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Cancer research findings on glyphosate questioned by Congress

 

A U.S. House Committee questioned the World Health Organization’s cancer research findings on glyphosate during a hearing Tuesday.

Chairman Lamar Smith of Texas testified there appears to be serious problems with the science in the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) assessment of glyphosate.  “Besides altering the data used in the assessment, the Monograph Working Group failed to consider the most significant study on human exposure to glyphosate.”

IARC had determined the weed killer glyphosate was “probably” a carcinogen but the U.S. EPA and other agencies say it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

Dr. Timothy Pastoor, a toxicologist representing private and public scientists, said IARC’s review process fails to account for potency and exposure in its evaluation and uses outdated science.  “The IARC Monograph Programme is not risk based, and instead is stuck in a hazard classification scheme created a half a century ago with no consideration for potency or exposure.”  He said program needs to be reformed or eliminated.

Dr. Jennifer Sass, a scientist with the advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council, said the hearing supports the agrochemical industry’s agenda to discredit and ultimately defund IARC.  “Fundamentally, this hearing is about the ability of a public health agency to call a carcinogen a carcinogen, even if it makes a huge amount of money for powerful corporations.”

IARC refused to provide a witness for the hearing.

AUDIO: In Defense of Scientific Integrity: Examining the IARC Monograph Programme and Glyphosate Review hearing