the dietary consiousness of "crop" circles [Archive]

Rob P

05-20-2006, 04:08 PM

.......

Dangers of GE Foods & Crops--Dr. Michael Fox
References are available upon request, from hsus.org )

WILL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS MEAN ADULTERATED AND TOXIC FOOD, BODIES,
AND ECOSYSTEMS?

by Dr. Michael W. Fox, Senior Scholar/ Bioethics
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

Without any scientifically or empirically verified evidence,
advocates of agricultural biotechnology claim that genetically engineered
(GE) or genetically modified (GM) crops are the answer to world hunger and
will give security to an every increasing population. They claim that by
making conventional "production" agriculture efficient, biodiversity can be
protected and endangered species saved.
There is increasing scientific evidence contrary, which is why
Great Britain is leading the European Economic Community to put
agricultural biotechnology on hold until more is known about the risks and
benefits of GE crops, foods, additives supplements (enzymes, vitamins,
etc.); to more carefully monitor and effectively regulate
agribiotechnology; and to apply the precautionary principle to this new
technology.
At the 12th (1999) annual Scientific Conference of the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), more
than 600 delegates from over 60 countries voted unanimously for a
declaration against the use of genetically modified organisms in food
production and agriculture. The delegates called on governments and
regulatory agencies throughout the world to immediately ban genetic
engineering in agriculture and food production since it involves:
* Negative and irreversible environmental impacts.
* Release of organisms of an unrecallable nature.
* Removal of the right of choice, both for farmers and consumers.
* Violation of farmers' fundamental property rights and endangerment of
their economic independence.
* Practices which are incompatible with the principles of sustainable
agriculture as defined by IFOAM.
* Unacceptable threats to human health.
To regard many genetically engineered (GE) crops and food as being
adulterated and even potentially toxic, and therefore posing potential
risks to human and other consumers (including insects, birds, and wild and
domesticated mammals) and to the environment is not unreasonable
considering the following scientifically documented findings:
1. There is evidence that foreign DNA can enter the body via the
gastrointestinal tract and cross the placenta (1,2).
2. Genetically modified organisms can produce unanticipated toxins (3,4)
or allergens (5).
3. Gene transfer can occur between transgenic plants and bacteria, the
ecological consequences of which can be catastrophic (6).
4. Milk from cows injected with r-BGH, which is not analogous to normal
BGH (7), has elevated insulin-like growth factor that is implicated as a
risk factor in human breast cancer (8,9).
5. Considering the documented evidence that horizontal transfer between
species is a natural phenomenon (10-16), the precautionary principle must
be applied in creating transgenic organisms that could transfer novel genes
and viral vectors to other species (17-19). The ecological, evolutionary,
and public health consequences of such transfers we will only know after
the fact. Horizontal gene transfer is even likely to take place in the
digestive systems of protozoa, nematodes, insect larvae, and other soil
macro-organisms (12).
6. That genes, like viruses, can infect (20,21), should serve as a warning
to us all of the potential risks of transgenic organisms serving reservoir
for new diseases, and as a medium for the evolution of new pathogens
because of their altered physiology and biochemistry.
7. Unanticipated multiple side effects of gene insertion (called
pleotropic effects) have been well-documented. Viral "promoters" and
"enhancers" that boost expression of transgenes could result in the
production of high levels of Bt toxin and other chemicals in transgenic
crops. Even more serious harm to the ecology of the soil may result,
because this Bt toxin does not rapidly degrade in certain soils after the
crop has been harvested and the remains used compost. This toxin in
transgenic crops is likely to accumulate more and more in the soil after
each crop, and will poison many beneficial insects and other organisms
essential for the ecological health and fertility of the soil. This could
effect the nutritive value of crops grown in sterilized soil. (22) Genetic
alterations in crops like soybeans to make them resistant to herbicides may
result in unpredictable, unnatural genetic recombinations and change the
biochemistry and nutritive value. Higher levels of phyto-estrogens are
produced in beans grown in the presence of the herbicide glyphosate, which
may be of particular risk to children (23).
8. The highly controversial research findings of a reputable scientist, Dr
Arpal Pusztai from the UK government's Rowett Research Institute, revealed
adverse health effects in rats fed genetically engineered potatoes. He
reported abnormal organ development and weakening of the immune system
attributable to either the cauliflower mosaic virus that was used as a
promoter (and in many other transgenic crops), or to the active genetically
spliced insecticidal lectins present in these G-E potatoes. Liver, brain,
and heart sizes of the rats all decreased. (24)
9. Some 99 percent of commercial transgenic crops incorporate virus genes,
either as promoters or to control virus infections. These virus genes can
recombine with other viruses and may result in new diseases and more
invasive pathogens (25-29). With the inclusion of antibiotic-resistance
markers, transgenic crops could therefore increase the probability of new
viral and bacterial pathogens and the spread of antibiotic and drug
resistance genes.
10. DNA released from living and dead cells can persist in the environment
and be transferred to other organisms. An organism may be dead, but its
"naked" DNA released from decaying cells may remain biologically active for
potentially thousands years, especially in certain soils and marine
sediments. (30) Naked DNA (nucleic acids) ingested by mice can be
transferred to offspring and be voided and spread in animals' feces. (2)
11. One must therefore consider not only the "fate" of transgenic
organisms but also the genes and viruses or parts thereof, that have been
inserted into them. Such "naked DNA", in the form of recombinant and
modified nucleic acids, has been found capable of surviving and remaining
functional longer after organisms' death than was assumed previously.(6,30)
Furthermore, xenobiotics, especially dioxins and various agrichemicals, can
act as mutagens (31), altering the structure and sequence of DNA and also
increasing the permeability of cells and the incorporation of foreign DNA
into living organisms.
12. The instability of transgenic crops is a major concern. There is, in
fact, no data documenting the stability of any transgenic line in gene
expression, or in structure and location of the insert in the genome. Such
data must include the level of gene expression, as well as a genetic map
and DNA base sequence of the insert and its site of insertion in the host
genome in each successive generation. No such information has been
provided by industry, nor requested by regulatory authorities. (32)

