Local doctor calls for review of Roundup herbicide in Canada

[Guest guest]

June 3, 2009

The Vancouver Province

 

Local doctor calls for review of Roundup herbicide in Canada

_http://www.theprovince.com/Technology/Local+doctor+calls+review+Roundup+herbici\'>http://www.theprovince.com/Technology/Local+doctor+calls+review+Roundup+herbici\

de+Canada/

1659996/story.html_

(http://www.theprovince.com/Technology/Local+doctor+calls+review+Roundup+herbici\

de+Canada/1659996/story.html) By Kent Spencer,

 

A powerful herbicides* harmful effects on frogs should raise warning flags

with the federal government, says a Smithers activist.

 

Dr. Josette Wier, who once campaigned against arsenic in pine-beetle

trees, has called for a federal review of widely-used herbicides whose active

ingredient is glyphosate.

 

**These pesticides were approved for use in Canada with no tests on their

impacts on amphibians,** said Wier, 62.

 

**Glyphosate herbicides could pose risks to amphibians.**

 

Her request for a review was contained in a letter to federal health

minister Leona Aglukkaq.

 

Wier believes the health and environmental risks are **unacceptable.**

 

She said herbicides* exposure to bullfrog tadpoles resulted in reduced

growth and development.

 

She said there are fears of increased miscarriages in humans.

 

Wier said glyphosates can cause eye irritations in humans, nausea,

headaches and dizziness.

 

The herbicide, whose brand names are Roundup and Vision, is a common

weed-killer used around the world in conjunction with genetically modified

crops. Proponents say it has greatly improved farmers* ability to control weeds

in corns and soybeans because the crops are genetically immune to its

effects.

 

Agriculture Canada does not require the herbicide to be labelled as a

poison.

 

Wier was part of a successful campaign several years ago to raise

awareness against the harmful residual effects of arsenic injections in

diseased

pine beetle trees.

 

She is a former pediatrician from France who now runs a small business.

 

© Copyright © The Province

 

Pesticide activist Dr. Josette Wier of Smithers.

Photograph by: Handout , The Province

 

_http://www.theprovince.com/Technology/Local+doctor+calls+review+Roundup+her

bicide+Canada/1659996/story.html_

(http://www.theprovince.com/Technology/Local+doctor+calls+review+Roundup+herbici\

de+Canada/1659996/story.html)

(http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm)