The World Health Organization has declared the popular herbicide Roundup produced by Monsanto and whose active ingredient is glyphosate causes cancer.

A 17-member WHO panel from 11 countries came to this conclusion after evaluating the evidence that particular organophosphate herbicides can cause cancer in humans.

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The panel from WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that glyphosate, which is a herbicide made by Monsanto and other companies is "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

IARC published its findings on March 20 in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

The classification came after some studies showed an association between exposure to the herbicide and the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Monsanto sells the product under the label "Roundup," which is used by farmers and home gardeners. It's also contained in more than 750 products worldwide, according to the IARC report.

Glyphosate is among the most widely-used pesticide by volume in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Its use has been increasing in recent years due to the increased use of genetically modified crops resistant to its use.

The IARC panel reviewed studies published since 2001 that examined groups of healthy male agricultural and farming workers,and studies using mice.

Due to limitations in the studies the panel examined, the panel was not able to say what level of exposure to glyphosate might be a safe level, nor were they able to zero in on any specific cancer-causing mechanism.