Port au Choix, Newfoundland, tests water for herbicide amid health concerns

In response to social media concerns, Port au Choix is testing its water for glyphosate, a common herbicide.

Malone Mullin reports for CBC News.


In short:

  • Port au Choix officials are testing the town's water supply for glyphosate after a resident's social media post about health issues raised concerns.
  • The resident's claim of glyphosate in her blood, leading to neurological symptoms, has not been verified.
  • Health Canada's 2017 assessment found glyphosate unlikely to accumulate in animal tissues, but the town is proceeding with tests to ease public worry.

Key quote:

The Health and Environment departments are "taking this complaint seriously and are actively investigating the situation."

— Marium Oishee, provincial government spokesperson.

Why this matters:

This situation highlights the growing public concern over environmental contaminants and their potential health impacts. It underscores the importance of proactive measures and transparency in environmental health issues, especially in small communities. The response by Port au Choix reflects a broader trend of increased vigilance regarding the safety of public resources like water.

Questions swirl about the health effects of this common herbicide. We’ve got answers.

About the author(s):

EHN Curators
EHN Curators
Articles curated and summarized by the Environmental Health News' curation team. Some AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight, fact checking and editing.

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