 |
 |
|
John Fagan, PhD
The following are points arguing against allowing Monsanto to go ahead with the field trials of Roundup resistant sugar beets now proposed to be carried out in Ireland.
Monsanto's proposed field tests of Roundup Ready sugar beets threaten the environment and health. Furthermore, The proposed field tests are designed to assess only the field productivity of the beets in Ireland. They are not designed to assess the potential impact of these beets on the Irish environment. If tests are to be allowed in Ireland, they should at least include measurements that will allow the objective assessment of environmental effects.
The Roundup Ready sugar beet poses two major threats to the environment. They also pose threats to the health of consumers. These problems are summarized below:
1. Increased use of Roundup will occur if these beets are allowed to be grown commercially. This herbicide is touted by Monsanto as short-lived in the environment and harmless to living things. However, there is evidence in the scientific literature that calls both of these claims into question. Significant residues of Roundup have been detected in soil long after application. for instance, one study revealed residues as long as 3 years after application of Roundup (Torstensson, NTL, et al. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safety 18:230;1989). Thus this chemical can persist in the soil and be taken up by subsequent crops. Recent observations in
Several studies indicate that Roundup is also harmful to fish (WHO UN Environmental Program, International Labour Organization. 1994. Glyphosate. Environmental Health Criteria #159. Geneva, Switzerland), earthworms (Soil Biol. Biochem. 24:1739;1992), and beneficial insects (Pestic. Sci. 30:309;1990).
Direct evidence that Roundup is harmful to human health is also growing. For instance, research done in California has found that Roundup exposure is the third most frequent cause of toxic reactions in farm workers (Pease, W.S. et al, 1993, Preventing pesticide-related illness in California agriculture: Strategies and priorities. Environmental Health Policy Program Report. Berkeley, CA: University of California School of Public health, California Policy Seminar).
Effects on reproductive function in small mammals also suggest that Roundup may have harmful effects on reproductive function in humans. In rat feeding studies, Roundup reduced sperm counts and lengthened the estrous cycle (US Dept. Health & Human Services. Public health Service. National Institutes of Health. NTP technical report on toxicity studies of glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6) administered in dosed feed to F344/N rats and B6C3F mice. (NIH Publication 92-3135), and Toxicity Reports Series No. 16. Research Triangle Park, NC: National toxicology Program). Other reproductive and developmental problems were also observed in rats (WHO UN Environmental Program, International Labour Organization. 1994. Glyphosate. Environmental Health Criteria #159. Geneva, Switzerland). Some multiple generation studies have also resulted in adverse effects on fetal development (US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs. Special Review and Reregistration Division. 1993. Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) Glyphosate. Washington DC (September, 1993).
2. Cross-pollination with wild relatives of sugar beets may occur. Roundup ready beets are part of a family of plants (the Chenopodiaceae) that is widely distributed in Europe and that includes chard, spinach, as well as all varieties of beets. Northern Europe is not the center of biodiversity for this family. However, human commerce in agricultural products has carried weedy relatives of the beet to Ireland. Moreover, non-genetically engineered domesticated beets are grown widely across Ireland. The evidence presented in Monsanto's application, itself, demonstrates clearly that the genetically engineered Roundup-resistant beet will readily cross-hybridize with both wild beets and domesticated beets.
The proposed field tests specify a minimum distance of only a 2 meters between the genetically engineered beets and neighboring non-genetically engineered beets. The OECD specifies an isolation distance of 1000 meters for beet seed production, and standards set by other organizations specify much greater distances, rangeing from 3500 to 10,000 meters. Clearly the isolation distance proposed by the applicant is inadequate.
Isolation is critical because introduction of the Roundup resistance trait into agricultural and/or wild beets will be irreversable.Over time, this trait could be transferred to other Chenopodiaceae, as well. If release occurs, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to control any unanticipated environmental or safety problems that arise. Clearly the current application should be denied simply on the basis of the inadequacy of the isolation procedures proposed by the applicant.
3. The human health hazards of the Roundup Ready sugar beet have not been assessed adequately. Genetic engineering can introduce unanticipated allergens and toxins into foods, and can reduce the nutritional value of foods. Research should be done to evaluate whether the Roundup Ready sugar beet is hazardous to the consumer before it is considered for commercial use in Ireland. Arguments will be lodged that table sugar is highly purified and will be free of any potentially harmful component present in the beets, themselves. This is not accurate, since there are individuals who display allergic reactions to table sugar. This implies that table sugar contains sufficient levels of allergenic protein to cause reactions in these highly sensitive individuals. Therefore, if genetic engineering has introduced unanticipated allergens into the Roundup Ready sugar beet, sufficient levels of that allergen could be present in table sugar to cause problems for some consumers. Furthermore, it should be remembered that other parts of the sugar beet find their way into the human food chain (for instance molasses) and harmful substances present in the sugar beet would be present in higher levels in those fractions.
The points presented above present firm evidence contraindicating the field trials and commercialization of the Roundup-resistant sugar beet proposed by Monsanto.
John B. Fagan, Ph.D.
Professor of Molecular Biology,
Maharishi University of Management
Fairfield, Iowa, USA 52557-1078
|