Gilles-Eric Séralini1*, Robin Mesnage1, Emilie Clair1, Steeve Gress1, Joël S de Vendômois2 and Dominique Cellier3
* Corresponding author: Gilles-Eric Séralini criigen@unicaen.fr
Author Affiliations
1 Laboratory of Biochemistry - IBFA, University of Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex, France
2 CRIIGEN, Paris, France
3 University of Rouen LITIS EA 4108, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
SOURCE: Environmental Sciences Europe 2011, 23:10 doi:10.1186/2190-4715-23-10
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.enveurope.com/content/23/1/10
The full pdf version is at: http://www.enveurope.com/content/pdf/2190-4715-23-10.pdf
Purpose
We reviewed 19 studies of mammals fed with commercialized genetically modified soybean and maize which represent, per trait and plant, more than 80% of all environmental genetically modified organisms (GMOs) cultivated on a large scale, after they were modified to tolerate or produce a pesticide. We have also obtained the raw data of 90-day-long rat tests following court actions or official requests. The data obtained include biochemical blood and urine parameters of mammals eating GMOs with numerous organ weights and histopathology findings.
Methods
We have thoroughly reviewed these tests from a statistical and a biological point of view. Some of these tests used controversial protocols which are discussed and statistically significant results that were considered as not being biologically meaningful by regulatory authorities, thus raising the question of their interpretations.
Results
Several convergent data appear to indicate liver and kidney problems as end points of GMO diet effects in the above-mentioned experiments. This was confirmed by our meta-analysis of all the in vivo studies published, which revealed that the kidneys were particularly affected, concentrating 43.5% of all disrupted parameters in males, whereas the liver was more specifically disrupted in females (30.8% of all disrupted parameters).
Conclusions
The 90-day-long tests are insufficient to evaluate chronic toxicity, and the signs highlighted in the kidneys and livers could be the onset of chronic diseases. However, no minimal length for the tests is yet obligatory for any of the GMOs cultivated on a large scale, and this is socially unacceptable in terms of consumer health protection. We are suggesting that the studies should be improved and prolonged, as well as being made compulsory, and that the sexual hormones should be assessed too, and moreover, reproductive and multigenerational studies ought to be conducted too.
t's one of the last bastions of Canadian wilderness: the Great Bear Rainforest, on BC's north and central Pacific coast. Home to humpback whales, wild salmon, wolves, grizzlies, and the legendary spirit bear - this spectacular place is now threatened by a proposal from Enbridge to bring an oil pipeline and supertankers to this fragile and rugged coast. The plan is to pump over half a million barrels a day of unrefined bitumen from the Alberta Tar Sands over the Rockies, through the heartland of BC - crossing a thousand rivers and streams in the process - to the Port of Kitimat, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. From there, supertankers would ply the rough and dangerous waters of the BC coast en route to Asia and the United States. Dubbed the Northern Gateway Pipeline, the project is of concern for three main reasons: 1. It would facilitate the expansion of the Tar Sands, hooking emerging Asian economies on the world's dirtiest oil; 2. the risks from the pipeline itself; 3. the danger of introducing oil supertankers for the first time to this part of the BC coast.
Phone the Prime Minister now at 613-992-4211 and ask him to ban oil tanker traffic on the BC coast!
SPOIL - A powerful documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest by EP Films.
The film shows the splendour of nature with some beautiful photography. It highlights the nature we all want to protect, but our blinkered and incessant addiction to burn more oil, is helping to destroy.
Spoil is a lovely film and a perfect way to encourage us all to help protect and nurture nature and not destroy it for the sake of dirty oil. We need to stop buying dirty oil and move faster into clean renewable electricity.
We all have the choice to support and promote clean renewable sources of energy and wean ourselves off of our addiction to burning fossil fuels.
• Switch your energy supplier to a company that is making concerted efforts in clean, renewable electricity.
• Next time you buy a vehicle, insist on purchasing an electric vehicle.
• Make it known to your politicians that the Tar sands must stop.
• Get involved with a group that is helping to stop the oil sands and its infrastructure. EG
http://www.pacificwild.org/site/take_action.html
http://stoptarsands.wordpress.com/solutions
http://dirtyoilsands.org/thedirt
SPOIL - Wins Top Environmental Award at Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.
