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Monsanto developed and [[patent]]ed the [[glyphosate]] molecule in the 1970s, and marketed Roundup from 1973. It retained exclusive rights to glyphosate in the US until its US patent expired in September, 2000; in other countries the patent expired earlier. The Roundup trademark is registered with the [[US Patent Office]] and still extant. However, [[glyphosate]] is no longer under patent, so similar products use it as an active ingredient.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/label/labelque.htm#regprods|title=California Product/Label Database|date=|publisher=Cdpr.ca.gov|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref> |
Monsanto developed and [[patent]]ed the [[glyphosate]] molecule in the 1970s, and marketed Roundup from 1973. It retained exclusive rights to glyphosate in the US until its US patent expired in September, 2000; in other countries the patent expired earlier. The Roundup trademark is registered with the [[US Patent Office]] and still extant. However, [[glyphosate]] is no longer under patent, so similar products use it as an active ingredient.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/label/labelque.htm#regprods|title=California Product/Label Database|date=|publisher=Cdpr.ca.gov|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref> |
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The main [[active ingredient]] of Roundup is the [[isopropyl amine|isopropylamine]] [[salt]] of [[glyphosate]]. Another ingredient of Roundup is the [[surfactant]] POEA ([[polyethoxylated tallow amine]]). |
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The main [[active ingredient]] of Roundup is the [[isopropyl amine|isopropylamine]] [[salt]] of [[glyphosate]]. Another important ingredient of Roundup is the [[surfactant]] POEA ([[polyethoxylated tallow amine]]), which is known for its toxicity in wildlife.<ref>{{Cite journal| first1 = M. A. | title = The Ecological Impacts of Large-Scale Agrofuel Monoculture Production Systems in the Americas | journal = Bulletin of Science Technology & Society | volume = 29| issue = 3| last1 = Altieri | pages = 236 | year = 2009 | doi = 10.1177/0270467609333728}}</ref> It increases herbicide penetration in plant<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/roundup-weed-killer-is-toxic-to-human-cells.-study-intensifies-debate-over-inert-ingredients|title=Weed killer kills human cells. Study intensifies debate over 'inert' ingredients.|last=Gammon|first=Crystal|date=2009-06-22|work=Environmental Health News|publisher=Environmental Health Sciences|accessdate=2009-07-12}}</ref> and animal<ref name="cite pmid|20036731">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.tiv.2009.12.020 | title = Effects of Roundup and glyphosate formulations on intracellular transport, microtubules and actin filaments in Xenopus laevis melanophores | year = 2009 | last1 = Daniel | first1 = H. | last2 = Margareta | first2 = W. | journal = Toxicology in Vitro| volume = 24 | pages = 795–802 | pmid = 20036731 | issue = 3 }}</ref><ref name="Zeliger">{{Cite book|last=Zeliger|first=Harold I.|title=Human Toxicology of Chemical Mixtures|year=2008|publisher=William Andrew Pub|isbn=978-0-8155-1589-0|page=388}}</ref> cells. |
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Monsanto also produces seeds which grow into plants [[genetic engineering|genetically engineered]] to be tolerant to glyphosate, which are known as ''Roundup Ready'' crops. The genes contained in these seeds are patented. Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a post-emergence herbicide against most broadleaf and cereal weeds. |
Monsanto also produces seeds which grow into plants [[genetic engineering|genetically engineered]] to be tolerant to glyphosate, which are known as ''Roundup Ready'' crops. The genes contained in these seeds are patented. Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a post-emergence herbicide against most broadleaf and cereal weeds. |
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===Falsification of test results === |
===Falsification of test results === |
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On two occasions, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has detected falsification of |
On two occasions, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has detected falsification of test results at laboratories hired by Monsanto to study glyphosate.<ref>(US EPA Communications and Public Affairs 1991 ''Note to correspondents'' Washington DC Mar 1)</ref><ref>(US EPA Communications and Public Affairs 1991 Press Advisory. ''EPA lists crops associated with pesticides for which residue and environmental fate studies were allegedly manipulated''. Washington DC Mar 29)</ref><ref>(U.S. Congress. House of Representatives. Com. on Gov. Oper. 1984. ''Problems palgue the EPA pesticide registration activities''. House Report 98-1147)</ref> In the first incident involving [[Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories|Industrial Biotest Laboratories]], an EPA reviewer stated that after finding "routine falsification of data" that it was "hard to believe the scientific integrity of the studies when they said they took specimens of the [[uterus]] from male rabbits".<ref>(U.S. EPA 1978 Data validation. Memo from K LOcke, Toxicology Branch, to R Taylor, Registration Branch. Washington DC Aug 9)</ref><ref>(U.S. EPA Office of pesticides and Toxic Substances 1983, ''Summary of the IBT review program''. Washington D.C. July)</ref><ref>Schneider, K. 1983. Faking it: The case against Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories. The Amicus Journal (Spring):14-26. Reproduced at [http://planetwaves.net/contents/faking_it.html Planetwaves]</ref In the second incident in 1991, the owner of [[Craven Laboratories]] and three employees were indicted on 20 felony counts, the owner was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined $50,000, the lab was fined $15.5 million d ollars and ordered to pay $3.7 million in restitution.<ref name=autogenerated6>{{Cite web|author=mindfully.org |url=http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Roundup-Glyphosate-Factsheet-Cox.htm |title=Glyphosate Factsheet (part 1 of 2) Caroline Cox / Journal of Pesticide Reform v.108, n.3 Fall98 rev.Oct00 |publisher=Mindfully.org |date= |accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref><ref>(US Dept. of Justice. United States Attorney. Western District of Texas 1992. ''Texas laboratory, its president, 3 employees indicted on 20 felony counts in connection with pesticide testing''. Austin TX Sept 29)</ref><ref>(US EPA Communications, Education, And Public Affairs 1994 Press Advisory. ''Craven Laboratories, owner, and 14 employees sentenced for falsifying pesticide tests''. Washington DC Mar 4)</ref> Craven performed studies for 262 pesticide companies including Monsanto. |
