Research in Austria found that Roundup (glyphosate) causes cell and DNA damage to epithelial cells derived from the inside of the mouth and throat. The research raises concerns about the safety of inhaling glyphosate, a common way in which people are assailed by Roundup and other Monsanto poisons.
Siegfried Knasmueller and his colleagues at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, found back in 2012 that Monsanto’s formulated version of glyphosate – Roundup Ultra Max – caused cellular and DNA damage. That damage included chromosomal abnormalities. Roundup ultimately killed the cells at higher concentrations. Most alarmingly, DNA damage occurred at concentrations below those required to induce cell damage. That suggests the damage was caused directly by glyphosate, not as an indirect result of cell toxicity.
This was not the first time glyphosate-based poison concoctions were shown to cause cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Several independent research teams have been documenting glyphosate hazards over the last several years, using in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies.
DNA damage was seen in blood samples from exposed people in Argentina and Ecuador. Lab mice showed chromosomal and DNA damage in bone marrow, liver, kidney cells, lymphoid cells. Similar effects were seen in non-mammals, including sea urchins, goldfish, eels, tilapia fish, fruit flies.
These experiments show glyphosate in weed killers is dangerous for humans and many other animals. Glyphosate is highly soluble in water, so its assault on aquatic life may be of particular concern. Other recent studies have found glyphosate in most samples of rain water, groundwater, rivers, air. Glyphosate is now everywhere. Scientists have already shown its extreme toxic effects on amphibians such as frogs. (See: Roundup Kills Frogs.) Scientists have seen cell damage in many cell types, including those derived from rat testis, human placenta, umbilical cord, embryo, rat and carp neurones, liver.
Multiple tests have all shown cell damage from Roundup
To reflect occupational exposure, human buccal epithelial cells were exposed to glyphosate and Roundup for 20 minutes only at concentrations from 10 mg/L to 200 mg/L. Roundup formulation used for the experiments contains 450 g/L of glyphosate and should be diluted according to Monsanto’s instructions to 1–3 % before use (final concentration 4 500–13 500 mg/l). Researchers found significant effects with 10-20 mg/l, equivalent to a 225–1 350-fold dilution of the spraying solution.
Roundup more toxic than Glyphosate
Test results showed cells much more sensitive to Roundup (with glyphosate) than glyphosate alone. Roundup showed a significant effect at a dose level of 40 mg/L with the XXT assay. A clear increase of the lactose dehydrogenase levels was already seen with 10 mg/L. The cell proliferation and the neutral red assays were less responsive, with significant effects detected at 80 and 100 mg/L, respectively – still well below agricultural use levels. All effects were dose-dependent.
Multiple tests show Roundup causes DNA damage
Significant effects on DNA integrity as assessed by the SCGE assay were seen at 20 mg/l of both Roundup and glyphosate, increasing in a dose-dependent manner.
Roundup damages Cells, DNA
Roundup was cytotoxic at concentrations as low as 20 mg/L, while its active ingredient was not generally cytotoxic to buccal epithelial cells. Both glyphosate and Roundup elicited genotoxic effects at concentrations below the level required to induce cell damage. The different effects between the active ingredient and its commercial formulation is consistent with previous work, including experiments done on testicular, placental, embryonic and umbilical cord cells. These results may explain some of the ailments observed in people who work with Roundup. They add yet more weight to the argument that Roundup should be completely banned for any use. One shouldn’t need to be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and file a Roundup Lymphoma Lawsuit to get Roundup taken off the market.
Related
- Glyphosate Toxic to Mouth Cells, More
- Roundup Cancer Lawsuit
- Monsanto Lawsuit
- Monsanto sued for False Advertising
- Roundup more Toxic than Glyphosate
by Matthews & Associates
