GMO Myths and Truths

100% of air and rain samples taken in the
American Midwest during the crop growing
season. 39 Roundup Ready GM crops are widely
planted in this region.
● Glyphosate and its main breakdown product,
AMPA, were frequently detected in streams
in the American Midwest during the growing
season. 40
● Glyphosate and its main breakdown product
AMPA were washed out of the root zone of
clay soils in concentrations that exceeded the
acceptable quantities for drinking water (0.1
μg/l), with maximum values of over 5 μg/l. 41
● Glyphosate was found circulating in the
blood of non-pregnant women, albeit at low
levels. 42
● Urinary body burdens of glyphosate in farm
and non-farm families in Iowa were over
900 parts per billion (0.9 mg per kg of body
weight) in 75% of farmers, 67% of wives, and
81% of farmers’ children. Urinary burdens in
non-farm children were slightly higher than
those in farm children. The authors suggested
that this was because of the widespread use
of glyphosate in non-farm areas, such as in
people’s gardens. 43
The placental barrier in mammals is often claimed
to protect the unborn foetus from glyphosate
exposures. But this claim was shown to be false
by a research study modeling human exposures,
in which 15% of administered glyphosate crossed
the human placental barrier and entered the foetal
compartment. 44
4.1.6. People are not protected by the
current regulations on glyphosate
An analysis of glyphosate’s current approval
in the EU and in the US suggests that the
“acceptable daily intake” (ADI) level, the level of
exposure that is deemed safe for humans over a
long period of time, is inaccurate and potentially
dangerously high. 10
Regulators calculate the ADI on the basis of
industry studies submitted to the regulators in
support of the chemical’s approval. The figure
used to set the ADI is the highest dose at which no
adverse effect is found (the No Observed Adverse
Effect Level or NOAEL), which is also lower than
the lowest dose that has a toxic effect (the Lowest
Observed Adverse Effect Level or LOAEL). The ADI
is derived by dividing this figure by 100, to allow a
safety margin.
The current ADI for glyphosate is 0.3 mg per
kg of body weight per day (written as 0.3 mg/kg
bw/d).
But this ADI has been shown to be inaccurate
by two independent studies on Roundup using
an animal (rat) and exposure route (oral feeding)
approved by EU and international regulators. The
studies found that:
● Roundup was a potent endocrine disruptor
and caused disturbances in the reproductive
development of rats when the exposure was
performed during the puberty period. Adverse
effects, including delayed puberty and reduced
testosterone production, were found at all dose
levels, including the LOAEL of 5 mg/kg bw/d. 11
● Glyphosate herbicide caused damage to rats’
liver cells that the researchers said was probably
“irreversible” at a dose of just 4.87 mg/kg
bw/d. 12
These studies did not find a safe or “no effect” level
(NOAEL). Even the lowest dose tested produced
a toxic effect and no further experiments were
done with lower doses to establish the NOAEL.
A reasonable estimate of the NOAEL might be
2.5 mg/kg of body weight (though this estimate
should, of course, be tested). Then, applying
the 100-fold safety factor, the ADI should be
0.025 mg/kg bw/d – 12 times lower than the one
currently in force.
Even if only the industry studies are
considered, the current ADI should still be lower.
An objective analysis of these studies results in a
more objectively accurate ADI of 0.1 mg/kg bw/d,
one-third of the current ADI. 10
4.1.7. Arguments that Roundup
replaces more toxic herbicides are
false
GM proponents often argue that Roundup has
replaced more toxic herbicides and that GM
RR crops therefore reduce the toxic burden on
humans and the environment. But this is false.
GM RR crops have not only increased the use of
glyphosate herbicides but have also increased
GMO Myths and Truths 67