GMW: New study shows GM maize caused kidney and liver toxicity

[nosmokes]

it's just such wonderful stuff. how did we get this far without it?
--###--


GMW: New study shows GM maize caused kidney and liver toxicity

GM WATCH daily
http://www.gmwatch.org
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EXTRACTS: ...biotech giant Monsanto used incomplete data to obtain approval of its genetically modified corn and... laboratory rats, fed with a genetically engineered (GE) maize produced by Monsanto, have shown kidney and liver toxicity, according to a new study... published today in the journal "Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology".
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Greenpeace petition drive demands GE food labelling
Greenpeace calls for immediate action from BC Premier Campbell on mandatory GE labelling
Press release, MARCH 13 2007
http://www.springerlink.com/content/1432-0703

VANCOUVER/BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (CCNMatthews - March 13, 2007) - Greenpeace today launched a petition calling on the BC government to legislate mandatory labelling before the next election. The petition drive comes as a study is released in Europe showing that biotech giant Monsanto used incomplete data to obtain approval of its genetically modified corn and that laboratory rats, fed with a genetically engineered (GE) maize produced by Monsanto, have shown kidney and liver toxicity, according to a new study.(1)

The study, published today in the journal "Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology", analysed results of safety tests submitted by Monsanto to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) when the company was seeking authorisation to market its GE Maize variety MON863 in Canada. The data shows that MON863 has significant health risks associated with it; nonetheless, the CFIA approved the maize for unconfined release into the environment and for consumption by both humans and animals in 2003. The incriminating evidence was obtained by Greenpeace following a court case(2), and passed on for evaluation by a team of experts headed by Professor Gilles Eric Seralini, a governmental expert in genetic engineering technology from the University of Caen.(3)

"Consumers are already skeptical when it comes to GMOs and this latest news about Monsanto will only confirm those concerns. GMOs are inherently risky, and we should not be releasing these untested products into the environment or into our food chain," said Josh Brandon, GE campaigner for Greenpeace. "If GE products continue to appear in our food, however, consumers need labels on these products so that they can make informed choices when it comes to what they buy."

The release of this latest data shows the urgent need for mandatory labelling of GE products in BC. The results also confirm the warnings raised by the Royal Society of Canada's expert panel on biotechnology.(4) In 2001, the panel of scientific experts found that the lack of independent verification of company produced data could lead to the approval of improperly tested and potentially unsafe products.

"As many as 70% of the processed foods on store shelves in BC could contain GE ingredients, and there is absolutely no way for consumers to know this important fact," said Eleanor Boyle of GE Free BC. "Consumers have a right to know what is in the food they eat, so that they can make the decision whether or not to consume this untested and risky technology. BC has the opportunity to lead the way on this issue in Canada and Premier Campbell should listen to British Columbians who want mandatory labelling of GMOs and take action before the next provincial election."

A recent Greenpeace poll, found that 79 per cent of BC residents support legislation requiring all GE food to be labelled, and indicated that the issue could be significant in the next provincial election.(5)

For more information contact:
Josh Brandon, Greenpeace Canada, GE campaigner, cell: 604-721-7493
Eleanor Boyle, GE Free BC, cell: 604-230-2561
Andrew Male, Greenpeace Canada, Communications, cell: 416-880-2757

1 The article is published online (www.springerlink.com/content/1432-0703) by the American journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; it will be printed in May. A Greenpeace briefing on the study is available on request.
2 For details, please refer to the Greenpeace paper: "The MON863case-a chronicle of systematic deception
3 The analysis team was headed by Professor Seralini from University of Caen and included experts from the French independent scientific organisation CRIIGEN.
4 RSC, Royal Society of Canada (Expert Panel on the Future of Food Technology) 2001. Elements of Precaution: Recommendations for the Regulation of Food Biotechnology in Canada. Ottawa: Royal Society of Canada.
5 The Stratcom poll of 601 BC eligible voters was conducted between November 23 and November 30, 2006. It has a margin of error +/- 4.0%. A copy of the report is available on request.


