Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Keith13 on April 10, 2008, 01:22:52 PM

Title: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Keith13 on April 10, 2008, 01:22:52 PM
I understand organic farmers, landscapers don't use it due to its a chemical, I have no problem with that, more power to them. but why is it bashed on the forum by other non organic people. I pulled a lot of journals from my company as well as Monsanto (creator of chemical), and the EPA and I can't find one that states that it has a harmful effect on honey bees, in a realistic dose. Am I missing something?

http://www.biotech-info.net/glyphosate.html

Keith
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Understudy on April 10, 2008, 01:58:52 PM
Round Up is made by Monsanto. A company that is about as evil as it gets. They advertise products as good for the environment and get sued for false advertising and lose and then use continue to false advertise because they have the money.

They produce hazardous waste and poison entire towns and then create front companies to defer liability.

They now manufacture 90% of the GMO crops out there. They then force farmers to  buy seed from them instead of being allowed to make their own seeds.

They sue farmers that don't use their seed and end up with cross pollinated plants.

They produced rBGH and falsified the records on how unhealthy it was to cows and how it contaminated milk.

They along with Dow produced Agent Orange and falsified or destroyed records on how damaging the product was to humans.

They are the best example of a company that produces a profit with no regard to the health of the people using their product. This is the example of a company without a conscience. While the shareholders may love them. And they do make lots of money. The problem is real people are affect negatively by their products. And instead of being upfront on the matter they will do everything they can to hide the truth.

The economic problem is for farmers is that you can buy Monsanto GMO products at a much lower price then natural seed or other products. And with the cost of farming these days it is very difficult for a farmer to keep their farm and business and not end up in debt or bankrupt without being cornered into buying their product.

When you neighbor has GMO soybeans and spent half the money you might on your farm that has a huge effect. The problem is that the soybean itself is not healthy.

In regards to rBGH the farmer is producing twice as much milk but has cows that are ending up unhealthy. But because of the milk production he can always buy another cow.

The Monsanto issue is that it forces the farmer to become dependent on Monsanto. The health issues for people, livestock, and plants is never really addressed by Monsanto.

But they have lots of really cute things on their website that says they do.

I have no problem with a company making money or making products. But there has to be a certain level of quality to the product where it doesn't harm the people, livestock, and plants. I am not talking about the very rare instance of the one in a million reaction. But when the residents of Anniston Alabama talk about the ppb (parts per billion) level of contamination in their blood as a way to determine life expectancy because they are all contaminated by PCBs(another Monsanto product). You have to look at the interest of the community and it's citizens over the interest of the shareholder.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

PS. I can back all of this up with references but I have to get to work. There are also several very good documentaries on Monsanto and how it behaves.

Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Keith13 on April 10, 2008, 02:04:26 PM
Wow,
I was just curious as to why beeks dont like to spray round up. didn't realize monsano has started the Apocalypse
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Understudy on April 10, 2008, 02:08:38 PM
Quote from: keith13 on April 10, 2008, 02:04:26 PM
Wow,
I was just curious as to why beeks dont like to spray round up. didn't realize monsano has started the Apocalypse
hehe

You have to know the parent to understand the child. Round Up is really not good for bees. It is an herbicide that can get on the pollen. The effects are simple it kills bees. Even non organic farmers don't like dead hives.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

modified and running late for work.

The effect of Round Up is said to have no effect on bees directly.
Round Up is not recommended in Wetlands due to the threat to aquatic wildlife, South Florida has a lot of that.

So I will withdraw earlier statement till I can find my report.

Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: shawnwri on April 10, 2008, 02:17:28 PM
If you don't like Monsanto don't by Roundup, but it is off patent and other companies are manufacturing similar products.  Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) does not kill bees  :roll:.  Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme EPSP synthase, which catalyzes the reaction of shikimate-3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate to form 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (ESP). ESP is subsequently dephosphorylated to chorismate an essential precursor in plants for the aromatic amino acids: phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. The shikimate pathway is not present in animals, which obtain aromatic amino acids from their diet.

My big complate with glyphosate is tht the ideas of crop rotation, cultivation, herbicide rotation etc. have been neglected by those only growing RR crops.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: durkie on April 10, 2008, 02:58:15 PM
Quote from: shawnwri on April 10, 2008, 02:17:28 PM
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme EPSP synthase, which catalyzes the reaction of shikimate-3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate to form 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (ESP). ESP is subsequently dephosphorylated to chorismate an essential precursor in plants for the aromatic amino acids: phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. The shikimate pathway is not present in animals, which obtain aromatic amino acids from their diet.

well, now that we have a copy/paste from the wikipedia page, i guess the argument is settled... :roll:
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: danno on April 10, 2008, 03:08:36 PM
The LD 50 for roundup is 4,320 mg/kg   For anyone that does understand what this means 100 Lab rats are fed a diet of a material until 50 or 1/2 die.  The amount is recorded and it becomes the LD50. In comparison nicotine has a LD50 of 53, caffeine a LD50 of 192, Aspirin a LD50 of 1,000, table salt a LD50 of 3,000 and table sugar a LD50 of 29,700 mg/kg.  Roundup is deadly only if your green
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: shawnwri on April 10, 2008, 03:23:07 PM
Quote from: durkie on April 10, 2008, 02:58:15 PM
Quote from: shawnwri on April 10, 2008, 02:17:28 PM
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme EPSP synthase, which catalyzes the reaction of shikimate-3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate to form 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (ESP). ESP is subsequently dephosphorylated to chorismate an essential precursor in plants for the aromatic amino acids: phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. The shikimate pathway is not present in animals, which obtain aromatic amino acids from their diet.