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Monsanto has stated that the studies have since been repeated, and that Roundup's EPA certification does not now use any studies from Craven Labs or IBT. Monsanto also said that the Craven Labs investigation was started by the EPA after a pesticide industry task force discovered irregularities.<ref>Backgrounder: Testing Fraud: IBT and Craven Labs, June 2005, Monsanto background paper on RoundUp [http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/ibt_craven_bkg.pdf]</ref> |
Monsanto has stated that the studies have since been repeated, and that Roundup's EPA certification does not now use any studies from Craven Labs or IBT. Monsanto also said that the Craven Labs investigation was started by the EPA after a pesticide industry task force discovered irregularities.<ref>Backgrounder: Testing Fraud: IBT and Craven Labs, June 2005, Monsanto background paper on RoundUp [http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/ibt_craven_bkg.pdf]</ref> |
Revision as of 16:42, 17 September 2018
Manufacturing status | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Monsanto |
Type | Herbicide |
Introduced to market | 1976[1] |
Purposes | |
Agriculture | non-selective post-emergence weed control |
Herbicide properties | |
Surfactant | Polyethoxylated tallow amine(most common) |
Main active ingredient | isopropylamine salt of Glyphosate |
Mode of action | 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase(EPSPS) inhibitor |
Roundup is the brand name of a systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide produced by the U.S. company Monsanto, and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the USA,[2] and Roundup has been the number one selling herbicide worldwide since at least 1980.[3] As of 2009, sales of Roundup herbicides still represent about 10% of Monsanto's revenue despite competition from Chinese producers of other glyphosate-based herbicides;[4] the overall Roundup line of products (which includes GM seeds) represents about half of Monsanto's yearly revenue.[5]
Monsanto developed and patented the glyphosate molecule in the 1970s, and marketed Roundup from 1973. It retained exclusive rights to glyphosate in the US until its US patent expired in September, 2000; in other countries the patent expired earlier. The Roundup trademark is registered with the US Patent Office and still extant. However, glyphosate is no longer under patent, so similar products use it as an active ingredient.[6]
The main active ingredient of Roundup is the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate. Another ingredient of Roundup is the surfactant POEA (polyethoxylated tallow amine).
Monsanto also produces seeds which grow into plants genetically engineered to be tolerant to glyphosate, which are known as Roundup Ready crops. The genes contained in these seeds are patented. Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a post-emergence herbicide against most broadleaf and cereal weeds.
Regulation
Beyond the glyphosate salts content, commercial formulations of Roundup contain surfactants, which vary in nature and concentration. As a result, the effects of this herbicide are not with the main active ingredient alone, but with complex and variable mixtures.[7]
Health effects
Toxicity[8]
A 2000 review concluded that "under present and expected conditions of new use, there is no potential for Roundup herbicide to pose a health risk to humans".[9]
Ecologic effects
A 2000 review of the toxicological data on Roundup concluded that "for terrestrial uses of Roundup minimal acute and chronic risk was predicted for potentially exposed nontarget organisms". It also concluded that there were some risks to aquatic organisms exposed to Roundup in shallow water.[10]
False advertising and falsification of test results
False advertising
In 1996, Monsanto was accused of false and misleading advertising of glyphosate products, prompting a law suit by the New York State attorney general.[11] Monsanto had made claims that its spray-on glyphosate based herbicides, including Roundup, were safer than table salt and "practically non-toxic" to mammals, birds, and fish.[12]
Environmental and consumer rights campaigners brought a case in France in 2001 accusing Monsanto of presenting Roundup as biodegradable and claiming that it left the soil clean after use; glyphosate, Roundup's main ingredient, is classed by the European Union as "dangerous for the environment" and "toxic for aquatic organisms". In January 2007, Monsanto was convicted of false advertising.[13] The result was confirmed in 2009.[14]
Falsification of test results
On two occasions, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has detected falsification of test results at laboratories hired by Monsanto to study glyphosate.[15][16][17] In the first incident involving Industrial Biotest Laboratories, an EPA reviewer stated that after finding "routine falsification of data" that it was "hard to believe the scientific integrity of the studies when they said they took specimens of the uterus from male rabbits".[18][19]Cite error: A <ref>
tag is missing the closing </ref>
(see the help page).[20][21] Craven performed studies for 262 pesticide companies including Monsanto.
