29.05.2015
A Working Group of 17 experts from 11 countries reviewed the available
published scientific evidence and evaluate the carcinogenicity of five
organophosphate insecticides and herbicides: diazinon, glyphosate, malathion,
parathion, and tetrachlorvinphos. A summary of the final evaluations together
with a short rationale have now been published online.
The pesticides tetrachlorvinphos and parathion were classified as possibly
carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B); for the insecticide malathion, there is
limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and
prostate cancer; for the insecticide diazinon, there was limited evidence of
carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lung cancer; for the
herbicide glyphosate, there was limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans
for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Tetrachlorvinphos is banned in the European Union. In the USA, it continues to
be used on livestock and companion animals, including in pet flea collars.
Parathion use has been severely restricted since the 1980s. All authorized uses
were cancelled in the EU and the USA by 2003. Malathion is currently used in
agriculture, public health, and residential insect control. It continues to be
produced in substantial volumes throughout the world. Workers may be exposed
during the use and production of malathion. Diazinon has been applied in
agriculture and for control of home and garden insects. Production volumes have
been relatively low and decreased further after 2006 due to restrictions in the
USA and the EU. Glyphosate currently has the highest global production volume
of all herbicides. The largest use worldwide is in agriculture. The
agricultural use of glyphosate has increased sharply since the development of
crops that have been genetically modified to make them resistant to glyphosate.
Glyphosate is also used in forestry, urban, and home applications.
AplusA-online.de - Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work