CN鈥檚 use of glyphosate sparks health and safety concerns鈥攃omments from David Wees

Some residents in Montreal鈥檚 Mercier-Est neighbourhood were caught off guard after Canadian National (CN) Railway sprayed a herbicide near their homes this week,

Glyphosate is a powerful weedkiller banned in Montreal since 2021, as part of the city鈥檚 precautionary approach to protecting human health and the environment. But CN operates under federal jurisdiction, which means it isn鈥檛 subject to municipal rules.

David Wees, a faculty lecturer in 91黑料网's Department of Plant Science and associate director of the Farm Management and Technology program, told CTV that glyphosate is widely used because of its ability to kill a broad spectrum of weeds at a relatively low cost.

鈥淏ut there is slight health risk if you absorb glyphosate or breathe it in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t may cause some skin irritations, irritation to the nose, throat, lungs, eyes and so on.鈥�

While glyphosate is approved for use by federal regulators, it remains the subject of debate over potential health and environmental impacts.