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[PDJane]

1. I somehow suspect this stuff

is part of the problem with disappearing bees, too, but I have no proof of that.......just a gut feeling.

[kirby]

3. See a doctor

"just a gut feeling."

Perhsps you should go see a doctor about that.

[PDJane]

28. I grew up on a farm.

I've watched the process. I've watched the change in wildlife and in farm life over the past 50 years. It's left me worried and somewhat frightened, and I'm glad, in a way, that I don't have grandchildren.........I don't think there will be much left on the planet for them.

(By the way, the ulcer I do see a doc about. I think about stuff too much.)

[KittyWampus]

40. Someone also suggested a newer non-specific pesticide that doesn't break down easily might

be the culprit with the bees.

A pesticide with a name like nicoti.....???

[Mind_your_head]

73. neonicotinoids

It was talked about on this thread - starts at post #4:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=388981#389056

[kirby]

62. It was sarcasm

"(By the way, the ulcer I do see a doc about. I think about stuff too much.)"

The article was about GM food causing kidney and liver elevations. You said you had a 'gut feeling'. I was trying
to be funny that perhap the GM food was causing stomach problems too. Oh well, I guess it wasnt as funny as when I typed it
;)

[PDJane]

66. *snicker"

OK, my sense of humour has been somewhat dented lately........mea culpa.

[arikara]

32. I suspect you are on to something

It wouldn't surprise me that GMO is a factor. And where the bees go, we will follow.

It wouldn't surprise me to find out that GMO is a factor in the obesity and cancer epidemics too. Its in all the processed foods now and hard to avoid. That's if you can call those horrible chemical stews "food".

But hey, the pharmas say its safe. Yah right.

:mad:

[Scout1071]

60. Ummm.....come on by my house this summer. I found the bees.

Especially in September.

[NotGivingUp]

63. I thought the same exact thing as soon as I heard about the bee probem.

[AX10]

2. There's Monsanto again.

:eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Link's not loading.

What's the volume and page number at AECT? It doesn't appear to be up yet.

[Skidmore]

5. How can anyone figure that if they try to mimic the effects of insecticide

in a plant, that the plant will not have some sort of toxic properties when consumed? I don't get the disconnect for these people who develop these products.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. I think the idea is...

that people aren't insects.

And what may be dangerous for insects, isn't dangerous for humans.

[Skidmore]

8. Well, I'll be darned if I'm going to have a shot of insecticide to prove

you are right on that one.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. You don't have to.

It's tested elsewhere.

Besides, there's more insecticide on the non-GM stuff than on the GM stuff.

[nosmokes]

15. again, hooligan you have the facts skewed.GMOs use more pesticides than

'conventional' and certainly organic. even the RR crops use more glyphosphates than regular crops because the weeds are becoming tolerant of the glyphosphate.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Misleading.

Obviously roundup ready crops obviously lead to more application of glyphosate, which is an herbicide, btw. That's the whole point of round up ready crops.

If you spray glyphosate on crops that weren't round up ready, you'd kill the crop. By having a round up ready crop, you can spray the fields and kill the weeds without killing the crop.

Other crops, such as Bt cotton, have dramatically reduced the use of insecticide, as they were designed to.

[nosmokes]

19. but the glyphosphate ain't killing anything anymore except in massive

doses, so in addition to the round-up it takes a pre-emergent and an emergent both of which together add another $5- $12 acre for the grower, in addition to the extra cost of the RR seed plus the extra RR needed. and of course the glyphophate is killing all sorts of beneficial bacteria in the soil and leeching into the water and draining into the watershed where it's harming fish eggs and amphibians, which in turn is harming the birds which is leading to more insects which causes a need for more insecticide.

a loverly cycle it is, no? a

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. I believe you're exaggerating the problem with Roundup.

Furthermore, it would be a problem with herbicide usage, not genetic engineering.

[nosmokes]

25. i didn't make up super weeds, which is a direct result of GMOs and the use

of pesticides exactly as the promoters directed.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Can you prove it?

Glyphosate resistant weeds have been around a lot longer than round-up ready crops.

