Bad news keeps on coming for Monsanto Co. Yesterday Iowa Environmental Focus reported on an Iowa State University Study that suggests bugs are becoming resistant to Monsanto’s genetically modified corn plants. Now another study is out revealing that traces of Roundup – Monsanto’s popular herbicide – were found in nearly every air and water sample taken in Mississippi and Iowa.
The U.S. Geological Survey Office conducted these tests. While the widespread presence of Roundup’s chemicals is disconcerting, it’s unknown what effects the chemicals have on people and the environment.
However, studies repeatedly link Roundup’s main chemical, glyphosate – the same chemical found in almost all of the study’s samples – to birth defects.
According to a Reuters’ report, the EPA hopes to determine whether or not to regulate the herbicide’s use by 2015:
The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the registration for glyphosate and the data gathered by the U.S. Geological Survey has been submitted to the EPA, said Capel.
The EPA has set a deadline of 2015 for determining if glyphosate should continue to be sold or in some way limited. The EPA is working closely with regulators in Canada as they also assess the ongoing safety and effectiveness of the herbicide.
