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 Twenty-four scientists representing WHO's International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) will analyze scientific findings regarding
links between cancer in humans and the herbicide known as 2,4-D at a
June 2-9 meeting in Lyon, France.
A separate group of IARC scientists in March unanimously decided to
classify glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto Co's Roundup
weedkiller, as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The designation
prompted outrage and calls for a retraction from Monsanto, and
demands by some public officials and consumers for bans on the
pesticide.
Many believe the same could happen for 2,4-D.
"I do think they are going to upgrade 2,4-D," said Michael Hansen, a
senior scientist at Consumers Union who has served on an advisory
committee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as an expert
on WHO consultation projects.
"There is just as strong, or even a stronger case (for links to
cancer), on 2,4-D than there was for glyphosate," he said.
IARC's work is of particular concern to Dow AgroSciences, a unit of
Dow Chemical Co. The company manufactures 2,4-D and this year is
rolling out a product that combines 2,4-D with glyphosate after
approval from the Environmental Protection Agency last year.
Dow will have representatives at the meeting, and a 2,4-D task force
backed by Dow funded an analysis of 14 studies that refutes concerns
about 2,4-D and cancer that has been submitted to IARC.
"The epidemiology evidence does not support an association between
2,4-D and NHL (non-Hodgkin lymphoma), gastric cancer, or prostate
cancer risk," said Julie Goodman, a scientist and consultant working
for the 2,4-D task force.
However, a different analysis of scientific studies did find cancer
connections with 2,4-D, said IARC scientist Maria Leon, who
co-authored that analysis last year.
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There were indications that farm exposure to 2,4-D was associated
with a 40 percent higher risk of NHL. Determining the strength of
the evidence will be up to the IARC working group, Leon said.
Maarten Bosland, a U.S. cancer scientist and member of the IARC
group evaluating 2,4-D, said he knows the work will be closely
watched.
"There is nothing that anybody can say at this point. We haven't
seen all the evidence," Bosland said.
Critics for years have said 2,4-D has clear ties to cancer and note
that it was an ingredient in Agent Orange, a defoliant used in the
Vietnam War linked to cancers in soldiers. But agribusiness
interests, U.S. regulators and others say that a different
ingredient in Agent Orange was behind the health problems, and that
there is no solid evidence of cancer connected to 2,4-D.
Dow said "no national regulatory authority in the world considers
2,4-D a carcinogen."
A coalition of U.S. farmer and environmental groups have sued the
EPA, seeking to overturn approval for Dow's new herbicide.
(Reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City, Missouri; Editing by
Richard Chang)
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