well, now that we have a copy/paste from the wikipedia page, i guess the argument is settled... :roll:

I could have quoted from any number of sources.  Just because I used wikipedia doesn't make the information any less true.  Which reference would you like me to use?
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Keith13 on April 10, 2008, 03:26:50 PM
thats sort of where i was with all this Danno. I work for a company that deals with a lot of nasty chems. we have all these books that tell us about the bad chemicals you know IDLH PEL so on and so forth. anyway none of the books list glysophate. that is why i asked the question that started all this. i was thinking about spraying around my hives to keep the weeds down thats all
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Joseph Clemens on April 10, 2008, 03:47:14 PM
Quote from: keith13 on April 10, 2008, 03:26:50 PM
thats sort of where i was with all this Danno. I work for a company that deals with a lot of nasty chems. we have all these books that tell us about the bad chemicals you know IDLH PEL so on and so forth. anyway none of the books list glysophate. that is why i asked the question that started all this. i was thinking about spraying around my hives to keep the weeds down thats all

Perhaps they don't list it because you've spelled it incorrectly. The name for the compound is, glyphosate, not glysophate. A Google search shows that there is a chronic practice, by many, to spell the name of this compound incorrectly. Could be one of those Monsanto conspiracies.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Zoot on April 10, 2008, 04:00:27 PM
Keith,

You never know when you're going to light a wildfire here. As for Roundup's feasibility - you've gotten some good data here but there is also evidence that over time there is a buildup of residual elements (salts I believe) in the soil that will eventually be negative. Not much searchable data on that but it's out there. The other issue is the widespread abandonment of deep soil tillage which is good and bad: less use of fossil fuels but a tendency for certain invasive plants with deep rhizome systems to survive and spread. As for bees - my feeling is that since roundup works best when applied in bright sunlit daytime hours and since that's when my bees are out and about ...why take the chance. Why add to their burden however vague the threat may be.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: shawnwri on April 10, 2008, 04:05:17 PM
Quote from: Joseph Clemens on April 10, 2008, 03:47:14 PM
Quote from: keith13 on April 10, 2008, 03:26:50 PM
thats sort of where i was with all this Danno. I work for a company that deals with a lot of nasty chems. we have all these books that tell us about the bad chemicals you know IDLH PEL so on and so forth. anyway none of the books list glysophate. that is why i asked the question that started all this. i was thinking about spraying around my hives to keep the weeds down thats all

Perhaps they don't list it because you've spelled it incorrectly. The name for the compound is, glyphosate, not glysophate. A Google search shows that there is a chronic practice, by many, to spell the name of this compound incorrectly. Could be one of those Monsanto conspiracies.

Now that you have exposed the conspiracy, the men in the black helicopter will be by for you soon.  Resistance is futile.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Kathyp on April 10, 2008, 08:09:16 PM
i like roundup.  i use it around our fruit trees.  i use crossbow to kill blackberries.  weedmaster to kill broad leaf weeds.  i am to flipping old to do it all by hand.  roundup kills grass.  if you need to kill grass and don't mind using a chemical to do it, use it. 

some people would like us still to be starting fires by rubbing sticks together, or dying of cholera and malaria for lack of chemicals and drugs.  educate yourself and use good judgment.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: bud1 on April 11, 2008, 07:01:00 AM

Amen Miss Kathy; Have used roundup since it came on the market and dont plan on being without it. Youall folks need to have to make yo living controling noxious weeds and grasses and I sho dont plan on going back to a team of mules and a hoe
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: danno on April 11, 2008, 08:42:51 AM
Just one more thing that I need to add.  Roundup is a approved herbicide by gerber baby food up here in Michigan.  I really dont think they are a division of monsanto. 
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: JP on April 11, 2008, 10:12:18 AM
Keith, I have used the glysophate from H.D. If you want you can seal your hives before you apply it, just make sure they have ventilation. You could also put something down around and under your hives to keep weeds from growing, like gravel or plastic.


...JP
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Cindi on April 11, 2008, 11:06:47 AM
Wow, what a thread.  Some great and wonderful information and great comments.  Roundup is a great herbicide.  There is no doubt about that.  It kills anything green that it comes into contact with.  It can also cause devastation to surrounding "wanted" greens if there is winddrift.  It can also kill stuff like raspberry canes if it comes into contact with the canes.   With some crops, it does not have to come into contact with the green growing part, I know.  I have seen this happen to a small part of my raspberry patch.   When using Roundup, be really careful about winddrift.

Evidently, once Roundup hits the earth, it becomes inert.  But overuse of it I don't doubt for a minute can build up residue in the soil (if it is overused).

