

An exploratory ecological study was accordingly conducted to verify the concurrence of environmental exposure to glyphosate and cancer. Itdetected high glyphosate pollution in association with increased frequencies of cancer in Monte Maiz; cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality were between two and three times higher than the reference values for the entire nation.

Although the study was not designed to be able to make direct causal assertions, theepidemiological link between environmental glyphosate and cancer appeared consistent. It highlighted the fact that families with farming activities had a greater risk of cancer than non-farming families, probably due to greater direct exposure to glyphosate. The researchers call for further studies to reveal the exact relationship between cancer and glyphosate.

The Abstract and Conclusion of the published research paper are reproduced below.

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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CANCER AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO GLYPHOSATE

Medardo Avila-Vazquez, Eduardo Maturano, Agustina Etchegoyen, Flavia Silvina Difilippo, and Bryan Maclean

International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2017, 8, 73-85

https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcm.2017.82007

http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=74222