| | 24/October/22
| | Glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium, a toxic combination for environment and health Scientists in Argentina have found that the weedkillers glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium, which are used on GM crops engineered to tolerate being sprayed with them, combine easily in the environment and form a mixture that is harmful to the environment. This new contaminant can remain in the soil and water, as well as in silo bag residues. This is one of the first studies that explains how two of the most widely used pesticides in the Argentinean countryside interact. At the same time, the researchers compared the impacts that glyphosate, glufosinate and the mixture of both have on amphibians. They measured the already known effects of these pesticides: malformations, genotoxicity, hormonal alterations, neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. Among the main results, they observed that glufosinate ammonium caused a higher rate of malformations, as well as greater genetic damage and more alterations in T4 thyroid hormone levels. In their conclusion, they warn: "An urgent halt is needed to the continued approval of herbicide-resistant transgenic crops, such as glufosinate ammonium, which lack bioethical evaluations and multidisciplinary scientific endorsements". The results are published in the scientific journal Chemosphere, under the title "Comparative assessment of individual and mixture chronic toxicity of glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium on amphibian tadpoles: A multibiomarker approach". So far, of the 66 GM soybean, corn, cotton and wheat crops approved in Argentina, 31 are tolerant to glufosinate ammonium. GMO wheat, which has been approved for cultivation in Argentina, is also tolerant to glufosinate. The lack of evaluation of the environmental and health risks of GM wheat led to its use and release being banned in the province of Buenos Aires, last July, by a court ruling. The measure has not yet been enforced because it was appealed; a decision is awaited. In other provinces, there are provincial bills and municipal ordinances to prohibit its cultivation. Agribusiness representatives fear that the GMO wheat will affect exports to markets where the consumption of GMOs is prohibited or avoided. Tierra Viva via @GMWatch on Twitter UK Take Action: Ask your MP to vote for proper protections The Genetic Technology Bill threatens our food, our farms, and the natural environment. MPs have a chance to change the bill in the House of Commons report stage, which is scheduled for Monday 31 October. Certain amendments that may get debated on that day would help reduce some of the harm done by the bill. Please ask your MP to support them before voting against the bill as a whole. GM Freeze We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible by readers’ donations. Please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you! __________________________________________________________ Website: http://www.gmwatch.org
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