Tag: cancer (Page 2 of 3)

Ghostwriting Science, Corporate Malfeasance Lead to $80M Jury Decision in Second Roundup Cancer Trial

March 29th 2019 Written By: Jefferey Jaxen

A deeper look into the latest crushing defeat of Bayer/Monsanto in the tidal wave of upcoming Roundup Cancer trials…

$80 million in damages was the figure the jury arrived at in a unanimous verdict against Monsanto for failing to warn Edwin Hardeman of the cancer risks of the world’s most widely used herbicide product, Roundup. Bayer AG, who acquired Monsanto in 2018, has faced increasing public backlash both legally and in the court of public opinion. Dewayne “Lee” Johnson was the first person to take Monsanto to court alleging that exposure to their Roundup herbicide caused him to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma and that the company covered up the risks. Johnson’s case made international headlines in 2018 after a unanimous verdict awarded him $289 million for damages from the company; which a judge later reduced to $78 million.

Attorneys for plaintiff Edwin Hardeman said in a statement, “It is clear from Monsanto’s actions that it does not care whether Roundup causes cancer, focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about Roundup.”

While Bayer released its own post-trial statement saying in part, “…this verdict does not change the weight of over four decades of extensive science and the conclusions of regulators worldwide that support the safety of our glyphosate-based herbicides and that they are not carcinogenic.” The company has attempted to remain scientifically stoic in the face of two unanimous legal losses and over 11,000 more cases waiting for their day in court. Yet outside the limited talking points and press soundbites offered by Bayer AG, court discovery documents,  testimony, and jury decisions have told a very different story about their glyphosate-based herbicide products.

The recent Hardeman case differed from last year’s Johnson case as Hardeman’s co-lead trial council Aimee Wagstaff stated, “…in the first phase of this case we looked just at the science and we separated the science from all of the bad conduct of Monsanto.” Phase two did focus on Monsanto’s conduct which led to $75 million in punitive damages awarded by the jury.

“At some point this company needs to come clean and own up to the fact that its product is dangerous,” said the plaintiff’s attorney Jennifer Moore. During the second phase, the jury heard evidence that between 1980 and 2012, Monsanto was aware of five epidemiological studies, seven animal studies, three oxidative stress studies and 14 genotoxicity studies that linked its Roundup products to cancer.

Coming to light in both court cases was the fact that for over 40 years, Monsanto failed to safety test its complete glyphosate-based Roundup formulation product. Instead, the company relied on now-questionable scientific data from just one component of the product, glyphosate. How have regulators across the world allowed Roundup to be sold and used so ubiquitously without requiring validation that the entire formulation was not carcinogenic? In the Johnson trial, discovery documents showed Monsanto’s Head Toxicologist Donna Farmer, PhD, when advising executives on public messaging about Roundup®, write in an internal email:

“…you cannot say that Roundup is not a carcinogen … we have not done the necessary testing on the formulation to make that statement.”

It was in 2015 when a working group of 17 experts from 11 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. The IARC experts looked at the available published scientific evidence to evaluate the carcinogenicity of glyphosate. Their findings led to the classification of glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). IARC also concluded that there was “strong” evidence for genotoxicity, both for the “pure” glyphosate and for glyphosate formulations.

In 2016, the scientific journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology (CRT) published evidence to contradict IARC’s 2015 findings. Titled A review of the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate by four independent expert panels and comparison to the IARC assessment, the 2016 paper concluded,

“…the totality of the evidence…as judged by the Expert Panels, does not support the conclusion that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen” and…the Expert Panels conclude that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans.” At the time, these findings were so significant they were picked up by major media outlets around the world.

The ‘Independent Expert Panel’ study stated under CRT’s “Declaration of interest” section that, “…each individual participated in the review process and preparation of this paper as an independent professional…Neither any Monsanto company employees nor any attorneys reviewed any of the Expert Panel’s manuscripts prior to submission to the journal.”

However, internal Monsanto documents discovered and used in Dewayne Johnson’s trial showed that the study and its data were developed by Monsanto in an effort to discredit IARC. Although not disclosed by CRT, William F. Heydens, one of Monsanto’s top scientists, reviewed the manuscripts, helped draft them, and was actively involved in their editing.

