Introduction
A group of international scientists has called on United States and European regulators to urgently tighten restrictions on glyphosate, citing what they describe as strong and growing evidence linking the world’s most widely used herbicide to cancer and other health problems.
The scientists, who gathered at a symposium at the University of Washington in Seattle on March 25-26, 2026, concluded that the scientific case for regulatory action is now overwhelming. They stated that evidence showing glyphosate-based herbicides can harm human health “is now so strong that no additional delays in regulation of glyphosate can be justified.” [1]
The group, which included experts from U.S. universities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute and institutions in Europe and Canada, reviewed a decade of research. They affirmed prior findings linking glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and warned that harmful impacts are being detected at exposure levels consistent with current agricultural and residential use. “Agencies should act without further delay to limit their use, or eliminate them if legally required, to protect public health,” the scientists said in a statement. [1]
Scientists Call for Regulatory Action on Glyphosate
The symposium’s findings represent a significant consolidation of scientific concern. The participating scientists, specializing in epidemiology, toxicology, cancer and risk assessment, plan to publish a detailed peer-reviewed paper later in 2026. Their review focused on research conducted since 2016, including data on exposure pathways, the pervasive presence of glyphosate in household dust in agricultural areas, and its prevalence in human urine samples. [1]
Christopher Portier, a former U.S. government scientist and adjunct professor at Emory University who participated in both the Seattle symposium and the 2015 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) review, stated the evidence has strengthened considerably. “It’s clear the evidence has changed and become stronger since 2015,” Portier said. The group’s conclusion signals that many in the scientific community believe there is no longer room for doubt regarding the carcinogenic hazard of glyphosate. [1]
Findings Strengthen IARC’s 2015 Classification
The Seattle review directly affirms and strengthens the landmark 2015 classification by the World Health Organization‘s IARC, which determined glyphosate was a “probable human carcinogen.” [1] The scientists stated that the harmful health impacts of glyphosate are now being found at exposure levels consistent with current use patterns in agriculture and residential settings. This challenges longstanding regulatory positions that have deemed typical exposure levels safe. [1]
The call for action comes as the scientific record continues to expand. A systematic review published in the journal Chemosphere concluded that its findings “strengthen the mechanistic evidence that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen and provide biological plausibility for previously reported cancer associations in humans, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.” [2] This growing body of independent literature stands in contrast to industry-funded studies that have historically underpinned regulatory approvals.
Broad Health Risks and Susceptible Populations
Beyond cancer, the symposium scientists cited evidence from human and animal studies indicating glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides increase the risk for multiple adverse health outcomes. These include diseases of the kidney and liver, as well as impacts on reproductive, endocrine, neurological and other metabolic systems. [1] A 2023 study linked childhood exposure to glyphosate to liver inflammation and metabolic disorders. [1]
The scientists identified children, infants and fetuses as the most susceptible groups to glyphosate exposure. This concern is amplified by data showing the chemical’s ubiquity. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found glyphosate in more than 80% of urine samples from children and adults in the United States. [3] Researchers have noted that even tiny doses, fed to pregnant mice at levels far below established safety limits, damaged gut health and metabolism in offspring, suggesting potential multigenerational impacts. [4]
Proposed Overhaul of Regulatory Process
A central recommendation from the symposium is a fundamental overhaul of the global pesticide regulatory approval process. The scientists proposed that regulatory agencies should base decisions on ‘unbiased’ health effects data from independent laboratories, rather than relying heavily on unpublished studies submitted by the pesticide companies themselves. [1] They further stated that the costs of this required independent research should be borne by the pesticide industry. [1]
Lianne Sheppard, symposium organizer and a professor in public health sciences at the University of Washington, highlighted a systemic failure. “There is a huge contrast, conflict, between the scientific consensus and the regulatory perspective,” Sheppard said. “This [glyphosate] is the starkest example of that.” [1] The group concluded that pesticide use must be reduced overall and “eliminated to the extent possible” for the health of humans and ecosystems. [1]
Industry and Regulatory Responses
In response to the symposium, Bayer AG, which acquired glyphosate-originator Monsanto in 2018, reiterated its position on safety. The company stated it “stands behind the safety of our glyphosate-based products which have been tested extensively, approved by regulators and used around the globe for more than 50 years.” [1] Bayer officials, who monitored the event via livestream, said that “no health regulator anywhere in the world has ever found glyphosate to pose a threat to human health.” [1]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when asked for comment, stated it has a goal to protect children and ensure decisions are “driven by science, not politics or special interests.” The agency said, “This year, EPA will undertake a comprehensive, transparent and rigorous scientific review of glyphosate to evaluate its use and ensure decisions are fully aligned with the best available science.” [1] This review is slated for 2026 and will include analysis of independent peer-reviewed research on cancer and developmental risks. [1]
Context of Litigation and Ongoing Scientific Debate
Bayer remains embroiled in extensive U.S. litigation, facing tens of thousands of lawsuits from individuals alleging that exposure to Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. [1] The company maintains the products are safe but is attempting to settle cases and has pursued appeals. In one notable verdict, a Georgia jury ordered Bayer to pay over $2 billion to a man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a verdict the company is appealing. [5]
The scientific debate is fueled by ongoing research and historical scrutiny. A 2022 study found glyphosate can have neurotoxic effects at doses lower than levels considered safe by regulators. [1] Furthermore, a pivotal industry-funded study from the year 2000, long cited by regulators to affirm glyphosate’s safety, was formally retracted in late 2025 after evidence showed it was ghostwritten by Monsanto scientists. [6] This retraction has led to renewed calls for agencies to reassess the chemical. [6]
Conclusion and Path Forward
The Seattle symposium underscores a widening chasm between independent scientific consensus and regulatory stasis. With scientists urging immediate action to limit exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations, the pressure is mounting on agencies like the EPA. The agency’s promised 2026 review will be a critical test of its commitment to prioritizing public health science over industry influence. [1]
Tracey Woodruff, a professor at Stanford University and former EPA senior scientist who participated in the symposium, pointed to systemic barriers. “It’s hard to get the government to change, particularly because the industry spends a lot of money lobbying Congress to make sure the laws favor their point of view,” Woodruff said. She added, “People are really mad that they are getting sicker, their families are getting sicker, and they’re being exposed to toxic chemicals.” [1] As the scientific evidence continues to accumulate, the demand for regulatory accountability and a shift toward safer, non-toxic agricultural practices grows louder.
References
- Scientists call for urgent action on glyphosate, citing strong links to cancer. – The New Lede. Carey Gillam. March 27, 2026.
- Review Adds to Evidence That Glyphosate Weedkillers Cause Cancer. – Children’s Health Defense.
- 80% of Urine Samples From Kids, Adults Tested Positive for Cancer-Causing Glyphosate, CDC Says. – Children’s Health Defense.
- Even Tiny Doses of Glyphosate Fed to Pregnant Mice Damaged Gut Health in Offspring. – Children’s Health Defense.
- Georgia Man Wins $2 Billion in Roundup Weedkiller Lawsuit, as Governor Weighs Law to Protect Chemical Makers From Liability. – Children’s Health Defense.
- Journal retracts landmark Roundup safety study over evidence company ghost-wrote findings. – NaturalNews.com.
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