Session scientifique 1 — Equivalence en substance
Animateur: Dr. Robin Mesnage, King’s College, Londres, Royaume-Uni,
Dr. Christian Vélot, UPSud, Orsay, France Données expérimentales des effets du Roundup sur un champignon du sol : en quoi remettent-elles en question le principe d’équivalence en substance ?
Dr. Thomas Bohn, GenØk, TromsØ, Norvège Contamination par le glyphosate de soja GM destiné à l’alimentation humaine et animale
Résumé de l'intervention: Food and feed quality is crucial to human and animal health. Quality can be defined as nutritional sufficiency of minerals, vitamins and fats, etc. but it also includes the absence of toxins, whether man-made or from other sources. Surprisingly, almost no data exist in the peer-review literature on herbicide residues in herbicide tolerant genetically modified (GM) plants after close to 20 years on the market. In research recently published by our laboratory we collected soybean samples grown under three typical agricultural conditions: organic, GM, and conventional (but non-GM). The GM soybeans were resistant to the herbicide Roundup, whose active ingredient is glyphosate. We tested these samples for nutrients and elements as well as relevant pesticides including glyphosate and AMPA (its main breakdown product). All individual samples of GM-soy contained residues of both glyphosate and AMPA, on average 9.0 mg/kg. In contrast, no sample from the conventional or the organic soybeans showed residues of these chemicals. This demonstrates that Roundup Ready GM-soybeans sprayed during the growing season take up and accumulate glyphosate and AMPA. Further feeding studies in the model organism Daphnia magna indicate that these residues reduce the quality of the GM soy. The case illustrates that the innovation of improved weed control, enabled by genetic engineering and herbicide tolerant plants, i.e. by spraying herbicides during the growing season, also include unwanted contamination of toxic chemicals from where it was meant to work – on weeds in the environment – to consumers around tables and in barns.
Résumé de l'intervention: Food and feed quality is crucial to human and animal health. Quality can be defined as nutritional sufficiency of minerals, vitamins and fats, etc. but it also includes the absence of toxins, whether man-made or from other sources. Surprisingly, almost no data exist in the peer-review literature on herbicide residues in herbicide tolerant genetically modified (GM) plants after close to 20 years on the market. In research recently published by our laboratory we collected soybean samples grown under three typical agricultural conditions: organic, GM, and conventional (but non-GM). The GM soybeans were resistant to the herbicide Roundup, whose active ingredient is glyphosate. We tested these samples for nutrients and elements as well as relevant pesticides including glyphosate and AMPA (its main breakdown product). All individual samples of GM-soy contained residues of both glyphosate and AMPA, on average 9.0 mg/kg. In contrast, no sample from the conventional or the organic soybeans showed residues of these chemicals. This demonstrates that Roundup Ready GM-soybeans sprayed during the growing season take up and accumulate glyphosate and AMPA. Further feeding studies in the model organism Daphnia magna indicate that these residues reduce the quality of the GM soy. The case illustrates that the innovation of improved weed control, enabled by genetic engineering and herbicide tolerant plants, i.e. by spraying herbicides during the growing season, also include unwanted contamination of toxic chemicals from where it was meant to work – on weeds in the environment – to consumers around tables and in barns.
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Pr. Rubens Nodari, Université de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, BrésilOGM : les risques biologiques et les analyses comparatives de protéomique vont à l’encontre de l’équivalence en substance
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Session scientifique 2 — Evaluation toxicologique des OGM et pesticides
Animateur : Dr. Christian Vélot, UPSud, Orsay, France
Pr. Gilles-Eric Séralini, Université de Caen -Basse Normandie, Caen, FranceVingt années de pesticides dans les OGM
Résumé de l'intervention: Since the last twenty years, edible agricultural GMOs were developed totransform essentially soy, corn and oilseed rape in pesticide containers.Cotton, the last major agricultural GMO, is less used for consumption (oil andplant for some mammals, but has the same characteristics: herbicide toleranceallowing high residues in the plant, and/or insecticide production of amodified Bt toxin, up to the mg/kg. During these two decades, our grouppublished more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers on the effects on humanand mammalian health of GMOs and their associated pesticides, or others. Asummary of these researches will be presented.
A focus will be made on Roundup. This is becauseRoundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely usedpesticides in the world ; their residues are among the mainpollutants in surface waters. Their use has increased through the spraying of80% of edible agricultural GMOs, which also contain high levels of theirresidues. They are composed of glyphosate (35–40% in general) and adjuvantsthat are around 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate alone, and are alsoendocrine disruptors below toxic thresholds. All endocrine disruptors (ED) arealso nervous system disruptors (ND), because they act as “spam” for cell–cellcommunication, in the sense that they are spurious messages (or molecules) sentto a group of organisms or cells, impeding and slowing down, and in some casesaccelerating, the physiological communication system. Therefore, they should becalled ENDs (endocrine and nervous system disruptors).
