Substitutes for the controversial weedkiller glyphosate may be more dangerous for home gardeners, an environmental group said in a new analysis Tuesday.
Friends of the Earth, which has pushed for a ban on the weedkiller known by its brand name Roundup, said alternatives being offered by Bayer Corp. such as diquat dibromide are at least as, if not more, toxic than glyphosate.
Bayer, which acquired Roundup manufacturer Monsanto in 2018, has said it’s replacing glyphosate with different herbicides and new formulations for residential use in response to multiple long-standing lawsuits tied to allegations the farm chemical causes cancer.
The company said it’s looking to reduce litigation risks and stands by the product, pointing to findings by EPA and environmental agencies in other countries disputing any connection to cancer. The company called the report “deeply flawed.”
