“Quantifiable levels” of Monsanto herbicide found in urine samples from 18 Euro countries
In a recent study by Medical Laboratory Bremen in Germany humane urine samples from 18 European countries showed residues of Glyphosate and the metabolite AMPA.
“On average 44 % and 36 % of the urine samples analyzed were found to contain quantifiable levels of Glyphosate and AMPA, respectively,” said the report.
- The frequency of detection ranged from 10% to 90%. The highest Glyphosate concentration was 1,8 μg/L in Latvia, followed by Malta, UK and Germany, while the highest AMPA concentration was 2,6 μg/L found in Croatia.
- A total of 6.6% of samples showed residues that “significantly exceeded the tentative reference value of 0,8 μg/L forGlyphosate,” the report said.
The report concludes; “The results give a first idea to which extent adults in 18 European countries are exposed to Glyphosate. The regional and individual variations are large. Diet seems to be the main sources of exposure. However, more scientific work is needed to distinguish between different exposure situations.”
Glyphosate was discovered to be a herbicide by a Monsanto chemist and was marketed in the 1970s under the trade name Roundup.
Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), an organic acid, is one of the primary degradation products of the herbicide glyphosate.
Both Glyphosate and AMPA are said to have low toxicity, with glyphosate being an EPA Toxicity Class III chemical (on a scale of I to IV, Class I is most toxic) for oral and inhalation exposure.
In 2007, Glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States, with about 100,000 tons applied by the agricultural sector, government and home and garden users.
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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
Black Forest Fire: Initial Home Assessment
Updated: June 15, 2013 at approximately 12:00 a.m. (DST) – El Paso County Sheriff’s office
The extent of damage caused by the Black Forest Fire to homes in the region is as follows:
- Total Loss: 473
- Partial Damage: 17
Note: This is a preliminary home assessment. Due to continuous and dynamic fire activity the information could change.
The blaze was reportedly 30 percent contained, as of posting.
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Another Toxic Weekend in Beijing
Beijing Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI). Source: AQICN
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