Most chemical-based substances are harmful to humans directly or indirectly, and so do weed killers. No doubt, weak killers are one of the finest inventions to kill weeds. But ensuring enough safety standards is also necessary. No matter how good the solution is, if it poses any threat to human beings, we should not use it.
Can weed killer cause cancer?
Yes, weed killers can cause cancer. Some researchers think weed killers can cause cancer since most of them include glyphosate. However, many organizations don’t agree with this conclusion.
They urge us to take more profound studies to find a better judgment on whether weed killers really cause cancer or not. Let’s go for an in-depth discussion to learn more exciting things about “Can weed killer cause cancer?”
Can Weed Killer Cause Cancer?
So, you are here to about, Can weed killer cause cancer?
One of the primary ingredients most weed killers contain is glyphosate. Over the years, many healthy specialists and researchers suggest companies not use this ingredient-based weed killer.
It may cause several harms for humans. Since other options are not effective in killing weed killers, people are still using them.
New users are still wondering about this question: Can weed killer cause cancer? However, most manufacturing companies tell their customers that if they follow all the safety guidelines while using the weed killer, they are not likely to face any health issues, including cancer.
So, the question is how you know whether will killers are safe or not. The simple answer is which type of weed killer you are using and does it contain glyphosate. If not, don’t panic about it. You can safely use it by following the safety guidelines of the particular company.
But, what if it is a chemical-based weed killer and contains glyphosate? The safety of this product might be questionable. Over the last few years, there have been a lot of hot debates about this question: can weed killer cause cancer?
Since different organizations are giving different opinions, people are still in doubt about whether to use weed killers or not. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mentioned that glyphosate-based weed killers have less certainty to play the key to causing cancer. They mentioned this after some people filed a lawsuit against Bayer Roundup.
On the contrary, the World Health Organization (WHO) was saying a different thing. They categorized glyphosate-based weed killers as “carcinogenic.” It means it has a significant potential to cause cancer.
Thus, the verdict is split between science, the jury, and the public as a whole.
Does Weed Killer Cause Cancer in Dogs?
If the weed killer contains 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, it may have twice the chance of developing lymphatic cancer in your dogs.
So, how do dogs come into contact with weed killers? Most of the time, they come into contact with weed killers when you walk or run on the treated area or eat the lawn grass.
Some solutions for weed killers reach their fur and other body parts. They start licking their body parts, and the solution gets inside their body. This way, they are harming them.
According to the National Cancer Institute Journal, Dogs have a higher potential to develop cancer if you use any weed killer containing 2,4-D acid on the lawn four or more times a year.
However, your dog is less likely to develop lymphoma if you don’t use the solution frequently. But the one-time application each year may have a triple chance to develop cancer than those who don’t use any 2,4-D based weed killers. Hence, the more you apply the solution, the higher risk it poses for your dog.
One study found that 2,4-D-based weed killers play a lead role in developing lymphomas in dogs. Not just this, they can also cause serious harm to human beings too.
That’s why researchers suggested people not use this type of weed killer, at least for the home surrounding area. The reason is that dogs and humans are more likely to face serious health problems if they use it every year several times.
Additionally, the risk is at least two times higher if you apply this product of your own. You may be unaware of using the weed killer correctly. Or you are not adequately cautious while applying the solution.
On the other hand, if a professional lawn company helps you apply it, your dog has at least a lower chance of developing cancer. They know how to use the solution, and they follow the entire safety standard strictly.
Should You Stop Using Weed Killers?
No, you should not. If you are a gardener who merely uses glyphosate-based weed killers regularly or doesn’t use them at all, you have no reason to panic about it.
Though it is not a final conclusion, since several studies found weed killers can cause cancer, you should avoid it as much as possible. They also mentioned landscapers, groundskeepers, and farmers are at higher risk if they use glyphosate-based weed killers.
We agree that the studies need to be done more deeply, and more technologies should be used to get more reliable and 100% accurate results. Since researchers are still trying their best to learn more about the effect of these products, we should at least their usage as much as we can.
If you have no option but to use weed killers, make sure you follow the safety standard strictly. Here are some crucial points to remember:
- Go through the product label carefully and adequately — they might have some warnings.
- Protect your body by wearing goggles, hand gloves, and long shirts and pants.
- Don’t use the weed killer during a windy or rainy day.
- You want to keep kids and animals away from the treated area until it is thoroughly dried.
Can Pesticides Cause Cancer?
Yes, pesticides can cause cancer. However, pesticides may enter the human body either directly by exposing the body or by eating fruits/vegetables containing pesticides.
Several studies found that pesticides can cause different types of cancers such as kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and even brain cancer. This mainly happens when it is exposed to the human body for a long time.
However, there can be other reasons for having such cancers. Hence, it is not 100% sure whether using pesticides is the primary reason behind such cancers.
Regardless of the reason, following the safety standard and using authentic pesticides are always encouraged.
Using unregistered and harmful pesticides may cause different types of illness or even cancer. So, why use registered pesticides, right?
Each registered pesticide has a PCP number that ensures the product is properly tested and meets the safety standard. Unless FDA approves the pesticide, it is not allowed to be commercially available.
Pesticides include various types of ingredients. They also contain many harsh chemicals. As they might be harmful to humans, using as little as possible is a solid rule of thumb to avoid accidents and illness.
How Pesticides Harm Our Body?
Pesticides can harm our bodies in several ways:
- It can upset our hormones
- It can damage our DNA
- It can cause inflammation in our tissues
- It can turn on or off our genes
Who Are More Vulnerable To Pesticides?
Compared to adults, children, pets and pregnant women are more vulnerable to being harmed by pesticide exposure. Day by day, the kids’ cancer rate is rising.
