THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE
Dear Colleagues and Friends
Herbicide Residues in Roundup-Ready Soybeans Negatively Affect Daphnia
Genetically modified (GM) Roundup-Ready (RR) soybean that is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate (commonly called Roundup) comprises about 80% of global annual soy production. Recent studies have found unexpectedly high levels of glyphosate residues in RR soybean, in excess of regulatory guidance limits, from its exposure to the regular application of the herbicide during cultivation.
A study used 8 soy-meal diets with different levels of glyphosate residues in feed to test groups of 20 animals (Daphnia magna, a freshwater water flea) each for the duration of their life-cycles. The soybeans were taken from ordinary commercial farms in Iowa, USA and the residue levels ranged from 1.1–15.1 mg/kg, which were well below the US maximum limit of 40 mg/kg.
The experiment found that high levels of glyphosate residues correlated with higher mortality, reduced growth and fertility, delayed reproduction, and a reduction in the number of offspring of the test animals. Thus, glyphosate residues in RR soybean may have “adverse biological effects at normally occurring levels i.e., as found in ready-to-market soybeans”.
The researchers call for regular monitoring and further research on the potential health effects of herbicide residues in food and feed produced from herbicide-tolerant plants. They also recommend revision of guidelines for risk assessment of herbicide-tolerant GM crops and animal feeding-trials specifically addressing herbicide residues in food and feed.
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chttp://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=53681
Glyphosate-residues in Roundup-Ready soybean impair Daphnia magna life-cycle
Marek Cuhra, Terje Traavik, Mickaël Dando, Raul Primicerio, Daniel Ferreira Holderbaum and Thomas Bøhn
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 2015, 4, 24-36
Abstract
Herbicide tolerant plants such as Roundup-Ready soybean contain residues of glyphosate herbicide. These residues are considered safe and previous animal-feeding-studies have failed to find negative effects related to such chemical residues. The present study tests 8 experimental soy-meal diets as feed in groups (each containing 20 individuals) of test-animals (D. magna). The diets have different levels of glyphosate residues and we show that animal growth, reproductive maturity and number of offspring are correlated with these chemicals. The tested soybeans are from ordinary agriculture in Iowa USA and the residues are below the regulatory limits. Despite this, clear negative effects are seen in life-long feeding. The work enhances the need for including analysis of herbicide residues in future assessment of GMO.