cancer Archives

Glyphosate: Cancer, liver disease, endocrine disruption and other health concerns

Stacy Malkan | May 21, 2025

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. It is linked to cancer, liver and kidney disease, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity and many other health concerns. First patented by the Monsanto Company, glyphosate is now manufactured and sold by many companies in hundreds of products. It is best known as the active ingredient in Roundup-branded herbicides, … Glyphosate: Cancer, liver disease, endocrine disruption and other health concerns

Plastics may disrupt the body’s clock, raise risk of chronic disease, study finds

Pamela Ferdinand | April 14, 2025

Chemicals found in common food packaging plastics like cling film and snack pouches may interfere with the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, increasing the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems, and even cancer, new research shows.

Everyday chemicals linked to cognitive decline in older adults, especially men, new study reports

Pamela Ferdinand | May 2, 2025

Older adults exposed to a mix of chemicals found in everyday products—such as food packaging, cosmetics, and printed receipts—may face a higher risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, according to a study published in April in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Common weedkiller glyphosate may be linked to liver disease epidemic, study warns

Pamela Ferdinand | May 5, 2025

A liver stands out brightly in a person's chest

Glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, may significantly raise the risk of an increasingly common chronic liver disease—even at low exposure levels, according to a new review of more than 40 scientific studies published over the past 17 years.

Glyphosate poses widespread risks to female fertility and reproductive health: new research

Pamela Ferdinand | March 15, 2025

Glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, disrupts female hormones and damages the ovaries and uterus in ways that can make it more difficult for women to get pregnant, according to a new review of human and animal research.

PFAS in drinking water linked to increased cancer risk, groundbreaking study finds

Pamela Ferdinand | March 20, 2025

Exposure to “forever chemicals” in drinking water is significantly associated with the increased risk of multiple cancers, including some not previously linked to these toxic compounds, a first-of-its-kind study shows.

Menthol cigarettes linked to higher death risk, especially for Black smokers

Pamela Ferdinand | March 13, 2025

Menthol cigarette smokers had a higher risk of dying from any health cause, including heart disease, compared to former non-menthol cigarette smokers, according to what researchers say is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind.

As EPA considers cancer links to nitrates in drinking water, industry downplays the risks

Natasha Gilbert | January 30, 2025

Among all the contaminants in drinking water, nitrates are one of the most pervasive. They leach from chemical fertilizers and animal manure to pollute groundwater, rivers, and streams. Scientists and health advocates are worried that nitrates could also be behind hundreds of cancer cases in farming states across the U.S.

Aspartame: Decades of science point to serious health risks

Stacy Malkan | March 27, 2025

Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as well as negative effects such as intestinal dysbiosis, mood disorders, headaches and migraines.

Agricultural pesticide exposure linked to childhood cancers, study says

Pamela Ferdinand | February 16, 2025

High exposure to multiple pesticides may cause childhood and adolescent cancers, especially brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

From ocean to table, researchers discover microplastics, other pollutant particles in popular fish

Pamela Ferdinand | January 9, 2025

A new study reveals that tiny particles from our laundry, food packaging, tires, personal care products, and other items end up in West Coast seafood we commonly eat.

Bayer Internal Emails Says Seeks to “Regain Public Trust” Amid Monsanto Mess

Carey Gillam | June 13, 2019

With legal and shareholder pressure mounting, Bayer AG on Thursday was preparing to launch an initiative to “regain public trust” after its acquisition last year of Monsanto Co. brought Bayer thousands of lawsuits filed by cancer victims and damning revelations of corporate deception surrounding years of health concerns about Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup herbicides. The plan … Bayer Internal Emails Says Seeks to “Regain Public Trust” Amid Monsanto Mess

Monsanto scientist tells jurors company’s side of Roundup cancer controversy

Carey Gillam | October 5, 2021

A senior scientist at the former Monsanto Co. on Tuesday told jurors in a California trial that regulators around the world support the company’s position that its glyphosate-based herbicides, such as the popular Roundup brand, are safe for users. Donna Farmer, who worked as a toxicologist at Monsanto for more than two decades and now … Monsanto scientist tells jurors company’s side of Roundup cancer controversy

Documents show how Monsanto and Bayer led attacks on scientists, journalists

Stacy Malkan | February 7, 2023

Internal documents reveal how pesticide firms led attacks on scientists from under the cover of front groups connected to the climate science denial network.

