Monsanto Guilty of Chemical Poisoning
B. McPherson
A French court ruled today that Monsanto is guilty of
chemical poisoning. In a landmark ruling the court ruled that farmer Paul
Francois was harmed by inhaling Monsanto’s weedkiller Lasso. Lasso is now
banned in France.
The incident took place in 2004. Francois maintained that
there were inadequate warnings on the Lasso container. He suffers from
neurological damage – memory loss, headaches, stammering.
This weedkiller also goes by the name of Alachlor,Lasagrin,
Lassagrin, Lazo, Metachlor, Pillarzo, Alanox, Alanex, Chimichlor. According to
the Environmental Protection Agency this plant poison is the second most widely
used plant poison in the US.
“ Alachlor is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States, with particularly heavy use on corn and soybeans in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.” EPA
The EPA allows for a maximum of 2 parts per billion in
drinking water. It also lists damage to humans exposed to contaminated drinking
water over a long period of time. Damage to liver, kidney, spleen and cancer
are some of the ailments expected with long term exposure.
Monsanto has information on Lasso on its web page.
In light of the agribusiness corporations gearing up to
introduce genetically modified plants resistant to the plant poison 2,4-D(agent
orange) as the plant poison Roundup(glyphosate) becomes less useful, the
knowledge that yet another plant poison is widely used in the fields of corn
and soybeans is discomfiting.
It is a myth that genetically engineered plants are what is
needed to feed the world’s hungry. There is enough food grown to feed our
present population. What is needed is a better distribution system. In the
meantime, if you can’t grow your own vegetables and fruit, buy organic and buy
local.
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