See The Tipping Point: The Age of the Oil Sands
See Spoil on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/19582018
Join Spoil on facebook https://facebook.com/SpoilFilm
Find out more about the filmmakers:
http://vimeo.com/epfilms
http://epfilms.tv
http://riversindemand.com
The Enbridge Northern Gateway proposal would build two parallel pipelines from Alberta's tar sands to BC's north coast. If approved, the pipelines would traverse the salmon-bearing Upper Fraser and Skeena watersheds, and would bring 225 oils tankers a year to BC's northern coastal waters.
Learn more at: http://dogwoodinitiative.org/
Robert Bateman takes a stand against the threat of oil spills on BC's coast.
The BC and Canadian governments are supportive of bringing oil tankers to British Columbia's north coast. If this were to happen, spills would be inevitable, and the consequences on this wild and intact stretch of coast would be profound.
Sign the petition at:
http://www.notankers.ca
Tell Enbridge to Abandon its Proposed Pipeline
The Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline, proposed by energy giant Enbridge, would transport the world’s dirtiest oil from the Alberta tar sands to British Columbia’s Spirit Bear Coast. Tell Enbridge to respect the wishes of the First Nations who oppose the pipeline and to withdraw its application for this destructive project.
Send a message to Enbridge CEO via NRDC at https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2597
An excellent example of a municipality working for the good of the people.
COMMITTEE PLANNING WEBSITE: http://www.cnv.org//server.aspx?c=3&i=455
City residents and visitors alike will one day be able to hike or bike from one end of the North Shore to the other.
The City, together with the federal and provincial governments, North Shore municipalities, First Nations, and other agencies and organizations are working in partnership to create the North Shore Spirit Trail. The Spirit Trail will be a unique, waterfront-oriented, multi-use and fully accessible greenway that will provide pedestrians, cyclists, inline skaters and people with wheeled mobility aids access across the North Shore, from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. The Spirit Trail is an excellent example of the City's commitment to pedestrian and bike friendly amenities.
The CNV Spirit Trail alignment and conceptual design, as outlined in the Spirit Trail Report, was endorsed by Council in July 2008. The CNV Spirit Trail route has been divided into seventeen sections, based on trail character, and each section is outlined in the CNV Spirit Trail route map. An implementation plan has been developed and incorporated into the City's capital planning process. Based on the current proposed implementation plan, complete build-out of the Spirit Trail will take 8 to 9 years. The initial implementation phases will focus on high-use waterfront areas or areas where no trail or barriers exist. The latter stages of the implementation plan will focus on bringing existing trails and sidewalks up to Spirit Trail standards. Several projects have approved funding and are currently underway.
COMMITTEE PLANNING WEBSITE: http://www.cnv.org//server.aspx?c=3&i=455
City residents and visitors alike will one day be able to hike or bike from one end of the North Shore to the other.
The City, together with the federal and provincial governments, North Shore municipalities, First Nations, and other agencies and organizations are working in partnership to create the North Shore Spirit Trail. The Spirit Trail will be a unique, waterfront-oriented, multi-use and fully accessible greenway that will provide pedestrians, cyclists, inline skaters and people with wheeled mobility aids access across the North Shore, from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. The Spirit Trail is an excellent example of the City's commitment to pedestrian and bike friendly amenities.
The CNV Spirit Trail alignment and conceptual design, as outlined in the Spirit Trail Report, was endorsed by Council in July 2008. The CNV Spirit Trail route has been divided into seventeen sections, based on trail character, and each section is outlined in the CNV Spirit Trail route map. An implementation plan has been developed and incorporated into the City's capital planning process. Based on the current proposed implementation plan, complete build-out of the Spirit Trail will take 8 to 9 years. The initial implementation phases will focus on high-use waterfront areas or areas where no trail or barriers exist. The latter stages of the implementation plan will focus on bringing existing trails and sidewalks up to Spirit Trail standards. Several projects have approved funding and are currently underway.
Maya Angelou's thoughts on what the world would be like if one percent of the population became complaint free.