[sust-mar] More information on glyphosate risks

[Helen Jones]

Thanks very much for your Sustmar posting regarding the NS Minister of the
Environment's approval of the proposed forest spraying of VisionMax by
Northern Pulp.  I was very glad to hear of the efforts of MLA Lenore Zann
and other community leaders to raise concern about this ill-conceived plan.

FYI,
​there is additional information about glyphosate risks in the comment I
added after signing the petition.
(I forwarded this for distribution to Sustmar, but that may take some time.)

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Nova_Scotia_Environment
_Minister_Margaret_Miller_and_the_McNeil_Government_Save_NS_
from_the_pesticide_glyphosate
<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Nova_Scotia_Environment_Minister_Margaret_Miller_and_the_McNeil_Government_Save_NS_from_the_pesticide_glyphosate_a_known/?kfZdglb>


Regards,
Helen Jones



My comment:

Minister Miller, the harm from Glyphosate in VisionMax goes way beyond the
serious known risk of being a “probable carcinogen.”


A recent major MIT review paper on Glyphosate (active ingredient in
VisionMax and Roundup) cited in #1 below contains a huge amount of research
documentation on the harm caused by glyphosate to human health.  This
includes damage to detox pathways (Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP)), as well
as significant negative impacts on mental health, neurotransmitters, and real
implications for irritable bowel syndrome and gut inflammation, nutrient
deficiencies, autism, cancer, disturbances in serotonin and  dopamine
levels linked to neurological conditions, memory problems, depression,
Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s, and a great deal more.



1.  *Entropy* *2013*, *15*(4), 1416-1463; doi:10.3390/e15041416
<http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/e15041416>

*Review*

*Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid
Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases†*

*By **Anthony Samsel* <http://www.mdpi.com/search?authors=Anthony%20Samsel>
* 1** and **Stephanie Seneff*
<http://www.mdpi.com/search?authors=Stephanie%20Seneff>* 2,*** *



The study's abstract can be read at   http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300
/15/4/1416 .

The complete study is available at http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/
15/4/1416/pdf .





2.  Considering just one of these findings:  The Cytochrome P450 enzymes
are in plain language the liver detox pathways we (and many other animals)
all depend on to keep us healthy.   Since glyphosate damages these enzymes,
any toxin will last longer in the body*. *For this reason alone, cancer is
a greater risk when *ANY *carcinogen from *ANY* source is encountered and
taken into the body.  This is a significant additional risk to public
health.



3.  A shocking truth is that the NS Provincial Government DOES NOT KNOW
where all the drinking water wells *are* in Nova Scotia.  The careful GPS
records for well locations that we should have on file do not exist.
Therefore approving a glyphosate spray program will with certainty be
poisoning the drinking water of a percentage of Nova Scotian​ familie​s (from
direct residue, from drift and from the inexorable movement of toxic
underground plumes travelling through rock fissures).



4.  Our imperfect regulatory structure means that you cannot know the
identity of the unlisted ingredients in VisionMax because they are
proprietary secrets.  These can* legally include* additional pesticides,
endocrine disrupting surfactants (soaps), heavy metals and other toxins.
Approving a blank slate of toxins seems worth avoiding.




There is no shame in your withdrawing you permission to Northern Pulp to
spray VisionMax – you will appear thoughtful, responsible, independent
minded and diligent about doing your homework.  It’s a Win/Win/Win for you,
the environment and the public.   Please do the right thing.




Sincerely,


Helen Jones
MSc., Hon. Zool. (UBC), Ed.D. (Col. Univ.)
Past Member, Pesticide Bylaw Advisory Committee
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)
Past Member, Pesticide Free Nova Scotia
Board Member, Real Alternatives to Toxins in the Environment (RATE)
http://www.ratens.ca
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