Posted: January 20, 2014
(http://www.theglobeandmail.com)A misleading editorial, "Enough is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements," along with three accompanying studies, was recently published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and several articles based on the report have since falsely said that "there's enough evidence to advise against dietary supplementation."
The authors wrote that most supplements "do not prevent chronic disease or death, and they should be avoided."
However, as Dr. Irvine Mason, MD, commented, "The authors totally disregarded the best and most comprehensive study to date, [the Physicians' Health Study II] published [by] the American Medical Association, November 2, 2012. That study followed nearly 15,000 male doctors older than 50 for up to 13 years," and it revealed an 8% reduction in risk of non-prostate cancer for men taking only Centrium Silver multivitamin. While ignoring this vital study, which is "the only large scale, randomized double blind, placebo-controlled trial testing the long term effects of common multi-vitamins," the researchers admittedly relied on studies that "were limited in scope and size."
Vitamin and mineral supplements are prescribed by real doctors the world over for a variety of medical conditions: antioxidant lutein vitamins for macular degeneration; prenatal vitamins to prevent spina bifida, meningomylocele and other neural tube defects; and vitamin C for recurrent urinary tract infections. Higher vitamin D levels have been linked to lower breast cancer risk, and a new study shows that it can reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.
No harm from daily multivitamin supplementation was shown by any of the studies cited by the authors. The authors also ignored a two-year, double-blind study which showed that vitamin B can effectively reduce brain shrinkage due to Alzheimer's disease.
Posted: January 16, 2014
(http://www.gmwatch.org)The European Parliament has voted to reject GM maize 1507 from being authorized to be cultivated in European fields.
GM maize 1507, like Monsanto's Bt maize (MON810), has been genetically modified by Pioneer, a DuPont-owned company, to produce its own insecticide. In addition to this, it has also been altered to be resistant to the herbicidal chemical glufosinate, which has been found to be toxic to reproduction.
There were 385 votes rejecting the GM crop, 201 in favor and 30 abstaining.
European national governments will individually decide tomorrow whether or not to allow GM maize 1507 to be grown in their countries, so it is vital that people continue to voice their opinion on the matter. You can help by writing to European governments at StoptheCrop.org.
Posted: January 15, 2014
(http://www.foxbusiness.com)On Monday, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Monsanto, throwing out a lawsuit brought against the evil biotech company by a group of organic and conventional farmers, seed companies and public advocacy interests. The suit was a preemptive attempt to prohibit Monsanto from suing farmers whose fields are inadvertently contaminated by the company's genetically modified crops.
The group had previously asked Monsanto to pledge not to sue in such instances, to which the company replied: "A blanket covenant not to sue any present or future member of petitioners' organizations would enable virtually anyone to commit intentional infringement."
"Monsanto never has and has committed it never will sue if our patented seed or traits are found in a farmer's field as a result of inadvertent means," Kyle McClain, the company's chief litigation counsel, claimed.
Monsanto has sued more than 100 farmers for infringing its patents, including Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian farmer whose fields have been contaminated twice by the company's RoundUp Ready Canola.
Posted: January 14, 2014
(http://www.gmwatch.org)Brazilian soybean farmers have recently had to deal with a new kind of weed invading their fields: RoundUp Ready maize.
One of Monsanto's signature genetically modified organisms, RoundUp Ready maize has been engineered to be more resistant to glyphosate, the main ingredient in RoundUp pesticide. As Natural News readers probably already know, the cultivation of this crop has lead to increased pesticide resistance in both weeds and insects. Now, the corn variety is showing up unexpectedly on soybean plantations, raising the cost of production, leading to greater pesticide usage and threatening farmer's revenues.
The variety of soybean widely grown in Brazil has also been genetically modified to be resistant to RoundUp, so farmers would simply douse their fields with the poison to eliminate pests. But with invading RR maize, which competes with soybeans for nutrients, water and sunlight, farmers are having to apply other toxic chemicals, such as graminicides, or remove them by hand.
If the corn is left in the fields, it could threaten the soybean crop or be harvested along with it. If the corn and soybeans are harvested and mixed together, then trading companies could apply discounts to pay lower prices to the farmers.