[arikara]

49. Poison is as poison does

The precautionary principal should take precedence over corporate profit. Unfortunately it doesn't at this point in time.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. What's poison for plants, isn't necessarily poison for humans.

At least humans who haven't got a shikimic acid pathway.

[hedgehog]

34. Organic farmers use Bt only when other control measures fail and

only when insect damage reaches a certain point. That's different from growing a crop that continuously produces the Bt toxin, thereby ensuring that Bt resistant insects will develop.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. Organic farmers use Bt?

[hedgehog]

38. There are many different species of naturally occuring species of Bt

that target specific species of nematodes. Bt is found in the soil. Check out just about any issue of Organic Gardening for more info.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. Right...

but there's naturally occuring species that produce methyl bromide, and I thought that was off the organic farmer's list too.

[hedgehog]

43. I think the difference is the the Bt is targetted to a specific species

while methyl bromide is rather broad spectrum.

BTW - produced by what species?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. Methyl bromide?

Oh, I can't remember. It's a rather common weed. Dandelion?

There was a neat article in American Scientist on the subject of natural organic halides. I think it was maybe about a year ago.

[hedgehog]

48. Jeeze, i don't know, when I google dandelion and methyl bromide,

I come up with articles about using methyl bromide to kill dandelions.

i would guess brassicaes produce methyl bromide in trace quantities rather than the concentrations used in pest control.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. I'll take a look at the article.

http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/34006

I believe it suggests the plants synthesize methyl bromide as a natural pesticide.

[hedgehog]

55. This comparison belongs in the hall of fame along with the claim that trees cause pollution.

Somehow, most people don't classify the Great Smoky Mountains with the LA basin when discussing air quality.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

59. That doesn't even make any sense.

Many plants produce natural pesticides. Bacteria and fungi do too. You already mentioned Bt...

:shrug:

[truedelphi]

68. The glyphosate is not the most dangerous part of the RoundUp

Monsanto lied when it applied for its original EPA licensing - it included formaldehyde for at least the first thirty years of that herbicide's existence.

RoundUp is 41% glyphosate, 15% POEA (polyoxyethalanamine) and the rest water.

Except those figures can't be exactly right because in the earlier version there was formaldehyde and now there is whatever takes the place of the formaldehye (The reasonf or the formaldehyde is that without it, ROundUp would be in the form of a solid - think like a hard powder soap ball)

Warren Porter PhD is an expert on RoundUp and he used to have interesting things to say about how the school shootings matched exactly the period of time whent he spring fertilizing and pesticiding of crops and lawns would take place So you had shootings at schools in Arkansas in late February and in places like Denver in late May

That no longer holds true because the fabric softener industry and the Glade and Oust and Lysol products are now part of the mix - a kid can have the serious chemcial impact any week of the year, thanks now to advanced science and its monopoly of commercial time on TV.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

74. LOL at "school shootings"

[hedgehog]

56. Actually, yes he does. We are all exposed to pesticides in varying degrees whether

we choose to use them or not. Once they enter the environment, there is no escaping them.

[hedgehog]

11. Yeppers, that's why we spray everything with DDT all the time.

Seriously, does anyone here realize a No-pest strip is releasing low levels of nerve gas into your house when you use it? Fly paper may be uglier, but it's a lot safer unless you bump into it and you have long hair.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Actually, we spray with Bt all the time.

And other insecticides.

The problem with DDT is that in addition to harming insects, it harmed some endangered birds.

[Morgana LaFey]

33. You're a trip, hooligan, a real trip

The problem with DDT is that in addition to harming insects, it harmed some endangered birds.

Err, it's what CAUSED those birds to become endangered in the first place.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

36. Exactly.

No humans were hurt from the DDT.

[hedgehog]

42. That we know of.

I just wish all the people who focus on the supposed toxicity of vaccines would take one look at cumulative and collective damage from exposure to a multitude of pesticides.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. Heh.

Have you seen those old film strips of how much DDT we used to use? I'd suspect toxicity of humans would have shown up.

