Photo credit: Chafer 33

A new study published by the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that exposure to glyphosate, one of the primary pesticides used on genetically modified ‘round-up ready’ crops, “probably” causes cancer in humans. Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world and is found in over 750 different products used on farms and in urban areas.  Human exposure occurs through inhalation during spraying and through the consumption of contaminated food and water. The WHO working group assigned the risk level as “probably carcinogenic to humans” after reviewing results from pertinent scientific literature which showed evidence that glyphosate exposure is linked to certain cancers in humans, induces tumors in mice, damages human DNA, and disrupts beneficial intestinal microbes in humans. The National Organic Program standards prohibits the use of glyphosate in organic production.