The GM maize could have spread into the fields through a variety of ways, including cross pollination, left-over grains from previous corn crops and old farming equipment. This occurrence is just the latest incident illustrating the dangers of GMOs and the precautions that should be taken to preserve the environment, seed diversity and food security.
Posted: January 13, 2014
(http://www.hngn.com)Obesity has become a major public health concern in the United States, as the CDC reports that more than one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese. Obesity puts people at an increased risk of developing many potentially serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, several types of cancer, sleep apnea, depression, gallbladder disease, gynecologic problems, erectile dysfunction and sexual health issues, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis and skin problems.
Marilyn McKenna, the wife of former Washing State Attorney General Rob McKenna, once wore size 20 pairs of pants and weighed 265 pounds. Then, in 2007, she decided to take control of her health and her life and began a journey to lose weight. Now, after years of perseverance, she weighs only 145 pounds and runs a website, writes blogs and makes videos to help inspire others on their personal health journeys. Naturally, she's proud of her accomplishments, as many should be proud of what she's done, and she decided to post a picture of herself to Facebook to show how one can take control of their life and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Facebook evidently isn't as proud of her weight-loss achievement. McKenna's picture, which depicts her standing inside one leg of her old size 20 pants, was banned by the social media site, because it promotes an "idealized body image," according to an email she received.
"I'm certainly not about idealizing any kind of body image," McKenna said. "I write about weight loss. I write about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles."
And even if she were to idealize a body image, wouldn't it be better for her to idealize a healthy one, rather than complacently reinforcing the idea that the trend in obesity is "okay" as long as people's feelings don't get hurt? Sometimes, people need to be shown that they can take control, they can manage their weight, they don't have to be a diseased statistic. People like McKenna should be congratulated for the strides they make in personal health and providing a role model to inspire others.
McKenna apparently used the Facbook Promote feature for her picture, so Facebook considers it be an advertisement, saying that their "terms require advertisers of weight loss and other adult products to limit the audience of their ads to people aged 18 and over," despite the fact that she isn't selling anything and offers all of the information from her website, blogs and videos free of charge. McKenna said that she will meet with Facebook officials this week to resolve the problem.
Posted: January 13, 2014
(Photo: http://www.raveaboutskin.com)(http://www.dailymail.co.uk)Two years ago, Dr. Mary Wu Chang was presented an 8-year-old girl with a rash around her mouth and on her buttocks. Dr. Chang attempted to treat the young patient using antibiotics and steroids, but the rash continually returned.
Dr. Chang investigated the girl's medical history and realized that the rash could be an allergic reaction to methylisothiazolinone, a chemical often found in baby wipes, hand creams and lotions to which a patient in a Belgian study reacted badly. The skin condition has been misdiagnosed as eczema, impetigo or psoriasis. The amount of the chemical in baby wipes has been increased in recent years, in some cases by as much as 25 times.
After performing an allergy test and limiting the usage of the wipes, the girl's condition vanished. Since then, Dr. Chang has seen five other similar cases. She says that it's not necessary for parents to dispose of the wipes but instead warns them to limit their usage.
Posted: January 10, 2014
(http://www.cbsnews.com)West Virginia Governor Earl Tomblin declared a state of emergency in nine counties Thursday evening after a chemical spill in the Elk River contaminated local water supplies. Almost 200,000 West Virginians are now being warned not to drink tap water or cook, shower, brush their teeth or wash their clothes with it or use it for any other purpose other than flushing toilets and putting out fires.
The chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, an antifoaming agent used to process coal, leaked from an unexplained hole in a 48,000-gallon storage tank at the Freedom Industries facility near the Elk River in Charleston. It then made its way down the river to a West Virginia American Water Company treatment plant, contaminating the water system.
IBTimes reports that the "leak was detected after customers complained about a black licorice-like odor emanating from the tap water."
This contradicts a statement by American Water Co. spokeswoman Laura Jordan, whom CNN reported to say that "she first suspected something was amiss Thursday morning when she noticed an odor like licorice in the air en route to work."
Further contradicting reports of customer complaints, Jordan stated, "What the public should realize is the chemical did not move downstream and into the water treatment facility, where it was detected by odor, until about 4 p.m."
The Department of Environmental Protection and the Emergency Operations Center investigated the odor and found the chemical leak at the Freedom Industries plant. A do-not-use advisory was then issued at just before 6 p.m.
Exposure to the chemical has been associated with the following health effects:
- Seizures
- Ataxia
- Lacrimation
- Corneal necrosis
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Kidney, liver and vascular injury
- Myocardial necrosis
- Conjunctivitis
- Irritation of mucous membranes
- Headache
- Tremor
- Central nervous system depression
- Reduced fertility
The water company is working with DuPont and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the level of contamination. Officials are unsure of how long it will take to remove the chemical, as the water cannot be treated and will have to be systematically flushed, Jordan told reporters.
After the state of emergency was declared, residents quickly emptied local stores of water bottles. Jordan said dozens of water tankers had arrived by Friday morning to provide relief, and the water company has also bought four truckloads of bottled water. FEMA, the West Virginia National Guard and various county agencies are helping to distribute clean water, with priority given to hospitals and nursing homes.
The nine counties affected by the state of emergency are Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane counties. Residents served by Lincoln PSD, Queen Shoals PSD, Reamer PSD, City of Culloden PSD, and City of Hurricane PSD are also affected.
Posted: January 9, 2014
(http://sustainablepulse.com)The Sudanese government recently seized a shipment of genetically modified soybeans reportedly imported from the United States. Government authorities are saying that it is "illegal" to import GM foods into the country. This incident took place just one week after the Sudanese Customer Protection Society, which supports a complete ban on GMOs, called on the government to hold discussions regarding the matter.
Muawad Mustafa Rashid wrote for Sudan Vision: "[W]hy should Sudan, with all its fertile lands, import genetically modified foodstuffs while it is possible to plant natural seeds and compete in the international market, considering that the prices of natural foodstuffs are very high compared to the genetically modified ones? There is no need for Sudan to use genetically modified food considering its vast arable lands."
He then went on to state that "genetically modified cotton seeds which were given to the cattle in Gezira State as fodder... resulted [in] the deaths of hundreds of the cattle."
The biotech industry and its friends in government have long targeted Sudan, trying to force the country to accept GMOs. In 2003, the Sudanese government asked the U.S. to certify its food aid shipments into the country as GMO-free; USAID informed Sudan that they would not provide such certification and instead sent lobbyists to influence the Sudanese government. This escalated in 2004 when the organization ceased its shipments of food aid to the country over the issue. In 2007, international pressure forced Sudanese authorities to accept 100,000 tons of GM sorghum "food aid" for its conflict-stricken Darfur region.
Posted: January 8, 2014
(http://www.universityherald.com)A new study from the University of California, Irvine, has shown that dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB), a compound derived from the Chinese herb Corydalis yanhusuo, can help relieve chronic pain.
"Our study reports the discovery of a new natural product that can relieve pain. This analgesic acts in animal assays against the three types of pain that afflict humans, including acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic or chronic pain," researcher Olivier Civelli said.
Traditional pain-relieving opiate drugs generally lose efficiency over time, but researchers say that DHCB does not. Although the flowering herb is a member of the poppy family, the source of opiates such as morphine, DHCB acts through the dopamine D2 receptor to regulate pain, rather than the morphine receptor.
The plant has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate pain associated with conditions like menstrual cramps, abdominal pain, headaches and back and chest pain. This is the first study to extract, identify and test DHCB.
This discovery is significant, because there are no other current treatments for neuropathic pain. There presently exists treatments for acute and inflammatory pain, but not for chronic pain. "DHCB may not be able to relieve strong chronic pain, but may be used for low-level chronic pain," Civelli told the UK's Daily Mail.
"Today the pharmaceutical industry struggles to find new drugs," Civelli said. He then stated that he was excited that this natural herbal compound "shows promise as an effective pharmaceutical." Even though their study will likely be used to invent new drugs to bolster Big Pharma's profits, it is important in that it proves the efficacy of a long-used medicinal herb which can be utilized to naturally mitigate pain.
Posted: January 7, 2014
(http://www.foxnews.com)A federal judge ruled yesterday that Chicago's ordinances banning the sale and transfer of firearms are unconstitutional. The ruling does not effect the city's ban on assault weapons.
