Advocates demand US suspend weed killing chemical that may cause cancer

Coalition alleges glyphosate, the most heavily applied herbicide in history, does not meet required safety standard set by federal law

Citing new scientific research, a coalition of farm worker, public health and environmental advocates on Wednesday filed a legal petition with US regulators demanding they immediately suspend authorization for the controversial weed killing chemical called glyphosate.

The petition, filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alleges that the chemical does not meet the required safety standard set by federal law and the EPA has “no valid assessment demonstrating otherwise”.