Weedkiller chemical increases the risk of cancer "by up to 41%"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Exposure to a chemical in weedkiller can increase the risk of cancer by as much as 41 per cent, The Daily mail reports citing a study.

The safety of weedkillers containing glyphosate has been the topic of scientific debate – and lawsuits – for years.

Now, in an analysis of past studies, researchers have linked the chemical to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an uncommon cancer which starts in the white bloods cells.

Scientists have made their conclusion following a landmark court case in which terminally ill groundsman in California was awarded $289million (£225m) after a jury found Roundup weedkiller contributed to his cancer.

The company is facing further similar cases claiming Monsanto, which makes Roundup, made them or members of their family sick.

Contrary to the latest review, Monsanto, maintains glyphosate herbicides are safe and efficient.

Researchers led by the University of California, Berkeley, said: 'Together, all of the meta-analyses conducted to date, including our own, consistently report the same key finding: exposure to [glyphosate herbicides] is associated with an increased risk of [non-Hodgkin lymphoma].'

The study's authors say their study is different from previous research because it evaluates all published human studies and the different types of glyphosate studies, The Guardian reports..

Co-author, Professor Lianne Sheppard from the University of Washington, said: 'This paper makes a stronger case than previous meta-analyses that there is evidence of an increased risk of NHL due to glyphosate exposure.