Is there "a link" between glyphosate and cancer?
But what does "a link" mean? That we are all going to die of cancer?
The links between cancer and a multitude of substances is evaluated by the IARC, International Center for Research on Cancer.
He thus evaluated substances which are "carcinogenic" (group 1). In bulk, exhaust fumes, soot, wood dust, alcohol, tobacco, processed meat (sausage ...), etc.
We have known for decades, there is no reason to exclaim for this, or to be afraid. There are even people who smoke, drink alcohol, eat sausage, without moods.
The IARC has also evaluated glyphosate, which is "probably carcinogenic to humans" (group 2A).
A quick reading of the IARC results would suggest that glyphosate (group 2A) would be less risky than sausage (group 1).
But no. At the very least, you should read what the work of IARC is, explained in this IARC document:
IARC Monographs.
"The classification indicates the degree of certainty of the indications that an agent can cause cancer (technically called" danger "),
but it does not measure the likelihood that cancer will occur (technically called "risk") as a result of exposure to the agent.."
(underlined in the text)
“The IARC Monographs program assesses
the potential at exposure to cause cancer in humans (cancer hazard in English), but not the level of risk of cancer (cancer risk in English) associated with the exhibition. "
(underlined in the text)
IARC assesses the
dangers. National security agencies in almost every country have assessed glyphosate to be free of
risk. Risk is a function of the hazard and the exposure to that hazard. If we confuse the two concepts, danger and risk, we "risk" to miss the debate on glyphosate, more broadly on
risks pesticides.
For example, I have heard people here and there be cautious about security agencies who believe that glyphosate does not pose a risk to the general public. These people are ironic: "so we can drink a glass of glyphosate every morning, that's not a problem".
These people demonstrate by this, not that they have spirit, but that they did not understand the difference between danger and risk.
The car is a danger, but on a certain small island where there is no car, it presents no risk.
The risks of pesticides