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A new review on the relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk of blood cancers in the lymph glands (lymphomas) has confirmed the existence of a link with the world's most popular herbicide glyphosate (aka Roundup).

Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and titled, "Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Occupational Exposure to Agricultural Pesticide Chemical Groups and Active Ingredients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," the paper focused on systematic reviews and a series of meta-analysis of almost 30 years worth of epidemiological research on the relationship between non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and occupational exposure to 80 agricultural pesticide active ingredients and 21 chemical groups. The review focused on 44 papers, all of which reported results from studies performed in high-income countries.

The study opened with mention of the "striking increase" observed in the incidence of non-Hodykin's type lymphomas in the last 30 years. Because farmers tend to have low overall mortality but high rates of some cancers, it is believed that agrochemical exposure may help to explain this contradiction.

In addition to showing there is consistent evidence that pesticide exposures in occupational agricultural settings are important determinants of NHL, the study found that glyphosate exposure, in particular, was positively associated with a common subtype of NHL, namely, B cell lymphoma.

Glyphosate-Linked Lymphoma Only the Tip of the Toxicity Iceberg

This finding, while significant, is highly unsurprisingly given the accumulating data now extant showing that glyphosate and many of its so-called 'inactive' ingredients including in herbicidal formulations such as Roundup are carcinogenic, perhaps even in infinitesimal (parts per trillion range) concentrations.

For more information on how glyphosate-based formulations may promote cancer, peruse the following articles: Also, you can visit the glyphosate formulation toxicology page on GreenMedInfo.com to review the primary literature on this agrochemical's link with cancer, as well as three dozen other adverse health effects.

Additionally, in an effort to raise awareness of the unintended, adverse health effects of glyphosate (and adjuvant) exposure, we are making the full PDF of our research abstracts available as a free download here: Download The Glyphosate Formulation Toxicity PDF.

Sayer Ji is the founder of GreenMedInfo.com, an author, educator, Steering Committee Member of the Global GMO Free Coalition (GGFC), and an advisory board member of the National Health Federation.