From 0.1 ppb in chronic tests in vivo, Roundup ishighly tumorigenic, provoking hormone-dependent tumours, other hormonalimbalances, and important liver and kidney toxicities. Pesticide adjuvants playthe same role in other pesticide formulations. The declared active principlesoften appear to be by far the least toxic compounds after water informulations. Unfortunately for public health, they are the only substancestested by companies for regulatory purposes over the long term in vivo. Thus,the acceptable daily intakes deduced from these tests are 1000–10,000 times toohigh. In regulatory tests the deleterious effects in rats are compared withhistorical data on rat pathologies. Analysis of laboratory rodent feeds sourcedfrom five continents reveals that they are so contaminated by pollutants thatcomparison to these hence inappropriate controls generally masks the chronicpathologies provoked by the pesticides and other chemicals tested. The disputeswith industry representatives and lobby groups that arose in the course of thisresearch are also summarized in this short review. Finally, potential methodsof improving transparency and advancing scientific knowledge are recommended.
Résumé de l'intervention: Since the last twenty years, edible agricultural GMOs were developed totransform essentially soy, corn and oilseed rape in pesticide containers.Cotton, the last major agricultural GMO, is less used for consumption (oil andplant for some mammals, but has the same characteristics: herbicide toleranceallowing high residues in the plant, and/or insecticide production of amodified Bt toxin, up to the mg/kg. During these two decades, our grouppublished more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers on the effects on humanand mammalian health of GMOs and their associated pesticides, or others. Asummary of these researches will be presented.
A focus will be made on Roundup. This is becauseRoundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely usedpesticides in the world ; their residues are among the mainpollutants in surface waters. Their use has increased through the spraying of80% of edible agricultural GMOs, which also contain high levels of theirresidues. They are composed of glyphosate (35–40% in general) and adjuvantsthat are around 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate alone, and are alsoendocrine disruptors below toxic thresholds. All endocrine disruptors (ED) arealso nervous system disruptors (ND), because they act as “spam” for cell–cellcommunication, in the sense that they are spurious messages (or molecules) sentto a group of organisms or cells, impeding and slowing down, and in some casesaccelerating, the physiological communication system. Therefore, they should becalled ENDs (endocrine and nervous system disruptors).
From 0.1 ppb in chronic tests in vivo, Roundup ishighly tumorigenic, provoking hormone-dependent tumours, other hormonalimbalances, and important liver and kidney toxicities. Pesticide adjuvants playthe same role in other pesticide formulations. The declared active principlesoften appear to be by far the least toxic compounds after water informulations. Unfortunately for public health, they are the only substancestested by companies for regulatory purposes over the long term in vivo. Thus,the acceptable daily intakes deduced from these tests are 1000–10,000 times toohigh. In regulatory tests the deleterious effects in rats are compared withhistorical data on rat pathologies. Analysis of laboratory rodent feeds sourcedfrom five continents reveals that they are so contaminated by pollutants thatcomparison to these hence inappropriate controls generally masks the chronicpathologies provoked by the pesticides and other chemicals tested. The disputeswith industry representatives and lobby groups that arose in the course of thisresearch are also summarized in this short review. Finally, potential methodsof improving transparency and advancing scientific knowledge are recommended.
Dr. Robin Mesnage, King’s college, Londres, Royaume-Uni,Effets toxiques des herbicides à base de glyphosate à des doses admissibles
Résumé de l'intervention: Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH), are the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Residue levels in food or water, as well as human exposures, are escalating. The limits of current GBH risk assessment are presented. We reveal a coherent body of evidence indicating that GBH could be toxic at admissible levels below regulatory limits. It includes teratogenic, tumorigenic and hepatorenal effects. More toxicity tests are needed with appropriate study design. Because glyphosate and its commercial formulations are potential endocrine disruptors, future studies should use designs that examine the full lifespan of the experimental animal, including a prenatal period, and incorporate testing principles from endocrinology.
Résumé de l'intervention: Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH), are the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Residue levels in food or water, as well as human exposures, are escalating. The limits of current GBH risk assessment are presented. We reveal a coherent body of evidence indicating that GBH could be toxic at admissible levels below regulatory limits. It includes teratogenic, tumorigenic and hepatorenal effects. More toxicity tests are needed with appropriate study design. Because glyphosate and its commercial formulations are potential endocrine disruptors, future studies should use designs that examine the full lifespan of the experimental animal, including a prenatal period, and incorporate testing principles from endocrinology.
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Dr. Jean-Baptiste Fini, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FranceL’embryon de Xénope comme modèle pour tester l’effet perturbateur thyroidien potentiel des pesticides
Résumé de l'intervention: Pesticides are used worldwide, with France being one of the heaviest European consumers. Pesticides exposure and their effects on health are controversial. Apart from toxic effects at high doses, some chemicals can induce , endocrine disrupting effects at lower doses. Such effects have been described for reproductive but also thyroid based diseases. In Pr Demeneix’ team we developed a fluorescent reporter xenopus line, currently under validation at the OECD, which permits testing of chemicals suspected as thyroid disruptors. To date we have tested a series of pesticides (including fenoxycarb, chlorpyrifos, amitrole) using fluorescence quantification. Owing the absolute need of thyroid hormones for normal brain development, and the fact that EFSA have estimated about a third of commonly used pesticides to affect thyroid signalling, these investigations for pesticides thyroid disrupting effects are crucial.