Rachel Carson Environment Book Award Winner: Whitewash by Carey Gillam

Carey Gillam | October 8, 2018

Carey Gillam’s “Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer and the Corruption of Science (Island Press) has received rave reviews since its release last fall and has received several awards for outstanding reporting: Winner, 2018 Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists 2018 Gold Medal winner, Outstanding Book of the Year, … Rachel Carson Environment Book Award Winner: Whitewash by Carey Gillam

The Monsanto Papers – Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice

Stacy Malkan | March 1, 2021

USRTK Research Director Carey Gillam’s new book is out now and garnering glowing reviews. Here is a brief description of the book from publisher Island Press: Lee Johnson was a man with simple dreams. All he wanted was a steady job and a nice home for his wife and children, something better than the hard … The Monsanto Papers – Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice

U.S. study shows switch to organic diet can quickly clear pesticide from our bodies

Carey Gillam | August 11, 2020

A new study published Tuesday found that after switching to an organic diet for just a few days, people could cut the levels of a pesticide linked to cancer found in their urine by more than 70 percent. The researchers collected a total of 158 urine samples from four families –seven adults and nine children … U.S. study shows switch to organic diet can quickly clear pesticide from our bodies

EPA removes name of U.S. official from warning of glyphosate cancer links

Carey Gillam | July 16, 2020

(Update with EPA explanation) In an unusual move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deleted the name of a high-ranking U.S. health official from a public comment that warned of cancer links to the weed killing chemical glyphosate and called for a halt to industry manipulation of research. The public comment in question was submitted … EPA removes name of U.S. official from warning of glyphosate cancer links

Email of intrigue: “IARC is killing us!”

Carey Gillam | April 19, 2018

As researchers we often look to documents to shed new light on issues important to food policy. Sometimes, they simply reflect what we already know. That’s the case with one new communication string that adds to evidence of a far-reaching strategy by food industry players to discredit and diminish the world’s leading cancer research agency. … Email of intrigue: “IARC is killing us!”

Speculation Over Settlement as Roundup Cancer Trial Postponed

Carey Gillam | August 7, 2019

The mysterious delay of what was supposed to be a closely watched St. Louis showdown over claims that Monsanto’s Roundup herbicides cause cancer has stirred speculation that a settlement may be in the offing and heartened investors in Monsanto’s German owner Bayer, who feared a fourth trial loss. The trial in St. Louis, Monsanto’s former … Speculation Over Settlement as Roundup Cancer Trial Postponed

Court frowns on Bayer’s proposed Roundup class-action settlement

Carey Gillam | July 6, 2020

A federal judge on Monday had harsh words for Bayer AG’s plan to delay potential future Roundup cancer lawsuits and block jury trials, criticizing the highly unusual proposal crafted by Bayer and a small group of plaintiffs’ attorneys as potentially unconstitutional. The “Court is skeptical of the propriety and fairness of the proposed settlement, and … Court frowns on Bayer’s proposed Roundup class-action settlement

Attorney for Roundup Cancer Plaintiffs Arrested on Criminal Charges

Carey Gillam | December 18, 2019

The legal drama surrounding the mass tort Roundup cancer litigation just got ratcheted up a notch. Federal criminal charges were filed this week against attorney Timothy Litzenburg alleging the 37-year-old lawyer demanded $200 million in “consulting fees” in exchange for keeping quiet about information that he threatened would be potentially devastating to a chemical compound … Attorney for Roundup Cancer Plaintiffs Arrested on Criminal Charges

