Reformulated Roundup May Be Even More Toxic to Human Health and Environment: Study

Bayer replaced glyphosate in Roundup amid concerns about the cancer risks. However, chemicals now used in reformulated Roundup may be 45 times more toxic.

A report issued by a prominent environmental group claims that Bayer has replaced Roundup ingredients linked to a risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a combination of chemicals that make the popular weedkiller products even more toxic to humans, animals and the environment.

Roundup has been widely used for decades in the agricultural industry, as well as for residential purposes as a weed killer, containing glyphosate as the active ingredient. Although it has been marketed as safe for humans, there is now growing research highlighting serious health concerns for users.

In response to concerns about the link between Roundup and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as mounting liability the manufacturers face for failing to warn about the risks associated with glyphosate, Bayer has recently begun to rollout reformulated Roundup versions for residential users. However, this new report suggests that the new Roundup may be 45 times more toxic following long-term, chronic exposure.

Roundup Cancer Concerns

Concerns about Roundup and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma risks emerged in 2015, when the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified glyphosate as a probable cancer-causing agent.

Over the past decade, Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary have faced more than 120,000 Roundup lawsuits, each raising similar allegations that users developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the weedkiller, either when using the product in an agricultural setting or around the home.

In the process of spending more than $10 billion in Roundup settlements, Bayer announced in 2021 that it would reformulate Roundup and remove the active ingredient glyphosate from consumer versions of the weedkiller, while keeping the formulation for large agricultural users.

However, a report (PDF) was recently released by the environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth (FOE), which looked at the new Roundup products being sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s, finding that the new ingredients are many times more toxic than the original formulations.

New Roundup Reformulation Poses Health Risks

FOE announced the report’s findings in a press release on October 22, indicating that after the ingredient changes were supposedly made, some products were still found to contain glyphosate. In addition, the group’s analysis shows that many of the Roundup products that are actually glyphosate-free now contain ingredients that are up to 45 times more toxic than glyphosate.

The report focused on Roundup products sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s this year. According to the findings, seven Roundup products were identified as still containing glyphosate. Eight products were also identified where Bayer had successfully replaced the ingredient.

FOE indicates it found that the new formulations use a combination of four different chemicals to replace glyphosate, including diquat dibromide, fluazifop-P-butyl, triclopyr, and imazapic. According to the report, all four of those chemicals pose a greater risk of health problems than glyphosate, based on previous studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Two of the chemicals, diquat dibromide and imazapic, are banned in the European Union, the report notes. In addition, researchers indicate that diquat dibromide has been found to be 200 times more toxic than glyphosate.

“The human toll of Roundup is enormous – tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and their health because of this toxic weedkiller. With the new formulations of Roundup, Bayer had the opportunity to make us safer, but it did the opposite,” Kendra Klein, deputy director of science for Friends of the Earth, said in the press release. “Bayer’s willingness to deceive the public and disregard our health as it continues to cash in on the Roundup brand name is outrageous.”

Friends of the Earth reports that not only are these new chemicals more toxic to humans, they also put the environment at more risk as well, with the new formulations a bigger threat to bees, birds, fish, earthworms and other water-based organisms, according to the findings. They also may last longer in the environment before breaking down than glyphosate, the researchers warned.

EPA Warnings Are Not Required for New Roundup Risks

The report notes that the packaging for the new Roundup products are nearly identical to the previous formulations, and that the EPA does not require Bayer and Monsanto to warn consumers about the increased risks and new formulations.

FOE argues that the EPA should not allow chemicals like diquat dibromide in consumer products, and notes that manufacturers of drugs would not be allowed to just replace an active ingredient without a warning to the public.

“Drug companies are not allowed to replace the aspirin in a brand-name pain reliever with oxycontin or fentanyl, and for good reason,” Sara Starman, FOE senior campaign manager said in the press release. “It is unconscionable that the Environmental Protection Agency allows this toxic sleight of hand and unethical that Bayer is exposing consumers to dramatically greater risks with no warning.”

Despite billions paid out in settlements over the past few years, Bayer and Monsanto continue to face thousands of unresolved Roundup lawsuits making their way through the U.S. court system.

In addition, new claims continue to be filed as former users of the weed killer develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Therefore, even after reformulating Roundup, the manufacturers are expected to face years of future lawsuits and liability for failing to warn about the risks associated with the weedkiller.