U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang stated that, although the government is responsible for protecting its citizens, it must also protect constitutional rights, in this case, the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms for self defense. However, Fox News reports, "Chang said he would temporarily stay the effects of his ruling, meaning the ordinances can stand while the city decides whether to appeal."
Chicago has more violent crime than many parts of the country and had the highest number of murders last year, despite its infamous gun control laws. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Chicago's gun ban in 2010, and a federal appeals court forced the state of Illinois to allow its residents to carry concealed firearms last year.
As reported by Fox News, Todd Vandermyde, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, said the fact that a federal judge appointed by Obama "ruled in favor of the Second Amendment, shows how out of step and outrageous Chicago's ordinances really are."
Chang wrote that Chicago "goes too far in outright banning legal buyers and legal dealers from engaging in lawful acquisitions and lawful sales of firearms, and at the same time the evidence does not support that the complete ban sufficiently furthers the purposes that the ordinance tries to serve."
Posted: January 6, 2014
(http://www.gmwatch.org)The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), released last Friday, essentially gives approval to the marketing, sale and planting of new varieties of corn and soybeans that have been genetically modified to be resistant to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), an ingredient of Agent Orange that has been associated with the following health effects:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Confusion
- Aggressive or bizarre behavior
- Renal failure
- Hypotension
- Sometimes permanent neuromuscular effects including muscle twitching, weakness and loss of tendon reflexes
- Possible endocrine disruption
Additional concerns about 2,4-D include reproductive effects, birth defects, gene damage and carcinogenicity. It has also been observed to accumulate in plants exposed to it.
The agency's EIS establishes that 2,4-D corn and soy do not need to be regulated under the Plant Pest Act, despite the fact that, over the past two years, farmers, over 400,000 other individuals and more than 150 farm, fishery, public health, consumer and environmental groups and private businesses have intensely opposed the introduction of these new, hazardous GMOs.
These new GM crops are Dow's (Dow AgroSciences, subsidiary of Dow Chemicals) response to the growing superweeds problem, which was caused primarily by previously released GMOs such as "RoundUp-Ready" corn and soy.
"American farmers and our families are at risk," said Iowa corn and soybean farmer, George Naylor. "When Dow and Monsanto first brought out these GE crops, they assured us their new, expensive seeds would clean up our environment and reduce pesticide use. That didn't happen. Today weeds are resistant to RoundUp, so farmers are using older, more deadly herbicides. 2,4-D corn is a giant step backwards; it's just a terrible idea."
While the USDA continues to approve GMOs, farmers are forced to use more and more pesticides, at the benefit of chemical companies and detriment of our health and environment. The agency's draft EIS release opens a 45-day period for public comments ending February 27.
Posted: January 6, 2014
(http://www.cnn.com)According to CNN, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is considering taking executive action to allow certain hospitals to dispense medical marijuana.
Thanks to a law passed in 1980, Cuomo is legally allowed to make such a decision without the legislature's approval. That law allows the governor to set up a highly regulated system that is less liberal than many of those found in other parts of the country.
As reported by CNN, "Under Cuomo's directive, the state health department would take charge by setting up the guidelines and picking hospitals that would take part. These hospitals would then have panels of people who decide, on a person-by-person basis, which patients qualify for medical marijuana."
This could grant tens of thousands of people access to medical marijuana and grow support for a more complete, far-reaching program. Although Cuomo's office can take this step independently, State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried says, "to have a truly comprehensive and well-working system will take legislation."
"It's tremendous," Gabriel Sayegh, the New York state director for the Drug Policy Alliance -- an organization fighting for fair and sensible drug laws -- said. "We applaud him coming out on this. It's going to help us build momentum to build a permanent program."
Posted: January 3, 2014
(http://uk.reuters.com)General Mills recently announced on their website that their original Cheerios will now be made without genetically modified ingredients. Other flavors of Cheerios will continue to be made without changes to the ingredients.
On Cheerio.com, the company states that they have made some changes to their ingredient sources and manufacturing plants, saying, "our corn starch comes from non-GMO corn, and we use only non-GMO pure cane sugar." The company goes on to explain, "Original Cheerios cereal is not made with genetically modified ingredients. Though there may always be a chance of some small amount of material coming from some other source, such as in shipping or manufacturing, none of the ingredients in original Cheerios are genetically modified."
