Say NO to Genetically Modified Alfalfa and Roundup

Especially when it has not been properly researched or tested for health or environmental impacts. Please help me in not letting GE plants be as easily registered as pesticides and "approved" before any proof of safety is even had. Our heritage plants will thank you!

If you have animals then you know how important this forage crop is.

Visit the Northeastern Organic Farming Association for an idea on how to help. 

Contact the white house www.whitehouse.gov/contact and voice your concerns

Contact USDA/APHIS who is pressuring the USDA to approve the use of Monsanto's Genetically Engineered (GE) Roundup Ready ™ Alfalfa in time for Spring planting
Email: biotechquery@aphis.usda.gov or call 1-301-851-2300 and record your comments

GE Alfalfa or Roundup/Glyphosate ready alfalfa?...

In the year 2000, the U.S. used 18 million pounds of glyphosate. How about we do not support the use of more?

Glyphosphate, herbicide, and the active ingredient in Roundup, has demonstrated cancer, nervous system damage, kidney and liver damage and effects on the reproductive system. 

According to French researchers Nora Benachor and Gilles Eric Sellini, of the University of Caen, diluted Roundup, which contains glyphosate, causes death of cells of human umbilical cords, embryos, and placenta.

NOT CONVINCED?????

GLYPHOSATE. Cox Caroline. Journal of Pesticide Reform, 2004. Vol. 24 (4).

Glyphosate herbicides are the most commonly used herbicides in the world. They have been proven to cause cancer, birth problems, and disorders in children. Glyphosate herbicides also cause genetic damage in aquatic life due to its ability to drift from the application site into water sources.

EFFECTS OF ROUNDUP AND GLYPHOSATE FORMULATIONS ON INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, MICROTUBULES AND ACTIN FILAMENTS IN XENOPUS LAEVIS MELANOPHORES
Hedberg D., Wallin M. Toxicology in Vitro. 2010, 24(3):795-802

Results of this study show that glyphosate compounds inhibit intracellular transport but are pH-dependent. However the surfactants of Roudup increase the permeability of cell membranes allowing uptake of chemical substances at normal physiological pH. Therefore the surfactant ingredients of chemical formulations should be considered when regulations are proposed.

GLYPHOSATE FORMULATIONS INDUCE APOPTOSIS AND NECROSIS IN HUMAN UMBILICAL, EMBRYONIC AND PLACENTAL CELLS. Benachour, N, et al. 2009. Chemical Research in Toxicology 22(1):97-105

A landmark toxicological study on the various formulations of glyphosate (Roundup) found that in even using dilute levels of active and inactive ingredients, cell death occurred within 18 or 24 hours in human umbilical, embryonic and placental cells. The authors from the University of Caen, France suggested further dilution and stricter monitoring standards. In important findings, they discover that most glyphosate-based pesticides endanger fetal health.

HERBICIDE FACTSHEET: GLYPHOSATE (ROUNDUP). Caroline Cox, Journal of Pesticide Reform, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, 1998.

“Glyphosate-containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including humans. Symptoms include eye and skin irritation, headache, nausea, numbness, elevated blood pressure, and heart palpitations. The surfactant used in a common glyphosate product (Roundup) is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself the combination of the two is yet more toxic.”

OXIDATIVE STRESS RESPONSES OF RATS EXPOSED TO ROUNDUP AND ITS ACTIVE INGREDIENT GLYPHOSATE El-Shenawy N.S. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2009, 28(3):379-385

This study examined cytotoxicity of Roundup and its fundamental substance glyphosate. “The results suggest that excessive antioxidant disruptor and oxidative stress is induced with Roundup” rather “than glyphosate.”

THE EFFECT OF SUB-ACUTE AND SUB-CHRONIC EXPOSURE OF RATS TO THE GLYPHOSATE-BASED HERBICIDE ROUNDUP Çağlar S., Kolankaya D. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2008, 25(1):57-62

The effect of Roundup in the liver of rats was tested in the study. Liver damage was measured by biochemical markers and an investigation of liver tissue histopathologically. Mild effects on liver enzyme activities were found: concluding that Roundup induces hepatic toxicity.