EPA’s “scientific integrity” program lacks teeth, group alleges

Carey Gillam | September 28, 2021

Insiders at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have alleged dozens of violations of the agency’s “scientific integrity ” policy over the last few years, including complaints of political interference and tampering with chemical risk assessments, but nearly all the complaints have been ignored, according to an analysis conducted by a nonprofit group representing EPA employees. … EPA’s “scientific integrity” program lacks teeth, group alleges

Ultra-processed foods and plastics: A marriage made in hell

Pamela Ferdinand | October 28, 2024

In marital therapy speak, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and plastics are like a co-dependent couple. They need each other more and more for their industries to profit, but it’s difficult to have a healthy relationship with anyone else—like humans or the planet.

Meet the Merchants of Poison: Front groups Bayer uses to defend glyphosate

Stacy Malkan | January 10, 2023

Monsanto and Bayer’s PR helpers are an industry unto themselves.

Johnson & Johnson talc asbestos papers

Stacy Malkan | January 24, 2024

More than 60,000 women are suing Johnson & Johnson (J&J) with claims that asbestos in talc baby powders caused them to develop cancer. The lawsuits are currently on hold pending court decisions about J&J’s bankruptcy filings. For more information, see our fact sheet on Johnson & Johnson talc baby powder asbestos: key facts. This post … Johnson & Johnson talc asbestos papers

Governments must act to protect women, girls from toxic chemicals, UN expert warns

Pamela Ferdinand | October 22, 2024

Exposure to dangerous chemicals disproportionately impacts the health of women and girls worldwide, creating a human rights crisis that demands government intervention, says a United Nations report.

End tobacco smoking quickly for longer lives, fewer early deaths, study shows

Pamela Ferdinand | October 16, 2024

Faster progress towards ending tobacco smoking over the next three decades could extend lives and prevent millions of premature deaths worldwide, making it one of the single most critical health interventions, a new study shows.

Canadians Report Weed Killer Detected in 30 Percent of Food Tested

Carey Gillam | April 12, 2017

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has gone where the U.S. government dares not tread – testing thousands of foods commonly consumed by its citizens for residues of a controversial herbicide linked to cancer. And the findings are less than appetizing. The agency said it found the pesticide known as glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto … Canadians Report Weed Killer Detected in 30 Percent of Food Tested

Monsanto Weed Killer: Scientific Manipulation Revealed

Stacy Malkan | March 17, 2017

Also see: MDL Monsanto Glyphosate Cancer Case Key Documents and Analysisand US Right to Know Sues EPA for Release of Glyphosate Documents By Carey Gillam The puzzle pieces are starting to fall into place, but so far it’s not a pretty picture. A series of internal Monsanto Co. documents revealed this week via a court … Monsanto Weed Killer: Scientific Manipulation Revealed

Monsanto Spin Doctors Target Cancer Scientist In Flawed Reuters Story

Carey Gillam | June 19, 2017

In a well-orchestrated and highly coordinated media coup, Monsanto Co. and friends this week dropped a bombshell on opponents who are seeking to prove that the company’s beloved Roundup herbicide causes cancer. A widely circulated story published June 14 in the global news outlet Reuters (for which I formerly worked) laid out what appeared to … Monsanto Spin Doctors Target Cancer Scientist In Flawed Reuters Story

2,4-D: Concerns about cancer and other serious illnesses

Stacy Malkan | November 22, 2023

Since its introduction in the 1940s, the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been widely used to control weeds in agriculture, forestry, and urban and residential settings. According to documents obtained by public records requests, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forecast sharp increases in the levels of 2,4-D in American food after regulators approved … 2,4-D: Concerns about cancer and other serious illnesses

Academics Review: The making of a Monsanto front group to attack the organic industry

Stacy Malkan | May 31, 2018

Academics Review, a nonprofit organization launched in 2012, claimed to be an independent group, but documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know revealed it was a front group, set up with the help of Monsanto executives and public relations operatives, to attack the organic industry and critics of GMOs — while appearing to be independent. … Academics Review: The making of a Monsanto front group to attack the organic industry

Pesticide industry disinformation: What’s at stake? Health, climate, biodiversity

Stacy Malkan | December 20, 2022

Excerpt from Merchants of Poison report examines the rise of glyphosate and GMOs, and what’s at stake for health, climate and biodiversity.

