On June 22, 2015 the World Health Organization’s International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released an evaluation on the
carcinogenicity of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).
2,4-D, introduced in 1945, has been widely used to control
weeds in agricultural, forestry, urban, and residential settings. Occupational exposure
occurs during the manufacturing and application of the herbicide and the general
public can be exposed through food, water, dust, and residential application.
According to the report, humans expel 2,4-D mostly unchanged through urine.
The IRAC has evaluated 2,4-D to be “possibly carcinogenic to
humans”, with “inadequate evidence in humans” and “limited evidence in
experimental animals.” IRAC states that there is strong evidence that 2,4-D
induces oxidative stress, as well as moderate evidence that 2,4-D can cause
immunosuppression. The study did not find strong or consistent increases in
cancer risks as a result of exposure to 2,4-D.
The IRAC also evaluated the insecticides lindane and DDT,
categorizing the two as “carcinogenic to humans” and “probably carcinogenic to
humans” respectively.
The summary of the evaluations can be found here. The full
evaluations will be published as Volume 113 of the IARC Monographs.
Written by Tyler R. Etter- Research Assistant
June 23, 2015
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