text: Toxicologist pans glyphosate report | The Western Producer
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  A panel of experts with the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer released a report March 20 classifying glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup, as Group 2A: probably carcinogenic to humans. | File photo
  A Canadian toxicologist says the World Health Organization made a critical scientific error in its decision to classify glyphosate as a probable carcinogen.
  A panel of experts with the WHO's International Agency for Research (IARC) on Cancer released a report March 20 on five pesticides, including glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the world.
  After reviewing the scientific literature, the experts classified glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup, as Group 2A: probably carcinogenic to humans.
  Solomon wrote the Colombian study.
  Solomon isn't the only scientist to speak out against the IARC decision. A number of toxicologists and pesticide experts have criticized the United Nations agency for a lack of balance.
  They said the report ignored an abundance of papers showing that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. Instead, it focused on a few marginal studies showing that glyphosate promotes tumours in mice and epidemiological studies linking the herbicide to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  Aaron Blair, a scientist emeritus at the National Cancer Institute who led the IARC group of 17 experts, told Reuters that the classification is scientifically appropriate.
  He said there might be hundreds of studies on glyphosate, but concerns about the herbicide are mounting.
  "We looked at, 'is there evidence that glyphosate causes cancer?' and the answer is 'probably.' That is different than yes."
  Solomon said the conclusion contradicts scientific consensus. National regulatory agencies around the globe have evaluated glyphosate and concluded the weed killer is not a human health risk. As an example, a recent German report concluded that glyphosate is probably not a carcinogen.
  Solomon said he would reserve final judgment until IARC publishes a comprehensive report on its decision, which will be released in about a year.