Sometimes the choice must be made, weed kill to allow crops to grow, or not.  The crops won't grow with weeds that have overtaken them.  Herbicides are necessary, used judiciously, no choice sometimes.

The problem with the spraying of herbicides is if it comes into direct contact with the bees or other bugs, it must not  be good.  Have a wonderful, beautiful day.  Cindi
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: shawnwri on April 11, 2008, 11:24:25 AM
Quote from: Cindi on April 11, 2008, 11:06:47 AM

Evidently, once Roundup hits the earth, it becomes inert. 

Since someone complained about my previous source, I pulled my copy of the Herbicide Handbook (7th Edition) off my desk.   Here is more information for those with an open mind.

Glyphosate is rapidly and tightly adsorbed to soil.  Organic matter, clay, silt, or sand content and soil pH have minimal effect on adsorption   Glyphosate adsorption correlates with the amount of vacant phosphate sorpition sites and may occur through binding of the phosponic acid moiety.  High levels of metallic cations in clay soils increase the amouont of glyphsate adsorbed.  Strong adsorption to soils is evidenced in part by low phytotoxicity with soil applications.  Photodegredation is negligible.  It has moderate persistance with a typical filed half-life of 47 days.  Degraded microbiall in sol and water with rates varying with microbial population.  From 10 to 70% of clyphose may be transformed to CO2 over a growing season.  Non-microbial degradation rates are negligible.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Jerrymac on April 11, 2008, 12:58:24 PM
I'm going out and drink a whole jug of the stuff.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: LocustHoney on April 11, 2008, 12:59:59 PM
Let's add some fuel to the fire.... :evil:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-842180934463681887


Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Understudy on April 11, 2008, 01:01:21 PM
Quote from: LocustHoney on April 11, 2008, 12:59:59 PM
Let's add some fuel to the fire.... :evil:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-842180934463681887



I saw that last week. It is an intriguing documentary, but I knew most of that before it ever aired. I encourage others to watch it.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: LocustHoney on April 11, 2008, 01:09:07 PM
Only got to see the first little bit but will definitely watch the rest.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Kathyp on April 11, 2008, 01:35:20 PM
no propaganda there!  :-)

do you know that if water is over-chlorinated it can make you really sick?  antibiotics can kill you.  some kids die from immunization reactions.  better to leave off those chemicals and let people die of natural causes like starvation and dysentary.......
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: shawnwri on April 11, 2008, 02:10:08 PM
Might as well admit it, Monsanto is in fact the maker of Soylent Green and are pushing for the destruction of all natural food crops. :roll:
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on April 11, 2008, 04:21:42 PM
Oh yeah this stuff is really safe, maybe we can add it to the baby food so it has a longer shelf life...you know, so weeds don't grow in it or anything like that...please don't  tell me that the studies done on rats don't prove anything.  I work in an agriculture area with extreme high incidence of cancers in the field workers...this is serious stuff. 