Résumé de l'intervention: Pesticides are used worldwide, with France being one of the heaviest European consumers. Pesticides exposure and their effects on health are controversial. Apart from toxic effects at high doses, some chemicals can induce , endocrine disrupting effects at lower doses. Such effects have been described for reproductive but also thyroid based diseases. In Pr Demeneix’ team we developed a fluorescent reporter xenopus line, currently under validation at the OECD, which permits testing of chemicals suspected as thyroid disruptors. To date we have tested a series of pesticides (including fenoxycarb, chlorpyrifos, amitrole) using fluorescence quantification. Owing the absolute need of thyroid hormones for normal brain development, and the fact that EFSA have estimated about a third of commonly used pesticides to affect thyroid signalling, these investigations for pesticides thyroid disrupting effects are crucial.
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Session scientifique 3 — Impact des pesticides et OGM sur les microbes et le sol
Animateur: Dr. Nicolas Defarge, Université de Caen-Basse Normandie, Caen, France.
Dr Caroline Amiel, Université de Caen-Basse Normandie, Caen, France Alimentation, micro-organismes et pesticides
Résumé de l'intervention: Les micro-organismes d'intérêt alimentaire, en particulier certaines bactéries, levures et moisissures, sont utilisés depuis des millénaires pour produire des aliments fermentés comme que le fromage, le vin ou le pain. Parallèlement, des pesticides tels que le Roundup®, sont connus pour avoir une influence sur la santé de l'homme et sur son environnement animal et végétal. Si des travaux ont été réalisés pour étudier l'impact de certains pesticides sur les micro-organismes du sol et du tube digestif, peu de données existent en ce qui concerne les micro-organismes d'intérêt alimentaire. Cette intervention permettra de faire un court bilan sur la question.
Résumé de l'intervention: Les micro-organismes d'intérêt alimentaire, en particulier certaines bactéries, levures et moisissures, sont utilisés depuis des millénaires pour produire des aliments fermentés comme que le fromage, le vin ou le pain. Parallèlement, des pesticides tels que le Roundup®, sont connus pour avoir une influence sur la santé de l'homme et sur son environnement animal et végétal. Si des travaux ont été réalisés pour étudier l'impact de certains pesticides sur les micro-organismes du sol et du tube digestif, peu de données existent en ce qui concerne les micro-organismes d'intérêt alimentaire. Cette intervention permettra de faire un court bilan sur la question.
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Dr Johann Zaller, Université des Ressources naturelles et des Sciences de la Vie, Vienne, AutricheEffets des herbicides à base de glyphosate sur la biologie du sol
Résumé de l'intervention: This presentation will give an overview of our most recent experiments on effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on soil organisms. I will also highlight some gaps in our knowledge regarding side-effects of these products and what regulatory consequences would be necessary.”
Résumé de l'intervention: This presentation will give an overview of our most recent experiments on effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on soil organisms. I will also highlight some gaps in our knowledge regarding side-effects of these products and what regulatory consequences would be necessary.”
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Dr Andras Szekacs, Institut de Recherche Agro-environnementale, Budapest, HongrieLes effets de la toxine Bt sur le sol
Résumé de l'intervention: The Cry endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are characteristic toxin proteins that have long been considered as environmentally and ecologically friendy bioinsecticide active ingredients, due to their high insect specificity (at the order level) and rapid biodegradability. Insect resistant, genetically modified (GM) Bt crops also produce toxin proteins related to bacterial Cry toxins, but the two technologies in the case of Cry1Abtoxin (Dipel bioinsecticides and MON 810 maize) have been shown not to be identical from the aspect of toxin content and biochemical characteristics, application type, environmental fate and technology compatibility. Cry toxins from Bt crops, protected from decomposition within the plant cells, may remain in the stubble in soil and persist upon cultivation; and are also known to be exudated from the roots of certain Bt crops into the soil, where then may partially escape microbial degradation by being absorbed to soil particles or humic acids. Although this extended toxin load does not seem to affect or have only moderate effects on soil rhizospheric microbial communities, continued cultivation resulted in indirect consequences on soil microbes and on soil-borne organisms e.g. collembolas.
Résumé de l'intervention: The Cry endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are characteristic toxin proteins that have long been considered as environmentally and ecologically friendy bioinsecticide active ingredients, due to their high insect specificity (at the order level) and rapid biodegradability. Insect resistant, genetically modified (GM) Bt crops also produce toxin proteins related to bacterial Cry toxins, but the two technologies in the case of Cry1Abtoxin (Dipel bioinsecticides and MON 810 maize) have been shown not to be identical from the aspect of toxin content and biochemical characteristics, application type, environmental fate and technology compatibility. Cry toxins from Bt crops, protected from decomposition within the plant cells, may remain in the stubble in soil and persist upon cultivation; and are also known to be exudated from the roots of certain Bt crops into the soil, where then may partially escape microbial degradation by being absorbed to soil particles or humic acids. Although this extended toxin load does not seem to affect or have only moderate effects on soil rhizospheric microbial communities, continued cultivation resulted in indirect consequences on soil microbes and on soil-borne organisms e.g. collembolas.
