Lake Tahoe residents ‘horrified’ by plans to spray cancer-linked glyphosate in public lands
Summary
The US Forest Service plans to spray glyphosate and other herbicides on national forest land near Lake Tahoe to help restore areas damaged by a wildfire. Local residents and officials are concerned about the health and environmental risks of glyphosate, which has been linked to cancer and harm to animals.Key Facts
- The Forest Service wants to use glyphosate to clear vegetation before planting new trees after the 2021 Caldor fire.
- Glyphosate is a weed killer first introduced by Monsanto in the 1970s and is a common herbicide.
- The World Health Organization classifies glyphosate as probably cancer-causing to humans.
- The EPA says glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer.
- Bayer owns Monsanto and defends glyphosate’s safety.
- Spray application will be done by backpack sprayers, not aerial spraying, to reduce harm to native plants and water bodies.
- Lake Tahoe’s watershed includes much national forest land where spraying is planned; meltwater flows into the lake.
- Local groups and residents are organizing to oppose or change the spraying plan due to health and environmental concerns.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.