Monsanto expert witness says human body repels glyphosate – ‘confident there’s no hazard’
Northern California Record | Rich Peters
The third trial against Monsanto wrapped its sixth week as the discussion of whether or not Roundup use was a substantial factor in causing a Northern California couple’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma continued, bringing Monsanto’s expert witnesses to the stand.
Expert Dr. Robert Phalen said in the Alameda Superior Court that glyphosate, the key chemical in Roundup, is not easily absorbed by the human body and argued that a high dosage rate is unlikely despite decades of the product’s use by the plaintiffs.
“As a general matter, does glyphosate readily absorb through skin?” asked Monsanto attorney Kelly Evans.
“No. It’s a very low rate. It’s kind of a little misleading looking at percentages here,” replied Phalen. “The rate is very low, I can tell you. The skin repels water; it repels glyphosate. And these rates with many of these studies are – we call 10 to the minus six type amounts, a millionth of a milligram per centimeter squared per hour. Just very low amounts are going to get through the skin. The skin actually repels glyphosate.”