Monsanto has stated that the studies have since been repeated, and that Roundup's EPA certification does not now use any studies from Craven Labs or IBT. Monsanto also said that the Craven Labs investigation was started by the EPA after a pesticide industry task force discovered irregularities.[22]
Genetically modified crops
Roundup Ready is the Monsanto trademark for its patented line of crop seed that are resistant to its glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup.
See also
- Glyphosate-based herbicides
- Pesticides in the United States
- Pesticide regulation in the United States
- Environmental impact of pesticides
- Health effects of pesticides
- Integrated pest management
- 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
References
- ^ "Monsanto ~ Who We Are ~ Company History". Monsanto.com. 2008-11-03. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ US EPA 2000–2001 Pesticide Market Estimates Agriculture, Home and Garden
- ^ Documentary The World According to Monsanto
- ^ "The debate over whether Monsanto is a corporate sinner or saint". The Economist. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ Cavallaro, Matt (2009-06-26). "The Seeds Of A Monsanto Short Play". Forbes. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ "California Product/Label Database". Cdpr.ca.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Review article at of glyphosate poisoning at Pubmed by Bradberry SM, Proudfoot AT, Vale JA. of the National Poisons Information Service (Birmingham Centre) and West Midlands Poisons Unit, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. National Institutes of Health
- ^ http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/0178fact.pdf
- ^ Williams GM, Kroes R, Munro IC (2000). "Safety evaluation and risk assessment of the herbicide Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, for humans". Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 31 (2): 117–165. doi:10.1006/rtph.1999.1371. PMID 10854122.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ JP Giesy, KR Solomon, S Dobson (2000). "Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment for Roundup Herbicide". Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 167: 35-120
- ^ mindfully.org. "Attorney General of the State of New York. Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau. Environmental Protection Bureau. 1996. In the matter of Monsanto Company, respondent. Assurance of discontinuance pursuant to executive law § 63(15). New York, NY, Nov". Mindfully.org. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ "Monsanto pulls Roundup advertising in New York", Wichita Eagle, Nov. 27, 1996.
- ^ "Monsanto Fined in France for 'False' Herbicide Ads - Organic Consumers Association". Organicconsumers.org. 2007-01-26. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ "Monsanto guilty in 'false ad' row". BBC. 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ (US EPA Communications and Public Affairs 1991 Note to correspondents Washington DC Mar 1)
- ^ (US EPA Communications and Public Affairs 1991 Press Advisory. EPA lists crops associated with pesticides for which residue and environmental fate studies were allegedly manipulated. Washington DC Mar 29)
- ^ (U.S. Congress. House of Representatives. Com. on Gov. Oper. 1984. Problems palgue the EPA pesticide registration activities. House Report 98-1147)
- ^ (U.S. EPA 1978 Data validation. Memo from K LOcke, Toxicology Branch, to R Taylor, Registration Branch. Washington DC Aug 9)
- ^ (U.S. EPA Office of pesticides and Toxic Substances 1983, Summary of the IBT review program. Washington D.C. July)
- ^ (US Dept. of Justice. United States Attorney. Western District of Texas 1992. Texas laboratory, its president, 3 employees indicted on 20 felony counts in connection with pesticide testing. Austin TX Sept 29)
- ^ (US EPA Communications, Education, And Public Affairs 1994 Press Advisory. Craven Laboratories, owner, and 14 employees sentenced for falsifying pesticide tests. Washington DC Mar 4)
- ^ Backgrounder: Testing Fraud: IBT and Craven Labs, June 2005, Monsanto background paper on RoundUp [1]
Further reading
- Baccara, Mariagiovanna, et al. Monsanto's Roundup, NYU Stern School of Business: August 2001, Revised July 14, 2003.
- Pease W S et al. (1993) Preventing pesticide-related illness in California agriculture: Strategies and priorities. Environmental Health Policy Program Report. Berkeley, CA: University of California. School of Public Health. California Policy Seminar.
- Wang Y, Jaw C and Chen Y (1994) Accumulation of 2,4-D and glyphosate in fish and water hyaacinth. Water Air Soil Pollute. 74:397-403