Original Cheerios, which come in the distinctive yellow box, will now be labeled "Not Made With Genetically Modified Ingredients," though this hasn't been verified by a third party such as the Non-GMO Project. Though this seems like a significant achievement for health-conscious consumers, it should be kept in mind that General Mills is only claiming to not use genetically modified ingredients, while admitting that GMOs might still be found in other parts of the "manufacturing" process where they might not have to be labeled as an ingredient. The new labels will also carry this disclaimer: "Trace amounts of genetically modified... material may be present due to potential cross contact during manufacturing and shipping."
The company also erroneously states on their website that GMOs are safe. "There is broad consensus among major global scientific and regulatory bodies that approved genetically modified foods are safe," they claim.
General Mills further takes the time to explain their stance on GMO labeling laws, writing that, although they oppose state-by-state labeling laws, which they claim would be costly and overly complicated, they support a "national solution." They also deny direct responsibility for the $869,270.55 contribution made in their name by the Grocery Manufacturers Association to the "No on I-522" campaign last year in Washington State, though they admittedly support "broader efforts by the GMA on labeling and other issues nationally."
As consumer demand for non-GMO foods continues to increase, despite opposition from the food and biotech industries, companies will likewise increasingly seek to cash in on that demand. Although this may seem like a cynical axiom of capitalism, it shows how a free market will move to satisfy informed consumers when they make their voices heard, and thus improve itself without the need for bureaucratic government regulation.
Posted: January 2, 2014
(http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org)Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been linked to decreased testosterone levels in a new study involving Native American boys along the St. Lawrence River.
The Akwesasne Mohawk live on territory between New York, Ontario and Quebec, and much of their diet includes locally caught fish, so they are highly exposed to industrial pollutants such as PCBs and DDE, a breakdown product of DDT.
The researchers from the study, which involved 127 Mohawk boys between the ages of 10 and 17 years old, analyzed 16 types of PCBs that were found in more than half of the boys. The study found a negative correlation between PCB exposure and testosterone levels; a 10 percent increase in PCB exposure was linked to a 5.6 percent decrease in testosterone.
According to Environmental Health News, "The St. Lawrence River and its tributaries have been contaminated by a variety of industries since the 1950s. The Akwesasne community is near a federal Superfund site and two state hazardous waste cleanup sites."
Posted: December 30, 2013
(http://www.hngn.com)Dreonna Breton, a 29-year-old nurse from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was fired by her employer, Horizons Healthcare Services, for refusing to expose her unborn child to the flu vaccine.
After three previous miscarriages, the pregnant nurse decided with her family not to receive the flu shot. Breton tried to explain to her employers the risks that the flu shot carries for pregnant women and even submitted supporting documentation from her own primary care doctor and obstetrician, but to no avail; Horizons Healthcare Services disapproved of her personal concerns for her family's health and told her that, without the vaccine, she would be fired by December 17.
She even proposed wearing a mask at work, which is generally allowed for those who are exempt because of religious reasons, but the company refused and subsequently terminated her employment.
Breton isn't interested in taking legal action against her former employer. She desires to continue caring for the health of others as a nurse and urges the company to reevaluate their vaccination policies regarding pregnant employees.
Posted: December 27, 2013
(http://www.gmwatch.org)Gerson Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Association of Agrarian Reform, recently released a new report analyzing the past 10 years of GMO cultivation in Brazil.
The report highlights several notable problems with the technology: high dependence, increased monoculture, increased use of pesticides and decreased productivity.
As Texeira notes, GM agriculture in Brazil began when Monsanto's seeds were smuggled into the country, despite their use being prohibited. After that, GM seeds were legally released in Brazil with promises of "reducing costs, increasing productivity, reducing pesticide use, and many other advantages," but all they actually did was generate "huge profits for the big global agrochemical corporations."
In reality, GMOs have achieved just the opposite of what they promised. Texeira's report gives special attention to GM technology's claims of reduced pesticide usage and increased productivity. Pesticide usage in Brazil has increased by about 190% in the past 10 years; the rest of the world saw an increase of around 90%. Meanwhile, soybean yield has only grown by 4%, compared to a 31% increase between 1992 and 2003 before GM crops were legalized.
Be sure to check out EcoDebate.com.br for the original article, a translation of which can be found at GMWatch.org. Teixeira's report in Portuguese is available in PDF format here.
