TITLE: Glyphosate cancer findings of “extreme concern” as Europe weighs reauthorization of pesticide
https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/10/glyphosate-cancer-findings-of-extreme-concern-as-europe-weighs-reauthorization-of-pesticide/
EXCERPT: European researchers have found new evidence linking popular weed-killing products to cancer at levels currently considered safe.
The study focused on glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide and other brands, and is the latest in a series of studies examining the safety of the world’s most widely used weed-killing chemical.
Notably, the work comes as the European Union is wrestling over whether or not to keep glyphosate products on the market after the current approval expires in December.
The research has not yet been peer reviewed, but was presented Wednesday at an international scientific conference.
“We felt an urgency to present this data, and provide it to policy makers and the public,” said Daniele Mandrioli, director of the Ramazzini Institute in Bologna, Italy, which is overseeing a multi-faceted research program investigating glyphosate impacts called the Global Glyphosate Study.
“This is of extreme concern. We couldn’t sit on this data,” Mandrioli said.
Glyphosate is so widely used that it is ubiquitous in the environment- commonly found in food, water and human urine samples.
Researchers said they discovered that low doses of glyphosate-based herbicides at exposure levels within the current acceptable regulatory standards caused a statistically significant dose-related trend in leukemia incidence in young rats, including those younger than one year. The findings showed an “extremely rare onset,” according to Mandrioli.
Tumors were even seen in rats aged 21 weeks. One year in the life of a rat is roughly equivalent to 40 years in a human, the scientists said. No cases of leukemia were observed in the first year of age in more than 1,600 historical control animals.
The researchers looked at glyphosate and at two commercial glyphosate-based formulations, administering different doses via drinking water.
TITLE: What Is TCE? Biden Administration Pushes Ban On Common Cleaning Chemical Linked To Cancer
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/10/23/what-is-tce-biden-administration-pushes-ban-on-common-cleaning-chemical-linked-to-cancer/?sh=5adc65295043
EXCERPT: The EPA has requested public comments on the proposed ban over a 45-day period before it is finalized. The proposal will ban most uses of TCE, including manufacturing commercial and consumer products, within a year. Other uses—manufacturing electric vehicle batteries and the manufacturing of some refrigerants—will be categorized as “limited” through a longer, unspecified transition period, with added worker protections. The ban follows an evaluation of the chemical released by the agency earlier this year, which indicated the chemical “presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health.”
The American Chemistry Council—representing U.S.-based chemical manufacturers—told the New York Times that the proposed ban is not based on “the best available science, including accurate assessments of exposure,” suggesting the EPA had not conducted “realistic” studies of the exposure to the chemical.
In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered volatile organic compounds that included TCE in the drinking water at Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Contamination of drinking water at Camp Lejeune started in the early 1950s, according to the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, after water supply wells were contaminated by leaking storage tanks, industrial area spills and waste disposal sites. Contaminated drinking water impacted about 1 million people, though it is unknown how many people were exposed to TCE. Congress approved the Camp Lejeune Justice Act last year, allowing anyone injured or affected by contaminated drinking water at the base to file claims for recovery. About 93,000 claims have been filed as of September 6, 2023.
Trichloroethylene is commonly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts, as well as in commercial dry cleaning and other applications, including common household products like cleaning wipes, aerosol cleaning products, spot removers and carpet cleaners, among other uses, according to the National Cancer Institute. The chemical is commonly used by several industries and is sold by most U.S. chemical manufacturers, including Exxon and Chevron. An initial ban on trichloroethylene was proposed under the Obama Administration in 2016, though the effort was delayed and later withdrawn by the Trump Administration in 2021. The Environmental Defense Fund—an environmental activist group—condemned the EPA’s decision to not ban TCE, noting “numerous flaws” by the agency to “understate the highly toxic chemical’s risks” to workers and the public.
TITLE: Consumer Reports finds more lead, cadmium in chocolate, urges change at Hershey
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/consumer-reports-finds-more-lead-cadmium-chocolate-urges-change-hershey-2023-10-25/
EXCERPT: Consumer Reports tested products in seven categories: dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and mixes for brownies, chocolate cake and hot chocolate.
Products found to contain excessive metal content included a dark chocolate bar and hot chocolate mix from Walmart (WMT.N), cocoa powder from Hershey's and Droste, semi-sweet chocolate chips from Target (TGT.N), and hot chocolate mixes from Trader Joe's, Nestle (NESN.S) and Starbucks (SBUX.O).
Only milk chocolate bars, which have fewer cocoa solids, were found not to contain excessive metal content.
Consumer Reports has said long-term exposure to the metals can result in nervous system problems, immune system suppression and kidney damage, with greater danger to pregnant women and young children.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told the nonprofit that experts consider chocolate a "minor source of exposure" to lead and cadmium internationally, but that manufacturers and processors remain responsible for ensuring their food's safety.
Wednesday's study followed Consumer Reports' findings last December that 23 of 28 tested dark chocolate bars contained excessive lead or cadmium, including Hershey products sold under its own brand and the Lily's and Scharffen Berger brands.
Consumer Reports food policy director Brian Ronholm said Hershey, as a "leading and popular brand," should commit to making its chocolate safer. The nonprofit did not on Wednesday ask other manufacturers for the same commitment.
In March, Hershey Chief Financial Officer Steve Voskuil said his company was looking to reduce levels of lead and cadmium, saying the metals are elements in soil that can occur naturally in a chocolate product.
"We would love to eradicate it completely," Voskuil said.
Consumer Reports said more than 75,000 consumers signed an earlier petition for Hershey to reduce heavy metals in its chocolate, and that it is now again petitioning the company.
Hershey referred a request for comment to the National Confectioners Association.
"Chocolate and cocoa are safe to eat and can be enjoyed as treats as they have been for centuries," said Christopher Gindlesperger, a spokesman for the trade group.