Manufacturers of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Face Brewing Legal Storm
Toxic Exposure
When neurologist Dr. Alier Marrero started seeing more and more patients with similar inexplicable neurological symptoms, it was clear something was going on. The patients each lived within the Canadian province of New Brunswick and had symptoms that included behavioral issues, violent muscle spasms, vision problems, and hallucinations.
Alarmed by the unusually high number of younger patients, Dr. Marrero struggled to determine a definitive diagnosis. As the number of serious cases piled up, a working group of experts was assembled by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to investigate what the agency called “the New Brunswick neurological syndrome of unknown etiology.”
More than three years later, the cause of the New Brunswick patients’ neurological symptoms remains unknown, while the number of patients under Dr. Marrero’s care has grown to more than 430, including 111 patients under the age of 45. Meanwhile, experts are focusing on environmental toxins as a potential link.
Are Environmental Factors to Blame?
Dr. Marrero believed an environmental cause was responsible for triggering the neurological symptoms. While neurodegenerative diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability globally, much remains unknown about their origins. A growing number of researchers believe exposure to toxic substances may be to blame.
Dr. Marrero’s suspicions were confirmed by clinical testing, which revealed that 90 percent of patients had elevated amounts of the pesticide glyphosate in their blood. In fact, one patient had 15,000 times the test’s lowest detectable concentration.
Studies have shown that glyphosate — the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide — can cross the blood-brain barrier, and that chronic exposure can lead to neurological inflammation that can trigger Alzheimer’s disease.
In the United States, a Hawaii-based pediatrician heard about the cases in New Brunswick and also felt that environmental toxins were to blame. Dr. Lee Evslin said he saw a similar situation unfold on the Hawaiian island of Kauai involving pesticides and developmental issues in children. He called on authorities in New Brunswick to re-open the investigation.
What is Glyphosate and Why is it Dangerous?
Glyphosate-based herbicides are applied in agricultural, residential, and commercial settings to manage a wide range of invasive weeds. Monsanto’s Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely used herbicides in the world. In New Brunswick, Roundup is widely used in forestry applications.
Exposure to glyphosate is linked to:
- An increased risk of serious diseases like non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease
- An elevated risk of autism
- Altering of the gut microbiome
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans. Monsanto is facing thousands of lawsuits for failing to warn Roundup users about the known dangers of glyphosate and its links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
How We Help Victims of Pesticides
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