The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, just released data on July 11 that “about 87 percent of 650 children tested had detectable levels of the ubiquitous and toxic herbicide glyphosate in their urine.”
“Food is the main route of exposure to glyphosate for the children, aged 18 and under. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup, the weedkiller most widely used by conventional agriculture around the world. The federal health agency also tested more than 1,600 urine samples of adults and found 80 percent had detectable levels of the weedkiller.”
“Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the country, yet until now we had very little data on exposure,” said Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., Environmental Working Group toxicologist. “Children in the U.S. are regularly exposed to this cancer-causing weedkiller through the food they eat virtually every day.”
“The Environmental Protection Agency should take concrete regulatory action to dramatically lower the levels of glyphosate in the food supply and protect children’s health,” said Temkin.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, an arm of the World Health Organization, a 17-member panel of scientists, reviewed almost 1,000 peer-reviewed, published studies on the potential carcinogenicity of glyphosate in March 2015, and concluded it as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
This gave weight to studies connecting glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and recommended monitoring children’s exposure to this toxic weed killer.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency, (which is supposed to protect the environment) has ignored many of these studies and any conclusion by the IARC.
A July 2020 analysis by EWG released an analysis of laboratory testing that showed that glyphosate was present in more than 90 percent of non-organic hummus and chickpea samples.
Previous tests by EWG and other public interest groups have found glyphosate in breakfast cereals.
So let’s look at how our agricultural industries use Roundup: More than 200 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed annually as a pre-harvest drying agent, or desiccant, so crops like oats and wheat can be harvested sooner than if the plant were allowed to die naturally. This allows easier harvesting but also increases the likelihood that the pesticide makes it into food.
But Roundup is also sprayed onto the fields before the growing season to kill weeds, so may be used twice for a crop. It is the most widely used herbicide in the history of agriculture!
The following countries have either banned or are working on banning glyphosate:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Do you notice that the United States is not included in this list? The Bayer lobbying expenditures for 2021 was $6,510,000. That is a chunk of change so apparently some politicians and government agencies are reluctant to ban this herbicide. However, certain states and counties have taken measures on their own since our government refuses to take action. I am proud to say that in Hawaii only Hawaii County has taken measures and in December 2021 had banned Roundup to be sprayed on public roads, bike routes, trails and sidewalks. We need to now work on banning Roundup from being sprayed anywhere where there is food being grown. Glyphosate in the urine of 90 percent of the children tested is unacceptable!
Check what foods are sprayed such as wheat, oats, soybeans, corn, spinach, and almonds, and purchase organic whenever possible.
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Here’s a recipe from the American Cancer Society’s website for Cuban-style black beans and rice.
Cuban-Style Black Beans and Rice
Serves 6
Heat in a large, heavy pot:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Add:
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
Cook until onions are translucent, add:
1 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried cumin
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Cook for 2 minutes, then add:
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained, liquid reserved
2 bay leaves
Cook for 5 to 8 minutes on medium heat. Remove the bay leaves.
Have ready:
3 cups cooked brown rice
To serve, put 1/2 cup cooked rice on the plate and top with 1/2 cup black beans. Drizzle: 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil on the top.
Email Audrey Wilson at audreywilson808@gmail.com.