New research findings are raising serious concerns over the safety of
the most commonly used herbicide, and should be sending shockwaves
through proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops made tolerant to
the herbicide, which now account for 75% of all GM crops in the world.
Worse yet, the most common formulation of the herbicide is even more
toxic than the herbicide by itself, and is made by the same biotech
giant that created the herbicide tolerant GM crops.
Broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine),
commonly sold in the commercial formulation Roundup (Monsanto company,
St. Louis, Missouri USA) has been frequently used both on crops and
non-crops areas world wide since it was introduced in the 1970s. Roundup
is a combination of glyphosate with other chemicals including a
surfactant (detergent) polyoxyethyleneamine that enhance the spreading
of the spray droplets on the leaves of plants. The use of Roundup has
gone up especially in countries growing Roundup-tolerant GM crops
created by Monsanto.
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme,
5-enolpyruvoyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthetase (EPSPS), essential for
the formation of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine
and tryptophan; which leads onto vitamins and many secondary metabolites
such as folates, ubiquinones and naphthoquines. It is believed to be
rather specific in action and less toxic than other herbicides, because
the shikimate pathway is not present in mammals and humans. However,
glyphosate acts by preventing the binding of phosphoenol pyruvate to the
active site of the enzyme, and phosphoenol pyruvate is a core metabolite
present in all organisms; thus it has the potential to affect other
metabolic pathways. This is borne out by many reports of toxicities
associated with the herbicide reviewed in the Independent Science Panel
Report, The Case for a GM-free Sustainable World [1].
An epidemiological study in the Ontario farming populations showed that
glyphosate exposure nearly doubled the risk of late spontaneous
abortions [2], and Prof. Eric-Giles Seralini and his research team from
Caen University in France decided to find out more about the effects of
the herbicide on cells from the human placenta.
They have now shown that glyphosate is toxic to human placental cells,
killing a large proportion of them after 18 hr of exposure at
concentrations below that in agricultural use [3]. Moreover, Roundup is
always more toxic than its active ingredient, glyphosate; at least by
two-fold. The effect increased with time, and was obtained with
concentrations of Roundup 10 times lower than agricultural use.
The enzyme aromatase is responsible for making the female hormones
estrogens from androgens (the male hormones). Glyphosate interacts with
the active site of the enzyme but its effect on enzyme activity was
minimal unless Roundup was present.
Interestingly, Roundup increased enzyme activity after 1 h of
incubation, possibly because of its surfactant effect in making the
androgen substrate more available to the enzyme. But at 18h incubation,
Roundup invariably inhibited enzyme activity; the inhibition being
associated with a decrease in mRNA synthesis, suggesting that Roundup
decreased the rate of gene transcription. Seralini and colleagues
suggest that other ingredients in the Roundup formulation enhance the
availability or accumulation of glyphosate in cells.
There is, indeed, direct evidence that glyphosate inhibits RNA
transcription in animals at a concentration well below the level that is
recommended for commercial spray application Transcription was inhibited
and embryonic development delayed in sea urchins following exposure to
low levels of the herbicide and/or the surfactant polyoxyethyleneamine.
The pesticide should be considered a health concern by inhalation during
spraying [4].
New research shows that a brief exposure to commercial glyphosate caused
liver damage in rats, as indicated by the leakage of intracellular liver
enzymes. In this study, glyphosate and its surfactant in Roundup were
also found to act in synergy to increase damage to the liver [5].
Three recent case-control studies suggested an association between
glyphosate use and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [6-8]; while a
prospective cohort study in Iowa and North Carolina that includes more
than 54 315 private and commercial licensed pesticide applicators
suggested a link between glyphosate use and multiple myoeloma [9].
Myeloma has been associated with agents that cause either DNA damage or
immune suppression. These studies did not distinguish between Roundup
and glyphosate, and it would be important for that to be done.
There is now a wealth of evidence that glyphosate requires worldwide
health warnings and new regulatory review. Meanwhile, its use should be
reduced to a minimum as a matter of prudent precaution.
References
The Case for a GM-Free Sustainable World, Chapter 7, ISIS & TWN, London
& Penang, 2003.
Savitz DA, Arbuckle , Kaczor D, Curtis KM. Male pesticide exposure and
pregnancy outcome. Am J Epidemiol 2000, 146, 1025-36.
Richard S, Moslemi S, Sipahutar H, Benachour N and Seralini G-E.
Differential effects of glyphosate and Roundup on human placental cells
and aromatases
Marc J, Le Breton M, CormierP, Morales J, Belle´R and Mulner-Lorillo O.
A glyphosate-based pesticide impinges on transcription. Toxicology and
Applied Pharmacology 2005, 203, 1-8.
Benedetti AL, de Lourdes Vituri C, Trentin AG, Dominguesc MAC and
Alvarez-Silva M. The effects of sub-chronic exposure of Wistar rats to
the herbicide Glyphosate-Biocarb. Toxicology Letters 2004, 153, 227 32.
De Roos AH, Zahm SH, Cantor KP, et al. Integrative assessment of
multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma among
men. Occup Environ Med 2003, 60, E11
http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/60/9/e11
Hardell L, Eriksson M, Nordstrom M. Exposure to pesticides as risk
factor for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled
analysis of two Swedish case-control studies. Leuk Lymphoma 2002,
43,1043 1049.
McDuffie HH, Pahwa P, McLaughlin JR, Spinelli JJ, Fincham S, Dosman JA,
et al. 2001. Non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and specific pesticide exposures in
men: cross-Canada study of pesticides and health. 2001, Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev 2001,10,1155 63.
De Roos AJ, Blair A, Rusiecki JA, Hoppin JA, Svec M, Dosemeci M, Sandler
DP and Alavanja MC. Cancer incidence among glyphosate-exposed pesticide
applicators in the agricultural health study. Environ Health Perspect
2005, 113, 49-54.
The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
telephone: [44 20 8452 2729] [44 20 7272 5636]
General Enquiries [email protected] - Website/Mailing List
[email protected] - ISIS Director [email protected]

