cancer
Europe debates using formaldehyde in livestock feed
The European Commission has been in a two-year deadlock over whether to remove formaldehyde from livestock feed. The chemical, which is used to kill salmonella, has been linked to cancer.
USDA nixes planned glyphosate tests
U.S. Right to Know files lawsuit for EPA documents on glyphosate
After waiting for nearly 10 months for EPA to reply to its public-records request, the consumer group U.S. Right to Know filed suit in federal court for access to agency documents involved in deciding the cancer risk of glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world. The WHO cancer agency determined the herbicide is "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2015 but an EPA review committee in 2016 decided glyphosate is "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" at doses relevant to human health risk assessment.
Put cancer warning on processed meat, consumer group asks USDA
Pointing to a WHO agency finding that processed meat is "carcinogenic to humans," the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned USDA to require a cancer warning label on packages of bacon, ham, hot dogs and other processed red meat and poultry. Michael Jacobson, leader of the consumer group, said chances are slim the incoming Trump administration will agree with the petition, "but at CSPI we're used to taking the long view."
WHO cancer agency says it owns documents on glyphosate
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which ignited a global debate by rating glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans, has advised experts not to release documents requested under U.S. public records laws, said Reuters. In a letter and an email, IARC says it is "the sole owner of such materials" and "IARC requests you and your institute not to release any (such) documents," reports the news agency.
Is glyphosate a cancer risk? It depends on your gauge.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer started a global debate by rating glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, as "probably carcinogenic to humans" while the EPA says its studies indicate it is "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans at doses relevant to human health." Harvest Public Media says the difference in view is partially explained by the way the agencies chose to evaluate the issue.
Good news for coffee drinkers—WHO agency says no conclusive cancer risk
An exhaustive review of research finds no conclusive evidence of a risk of cancer from drinking coffee, said the International Agency for Research on Cancer in its first look at the hot drink since 1991, when it found a weak link to cancer of the bladder. On the five-point scale used by the WHO agency, the only lower rating than "not classifiable" for coffee is "probably not carcinogenic."
IARC takes a new look at its rating of coffee as possible carcinogen
Coffee is one of the favorite beverages of the western world. It also has been rated since 1991 as "possibly carcinogenic to the human urinary bladder" by the WHO's cancer agency, which will open a week-long review of coffee, mate and "very hot beverages" on Tuesday.
Fracking chemicals disrupting hormones, study in W. Virginia says
Chemicals in hydraulic fracking are capable of disrupting the endocrine systems of fish and potentially humans, says a new study that tested water around a fracking wastewater disposal site in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Rural residents “left behind” in cancer screening
"Poor, minority and rural residents are left behind" in cancer screenings, says USA Today, "and experts say there's no excuse." The newspaper said it worked with the American Association of Central Cancer Registries to see where deaths from cancer exceed the rates expected for how often it strikes. "States faring worst include Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama, causing untold suffering and pushing up health costs for everyone," says the story says.
WHO agency finds cancer hazard in processed and red meat
The WHO's cancer agency, in a decision certain to intensify the debate over the American diet, classified processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" and red meat as "probably carcinogenic to humans."
WHO cancer agency to assess red meat in October
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a WHO agency, plans a meeting from Oct. 6-13 in Lyon, France, to discuss red meat and processed meat.
Oregon to warn of arsenic in softshell clams
Oregon state officials plan to warn the public of elevated levels of arsenic in softshell clams along the Pacific coast, and to suggest consumption limits, says the Salem (Ore) Statesman Journal.
WHO agency says 2,4-D weedkiller is “possibly carcinogenic”
The weedkiller 2,4-D is "possibly carcinogenic to humans," says the International Agency for Research of Cancer, the same WHO agency that classified glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, as probably carcinogenic.
Widely used herbicide glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic”
The herbicide glyphosate, widely used in U.S. crop production, especially for genetically engineered corn and soybeans, is "probably carcinogenic to humans," says the specialized cancer agency of the UN World Health Organization. The herbicide is known under the brand name RoundUp in the United States. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reviewed glyphosate and four other organophosates on the recommendation of an advisory committee that dozens of pesticides should be examined because...
WHO advisers analyze weedkiller 2,4-D for cancer risk
A panel of two dozen scientists begins a week-long meeting today in Lyon, France, to "analyze scientific findings regarding links between cancer in humans and the herbicide known as 2,4-D," says Reuters.
House farm bill would shield Bayer from Roundup lawsuits
Tucked into the horticulture section of the farm bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee is language shielding seed and ag chemical giant Bayer from lawsuits against its Roundup weedkiller. Section 10204, running one-and-a-half pages, amounts to a "Get out of jail free" card for pesticide companies, according to an avowed guardian of victims' rights.