According to a report published by the World Health Organization, Glyphosate has been included in the list of chemicals, which are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’. The substance is the most widely used herbicide across the world. It has also been recognized as a substance, which causes damage to the human DNA and could lead to cancer.

The announcement has been made by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) after seeking advice from 17 cancer experts from 11 countries around the world. It was found that herbicides such as glyphosate lead to increased risk of non Hodgkin lymphoma. However, experiments suggest that the chemical could trigger cancer in lab animals.

“We don’t know how (the agency) could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe”, said Philip Miller, Monsanto’s vice-president of global regulatory affairs.

One more study was conducted in Sri Lanka by the Rajarata University. The study has been published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. It was found in the study that there is an association between glyphosate and chronic kidney disease among farm-workers. It was also found that extreme heat and dehydration could decrease the stamina of workers.