What Is Roundup?
Roundup is the trade name for the herbicide formulated primarily with glyphosate. The said product serves to kill weeds and grasses that are unattractive or damage crops. Individuals use the product to care for their gardens, and also companies to care for large crops. Originally, Roundup was developed by the Monsanto company, which in 2018 was bought by the German group Bayer. Currently, Roundup is still available on the market, despite the lawsuits against the company for being a possible cause of cancer.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is the main active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, which is combined with other ingredients to enhance its uptake into plants. This substance, registered as a pesticide in the US since 1974, is one of the most popular products of its kind.
Does Roundup Cause Cancer?
According to studies carried out by the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), there are no risks of concern for human health when using glyphosate. On the other hand, it also found that glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogen.
For its part, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has published that there is sufficient evidence to determine that glyphosate is a possible cause of cancer. In addition, to date, lawsuits have been developed against the manufacturer by people who used Roundup for many years. The plaintiffs won since they found the connection between their cancer diagnosis and the use of the product.