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GMOs and pesticides: what are the risks to our health?

Credits : pesticides - USDA / http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/94cs3568.htm
GMOs and pesticides: what are the risks to our health?
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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms (animals or plants) or micro-organisms in the organism’s DNA that have been artificially modified in laboratories. This is what we call “genetic engineering”. This technique consists of transferring selected genes from one organism to another, sometimes between species, in order to introduce one or more genes with desirable new characteristics. Nowadays GMOs are found in farming -in animals, cereal crops and genetically modified pesticides -which are therefore in our food. What are the risks to our health? 

132 products containing glyphosate withdrawn from the market

Studies in this area have been contradictory, but this may be due to the power of the agri-pharmaceutical companies represented by Bayer-Monsanto, who put pressure on research institutions and their researchers, meaning that the studies may not all be objective. Recent studies have tended to show that there are health risks associated with GMOs. Between 2009 and 2012, a French study, conducted by the committee for independent research and information on genetic engineering, proved that rats fed for 90 days with Monsanto corn (Mon863) presented with more abnormalities in the liver, the kidneys and in the blood, resembling signs of toxicity, than rats who were not fed with transgenic corn.

Proven risks

Given the risks, governments should take a cautious approach. Other studies are currently underway to determine the health risks of GMOs for humans. Monsanto’s best known pesticide is without a doubt glyphosate. It’s marketing authorisation period was supposed to expire in 2012, but was extended until 2016. However, the Member States did not reach a majority either for or against a new extension on the 6th and 24th of June last year. It was therefore the European Commission who decided on the 28th June 2016 to extend the authorisation of glyphosate for 18 months. The commission also refused to classify glyphosate as a likely carcinogenic, concluding that the scientific evidence was not sufficiently convincing.

However, in France, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) decided to retract the marketing authorisation for 132 products associated with glyphosate on the 20th June. Anses is charged with providing risk management ministries with independent, informed and up-to-date scientific analyses on each GMO, which are to be submitted for review. This should facilitate independent and transparent scientific study.

Toxicity and allergies due to GMOs

Several studies conducted on rats, one of which was published in April 2016 by the Environmental Science and Pollution Research institute (ESPR), discovered signs of toxicity, notably in the kidneys and liver, which could signify the onset of chronic illnesses. Toxic effects such as organ damage were also sometimes reported. It is therefore likely that the pesticides used in genetically modified crops carry health risks for humans.

There is still no reliable means of discovering whether a genetically modified foodstuff could have allergenic effects before it is put on the market. Research continues!

Sources : Infogm, Vigilanceogm, CRIIGEN, ANSES, Springer Link