On Thu, 15 May 2003 16:52:53 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

In article 1778cfc401ab2228e3c6b79adc294fc1@TeraNews,
(Malcolm) wrote:

Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology.
By Caroline Cox.
Journal of Pesticide Reform
Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 1995.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR.

Introduction

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used to kill unwanted
plants both in agriculture and in nonagricultural landscapes.
Estimated use in the U.S. is between 19 and 26 million pounds per
year.

Most glyphosate-containing products are either made or used with a
surfactant, chemicals that help glyphosate to penetrate plant cells.
More or less right so far.

Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including
humans.
Wrong.

"Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. "

"The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low. "

Quotes from those well known agrichemical barons, Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/~usa/r...sity/glyp.html

Talk about select vision. Try quoting it in context and in conjunction
with all the other research into this highly toxic substance.

You sees the facts, you makes up your mind. (do it quick while you
still have one)
..

Human Toxicity

Because the shikimic acid pathway does not exist in animals, the acute
toxicity of glyphosate is very low. Glyphosate can interfere with some
enzyme functions in animals but symptoms of poisoning are only seen at
very high doses. However, products containing glyphosate also contain
other compounds which can be toxic. In particular most contain
surfactants known as polyoxyethyleneamines (POEA). Some of these are
much more toxic than glyphosate. These account for problems associated
with worker exposure. They are serious irritants of the respiratory
tract, eyes and skin and are contaminated with dioxane (not dioxin)
which is a suspected carcinogen. Some are toxic to fish.

In California, glyphosate is the third most commonly-reported cause of
pesticide related illness among agricultural workers. Glyphosate is
the most frequent cause of complaints to the UK’s Health and Safety
Executive’s Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel. New formulations,
with less irritating surfactants, have been developed by Monsanto
(e.g. Roundup Biactive), but cheaper, older preparations are still
available.

Environmental Toxicity

Glyphosate is one of the most toxic herbicides, with many species of
wild plants being damaged or killed by applications of less than 10
micrograms per plant. Glyphosate can be more damaging to wild flora
than many other herbicides, as aerial spraying with glyphosate can
give average drifts of 1200 to 2500 feet and ground spraying with
glyphosate may cause damage to sensitive plants up to 300 feet from
the field sprayed. Glyphosate use is thought to affect hedgerow trees,
causing die-back, and may reduce trees' winter hardiness and
resistance to fungal disease

The direct toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is low.
However, its effect on flora can have a damaging effect on mammals and
birds through habitat destruction. The US EPA concluded that many
endangered species of plants, as well as the Houston toad, may be at
risk from glyphosate use.

Fish and invertebrates are more sensitive to formulations of
glyphosate. As with humans, the surfactants are responsible for much
of the harm . Toxicity is increased with higher water temperatures,
and pH. In Australia, guidelines state that most formulations of
glyphosate should not be used in or near water because of their toxic
effects on tadpoles and adult frogs. The newer, non-irritant
formulations such as Roundup Biactive are not included in this advice.

Of nine herbicides tested for their toxicity to soil microorganisms,
glyphosate was found to be the second most toxic to a range of
bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeasts. However, when glyphosate
comes into contact with the soil it rapidly binds to soil particles
and is inactivated. Unbound glyphosate is degraded by bacteria. Low
activity because of binding to soil particles suggests that
glyphosate's effects on soil flora will be limited. However, some
recent work shows that glyphosate can be readily released from certain
types of soil particles, and therefore may leach into water or be
taken up by plants.


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So, you dont like reasoned,
well thought out, civil debate?

I understand.

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