Many studies found that pesticides may cause cancer in children when their mothers are exposed to pesticides or have directly come into contact with the pesticide. Cancer may develop gradually throughout their childhood.
As per President’s Cancer Panel, girls have a five times higher probability of getting breast cancer if exposed to DDT pesticides before puberty. However, the tests were done only for a limited number of people. So, the final result could be different if it was done on a large scale of people in other groups.
So, who was more prone to cancer from using pesticides?
According to experts, farmers, farmworkers, and their family members are more likely to develop cancer. They continuously use and get into contact with pesticides throughout the year. The general public has less to set as they don’t work with pesticides or infrequently work while following safety standards.
What Type Of Cancer Is Caused By Pesticides?
People who use pesticide or directly expose their body to pesticide has a chance to have cancer. Here are some probable cancer types:
- Ovarian cancer is most likely to be seen among women if they work directly with pesticides.
- Prostate cancer is more likely to be seen among farmers and pesticide users.
- Skin cancer is more likely to be seen among farm women and Cropduster pilots.
Should People Still Use Glyphosate At Home, Or Are There Safer Substitutes?
Yes, people can use it. Most glyphosate-based weed killers contain toxic. Some household gardeners got little success using DIY remedies and vinegar.
So, what can you use, if not weed killers? Manually removing weeds is the best solution you can do. Though it is time-consuming and may come back again, you remain safe that is what should matter the most.
Moreover, natural solutions may work limitedly. Hence, good old elbow grease is a better option than using vinegar or any typical homemade solution.
If you don’t have any option but to use weed killers, try to pick the safest one, which has less risk to apply. Additionally, limit the usage of weed killers as much as you can. The more you use weed killers, the more you make yourself vulnerable to getting attacked by weed killers.
Can A Chemical in Roundup Weed Killer Cause Cancer?
Roundup is a chemical-based weed killer, widely used on crops and even in home gardens to kill weeds. However, recently, thousands of people have sued the company claiming it caused their cancer.
A man named Dearborn Heights got cancer from using Roundup. He thinks Roundup is the main reason behind his cancer because he had no family history of cancer.
He figured out a direct connection exists between the primary ingredient of roundup weed killers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After looking at the evidence, the Jury had delivered multi-billion dollar verdicts to several people with cancer.
Dearborn Heights said he has been using the product for several decades. He used it multiple times a week. The users were not happy as the manufacturer company didn’t mention any warnings on the product label.
“Roundup is in the food we eat. When companies only care about making money, they may not care about the science behind making this product,” said Dean.
The University of Washington researchers found exposure to glyphosate, the chemical in Roundup, increases the certainty of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%. However, some other groups of scientists found it was not dangerous.
Apart from that, the World Health Organization has identified this as “carcinogenic.”
Attorney Mark Bernstein says, “Phil Corsi is just one of the hundreds of people he is representing who developed cancer after using Roundup. He further added that the manufacturers put profit ahead of people. It is truly making money is one of the key goals for any company. But that doesn’t mean you will endanger people’s lives and make them ill if they use your products.
How To Protect Yourself While Applying Weed Killers?
Giving optimal protection is necessary while applying weed killers. After all, you can don’t want to make yourself ill or get any cancer from long-term exposure or use.
- Wear all types of protective gear before applying weed killers to ensure maximum protection.
- Make sure you remove the protective clothing carefully so that it doesn’t contact your skin.
- Keep your family members away while washing the clothes so that they don’t touch them.
- Whether you are wearing hand gloves or not, make sure to wash your hands properly with fresh water and soap.
- Wearing goggles or eyewear is essential if you are spraying the weed killer under high pressure.
- Let the solution dry up for at least 24 hours and avoid walking or running on the treated area. Keep pets and kids out of the site.
- Avoid drinking, eating, or smoking in the treated area while applying the solution.
- Don’t put too much pressure while applying weed killers as they may expose your body and other plants.
- Before applying the weed killer, never forget to read the product label and all the necessary warnings.
- Get a professional service to keep yourself safe if you don’t know how to apply weedkillers safely.
A Full Guideline To Use Weed Killers
Read through these tips to gain expert knowledge of using weed killers properly.
First of all, remember that your best resource is right on the bottle. Reading and following the weed killer label using it should be your responsibility.
When you use them is as important as how you use them for the best results. Apply on a dry wind-free day above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps minimize drift, speeds up drying, and keeps Mother Nature from washing away the product before it can be absorbed.
If you’re applying a herbicide that stops new weeds from appearing, spray it on the entire area where you want to avoid those shifty scoundrels. People and pets can return to the treated area once it’s dry, which should take around 24 hours or more.
Finally, when you’re done applying weed killer, store them for safekeeping in a dry area where they won’t freeze or be under direct sunlight like a shed, a garage, or a secret cave.
Where Can You Use Weed Killers Safely?
No doubt weedkiller products are incredibly effective wonders to deal with weeds in different locations. You can use them on hardscapes like patios, walkways, driveways, gravel beds, and soft scapes like garden beds around shrubs or trees fence lines, and foundations.
Some weed killers can even be used for big projects like prepping for a vegetable garden or lawn renovation. Many garden experts suggest that it’s best not to pull weeds out of the ground because they’ll grow right back.
Plus, you might accidentally spread buried seeds, then you’ll have to apply more often to keep up with the new weeds. But remember, proper usage is key to weed killer effectiveness and safety. So apply carefully and cautiously.
Final Thought
Are you still wondering about this question: Can weed killer cause cancer? A lot of factors come up while talking about this topic. Since weed killers contain many toxin ingredients, they are likely to harm you.
If you don’t follow the safety standard, you are likely to face more problems. If possible, go for alternative options. Or limit the use as much as you can to minimize its exposure.
Hopefully, this article helped you learn about “Can weed killer cause cancer?” more precisely.