****************************************************************************
****************************
This GMO news service is underwritten by a generous grant from the Newman's
Own Foundation, edited by Thomas Wittman and is a production of the
Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org <http://www.eco-farm.org/>
****************************************************************************
****************************
  New research findings are raising serious concerns over the safety of
the most commonly used herbicide, and should be sending shockwaves
through proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops made tolerant to
the herbicide, which now account for 75% of all GM crops in the world.
Worse yet, the most common formulation of the herbicide is even more
toxic than the herbicide by itself, and is made by the same biotech
giant that created the herbicide tolerant GM crops.
Broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine),
commonly sold in the commercial formulation Roundup (Monsanto company,
St. Louis, Missouri USA) has been frequently used both on crops and
non-crops areas world wide since it was introduced in the 1970s. Roundup
is a combination of glyphosate with other chemicals including a
surfactant (detergent) polyoxyethyleneamine that enhance the spreading
of the spray droplets on the leaves of plants. The use of Roundup has
gone up especially in countries growing Roundup-tolerant GM crops
created by Monsanto.
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme,
5-enolpyruvoyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthetase (EPSPS), essential for
the formation of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine
and tryptophan; which leads onto vitamins and many secondary metabolites
such as folates, ubiquinones and naphthoquines. It is believed to be
rather specific in action and less toxic than other herbicides, because
the shikimate pathway is not present in mammals and humans. However,
glyphosate acts by preventing the binding of phosphoenol pyruvate to the
active site of the enzyme, and phosphoenol pyruvate is a core metabolite
present in all organisms; thus it has the potential to affect other
metabolic pathways. This is borne out by many reports of toxicities
associated with the herbicide reviewed in the Independent Science Panel
Report, The Case for a GM-free Sustainable World [1].
An epidemiological study in the Ontario farming populations showed that
glyphosate exposure nearly doubled the risk of late spontaneous
abortions [2], and Prof. Eric-Giles Seralini and his research team from
Caen University in France decided to find out more about the effects of
the herbicide on cells from the human placenta.
They have now shown that glyphosate is toxic to human placental cells,
killing a large proportion of them after 18 hr of exposure at
concentrations below that in agricultural use [3]. Moreover, Roundup is
always more toxic than its active ingredient, glyphosate; at least by
two-fold. The effect increased with time, and was obtained with
concentrations of Roundup 10 times lower than agricultural use.
The enzyme aromatase is responsible for making the female hormones
estrogens from androgens (the male hormones). Glyphosate interacts with
the active site of the enzyme but its effect on enzyme activity was
minimal unless Roundup was present.
Interestingly, Roundup increased enzyme activity after 1 h of
incubation, possibly because of its surfactant effect in making the
androgen substrate more available to the enzyme. But at 18h incubation,
Roundup invariably inhibited enzyme activity; the inhibition being
associated with a decrease in mRNA synthesis, suggesting that Roundup
decreased the rate of gene transcription. Seralini and colleagues
suggest that other ingredients in the Roundup formulation enhance the
availability or accumulation of glyphosate in cells.
There is, indeed, direct evidence that glyphosate inhibits RNA
transcription in animals at a concentration well below the level that is
recommended for commercial spray application Transcription was inhibited
and embryonic development delayed in sea urchins following exposure to
low levels of the herbicide and/or the surfactant polyoxyethyleneamine.
The pesticide should be considered a health concern by inhalation during
spraying [4].
New research shows that a brief exposure to commercial glyphosate caused
liver damage in rats, as indicated by the leakage of intracellular liver
enzymes. In this study, glyphosate and its surfactant in Roundup were
also found to act in synergy to increase damage to the liver [5].
Three recent case-control studies suggested an association between
glyphosate use and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [6-8]; while a
prospective cohort study in Iowa and North Carolina that includes more
than 54 315 private and commercial licensed pesticide applicators
suggested a link between glyphosate use and multiple myoeloma [9].
Myeloma has been associated with agents that cause either DNA damage or
immune suppression. These studies did not distinguish between Roundup
and glyphosate, and it would be important for that to be done.
There is now a wealth of evidence that glyphosate requires worldwide
health warnings and new regulatory review. Meanwhile, its use should be
reduced to a minimum as a matter of prudent precaution.
References
The Case for a GM-Free Sustainable World, Chapter 7, ISIS & TWN, London
& Penang, 2003.
Savitz DA, Arbuckle , Kaczor D, Curtis KM. Male pesticide exposure and
pregnancy outcome. Am J Epidemiol 2000, 146, 1025-36.
Richard S, Moslemi S, Sipahutar H, Benachour N and Seralini G-E.
Differential effects of glyphosate and Roundup on human placental cells
and aromatases
Marc J, Le Breton M, CormierP, Morales J, Belle´R and Mulner-Lorillo O.
A glyphosate-based pesticide impinges on transcription. Toxicology and
Applied Pharmacology 2005, 203, 1-8.
Benedetti AL, de Lourdes Vituri C, Trentin AG, Dominguesc MAC and
Alvarez-Silva M. The effects of sub-chronic exposure of Wistar rats to
the herbicide Glyphosate-Biocarb. Toxicology Letters 2004, 153, 227 32.
De Roos AH, Zahm SH, Cantor KP, et al. Integrative assessment of
multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma among
men. Occup Environ Med 2003, 60, E11
http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/60/9/e11
Hardell L, Eriksson M, Nordstrom M. Exposure to pesticides as risk
factor for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled
analysis of two Swedish case-control studies. Leuk Lymphoma 2002,
43,1043 1049.
McDuffie HH, Pahwa P, McLaughlin JR, Spinelli JJ, Fincham S, Dosman JA,
et al. 2001. Non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and specific pesticide exposures in
men: cross-Canada study of pesticides and health. 2001, Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev 2001,10,1155 63.
De Roos AJ, Blair A, Rusiecki JA, Hoppin JA, Svec M, Dosemeci M, Sandler
DP and Alavanja MC. Cancer incidence among glyphosate-exposed pesticide
applicators in the agricultural health study. Environ Health Perspect
2005, 113, 49-54.
The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
telephone: [44 20 8452 2729] [44 20 7272 5636]
General Enquiries [email protected] - Website/Mailing List
[email protected] - ISIS Director [email protected]