Challenge eyed to class action plan for Bayer Roundup settlement

Carey Gillam | June 26, 2020

A plan to delay any new Roundup cancer claims for years and shift the key question of whether or not the weed killer causes cancer from a jury to a hand-picked panel of scientists faces potential opposition from some of the plaintiffs’ attorneys who initiated and led the mass tort claims against Roundup maker Monsanto, … Challenge eyed to class action plan for Bayer Roundup settlement

Another St. Louis Roundup Cancer Trial Officially Postponed Until 2020

Carey Gillam | October 7, 2019

A trial set to start next week over claims that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killers cause cancer has been postponed until at least next year, according to a judge’s ruling on Friday. The trial would have been the first of its kind to take place in the St. Louis area, Monsanto’s hometown before the company sold … Another St. Louis Roundup Cancer Trial Officially Postponed Until 2020

Merchants of Poison webinar: The high stakes of pesticide industry disinformation

Stacy Malkan | June 15, 2023

Based on internal corporate documents, the Merchants of Poison report offers a rare look inside the science denial and disinformation tactics Monsanto used to defend its profits from glyphosate, an herbicide linked to cancer. In this webinar, report author Stacy Malkan of U.S. Right to Know shares five core tactics the company and other pesticide … Merchants of Poison webinar: The high stakes of pesticide industry disinformation

Farmers Vs. Monsanto: The Glyphosate Trials

Stacy Malkan | March 5, 2018

“Science Week” in a federal court will decide if farmer cancer lawsuits move forward Live updates from court hearings by Carey Gillam Transcripts of Daubert Hearings posted here News Release For Immediate Release: Monday, March 5, 2018 For More Information Contact: Carey Gillam (913) 526-6190; Stacy Malkan (510) 542-9224 San Francisco, Calif.; March 5, 2018 — A … Farmers Vs. Monsanto: The Glyphosate Trials

New weed killer studies raise concern for reproductive health

Carey Gillam | August 12, 2020

As Bayer AG seeks to discount concerns that Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicides cause cancer, several new studies are raising questions about the chemical’s potential impact on reproductive health. An assortment of animal studies released this summer indicate that glyphosate exposures impact reproductive organs and could threaten fertility, adding fresh evidence that the weed killing agent might … New weed killer studies raise concern for reproductive health

Internal FDA Emails: Weedkiller Found in Granola and Crackers

Susan Lang | May 2, 2018

This article was originally published in the Guardian. By Carey Gillam US government scientists have detected a weedkiller linked to cancer in an array of commonly consumed foods, emails obtained through a freedom of information request show. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been testing food samples for residues of glyphosate, the active ingredient … Internal FDA Emails: Weedkiller Found in Granola and Crackers

New study finds glyphosate-related alterations in gut microbiome

Carey Gillam | January 27, 2021

A new animal study by a group of European researchers has found that low levels of the weed killing chemical glyphosate and the glyphosate-based Roundup product can alter the composition of the gut microbiome in ways that may be linked to adverse health outcomes. The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is … New study finds glyphosate-related alterations in gut microbiome

Trial pitting farmers against Syngenta delayed until June

Carey Gillam | May 8, 2021

A highly anticipated first-ever trial pitting a group of farmers against the global agricultural giant Syngenta AG over allegations that Syngenta’s paraquat weed killer causes Parkinson’s disease has been delayed until June, the parties involved said on Saturday. The trial was set to begin Monday, livestreamed by Courtroom View Network, but a continuance was ordered … Trial pitting farmers against Syngenta delayed until June

