Monsanto's Roundup herbicide found to destroy testosterone, male fertility

Saturday, March 03, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: Roundup, herbicide, testosterone

(NaturalNews) A recent study published in the Journal of Toxicology in Vitro has found that, even at very low levels, Monsanto's herbicide formula Roundup destroys testosterone and ultimately leads to male infertility. The findings add to the more than 25 other diseases known to be linked to Roundup, which include DNA damage, birth defects, liver dysfunction, and cancer.

For their study, Emilie Clair and her colleagues from the Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie Institute of Biology in France tested the effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, on testicular cells from rats. Ranging in dilution from one part per million (ppm) to 10,000 ppm, which accounts for varying exposure levels in real life situations, each of the tests revealed undeniable cell toxicity caused by Roundup.

Interestingly, the findings revealed that even at one ppm, Roundup was responsible for causing severe endocrine disruption that reduced testosterone levels by 35 percent. And a one ppm exposure level is considered to be extremely low, and much lower than typical exposure levels in everyday environmental situations.

At higher exposure levels, Roundup was shown to induce testicular cell death in a little as one hour, and typically no later than 48 hours after exposure. And this is only acute toxicity, as the study did not analyze the long-term effects of continual and repeated exposure to Roundup, which has already been shown to seep into rivers and groundwater supplies.

A similar study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology back in 2007 found similar results. In vivo tests with Roundup revealed that the ducks exposed to Roundup exhibited "alterations in the structure of the testis and epididymal (a part of the male reproductive system) region as well as in the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, with changes in the expression of androgen receptors restricted to the testis."

So contrary to the claims made by Monsanto, there is truly no safe exposure level to Roundup. At typical exposure levels, it has been proven to destroy human cells and cause serious reproductive harm. And at trace levels, it has been proven to severely disrupt proper hormonal function and lead to low testosterone in men.

"Because it's a systemic pesticide and sprayed in high doses, produce and fruit and nut trees often take up the poison into the parts of the food we eat," writes Leah Zerbe in a recent Rodale News piece on Roundup. "Three easy ways to reduce your exposure? Eat organically grown foods ... [a]dopt organic lawn care techniques in your yard, and start an organic garden to further reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887233311003341

http://www.activistpost.com

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623806002711

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/toxic-ingredient/roundup-herbicide

http://www.rodale.com/roundup-dangers?page=0,0