The South Hadley Board of Health has banned the use of glyphosate herbicide by anyone on all town-owned/-operated property. This occurred in March 2020 and was amended in April 2023 to include a related herbicide, glufosinate. The ban is in place as a legal town regulation, but not all departments are aware, nor are all contractors and others who manage or rent municipal properties. This is a reminder!
Glyphosate was patented as an herbicide (weed killer) in 1978 and its use has grown to become the most widely used herbicide globally. It is the primary ingredient in many herbicide products, e.g., Roundup, Ranger Pro, Killzall & Aquamaster. Some of the main producers include Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Dupont & Zeneca.
In 2015, glyphosate was classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Residues are found everywhere, in air, water, soil, food, your body, breast milk, your children, pets and other animals.
There are many published scientific studies linking glyphosate exposure to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers, reproductive issues and endocrine disruption, as well as links to honeybee deaths, crippled elk, Monarch butterfly deaths, etc. It also harms or kills amphibians, fish, crustaceans, snails, mice, rats, rabbits and poultry, various microorganisms (in our gut & in the soil) and other life forms. While this multitude of data has been disregarded by the current administration in Washington, a review of the actual science clarifies the harmful effects and validates science.
Recent retraction of a frequently cited article in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology has resulted in a crisis of confidence in the science behind glyphosate. However, the work by Wisner/Baum1 (2017-2019) detailed the issue of scientific manipulation, provided the correct science, and recent news articles summarized it.
Similar industry malevolence followed a major 2025 comprehensive Global Glyphosate Study (GGS) by multiple European and U.S. institutions. They found that glyphosate levels considered safe in the EU caused dose-related increased incidences of benign and malignant tumors in experimental animals. This robustly supported the 2015 IARC conclusion regarding the carcinogenicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs).
Since releasing the GGS, industry attack campaigns have escalated against the study’s director and have cost him his position as director of a cancer research center at Ramazzini Institute in Italy. A scientific academy of physicians and scientists from 45 countries noted that the director’s termination process was “non-transparent” and “secretive”, and offered no rational explanation. It is suggested that the vicious attacks by the chemical industry are because the findings of the Institute’s independent research have hurt their bottom line.
In a more recent report, it was found that glyphosate is contributing to the wildfires in North America. Each year, thousands of hectares of public lands and forests are sprayed with glyphosate-based herbicides to control invasive species. This results in a more uniform and more flammable forest. Additionally concerning is that many people forage for food, hunt game and utilize water from these lands, and what they collect and consume is contaminated with glyphosate.
Remember that glyphosate-based herbicides are systemic; they are incorporated into a plant’s tissue and cannot be washed out before they’re consumed. Animals eating glyphosate-treated plants result in contamination of animal products (milk, cheese, eggs, meat, etc.).
Fortunately, a number of Massachusetts towns recognize the harm of glyphosate exposure and prohibit its application on town-owned/managed lands, including (year adopted): Mashpee (1982); Marblehead (2005); Wellesley (2011); Orleans (2012); Wellfleet (2015); Warwick (2017); Chatham (2018); Eastham, Falmouth, Sandwich, Barnstable, Harwich, South Hadley and Plymouth (all in 2019); Dennis (2020) and Cambridge (2021).
Other towns may also be considering bans or restrictions reflecting a growing concern over the public health and environmental impacts of glyphosate. Our state Legislature needs to be aware of the science behind glyphosate. Most proposed bills to regulate glyphosate allow it to be used if the applicator is licensed to do so, since this pesticide is registered as “general use.” The Legislature must understand the uncompromising health and ecological harm of glyphosate. In fact, community organizations and environmental groups are advocating for stricter regulations.
Alternatives to GBHs exist, including organic herbicides, organic regenerative farming and integrated pest management approaches. Consuming organic foods can also help one avoid glyphosate. These various methods aim to manage weeds and minimize public health risks and environmental impact.
Stephen Frantz is a member of the South Hadley Board of Health.