Key court hearing Wednesday in Bayer cancer liability litigation

Carey Gillam | May 17, 2021

(UPDATED May 18 with pretrial order) As Bayer AG works to put an end to costly litigation over alleged connections between Roundup herbicide and cancer, the company faces a critical hearing on Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco. At issue in the hearing is a proposed $2 billion class action settlement structured by Bayer … Key court hearing Wednesday in Bayer cancer liability litigation

New analysis of glyphosate industry studies finds them outdated, flawed

Carey Gillam | July 4, 2021

See Carey Gillam’s article in The Guardian, Corporate studies asserting herbicide safety show many flaws, new analysis finds (July 2, 2021). In this post we provide links to the 53 once-secret studies and related materials. Questions about the safety of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) have persisted for years, as scientific research has split over whether or … New analysis of glyphosate industry studies finds them outdated, flawed

EPA exposed for hiding chemical risks, favoring corporate interests

Carey Gillam | September 30, 2021

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a long and well-documented history of questionable conduct when it comes to regulation of chemicals important to the profit centers for many large and powerful corporations. Numerous examples show a pattern of agency actions that allow for the use of dangerous chemicals by consumers, farmers, groundskeepers and others … EPA exposed for hiding chemical risks, favoring corporate interests

Sparks to Fly in Closing Arguments at Third Roundup Cancer Trial

Carey Gillam | May 8, 2019

After two costly courtroom losses, lawyers for Monsanto and its German owner Bayer AG on Wednesday were set to make closing arguments in what is the third trial brought by people who blame their cancers on use of Monsanto’s Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killer brands. Plaintiffs Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a married couple in … Sparks to Fly in Closing Arguments at Third Roundup Cancer Trial

Up Next – Trial In Monsanto’s Hometown Set for August After $2 Billion Roundup Cancer Verdict

Carey Gillam | May 17, 2019

After three stunning courtroom losses in California, the legal battle over the safety of Monsanto’s top-selling Roundup herbicide is headed for the company’s hometown, where corporate officials can be forced to appear on the witness stand, and legal precedence shows a history of anti-corporate judgments. Sharlean Gordon, an cancer-stricken woman in her 50s, is the … Up Next – Trial In Monsanto’s Hometown Set for August After $2 Billion Roundup Cancer Verdict

“Serious, Deadly Injury” Cited in New Appeals Court Filing Over Roundup Cancer Claims

Carey Gillam | August 19, 2019

ACalifornia appeals court should reject efforts by Monsanto to overturn a jury verdict awarding millions of dollars to a school groundskeeper and approve $250 million in punitive damages the jury ordered a year ago this month in the first Roundup cancer trial, according to a brief in the case filed Monday. The brief filed by … “Serious, Deadly Injury” Cited in New Appeals Court Filing Over Roundup Cancer Claims

Six Monsanto Roundup Cancer Trials Set for January

Carey Gillam | November 26, 2019

After several months out of the headlines, lawyers for both sides of the nationwide Roundup cancer litigation are gearing up for overlapping trials in the new year as several more cancer patients seek to blame Monsanto for their diseases. Six trials are currently set to take place starting in January, with one in February, two … Six Monsanto Roundup Cancer Trials Set for January

Bayer settles U.S. Roundup, dicamba and PCB litigation for more than $10 billion

Carey Gillam | June 24, 2020

In an expensive clean-up of Monsanto litigation messes, Bayer AG said Wednesday that it will pay out more than $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of U.S. claims brought against Monsanto over its Roundup herbicide, as well as $400 million to resolve lawsuits over Monsanto’s dicamba herbicide and $650 million for PCB pollution claims. … Bayer settles U.S. Roundup, dicamba and PCB litigation for more than $10 billion

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