INFLUENCE OF GLYPHOSATE AND ITS FORMULATION (ROUNDUP®) ON THE TOXICITY AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF METALS TO CERIODAPHNIA DUBIA. Tsui M., Wang W. and Chu L.M. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 138(1):59-68 (2005) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15878796

The adverse chemical affects between glyphosate and availability of heavy metal to freshwater crustacean, Ceriodaphnia dubia (water flea) were examined in the study. In this accumulative study it was found that the uptake of some metals, including silver, was halted while others, like mercury, increased notably. These authors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, “strongly suggests that glyphosate and its commercial formulations can control the toxicity as well as the bioavailability of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems where both groups of chemicals can co-occur.”

NEW EVIDENCES OF ROUNDUP (A (R)) (GLYPHOSATE FORMULATION) IMPACT ON THE PERIPHYTON COMMUNITY AND THE WATER QUALITY OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. Vera MS, et al., ECOTOXICOLOGY 19(4): 710-724 (2010) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20091117

This study found that Roundup (A (R)) significantly increases the total phosphorus in freshwater systems leading to eutrophication, (“the gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other plant nutrients” ) and a shift in the water typology. Roundup also delayed the colonization of periphytic organism colonization (consult diagram on previous page). The eleven authors of this study conlude: “Based on our findings it is clear that agricultural practices that involve the use of herbicides such as Roundup affect non-target organisms and the water quality, modifying the structure and functionality of freshwater ecosystems.”

LOW TOXIC HERBICIDE ROUNDUP INDUCES MILD OXIDATIVE STRESS IN GOLDFISH TISSUES Lushchak OV. Et al., Chemosphere, 76(7):932-937 (2009) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19450865

The formula used in Roundup contains glyphosate as the active ingredient and polyethoxylene as one of the additives. This study was conducted to determine the severity of toxicity of Roundup in the environment where it may accumulate and persist for a long time. Even though glyphosate is considered to be low toxic to animals by the WHO, this was the first study of this nature conducted on goldfish exposed to Roundup.

Results found that Roundup suppressed four major enzymes and enzyme groups in fish tissues. These enzymes are responsible for cell repair, detoxification, and protection of the red blood cells against oxidative damage. For example the enzymes responsible for cell repair, superoxide dismutase (SOD), “activities were reduced by 51-68% in brain, 58-67% in liver and 33-53% in kidney of Roundup treated fish.”

BIOACCUMULATION OF GLYPHOSATE AND ITS FORMULATION ROUNDUP ULTRA IN LUMBRICULUS VARIEGATUS AND ITS EFFECTS ON BIOTRANSFORMATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES. Contardo-Jara V., Klingelmann E., Wiegand C. Environmental Pollution. 2009, 157(1):57-63 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.027

This study tests the “effects on biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes” on one type of worm, Lumbriculus variegates. Results of this study add to growing concern that it is the Roundup formulation that is more toxic to this organism than simply the active ingredient, glyphosate.

LARVAL RESPONSES OF THREE MIDWESTERN ANURANS TO CHRONIC, LOW-DOSE EXPOSURES OF FOUR HERBICIDES. Williams BK and Semlitsch RD, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 58(3):819-827 (2010) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19768486

This study exposed three common species of tadpoles to conservative levels of atrazine, S-metolachlor, and glyphosate (end-use herbicides) throughout the larval period. The glyphosate product Roundup WeatherMax(A (R)) resulted in 80% mortality of western chorus frog tadpoles and lengthened the larval period for American toads.

By the way. The EPA is releasing a new "List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential" sometime next week.  Or so they say.  Do not forget to ask for a copy of this cancer causing pesticide list!! http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/carlist/