"I just wish all the people who focus on the supposed toxicity of vaccines would take one look at cumulative and collective damage from exposure to a multitude of pesticides."

I wish everybody concerned about vaccines, pesticides, and GMOs would use peer-reviewed evidence, instead of speculation and fearmongering.

[hedgehog]

50. We know the cumulative effect of DDT on birds. Have we ever ruled out

the cumulative effect of DDT on humans? Can we say for certain that it has nothing to do with increased ratte of autism or ADHD? DDT saved a lot of lives by stopping typhus epidemics and malaria, but no one can say that it is truly harmless to humans in the general environmnet.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

52. Well, no.

We haven't ruled out that DDT causes Foot and Mouth disease either, but there isn't any evidence to suggest that it does, so until then...

[hedgehog]

54. We know the causes of Foot and Mouth disease.

We don't know the causes of autism and ADHD, although some research suggests it's a result of an insult to the embryo triggering a genetic cascade.

Can exposure to trace amounts of chemicals cause fetal damage? Thalidomide, anyone?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

61. Have we ruled out all of the causes?

Maybe DDT also causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Restless Leg Syndrome. Can you prove it doesn't? Has it been ruled out that demon possession doesn't cause autism? Well, then...

:crazy:

"Can exposure to trace amounts of chemicals cause fetal damage? Thalidomide, anyone?"

Trace amounts of thalidomide doesn't cause fetal damage, large pharmaceutical doses do. And that's something that's been shown scientifically. It's not conjecture.

[Occulus]

65. Okay, that's it

Your deliberate obtuseness used to be amusing, hooligan, especially because it's so very obvious you don't actually believe half of what you're posting, but I'm getting awful, awful sick of reading your "contrary-just-to-BE-contrary" schtick, so I'm putting you on ignore (permenantly, this time).

I strongly encourage others to do the same. No matter how right you are, this poster will argue you 'round and 'round in circles, until you get tired... even if you're 100% correct. Hell, look upthread if you need proof. I don't have the time to waste on that shit any more.

Bye, hoo-hoo. Not gonna miss ya.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

75. You're calling me obtuse...

but you're putting me on ignore?

:rofl:

[Zodiak]

58. Word

I am familiar with the issue of GMOs, and it has nothing to do with toxicity to humans. DDT was the same way...it wasn;tharmful at all to humans, but it sure did a number on the ecosystem (and had a tendency to never break down).

You have to be a holometabolous insect or a nematode to be affected by Bt. If we are to get upset about an issue with Bt, it is not about the Bt itself, but the capacity of plant genes to jump species and become difficult to contain.

Patenting seeds and cultivars is another serious issue.

But to claim that GMOs are somehow a "chemical stew" as opposed to normal cultivars is over-the-top and works against the credibility of the anti-GMA movement.

For the record, I am essentially neutral on this issue.

[nosmokes]

76. tell that to the shepherds in the wahrangi(sp?) district that lost hundreds of

sheep due to their grazing on Bt cotton.

[truedelphi]

77. What area of our nation is that? I'd like to know more n/t

[truedelphi]

72. The Health Council of Marin has looked into both things - the pesticides

Herbicides and other chems - it is almost traditional for a portion of Health Council members to have multiple chemical sensitivities. The Council has a great concern over the increasing numbers of children experiencing cancers, (a huge upswing in blastomas after MTBE was introduced) asthma, diabetes, immune impairments and learning disabilities.) Many of these diseases are seen in direct correlation with pesticide use.

The Council has always been concerned about GMO. I went from thinking that Jeremy Rifkin was a total flake to putting him on an altar and anointing him with sainthood during my time with the Council.

As Advisors to the Supervisors of Marin County, we were getting nowhere with getting the County to reduce its spraying of pesticides on Marin County lands (85% of Marin County is open space either federally, county, or city or town-owned lands)

Supervisors at the time (1997 to late 1999) didn't think favorably of impacting the "right" of County maintenance workers to spray the hiking paths, school yards, etc. So to offset the negative response from the Supes, we created an off-shoot organization.