Posted: December 26, 2013
(http://www.cnn.com)(Image from multivitaminguide.org)
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that women who consume nuts during pregnancy lower their offspring's risk of developing nut allergies.
The study controlled for compounding factors such as family allergy history and dietary practices. The strongest correlation was seen with pregnant women who ate five or more servings of peanuts or other tree nuts per week.
"We're not providing cause and effect, so we have no basis for recommending diets," lead author Dr. Michael Young said. This study is not yet conclusive, and further research is necessary, but Young says that his team sees no reason for women to limit their diets to prevent allergies in children.
Posted: December 20, 2013
(http://www.stopthecrop.org)Europe's leaders will soon decide whether or not to allow Pioneer's GM maize 1507 to be grown in Europe.
This GM crop produces its own insecticide and could pose a major threat to the health of humans, animals and the environment. No research has been done to determine what impact it could have on beneficial insects like bees, butterflies and other necessary pollinators. The maize is also tolerant to a highly toxic glufosinate-based weedkiller, which could cause weeds to become pesticide-resistant and lead to an increase in the amount of poison that has to be sprayed, as observed with previously introduced GMOs. Furthermore, safety assessments on the use of this weedkiller, which are required by European Union rules, have not been conducted.
Stop The Crop, a campaign for a sustainable, GMO-free future, are calling on those concerned about health and the environment to write to European countries' governments, urging them to reject the risky GM maize. You can visit their website here to select a country to whose minister you would like to write about this issue.
For more information about Pioneer's maize 1507, you can read this report prepared by Friends of the Earth Europe.
Posted: December 19, 2013
(http://www.nytimes.com)Whole Foods Market announced earlier this year that they would require all foods sold in their stores with genetically modified ingredients to be properly labeled as such by 2018. But now, new reports indicate that, instead, they may begin phasing out GMO foods to make room for organic, non-GMO products.
This news came as the retailer said that it would start removing Chobani Greek Yogurt from its stores in early 2014. Whole Foods' decision is reportedly due to the use of GMOs as feed for Chobani's dairy cows.
Robin Kelly, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods, said the company had asked all of its Greek yogurt suppliers to devise new products and flavors that would distinguish what Whole Foods offers. "We are always evolving our product mix to make sure we are meeting our shoppers' needs, and in this case with Greek-style yogurt we are making room for more organic and non-G.M.O." options, she said, as reported by the New York Times.
"At this time, Chobani has chosen a different business model, so Whole Foods Market will be phasing Chobani Greek Yogurt out of its stores in early 2014 to make room for product choices that aren't readily available on the market," a statement released by the company said.
Hamdi Ulukaya, who founded Chobani Greek Yogurt in 2005, said that, due to the pervasiveness of GM grains in the United States, it is difficult for farmers to be able to find non-GMO feed that they can use economically.
Posted: December 18, 2013
(http://www.nytimes.com)On Tuesday, researchers from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended further restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids in the wake of new data which indicate that the class of pesticides "may affect the developing human nervous system" of children. Neonicotinoids have been linked to declining bee populations, and three of them were the subject of rigorous new restrictions passed in Europe earlier this year.
The two pesticides that the researchers focused on were imidacloprid and acetamiprid, which they say are only safe to use in smaller amounts than what is currently allowed. Scientists decided to review the use of these pesticides after a Japanese study raised safety concerns last year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also conducted research showing adverse effects of neonicotinoids on honey bees, but the agency has yet to be compelled to take action.
According to the Daily Mail,
One study with rats showed that offspring exposed to imidacloprid suffered brain shrinkage, reduced activity of nerve signals controlling movement, and weight loss.
Another rat study found that acetamiprid exposure led to reduced weight, reduced survival, and a heightened response to startling sounds.
Richard Breum, a spokesman for Bayer CropScience, who profits from imidacloprid, dismissed the scientific research done in Japan, because they used rat cell cultures and not humans as test subjects, so, according to him, "Imidacloprid has no developmental neurotoxicity potential in humans."
Meanwhile, the EFSA stated that it "recognizes the available evidence has limitations and recommends further research be carried out to provide more robust data," but added that "health concerns raised in the review of the existing data are legitimate."
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