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Scientists attack main Monsanto study
Story Date: 3/7/2018
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Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 3/6/18
The pretrial hearing involving plaintiffs who claim there's a link between Monsanto's weed killer Roundup and cancer got underway in San Francisco on Monday. So far, the testimony has homed in on an ongoing study that says there's no association between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, reports Pro Ag's Liz Crampton. Proceedings so far have been well attended, which makes sense because a lot is on the line for both Monsanto and the plaintiffs.
Scientific clash: Two experts for the plaintiffs called to the stand contended that the study has "serious issues and flaws" and should not be given much weight by the judge, who has to decide which scientific evidence a jury should consider if the case makes it to trial. The research at issue, the Agriculture Health Study, investigated risks associated with pesticides among users in North Carolina and Iowa over several decades. The study was backed by the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health.
Scene in the courtroom: The judge presiding over the case, Judge Vince Chhabria for the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, actively questioned witnesses about their research. An interesting stat: A pathologist said research showed about 60 percent of farmers had glyphosate in their urine after a day of application.
More to come: The hearing is expected to stretch the entire week, with more experts for plaintiffs testifying about the connection between glyphosate and cancer. Experts testifying on behalf of Monsanto are expected to begin testifying on Wednesday.
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