Journalist Carey Gilliam was present reporting from the Hardeman trial. Eight days before the eventual $80M verdict she wrote, “The judge is allowing portions of a 2015 internal Monsanto email in which company scientist Bill Heydens discusses plans to ghostwrite a series of new scientific papers that will contradict IARC’s classification of glyphosate because in that email, Heydens remarks on how this plan is similar to the ghostwriting of a scientific paper published in 2000 that found glyphosate to be safe.” The findings and evidence of ghostwriting clearly had a significant impact on the jury’s decision and award amount.

Although not allowed as evidence in the Hardeman trial, deposition from Monsanto executive Sam Murphy shows Monsanto allocated “$16 or $17 million” in 2016 in an-all out effort to combat IARC’s 2015 study.

There will be no legal respite for Bayer AG as the third lawsuit against Monsanto has now begun in Oakland, California just one day after the Handeman verdict. This time the case will revolve around a married couple in their 70s who both claim to have developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide products. The Murphy deposition is expected to be introduced in the now ongoing Oakland trial. At the time of this writing, Bayer AG’s stock price has plummeted 19.92 percent over the last month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Compliments of * Soups On Main * Hackettstown * NJ * 07840 * 908-736-6004 * soupsonmain.com *

Wake up call: Baby diapers contaminated with over 60 toxic chemicals including glyphosate

NaturalHealth365) No doubt, health-conscious consumers are very concerned about glyphosate in the food supply.  And, parents are rightfully upset about the toxic chemicals in vaccines.  But, now, glyphosate and other highly toxic chemicals have been detected in baby diapers.

The French safety agency ANSES has conducted tests on disposable baby diapers over the past few years, and the results have been consistently disturbing.  In all, 60 different chemicals have been identified, including glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup.

Other pesticides detected in baby diapers included lindane, quintozene and hexachlorobenzene, which have been banned by the European Union for more than 15 years.

Baby diapers tested positive for cancer-causing chemicals and endocrine disruptors

Disturbingly, the testers also detected a number of synthetic fragrances like benzyl alcohol and butylphenyl as well as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

The VOCs included styrene, naphthalene, toluene and dichlorobenzenes. PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) such as dioxins and furans were also found – these are the nasty chemicals found in diesel engines and cigarette smoke.

Many of these toxic chemicals are carcinogenic in addition to being endocrine disruptors.

Did you know?  The liver is the most important detoxifying organ in the body.  When the liver can’t effectively neutralize and dispose of toxins, they accumulate in the body.  Two essential nutrients for healthy liver function are milk thistle and glutathione.

And, while some may argue the ‘external use’ of products like baby diapers minimize the effects of any chemicals they contain, this is simply not the case.  Why?  Because the skin is the largest organ of the human body and does absorb substances it comes in contact with.

The first few years of life should NOT be this dangerous

In addition to a range of skin problems, prolonged exposure to chemical-infused products can raise a child’s risk for cancer and other illnesses, over time.  In all, 23 samples were tested between 2016 and 2018.

One disturbing fact: potentially dangerous chemicals were even found in disposable diapers labeled as “ecological.” As we all know, babies wear diapers almost constantly during the first few years of life.  In fact, it’s estimated that each child wears about 4,000 diapers between birth and age three.

And, while ANSES was not specific, they concluded that health risks “could not be excluded” related to the long exposure to synthetic diapers. The agency called for the removal of these substances as well more restrictive regulations for these products.

While some of the compounds such as fragrances are included by the manufacturers intentionally, clearly the presence of glyphosate, VOCs, PAHs and other dangerous and toxic chemicals is highly problematic.

Action step: Washable organic cotton baby diapers provide a safer alternative

At this time, washable cloth baby diapers are only used by about 5 percent of parents in the Western world.  While they have not been tested by organizations such as ANSES, they are no doubt far safer than diapers made from chemical-infused plastics.

To ensure safety and good health, parents should consider using organic cotton diapers for their children as an alternative.  And, of course, consumers can minimize exposure to herbicides, like glyphosate, by shopping and eating organic food – as much as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compliments of * Soups On Main, 199 Main St, Hackettstown NJ 07840 * 908-736-6004 * SoupsOnMain.Com
« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

Protected by CleanTalk Anti-Spam