Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23

Food health
Glyphosate

Glyphosate is an herbicide used to kill weeds. It’s the

active ingredient in Roundup and other weed killers, and
can cause a variety of side effects. Recent lawsuits have
claimed exposure to glyphosate in Roundup has led to

certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Michelle Llamas has been writing articles
and producing podcasts about drugs, medical
devices and the FDA for nearly a decade.
Michelle collaborates with experts, including
board-certified doctors, patients and advocates,
to provide trusted health information to the
public.

originally published on: The inhibited enzyme reduces a
drugwatch.com plant’s ability to synthesize the
amino acids it needs to grow. A
authorities consider the levels plant’s stems and leaves absorb
What Is Glyphosate? of glyphosate in food as safe, the chemical, then carry it to
concerns regarding its long- the roots. Once it reaches the
lyphosate, the active term consequences continue roots, glyphosate stops the plant
component found in to grow. Typical repercussions from absorbing nutrients from
Gpopular herbicides such of exposure include skin and the ground, which leads to the
as Roundup, sees extensive respiratory irritations, and plant’s death.
application in agriculture research indicates potential
to combat unwanted weeds associations between glyphosate Glyphosate is a nonselective
that compete with crops. and both cancer and neurological herbicide, which means it can
Nevertheless, apprehensions disorders. Certain countries spread to surrounding plants
have surfaced concerning its within the European Union have and crops. It’s only applicable to
safety and potential impacts imposed bans on glyphosate, crops that grow above the water
on health. Legal disputes and Bayer, the manufacturer and are not fully submerged.
have arisen, asserting that of Roundup, has encountered
exposure to glyphosate through significant settlements in legal Glyphosate in Roundup and
products like Roundup might actions in the United States Other Lawn Care Products
be connected to specific types lawsuits linked to glyphosate
of cancer, notably non-Hodgkin exposure. Glyphosate is the primary active
lymphoma. Glyphosate operates ingredient in Roundup. Other
by inhibiting the enzyme EPSP How Does Glyphosate Work? popular weed killers containing
synthase, causing disruptions glyphosate include Rodeo and
in plant growth that ultimately Glyphosate suppresses the Touchdown.
result in the plant’s demise. enzyme EPSP synthase, which
While some regulatory contributes to plant growth.

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