Conclusions: Contamination of the "life stream" by naked recombinant DNA,
by transgenic viral vectors, and antibiotic resistant genes is probably
already taking place. Since a recall is impossible, our best hope if it is
not already to late to control genetic pollution, is a five-year worldwide
moratorium on the creation and release of all genetically engineered living
entities and products, from new vaccines, to transgenic crops, so that
science-based risk assessments can be properly completed.
POSTSCRIPT The British Medical Association released an interim statement
on "The Impact of Genetic Modification on Agriculture, Food and Health",
citing a critical need for more data on allergenicity and possible toxicity
of GM foods. This statement included the following points concern:
1. Information about the effect of genetic modification on the chemical
composition of food, and in particular its safety is needed urgently.
2. Adverse effects are likely to be irreversible; once GMO's are released
into the environment they cannot be subject to control.
3. The BMA rejected the notion that GM foods should be assumed to be safe
when they are said to be substantially equivalent to their conventional
counterparts, which is the basis of U.S. regulation of biotech foods. "This
concept does not account for gene interaction of unexpected kinds, which
may take place in GM foods," the statement asserts. "The possibility that
certain novel genes inserted into food may cause problems to humans is a
real possibility, and 'substantial equivalence' is a rule which can be used
to evade this biological fact."
4. Among several recommendations, the BMA urged that:
* the precautionary principle should be applied in developing genetically
modified crops or foodstuffs, as we cannot at present know whether there
are any serious risks to the environment or to human health involved in
producing GM crops or consuming food products.
* Careful consideration needs to be given to the effect of GMO's on
farming practices, the countryside and wildlife and we therefore recommend
a moratorium on the commercial planting of GM crops in the UK. The
moratorium should continue until there is scientific consensus (or as close
agreement as reasonably achievable) about the potential long-term
environmental effects.
* GM foodstuffs should be segregated at source, to enable identification
and traceability of GM products.
* There should be a ban on the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes
in GM food, as the risk to human health from antibiotic resistance
developing in micro-organisms is one of the major public health threats
that will be faced in the 21st Century.
* The risk that GM crops may increase the use of herbicides and pesticides
in the environment needs to be comprehensively assessed to determine their
full environmental impact.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/gedangerfox.cfm

Rob P

05-20-2006, 04:11 PM

.......
http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0225-01.htm

New Health Dangers of Genetically Modified Food (and Vaccines)Discovered

KUALA LAMPUR, MALAYSIA - February 24 - Data from three groups of studies currently being conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Gene Ecology, in Tromsö, Norway, reveal potentially serious health dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods and vaccines. Jeffrey M. Smith, Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, presented a summary of the findings and their implications for human health to delegates at the UN Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety meeting. Smith also presented additional evidence of health dangers from his recently published book, 'Seeds of Deception', including new information that incriminates the genetic engineering of the food supplement L-tryptophan as the cause of an epidemic in the U.S. in the 1980s, which took the lives of about 100 Americans and caused 5-10,000 to fall sick or become disabled. The Norwegian findings are summarized below and are elaborated in accompanying documents.

1. Bt-maize (Dekalb 818 YG), during pollination, may have triggered disease in people living near the maize field in the Philippines.

2. The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter, used in most GM foods, was found intact in rat tissues two hours, six hours, and three days after it was mixed into a single meal, and was also confirmed to be active in human cells.

3. Genetically engineered pox viruses in cell cultures recombined with natural viruses to create new hybrid viruses with unpredictable and potentially dangerous characteristics.

Terje Traavik, PhD, Director of the Norwegian Institute for Gene Ecology, announced the findings at a meeting held on February 22 in Kuala Lumpur, sponsored by the Third World Network. The studies are ongoing and not yet published, but Traavik says, “Publication of results typically requires a waiting period of up to one year or more. With such evidence of possible human health impacts of foods already on the market, we believed that waiting to report our findings through publication would not be in the public’s interest.” Traavik acknowledged that unpublished results areconsidered preliminary, but the findings, he said, are considered reliable and warrant immediate investigation. Traavik presented the data the day before the UN conference on biosafety began so that the results could be taken into consideration when drafting regulatory guidelines.

Smith put the Norwegian findings into context by presenting related findings. He said, “The fact that the CaMV promoter can transfer to mammalian cells might explain the excessive cell growth found in the stomach and intestines of animals from other GM feeding trials, and raises additional concerns that GM foods might encourage genetic instability and mutation, accidental expression of allergens or toxins from non-target genes, and even activation of dormant viruses.” Smith said that the link between Bt-maize pollen and disease in the Philippino villagers is supported by other studies on Bt-toxin and the crops genetically engineered to express it. Smith said, “Because Bt-toxin appears to increase the sensitivity of mammals to other allergens or immunogens, we must investigate whether Bt-crops contribute to the unexplained rise of allergies.”

Smith also provided evidence that the L-tryptophan epidemic had started four years earlier than is generally cited, and was linked to a series of genetically modified bacterial strains used by a Japanese manufacturer between 1984 and 1989. This information undermines the alternative explanation that the epidemic was created as a result of a change in the manufacturing methods introduced in 1989.

.......