The EPA has come out with a report that concludes that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans. The report was part of a larger review process into agricultural chemicals and deciding if farmers will be allowed to use them. It looked at 23 epidemiological studies, 15 animal carcinogenicity studies, and nearly 90 genotoxicity studies for the active ingredient glyphosate. After weighing the evidence the study came to the conclusion that the “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans” classification was the strongest descriptor for glyphosate.
There were some positive animal experiments but the EPA review them as not being relevant to humans. From the report:
In the case of glyphosate, effects are not likely below 500 mg/kg/day based on oral studies. Tumor incidences were not increased in animal carcinogenicity at doses <500 mg/kg/day, except for the testicular tumors observed in a single study that were not considered treatment-related. In genotoxicity studies, assays with oral administration were negative except for one instance where an extremely high dose (5,000 mg/kg/day) was administered.
This would make the US EPA a part of a growing list of several agencies that have contradicted the IARC’s “probably carcinogenic” label for glyphosate. A list that includes EFSA and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
A panel of outside scientists will review the report in October.