Cancer fear over lawn weedkiller commonly used in British parks and on wheat

Weedkiller used in parks, millions of gardens and huge swathes of crops could be linked to cancer, a report revealed last night.

Research by a respected agency concluded that glyphosate a chemical found in hundreds of pesticide products including the Roundup range is potentially carcinogenic.

It is used on lawns and on most of Britains wheat supply. Campaigners say residues of the substance are in bread.

Dr Keith Tyrell, director of Pesticides Action Network UK, said: Councils should stop using it and the Government needs to take action. I dont want to alarm people but the safest thing to do would be to restrict this chemicals use.

The report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer part of the World Health Organisation was published in medical journal The Lancet.

It comes two years after scientists linked glyphosate to Parkinsons disease, infertility and other health problems.

Glyphosate is the worlds most widely used pesticide, generating around 1billion in global sales.

The IARC report has been blasted by US chemical giant Monsanto which manufactures the Roundup brand.

Bosses said that when the full facts are properly researched it proved its products are safe and glyphosate is not harmful.

Monsanto chief Dr Philip Miller said: We dont know how IARC could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe.

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Cancer fear over lawn weedkiller commonly used in British parks and on wheat