That organization "Marin Beyond Pesticides" received so much support from so many activists that the 1999 Pesticide Reduction Act was created and signed by all of the Supervisors.

The Council has also again and again examined the issue of vaccines. However the head of Health and Human Services, Nancy Rubin, did not want to hear about the detrimental effects of vaccines - after all, many departments in your County depend on Federal and state monies to have on hand the nurses and clinics to do the "Healthy Infant and Child Clinics" that allow babies to receive 31 vaccines before their first year.

When I hear researchers who are proponents of vaccinations becoming ever more and more mandated, they often say that the pharmaceutical companies are not making a profit on these products. I have no idea if they are or they aren't. But I can tell you that the local agencies are allowed ever greater budgets with ever increased employment numbers to insure that vaccinations take place. They are not going to smash the Golden Egg.

I have no trouble with certain vaccines - my own son probably received four to six vaccinations a year. (And I never allowed vaccines in a multi-combination - only one at a time - never on a day when he was sick.) But four is a far different thing than Thirty-One.

[rman]

71. "And what may be dangerous for insects, isn't dangerous for humans"

Well, that's a stupid idea.

One word: DDT (ok it's actually three words, but who cares)

[gravity]

14. Humans and Insects evolution diverged a long time ago

The mechanism that causes the toxic effect in insects, is absent in vertebrates. Its just like antibiotics which are safe for humans, but kill bacteria

[Blackhatjack]

7. Likely A Connection to Massive Honey Bee Devastation As Well...

We are taking a terrible risk to unleash genetically modified food into the natural food chain.

[Atman]

10. GM crops pose no threat

This is a very old cartoon...



.

[shain from kane]

13. I'd normally say grab your popcorn, but I wouldn't.

[truedelphi]

69. Is that because right now a lot of corn is GMO? n/t

[Cobalt Violet]

16. This is wonderful news....

For those of us who already have liver disease. Great just great. :grr:

[Buzz Clik]

18. None of the links go to the paper.

It would be nice to be able to read it...

[nosmokes]

21. yeah, sorry about that?

GMWatch says it's available at the springer site but i'll be damned if i can find it. the GMW bit also says the paper won't be printed until may, so maybe they decided to hold off til then? hell i don't know? i got the GMW notice in my email and pasted it in here w/o trying the links first. that'll teach me, huh?

[Buzz Clik]

23. Not your fault. We can wait until it comes out.

[Kurovski]

22. K&R 5

[truedelphi]

24. Yep Americans have to rely on the independent scientists of

Other nations to explain the risks of GMO etc

Our University Laboratories (and all scientific results) are bought and paid for by grants and foundation trusts established by our chemical pharmaceutical mutli-conglomerates. Just look at Novartis and its funding of the "independent" labs of UC Berkeley.

And for all you vaccine over-believers, in about five years or so the Japanese researchers will have concluded their audits of the cancers, the learning disabilities, the immune diseases wrought upon American infants and toddlers because of the mandates that our tiniest children receive thirty-one vaccines before age one. Japan has been wise enough to stipulate that a child must be two before being vaccinated (except in a national emergency - and then only one type of vaccine for instance in the event of an avian flu epidemic - only that particluar vaccine)

[nosmokes]

27. all hell is breaking out at berkeley right now because of a deal w/ BP

that has the students and the faculty and even staff up in arms. i haven't been follwing it as closely as i should but i think they even had or have planned a general strike for one day. gotta love berkeley.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Wow.

Did you use a crystal ball to come up with scientific conclusions five years from now? Or did you use chicken entrails?

What happens in five years and you're proven wrong?

[truedelphi]

67. Probably I won't be

Credentials - one of the first reporters to release the bad news about MTBE (The gas additive) (June of 1997 - would have been seven or eight months earlier - but the oil control over the media was such that not until I found a small and independent monthly newspaper like The Coastal Post could my research get out)

Among the the first to cover The Stolen Election (starting in April 0f 2004, with an article on "Black Box Voting")

I wouldn't worry so much about me being wrong about the Japanese - they have already said that this is in the works - instead you and I should worry about this in terms of vaccines:
I know of NOT A SINGLE Review of the effect of multiple (let's say some two dozen vaccines introduced into the biochemistry of children who are still under under the age of one. YOu might get a report or published paper on one vaccine or another - but no one anywhere that I know of has published anything to say that this entire battery of impurities that are.

