GMO toxins and Pregnancy
Introduction
Genetically modified foods, which have been around since the early 1990’s, are proving to be a growing area of concern in the marketplace today. However without mandatory labeling laws, consumers are forced to buy foods which may contain unknowingly harmful chemicals that can be detrimental to their personal as well as their families’ health. It essential therefore that information on the hidden dangers of their genetic and chemical alterations must be made public. Moreover, more needs to be done in order to get the message out that there may be hidden dangers to the earth, water, and even to our bodies when consuming genetically modified foods. Advocacy in favor of GM seeds by Monsanto needs to be stopped and instead, the company should be publicly criticized for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards. As well, the government should be noted for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight.
Environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for some time, and recent controversial studies have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness. Among the reports, several have shown the relationship between GMO cytotoxicity as well as the teratogenic potential in mammals. Specifically the toxins glyphosate, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) present a combined area of concern as these herbicide resins and insecticidal toxins are present in Roundup-tolerant GM plants such as corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, sugar beets, and alfalfa. Although some scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health, evidence on the contrary has shown that exposure to the aforementioned pesticides are finding their way into the bloodstreams of pregnant woman and their fetuses. With this information, it is the aim of my paper to prove that there is in fact evidence of pre- and postnatal toxicity to the mother and fetus in
Genetically modified foods, which have been around since the early 1990’s, are proving to be a growing area of concern in the marketplace today. However without mandatory labeling laws, consumers are forced to buy foods which may contain unknowingly harmful chemicals that can be detrimental to their personal as well as their families’ health. It essential therefore that information on the hidden dangers of their genetic and chemical alterations must be made public. Moreover, more needs to be done in order to get the message out that there may be hidden dangers to the earth, water, and even to our bodies when consuming genetically modified foods. Advocacy in favor of GM seeds by Monsanto needs to be stopped and instead, the company should be publicly criticized for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards. As well, the government should be noted for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight.
Environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for some time, and recent controversial studies have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness. Among the reports, several have shown the relationship between GMO cytotoxicity as well as the teratogenic potential in mammals. Specifically the toxins glyphosate, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) present a combined area of concern as these herbicide resins and insecticidal toxins are present in Roundup-tolerant GM plants such as corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, sugar beets, and alfalfa. Although some scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health, evidence on the contrary has shown that exposure to the aforementioned pesticides are finding their way into the bloodstreams of pregnant woman and their fetuses. With this information, it is the aim of my paper to prove that there is in fact evidence of pre- and postnatal toxicity to the mother and fetus in
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