Argentinian Study Reveals Amphibian Embryo Deformations Linked To Glyphosate Use - IPS

[hatrack]

BUENOS AIRES, Apr 15 (IPS) - Glyphosate, the herbicide used on soybeans in Argentina, causes malformations in amphibian embryos, say scientists here who revealed the findings of a study that has not yet been published.

"The observed deformations are consistent and systematic," Professor Andrés Carrasco, director of the Laboratory of Molecular Embryology at the University of Buenos Aires medical school and lead researcher on the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), told IPS. Reduced head size, genetic alterations in the central nervous system, an increase in the death of cells that help form the skull, and deformed cartilage were effects that were repeatedly found in the laboratory experiments, said the biologist.

The news was reported Monday by the Argentine newspaper Página 12. The scientist explained to IPS that the conclusions were from "a research study that came up with precise data," but that the final report was not yet ready for publication. Nevertheless, he believed it was necessary to make the results public due to "a question of general interest."

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, an herbicide produced by U.S. biotech giant Monsanto, which developed Roundup Ready Soy, genetically modified to withstand high doses of the non-selective weed-killer. Monsanto’s head of communications in Argentina, Fernanda Pérez Cometto, told IPS that the company has "several studies that show that the herbicide is harmless to humans, animals and the environment." But the company "will not issue an opinion" until the University of Buenos Aires study is published, she said. "It is essential to know what kind of methodology was used, which is why we have asked the laboratory for a copy of the study," said Pérez Cometto.

EDIT

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46516

[BrklynLiberal]

1. uh oh

[hedgehog]

2. It's good to have the proof, but in other news, the sun came up this morning!

[jwirr]

3. Thank you. We believe that my daughter is most likely a victim of

farm chemicals in a well - including Round Up.

[WriteDown]

4. Maybe, maybe not...

I always take these studies with a huge rock or salt. For years, many thought that frog deformations were caused due to chemical factors, but it is now known that the majority of deformations are viral in nature. Then there is the case of the Harlequin Frog whose populations have almost been brought to the brink of extinctions. The cause? Fungus brought in on the feet of researchers who came to study the frogs. Ugh. Captive breeding them is not easy either.