Roundup is the brand name of a systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide produced by Monsanto, and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the USA. But does it kill only weeds? ... A 2011 report by Earth Open Source asserts that the Roundup active ingredient - glyphosate - has caused birth defects in laboratory animal tests. News reports have supposed that regulators have been aware of these studies since 1980.
A 2008 scientific study has shown that Roundup formulations and metabolic products cause the death of human embryonic, placental, and umbilical cells in vitro, even at low concentrations. The effects were not proportional to the main active ingredient concentrations (glyphosate), but dependent on the nature of the adjuvants used in the Roundup formulation.
Environmental health, plant, and food experts have been sounding the alarm about health risks associated with the popular weed killer Roundup for years, saying it leads to hormone disruption and more than three dozen plant diseases. One study even found its main ingredient, glyphosate, killed human cells in the lab. A new report published this month also alleges that regulators and the pesticide industry have long known about the birth defect link—some for more than two decades—but kept the details hidden from the general public. While millions of pounds of Roundup are sprayed on food crops each year, many people still also freely spray Roundup in weedy areas of their lawn. It's been found in drinking water, and even inside our food.
The use of Roundup also kills so many plants that are the food of countless insect species that in turn are the food of birds and other animals. In the UK Roundup is often sprayed on Nettles to kill them but they are the only foodplant of the Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies
And, unfortunately there is so much more to tell about Roundup; So, please, next time you think about using it, think twice. There is so many good alternatives! Did you try vinegar for the same purpose? Just spray it over your drive, you might be surprised!
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