Glyphosate Concerns Addressed

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's Chief Public Health Officer, is responding today, Sept. 2, to concerns being raised around the use of glyphosate in forestry applications in Nova Scotia.

Glyphosate is a herbicide registered for controlling a wide variety of weeds, weedy trees and brush. Nova Scotia's Department of Environment has approved recent applications for its use in forest operations in areas of the province.

"There is no evidence that glyphosate creates a risk to human health if used properly and if the Department of Environment is monitoring where, how, and when it is used," said Dr. Strang. "Even water can be toxic if too much is consumed in a short period of time. The difference is between the possible hazard and the real-life risk."

While the World Health Organization has identified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen under certain conditions and exposure, Health Canada has confirmed that glyphosate is not a risk to human health when properly applied.

A recent New Brunswick study confirmed that the product did not pose a risk in forestry applications with appropriate safeguards.

For more information on that study go to http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2016.07.0698.html .

"People would have to be exposed to a certain amount and in a certain way to be at risk and that is not the case with its application in Nova Scotia," said Dr. Strang. "There is no risk to human health if used properly and the Department of Environment will conduct monitoring to see that it is."