I would think it very responsible of someone, anyone to tell me the effects of the thirty one vaccines on infants and the researcher should include this in their report - the effect on the child's immune system, their endocrine system, their immune system, their thyroid (I have started to put the thyroid in its own special grouping.) Also the impacts on their neural network and their brain. What are vaccinations doing to kids?

And it would also be quite responsible to start examining that even if the thirty one vaccinations don't alter the child in some detrimental way on their own - what are the real effects if the vaccines are combined with MSG (now in infant's formula) or the effects of vaccination with fabric softener, color stabilizers (so the kiddie's bedsheets stay bright) bleach, detergent (did you know that many commercial laundry products use battery acid as an ingredient) etc

Look up Julia Kendall - researcher extraordinaire.

[gravity]

26. There is so much misinformation in this article

Bt corn has been out forever, and it has been tested many times finding no impact on human health. Chances are that you at genetically modified food before, and there hasn't been a single case that it caused harm to anyone.

Greenpeace just likes cherry pick one study out that vaguely supports their views. This is not conclusive proof and these findings were already been reviewed by scientists and they say the food is safe for human consumption. Regulation organizations take these studies very seriously, and review all the information to make sure these things are safe.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/etc/medialib/efsa/science/gmo/statements/666.Par.0001.File.dat/sr_gmo01_statement_study_mon863_en1.pdf

The ironic thing is that this bt corn is actually better for the environment than conventional crops due to less pesticides used.

[nosmokes]

29. there has never been adequate independent testing of GMOs. NEVER.

the vaast majority of the testing done has been done by corporate 'scientists' and as monsanto and syngenta have proved manytimes, any information they turn up that isn't positive gets buried. there are so many unanswered questions re: GMOs it ain't funny. it is, essentially, an untested technology that has been foisted upon us by a corporate controlled government, and we really don't know whether it's safe or not. it may well be, but almost every week new information comes to light about deleterious information that was known but kept from the public or from regulatory agencies. so don't come around here and tell me this shit is safe to eat when the motherfuckers that manufacture it don't even have the gumption to put a label on the box that it comes in. me, i'm proud of the work i do and i'll gladly put my name on it. why won't they?

[gravity]

46. Yes there has

If you want to do some research just search Google Scholar or PubMed.

There are tons of studies out there, the media just doesn't cover it because they all are very boring.

[truedelphi]

78. Is it true you have your name on packages of "No Camels"

The unfiltered non-cigarettes?

[nosmokes]

79. name? hell, that's my camel...

[hedgehog]

35. I am less concerned on the effect of GM food on me as an end consumer

and more concerned on the disruption of the ecology it causes. COnsider the fate of the Monarch butterfly, for one. Where is an extensive study of the effect of GM crops on ecology or even on the economic effects on small and third world farmers?

[gravity]

41. Well here is what I found on Google Scholar

Results 1 - 10 of about 19,100 for genetically modified food ecology
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=genetically+modified+food+ecology&btnG=Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 17,100 for genetically modified food economy
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=genetically+modified+food+economy&btnG=Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 8,320 for genetically modified food subsistence farming
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=genetically+modified+food+subsistence+farming&btnG=Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,670 for genetically modified food monarch butterfly
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=genetically+modified+food+monarch+butterfly&btnG=Search

[hedgehog]

45. This is a list of articles that must be purchased.

Going by the abstracts, it doesn't sound too good for GM crops. Second Silent Spring doesn't sound like an endorsement.

[gravity]

57. There are still many available to read for free online

But my main point is that there is a lot of research out there.

[NotGivingUp]

64. there should be some big fricking law suits against monsanto between this and the bee fiasco. eom

[truedelphi]

70. It does make one think of calling up Erin Brockavich, doesn't it?