****************************************************************************
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This GMO news service is underwritten by a generous grant from the Newman's
Own Foundation, edited by Thomas Wittman and is a production of the
Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org <http://www.eco-farm.org/>
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New research findings are raising serious concerns over the safety of
the most commonly used herbicide, and should be sending shockwaves
through proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops made tolerant to
the herbicide, which now account for 75% of all GM crops in the world.
Worse yet, the most common formulation of the herbicide is even more
toxic than the herbicide by itself, and is made by the same biotech
giant that created the herbicide tolerant GM crops.
Broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine),
commonly sold in the commercial formulation Roundup (Monsanto company,
St. Louis, Missouri USA) has been frequently used both on crops and
non-crops areas world wide since it was introduced in the 1970s. Roundup
is a combination of glyphosate with other chemicals including a
surfactant (detergent) polyoxyethyleneamine that enhance the spreading
of the spray droplets on the leaves of plants. The use of Roundup has
gone up especially in countries growing Roundup-tolerant GM crops
created by Monsanto.
Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzyme,
5-enolpyruvoyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthetase (EPSPS), essential for
the formation of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine
and tryptophan; which leads onto vitamins and many secondary metabolites
such as folates, ubiquinones and naphthoquines. It is believed to be
rather specific in action and less toxic than other herbicides, because
the shikimate pathway is not present in mammals and humans. However,
glyphosate acts by preventing the binding of phosphoenol pyruvate to the
active site of the enzyme, and phosphoenol pyruvate is a core metabolite
present in all organisms; thus it has the potential to affect other
metabolic pathways. This is borne out by many reports of toxicities
associated with the herbicide reviewed in the Independent Science Panel
Report, The Case for a GM-free Sustainable World [1].
An epidemiological study in the Ontario farming populations showed that
glyphosate exposure nearly doubled the risk of late spontaneous
abortions [2], and Prof. Eric-Giles Seralini and his research team from
Caen University in France decided to find out more about the effects of
the herbicide on cells from the human placenta.
They have now shown that glyphosate is toxic to human placental cells,
killing a large proportion of them after 18 hr of exposure at
concentrations below that in agricultural use [3]. Moreover, Roundup is
always more toxic than its active ingredient, glyphosate; at least by
two-fold. The effect increased with time, and was obtained with
concentrations of Roundup 10 times lower than agricultural use.
The enzyme aromatase is responsible for making the female hormones
estrogens from androgens (the male hormones). Glyphosate interacts with
the active site of the enzyme but its effect on enzyme activity was
minimal unless Roundup was present.
Interestingly, Roundup increased enzyme activity after 1 h of
incubation, possibly because of its surfactant effect in making the
androgen substrate more available to the enzyme. But at 18h incubation,
Roundup invariably inhibited enzyme activity; the inhibition being
associated with a decrease in mRNA synthesis, suggesting that Roundup
decreased the rate of gene transcription. Seralini and colleagues
suggest that other ingredients in the Roundup formulation enhance the
availability or accumulation of glyphosate in cells.
There is, indeed, direct evidence that glyphosate inhibits RNA
transcription in animals at a concentration well below the level that is
recommended for commercial spray application Transcription was inhibited
and embryonic development delayed in sea urchins following exposure to
low levels of the herbicide and/or the surfactant polyoxyethyleneamine.
The pesticide should be considered a health concern by inhalation during
spraying [4].
New research shows that a brief exposure to commercial glyphosate caused
liver damage in rats, as indicated by the leakage of intracellular liver
enzymes. In this study, glyphosate and its surfactant in Roundup were
also found to act in synergy to increase damage to the liver [5].
Three recent case-control studies suggested an association between
glyphosate use and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [6-8]; while a
prospective cohort study in Iowa and North Carolina that includes more
than 54 315 private and commercial licensed pesticide applicators
suggested a link between glyphosate use and multiple myoeloma [9].
Myeloma has been associated with agents that cause either DNA damage or
immune suppression. These studies did not distinguish between Roundup
and glyphosate, and it would be important for that to be done.
There is now a wealth of evidence that glyphosate requires worldwide
health warnings and new regulatory review. Meanwhile, its use should be
reduced to a minimum as a matter of prudent precaution.
References
The Case for a GM-Free Sustainable World, Chapter 7, ISIS & TWN, London
& Penang, 2003.
Savitz DA, Arbuckle , Kaczor D, Curtis KM. Male pesticide exposure and
pregnancy outcome. Am J Epidemiol 2000, 146, 1025-36.
Richard S, Moslemi S, Sipahutar H, Benachour N and Seralini G-E.
Differential effects of glyphosate and Roundup on human placental cells
and aromatases
Marc J, Le Breton M, CormierP, Morales J, Belle´R and Mulner-Lorillo O.
A glyphosate-based pesticide impinges on transcription. Toxicology and
Applied Pharmacology 2005, 203, 1-8.
Benedetti AL, de Lourdes Vituri C, Trentin AG, Dominguesc MAC and
Alvarez-Silva M. The effects of sub-chronic exposure of Wistar rats to
the herbicide Glyphosate-Biocarb. Toxicology Letters 2004, 153, 227 32.
De Roos AH, Zahm SH, Cantor KP, et al. Integrative assessment of
multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma among
men. Occup Environ Med 2003, 60, E11
http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/60/9/e11
Hardell L, Eriksson M, Nordstrom M. Exposure to pesticides as risk
factor for non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled
analysis of two Swedish case-control studies. Leuk Lymphoma 2002,
43,1043 1049.
McDuffie HH, Pahwa P, McLaughlin JR, Spinelli JJ, Fincham S, Dosman JA,
et al. 2001. Non-Hodgkin¹s lymphoma and specific pesticide exposures in
men: cross-Canada study of pesticides and health. 2001, Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev 2001,10,1155 63.
De Roos AJ, Blair A, Rusiecki JA, Hoppin JA, Svec M, Dosemeci M, Sandler
DP and Alavanja MC. Cancer incidence among glyphosate-exposed pesticide
applicators in the agricultural health study. Environ Health Perspect
2005, 113, 49-54.
The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
telephone: [44 20 8452 2729] [44 20 7272 5636]
General Enquiries [email protected] - Website/Mailing List
[email protected] - ISIS Director [email protected]

****************************************************************************
****************************
This GMO news service is underwritten by a generous grant from the Newman's
Own Foundation, edited by Thomas Wittman and is a production of the
Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org <http://www.eco-farm.org/>
****************************************************************************
****************************
www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/poisoning030805.cfm



Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Michael Bush on April 11, 2008, 09:09:08 PM
Yea.  I remember when DDT was perfectly safe and you could drink chlordane and it wouldn't hurt you...  it didn't last.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: reinbeau on April 11, 2008, 10:15:18 PM
Quote from: Michael Bush on April 11, 2008, 09:09:08 PM
Yea.  I remember when DDT was perfectly safe and you could drink chlordane and it wouldn't hurt you...  it didn't last.

But there are still those who defend the use of DDT and insist it didn't do any harm to the environment.  How they explain the return of the large predator birds who were harmed by the use of DDT I don't know. ;) 

I understand the quest for convenience, but as I said in another thread, at what cost?  Oh, it doesn't hurt you immediately, just sometime down the road.  I only use these strong herbicides against one thing, and one thing only, that's poison ivy, and then I use it judiciously, brushed onto the stump after cutting off and pulling the vines (by hand, well protected), which are disposed of in a plastic bag.  Other than that I weed, I pull, I brush hog, whatever it takes - but I don't use chemicals.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Kathyp on April 11, 2008, 11:34:48 PM
in this country we equate chemical free with a healthy lifestyle.  if you go some place that is actually chemical free, you find starvation and death.  it is probably true that there is some trade off.  it is also true that anything can be abused.  there are things that we can not anticipate.  what we do know is that the abundance of food and health that we enjoy, is in large part due to the development of chemicals that make farming more productive, preserve foods, and kill disease.

don't use them if you don't want to.  if you use them, be informed and do the best you can to do no harm.  if you really want to experience chemical free living, i can give you some destinations.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Understudy on April 11, 2008, 11:58:25 PM
Quote from: kathyp on April 11, 2008, 11:34:48 PM
in this country we equate chemical free with a healthy lifestyle.  if you go some place that is actually chemical free, you find starvation and death.  it is probably true that there is some trade off.  it is also true that anything can be abused.  there are things that we can not anticipate.  what we do know is that the abundance of food and health that we enjoy, is in large part due to the development of chemicals that make farming more productive, preserve foods, and kill disease.

don't use them if you don't want to.  if you use them, be informed and do the best you can to do no harm.  if you really want to experience chemical free living, i can give you some destinations.
This is the difference. I don't equate chemical free for everything. I have said before that I understand why farmers use chemicals to prevent their crops from being decimated by pests. The problem is simply when the the chemical pesticides used cause mare harm than benefit and when the companies that make them lie about it.

Monsanto lies.

I prefer not to use chemicals because I am in a situation where I can get by without using them. I think bees are better off without them. Mites are already showing resistance to treatments.

I can also list places that don't use chemical pesticides on crops and do just fine. And I have been to some of them. They are very nice.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: reinbeau on April 12, 2008, 08:15:57 AM
The 'we need these chemicals to feed the world' line is what's trotted out all the time to defend the use of agricultural chemicals.  I disagree.  We need those chemicals to feed the world based on an agricultural business model that makes lots of money.  If they truly wanted to feed the world they'd teach the people to grow food for themselves and become self-sufficient within their own village, not depend on huge shipments of food from 'somewhere'. 

Yes, use those chemicals (if you must) responsibly, per the label instructions, but understand that the 'data' is bought and paid for by the manufacturers, who have no interest in making their product look bad in any way, shape or form.  I'll get by using as little as possible, thankfully I haven't had to use any herbicide on poison ivy for many years now, because I hand pull at the seedling stage.  I'm busy pulling the brambles alongside the garage right now, it's labor intensive, but if I keep at it they'll be totally gone within a year. 
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: dlmarti on April 12, 2008, 08:45:59 AM
Quote from: shawnwri on April 11, 2008, 02:10:08 PM
Might as well admit it, Monsanto is in fact the maker of Soylent Green and are pushing for the destruction of all natural food crops. :roll:

aaahhhh, Soylent Green with cream cheese.  Thats the best.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: beekeeperookie on April 12, 2008, 10:09:13 AM
Mental note:  Do not mention Roundup  ;)
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Keith13 on April 12, 2008, 02:16:36 PM
trust me you beekeeperrookie you will never have to worry about me mentioning it ever again
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: dlmarti on April 12, 2008, 02:37:31 PM
Without Round-Up we wouldn't have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.   :-D
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Kathyp on April 12, 2008, 05:20:45 PM
now keith13, look how many different opinions you got!  what is life without a little conflict??   :evil:
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: pdmattox on April 13, 2008, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: kathyp on April 12, 2008, 05:20:45 PM
now keith13, look how many different opinions you got!  what is life without a little conflict??   :evil:

We can agree to disagree and nobody trashed another member doing it. :)

PS. I love roundup and arsenal.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Michael Bush on April 13, 2008, 03:19:38 PM
>if you go some place that is actually chemical free, you find starvation and death.

That is not for a lack of chemicals.  That's from the warlords practicing genocide...
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: danno on April 14, 2008, 09:23:54 AM
I spray Imazapyr  (Arsenal), tricloyp (Galon3A for broad leaf foliage and garlon 4 for cut stump and basil) and glyphosate( roundup and rodeo over water). Its my job Sorry
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Kathyp on April 14, 2008, 11:00:46 AM
don't apologize for doing your job. 

MB, warlords don't help :-) , but even they have no control over locust invasions, dirty water, etc. 

yes, sustainable farming methods should be taught, but teaching will not bring rain, or make MB's warlords and dictators honest. 

perhaps we do the world a disservice in the long run by feeding people in these 3rd world countries.  who would make that call when we have to resources to share?
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: utahbeekeeper on April 14, 2008, 12:55:17 PM
kathyp   I like your measured responses and lean towards your take on these things.  I run a VM department for my local government and have seen much in last 25 years.  I even inherited a 30 gal barrel of 2,4,5-T when I was hired here in 1982.  I was an Army pilot in Vietnam and knew what it was.  I also knew it was still legal in US at the time, but everyone knew the end of that window was near.  I have a fellow VM pro from Southern Utah who found he had a 5 gal jug of 2,4,5-T in his storeroom.  He is a very green kinda guy so he contacted EPA and dutifly registered his stash of AO as a toxic chem.  The nightmare began.  His county VM department was hounded for over 2 years about the disposition of the now declared toxic waste.  Ya cant' (and shouldn't) just take it to any old waste disposal place.  A semi going to a disposal site in texas was finally engaged to stop by and load the 5 gallons.  When it was all over, Utah taxpayers had to pay $9,500.00 for the LEGAL disposal of 5 gallons of 2,4,5-T in 1988.

Since it was legal to spray then, I loaded mine up and sprayed roadside broadleaf weeds at labeled rates along a few miles of rural dirt roads.  There are many who would also ban 2,4-D.  Sadly, the few who misuse it and other herbicides are causing grief for responsible users.

That said, chemical conglomerates do lie for profits.  Tobacco lied.  Enron lied.  I can't really blame Brendhan for his hostility towards Monsanto.  I do think that he has made his distaste for Monsanto a personal touch stone . . . even a vendeta, and I was surprised by his contempt for big M.  However, many of us have such hot buttons . . . IRS, Lawyers, Hillary,  the rape and pillage of our economy by big oil without admitting any responsibility whatsoever,  . . . even Twinkys and Big Macs.  We all have targets to blame for our struggles.

I am glad that Danno posted about the LD50 of Glyphosate.  It simply is not very toxic at all.  I use it around my hives.  At the same time, I don't medicate for mites . . . SBB's and a powdered sugar shower once in a while keeps the problem manageable for me.

Danno, you don't really spray roundup over water as you stated, do you?  That is what Rodeo alone is for . . . . a Glyphosate without the harmful (to some aquatic animal life) surfactant in it.  A aquatic safe surfactant such as R-11 is added to the Rodeo tank mix.

PDMattox - a hint.  Ardenal is spendy, and many weeds develope resistance to it.  For bare ground treatments, tank mix Arsenal with diuron (cheap)  You can cut down on Arsenal, and you avoid a lot of resistance problems.

Record temp here for 2008 today . . . 77!!  Bees will take cover tomorrow as more snow in forcast  **sigh**  Be well, everybody!   JGP
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: danno on April 14, 2008, 01:19:52 PM
Let me correct my statement Roundup for bare ground treatment, Rodeo and Glypro for aquatic application for carary grass and cattails
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: trapperbob on May 04, 2008, 01:48:47 AM
thats not the only one starting to show resistant plants there is starting to be a few plants that are becoming resistant to roundup I read this some where it was a peice of research from one of the colleges just don't remember which one.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: Vetch on May 07, 2008, 06:45:43 PM
The LD-50 is a very limited statistic, and it can be used in misleading ways. Round-up is very toxic to frogs, tadpoles, and other amphibians.

No link here (newbee) - but plenty of info on documented environmental problems from roundup can be found by searching.
Title: Re: whats the problem with Round-up (glysophate)
Post by: reinbeau on May 07, 2008, 08:47:43 PM
They've removed the big 'Biodegradable' from the bottom of their label for a reason.  :roll: