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Re: glyphosate, etc.

Thank you, Cliff, for writing this. I have a friend with a PhD in
Biochemistry who is a restorationist. He spend some time looking into
possible side affects of Roundup and came to the same conclusion as you
did. However he did express caution regarding the breakdown products of
some other herbicides. 
Bob Wernerehl. 

At 12:28 PM 04/09/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>     I would me remiss not to respond to the questions regarding the
>potential human tumorigenic role (s) of the herbicide Roundup ("active"
>ingredient, glyphosate and "inert" ingredients) and the chlorinated
>hydrocarbon herbicides (i.e., the 2,4-D derivatives).  [Parenthetically, I
>am a recently retired professor at a top medical school in Michigan, past
>Associate Editor of the leading cancer journal (Cancer Research), have had
>a very active career in the mechanisms of cancer causation and have been a
>frequent consultant to our National Cancer Institute and our American
>Cancer Society on cancer prevention and control].
>     With regard to Roundup, I am aware of absolutely no compelling
>scientific evidence that this product (active and inert substances) has
>been involved in human cancer (or experimental animal) development and/or
>growth.  I use this herbicide extensively (see below), thus I can assure
>you that my sensory systems have been, over the years, "on alert" for
>scientific evidence to the contrary.  When one examines the biological
>action (s) of this herbicide, it is extremely difficult to come up with a
>chemical process that one could link to tumorigenic processes.  With regard
>to the 2,4-D derivatives, evidence does exist suggesting the possibility of
>a positive stimulatory effect of these chemicals on the genesis of certain
>human cancers (in particular, the leukemias, lymphomas, liver neoplasms,
>etc.).  However, this positive effect is extremely weak and inconsistent!
>It is important to point out that EVERY chemical or chemical compound that
>we utilize (absorb), synthetic or natural, has a cost/benefit ratio.  We
>strive to have the "benefits" to be in excess of the "costs".  Your
>projected risk of developing cancer is far greater if you, e.g, engage in
>enhaling the products of combustion engines (e.g, walking behind a gasoline
>lawnmower) or if you engage in chronic hyperalimentation (excess caloric
>consumption) at home or at your favorite restaurant, when compared to the
>risks involved in the CAREFUL use of the above herbicides.
>    Having said such, it is still extremely important that one uses all
>herbicides JUDICIOUSLY.  I use the above herbicides extensively, but very
>carefully.  I could not succeed in my native grassland restoration and/or
>reconstruction projects (with very few exceptions) without the use of one
>or both of these herbicides, i.e., the beneficial aspects of these
>herbicides far exceeds the costs.
>
>Cliff
>(Clifford W. Welsch)
>(a native grassland restorationist/reconstructionist in south/central
Michigan)
>
>
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