Roundup herbicide, which is meant to kill farm weeds, “poses the risk of serious human health hazards including cancer”, says a new study by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR). The study, authored by research scientists Jasmine George and Yogeshwer Shukla, speaks of the tumour-promoting potential of glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup herbicide. Roundup, when sprayed on seeds, disrupts their growth hormones and kills them. It is non-selective and ends up destroying farmland vegetation, including green fodder and vegetables. “Our experiments establish that glyphosate, an active component of Roundup, induces skin cancer in mice,” Dr. Shukla told The Hindu on Tuesday, adding that further work was required to identify the exact molecular mechanism by which the toxic compound causes the carcinogenic effect. Dr. Shukla said the institute will undertake epidemiology studies to further research glyphosate’s carcinogenic effect with exposed human population. What is alarming is that the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal ISRN Dermatology, suggests that the implication of the finding may reach beyond skin cell lines. The research has serious ramification for the introduction of Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant crops in India with Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech knocking at the government’s door for permission to release HT BT cotton and maize. Attempts are on in India to promote Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (Roundup Ready) crops as an answer to shortage of farm labour, following introduction of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee programme and proliferation of building or construction activity in the country. Noted scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who headed a Task Force on Application of Biotechnology in 2004, has said a big “no” to herbicides. “Biotechnological applications, which can reduce employment and impinge on the livelihood of rural families, should be avoided. Breeding for herbicide tolerance, for example, may have low priority on this account in several parts of India where there are large numbers of landless labour families,” Mr. Swaminathan said. A “fact-finding” team of the ‘Coalition for GM-free India’ recently discovered that unapproved Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant cotton crop has surreptitiously found its way into tribal pockets in Andhra Pradesh. The HT being used for killing weeds is glyphosate. Highlighting the failure of the administration to regulate commercial seed trade and the need for proper monitoring of transgenic cultivation, the Coalition– a conglomeration of several civil society groups –has written to the central government seeking an investigation into the matter. They want the government to stop the cultivation of HT cotton seeds and take action against the seed suppliers. The demand assumes urgency in view of the latest finding of an IITR’s new study. A Monsanto spokesman told The Hindu that they were not aware of HT BT cotton being used in Andhra Pradesh and that they have not released any HT seeds in the market. “We have applied but have not been given permission,” he said. The Public Affairs spokesman said he had not seen the IITR study on glyphosate. Glyphosate, an active component of Roundup, induces skin cancer in mice: study ‘To let surreptitious release of GM HT crop in the country is playing with people’s life, livelihood, biodiversity’