Monday, April 9, 2012
E.P.A. denies ban
E.P.A. denies an environmental group’s request to ban a widely used weed killer
By Andrew Pollack
New York Times
April 9, 2012
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said that the widely used herbicide 2,4-D would remain on the market, denying a petition from an environmental group that sought to revoke the chemical’s approval.
The E.P.A. said that the environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, had not adequately shown that 2,4-D would be harmful under the conditions in which it is used.
“At best, N.R.D.C. is asking E.P.A. to take a revised look at the toxicity of 2,4-D,” the E.P.A. said in its decision, which was posted on its Web site.
“Yet the ground for tolerance revocation is a lack of safety.”
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Human tests for GM wheat
Human tests for GM wheat
By Peter Hemphill
The Weekly Times
February 29, 2012
Flour made from genetically modified wheat and barley may be trialled on humans
The human testing will be done under a program approved by the Office of Gene Technology Regulator.
But first, the GM product would be trialled on animals to see if it improves bowel health.
The Gene Technology Regulator approved a licence application from the CSIRO to grow 2.3 hectares of GM wheat and barley in the ACT each year between May this year and June 2017.
The grain varieties have been genetically modified for “altered grain composition, nutrient utilisation efficient, disease resistance or stress tolerance”.
The GM grain would not be used for commercial human food or animal feed, the OGTR said in its notice of decision.
A GTR spokeswoman said a human research ethics committee would be required to review and approve the human nutrition trials.
The latest application is the 13th for GM wheat. The first was in 2004.
The OGTG licence approval comes as China moves to restrict research, production and trade in GM products.
According to a draft law released by China’s State Council, “research, experiments, production, sales, imports and exports of the seeds of genetically modified grain should meet relevant national regulations, and no institution or individual should apply genetic modification technology to main grain breeds without authorisation”.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Bt toxin and ladybird larvae
Swiss researchers confirm lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin on young ladybird larvae
European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER)
Press Release
February 27, 2012
Counter-research based on flawed methodology
Zürich/Braunschweig - Swiss researchers of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical ‘non-target’ environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize. On February 15, the research team headed by Dr. Angelika Hilbeck published the results of additional tests after their first publication in 2009 was strongly criticized by proponents of GM crops in a coordinated attack in the scientific journal “Transgenic Research”. Following the well known pattern described by the U.S. science journalist Waltz , the counter-articles tried to discredit the 2009 research as “pseudo-science”, and presented their own research aimed at disproving the original work. Trigger for this concerted attack was the policy response by the German government which issued a ban in spring 2009 on the commercial planting of a GM maize that expresses the tested Bt toxin, based - among many others - on the results of the earlier 2009 study with A. bipunctata.
Friday, February 17, 2012
GE maize health risks
Genetically engineered maize: New indication of health risks
By Testbiotech
February 17, 2012
Bt protein toxic to human cells
Caen/Munich - Insecticidal Bt toxins such as those produced in genetically engineered plants can be detrimental to human cells. This is a result of recent research led by researchers at the University of Caen (France). Their experiments showed that toxins produced in, for example, the genetically engineered maize MON810, can significantly impact the viability of human cells. The effects were observed with relatively high concentrations of the toxins, nevertheless there is cause for concern. For the first time, experiments have now shown that they can have an toxic effect to human cells. According to companies like Monsanto, which produces genetically engineered maize with these toxins, the toxins are supposed to be active only against particular insects and should have no effect on mammals and humans at all. The investigation of effects of Bt toxins on human cells is not a requirement for risk assessment in Europe or in any other region
Another finding of the researchers concerns a herbicide formulation sold under the brand name Roundup. Massive amounts of this herbicide are sprayed on genetically engineered soybean crops and its residues can be found in food and feed. According to the new publication, even extremely low dosages of Roundup (glyphosate formulations) can damage human cells. These findings are in accordance with several other investigations highlighting unexpected health risks associated with glyphosate preparations.
“We were very much surprised by our findings. Until now, it has been thought almost impossible for Bt proteins to be toxic to human cells. Now further investigations have to be conducted to find out how these toxins impact the cells and if combinatorial effects with other compounds in the food and feed chain have to be taken into account,” says Gilles-Eric Séralini from the University of Caen, who supervised the experiments. “In conclusion, these experiments show that the risks of Bt toxins and of Roundup have been underestimated.”
Call for investigation
Ohio Congressional candidate calls for GMO investigation of Monsanto
By Karl Dickey,
West Palm Beach Libertarian Examiner
February 17, 2012
Richard C. Ehrbar III, a Libertarian candidate for congress in Ohio’s newly formed third district has released yet another stance that challenges mainstream republicans and democrats.
While speaking to a group of liberty activists on Ohio State’s Columbus campus, Ehrbar called for a congressional investigation into the controversial genetically modified crop, genetically altered seed, and herbicide producer Monsanto, citing multitudes of health issues that have been reported and analyzed by leading experts in the health and agricultural community.
“Republicans and democrats, especially President Obama, won’t stand up to Monsanto, but Monsanto must be investigated now, and after, depending on the conclusions, could face potential prosecution.”
Ehrbar cited studies that included a plethora of health issues: “Numerous studies are finding that genetically modified crops are more than likely the cause of infertility in animals, umbilical cord deformities, fatalities, obesity, sudden psychological disorders, miscarriages, seizures, and the list goes on. The most important place for us to look for harm is in the digestive tract. Everything goes from there”.