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Dewayne Johnson's end-stage cancer condition attributed to Monsanto's Roundup Herbicide was at the center of the debate Monday at a lawsuit against Monsanto's multinational United States.
The plaintiff must deliver his testimony in the day before a court in San Francisco, highly anticipated in this trial, the first of its kind concerning the potentially carcinogenic effects of this widely used chemical in the world, and , for decades.
Dewayne Johson, who accuses Monsanto of knowingly concealing the dangerousness of the product, arrived at the courthouse around 9:00 am (1600 GMT), wearing a light brown leather jacket, accompanied by one of his lawyers and his wife.
Monday's hearing began with the testimony of Dr. Ope Ofodile, a dermatologist, one of Dr. Johnson's doctors since 2014. She is asked to comment on photos of skin lesions on her body. by Mr Johnson
The latter, "frightened by the condition of his skin", had initially consulted doctors for "rashes," she said, in particular.
Dewayne Johnson, father of two children , who was to testify a little later in the day, was diagnosed two years ago with an incurable non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which resulted in numerous lesions on her body.
Between 2012 and 2014, he sprayed Roundup on school grounds in a small town in California, in the western United States, the active ingredient of which is glyphosate, an effective yet controversial herbicide, and Rangerpro, another product of the same type.
According to the 46-year-old American, it is this product that caused his illness, and Monsanto, which has just been bought by the German Bayer, knowingly concealed its dangerousness when it should have included a warning on the packaging.
"Monsanto has known for 40 years that the basic components of Roundup can cause tumors in laboratory animals," said one of the Complainants' lawyers, Brent Wisner, at the first day of the trial, July 9.
The prosecution's task is arduous because it involves convincing jurors of the link between Roundup and Dewayne Johnson's cancer while this one has not been scientifically proven despite long years of debate.
For its part, Monsanto has since the beginning of the trial to refute any link between glyphosate and cancer, scientific studies in support, which are challenged by anti-glyphosates.
Monday's hearing will be a delicate pbadage for Monsanto, as the testimony of Dewayne Johnson is poignant
"The cancer of Mr. Johnson is a terrible disease and we must all have the greatest empathy for the test he is going through, "one of the Monsanto group's lawyers at the opening of the trial, George Lombardi, had noted.
– Studies that are unreliable? –
"The scientific evidence shows that glyphosate products do not cause cancer or cause cancer of Mr. Johnson," he argued, however,
The defense of Mr. Johnson said he hoped "as much as possible" in damages from Monsanto, which is the subject of thousands of lawsuits in the United States, at varying degrees of advancement.
Commercialized since 1974, Roundup, one of the world's most widely used herbicides, contains glyphosate, which is the subject of conflicting studies and advice.
Unlike the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , California, where San Francisco is located, has placed glyphosate on the list of carcinogens.
Glyphosate is also clbadified as a "probable carcinogen" since 2015 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an organ of the World Health Organization (WHO), but not by the European agencies, Efsa (food safety) and Echa (chemicals)
Glyphosate is particularly controversial in Europe. Following the decision of the European Union in November to renew the license for the herbicide for five years, a few days after its expiry, the French government undertook to stop using this substance for the main uses of the herbicide. three years ago
However, glyphosate is widely acclaimed by farmers for its efficiency and low cost
Critics criticize EU science agencies for relying too much on data provided by the European Union. industry, lack of means and personnel, questioning published studies.
The Mansanto trial is expected to last at least until August.
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