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Finley JW, Duke SO. Agnes Rimando, a Pioneer in the Fate of Glyphosate and Its Primary Metabolite in Plants. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:5623-5630. [PMID: 32330026 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Glyphosate is the most used herbicide on the planet because of its excellent efficacy on almost all weed species and due to the large-scale adoption of transgenic, glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops. Agnes Rimando became an expert in glyphosate analysis almost 20 years ago to support research on GR crop safety and on mechanisms of evolved glyphosate resistance by weeds. Her work was the first to show that the amount of glyphosate and its primary metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) that accumulates in GR soybean seed from plants treated with approved glyphosate doses can approach their legal limits. However, she later found that only trace amounts of these compounds accumulate in the seed of GR maize treated with recommended glyphosate doses. She showed that GR canola, the only transgenic crop with a transgene encoding an enzyme for degradation of glyphosate, metabolizes glyphosate to AMPA very rapidly. Her work was instrumental in providing support for the view that "yellow flash" symptoms sometimes observed in field-grown GR soybeans are due to accumulation of enough AMPA to cause mild phytotoxicity. She did the chemical analyses in the only paper to survey the capacity of an array of plant species to metabolize glyphosate to AMPA. She found a wide range in this capacity, with grasses with little or no metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA and with legumes readily metabolizing glyphosate. Lastly, she found no evidence of enhanced degradation of glyphosate to be a mechanism of evolved resistance to glyphosate by two weed species but that it might be involved in natural tolerance to glyphosate of some weeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Finley
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Stephen O Duke
- National Center for Natural Products Research School of Pharmacy University of Mississippi University, Mississippi 38677-8048, United States
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Bhatti F, Asad S, Khan QM, Mobeen A, Iqbal MJ, Asif M. Risk assessment of genetically modified sugarcane expressing AVP1 gene. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 130:267-275. [PMID: 31132391 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Biosafety is a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses social, societal, ethical issues and policies for the regulations of genetically modified (GM) organisms. The potential health risks associated with GM sugarcane containing AVP1 gene confers resistance against drought and salinity were evaluated by animal feeding studies and some genotoxicity assays. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity examinations were carried out via oral dose administration of GM sugarcane juice supplemented with the normal diet (modified from certified rodent standard diet) on Wistar rats. AVP1 protein concentration in sugarcane juice was 1mg/1 mL. Biochemical, haematological blood analyses were performed and the results revealed that there were non-significant differences among all the treatment groups; GM sugarcane juice, non-GM sugarcane juice and the control group (normal diet and water). Genotoxicity assessment based on the comet assay and the micronucleus assay data exhibited that AVP1 GM sugarcane was not genotoxic or cytotoxic in rat's peripheral blood. These research findings supported the conclusion that GM AVP1 sugarcane was non-toxic in experimental animals. Therefore, data generated through this research work would be helpful for the commercial release of GM AVP1 sugarcane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farheen Bhatti
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan; Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shaheen Asad
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Qaiser Mahmood Khan
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ameena Mobeen
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Javed Iqbal
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asif
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P. O Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Results of a 16-week Safety Assurance Study with Rats Fed Genetically Modified Bt Maize: Effect on Growth and Health Parameters. J Vet Res 2018; 62:555-561. [PMID: 30729216 PMCID: PMC6364163 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2018-0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The influence of feeding genetically modified MON 810 hybrid maize on the growth and haematological and biochemical indices of rats was tested. Material and Methods Two conventional (non-GM) and two test (MON 810) lines of maize were used in semi-purified diets at the level of 40% w/w. The non-GM I, MON 810 I, non-GM II, and MON 810 II maize lines were near-isogenic. A total of 40 male 6-week-old Wistar-derived rats were assigned to four equal feeding groups corresponding to the four maize lines for 16 weeks. Overall, health, body weight gain, clinical pathology parameters, gross changes, and appearance of tissues were compared between groups. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the weight gain or relative organ weights of rats, but there were some non diet-related histopathological changes in the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Except for creatinine level, no diet-related effects were observed in haematology or most of the biochemical indices. Transgenic DNA of MON 810 maize was not detected in the tissues or faeces nor in the DNA of E. coli isolated from the rectum digesta of rats given transgenic feeds. In our experiment, various metabolic indices of rats fed non-GM diets or genetically modified (MON 810) maize for 16 weeks were similar. No adverse nutrition-related health effects were detected. Conclusion MON 810 maize seems to be as safe as the conventional maize lines.
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Costa FR, Rech R, Duke SO, Carvalho LB. Lack of effects of glyphosate and glufosinate on growth, mineral content, and yield of glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize. GM CROPS & FOOD 2018; 9:189-198. [PMID: 30325277 PMCID: PMC6343527 DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2018.1511204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Whether herbicides used in transgenic, herbicide-resistant crops have negative effects on those crops has been controversial. Most all of the data on this topic has been on glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean, with little information available on GR and glufosinate-resistant (GluR) maize. A GR plus GluR maize variety was evaluated in the greenhouse and the field for effects of glyphosate and glufosinate on growth, mineral content, and yield. Treatments were: 1) a herbicide-free control; 2) 980 g acid equivalent (a.e.) ha-1 glyphosate at 21 days after emergence (DAE); 3) 600 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha-1 glufosinate at 21 DAE; 4) sequential applications of glyphosate at 520 and 980 g a.e. ha-1 at 14 and 28 DAE, respectively; 5) sequential applications of glufosinate at 300 and 300 g a.i. ha-1 at 14 and 28 DAE, respectively; and 6) sequential application of glyphosate (980 g a.e. ha-1) and glufosinate (600 g a.i. ha-1) at 14 and 28 DAE, respectively. None of the herbicide treatments affected plant growth, yield, or content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Fe, Cu, or Zn in the greenhouse or field. In grain of field-grown plants, no glufosinate was found and glyphosate (0.12 ng g-1) was only found in the sequential glyphosate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia R. Costa
- Center of Agroveterinary Sciences, Plant Production Postgraduate Program, Santa Catarina State University, Lages, SC, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rech
- Center of Agroveterinary Sciences, Plant Production Postgraduate Program, Santa Catarina State University, Lages, SC, Brazil
| | - Stephen O. Duke
- Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, University, MS, USA
| | - Leonardo B. Carvalho
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Plant Protection, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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Reddy KN, Cizdziel JV, Williams MM, Maul JE, Rimando AM, Duke SO. Glyphosate Resistance Technology Has Minimal or No Effect on Maize Mineral Content and Yield. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:10139-10146. [PMID: 30203974 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Controversy continues to exist regarding whether the transgene for glyphosate resistance (GR) and/or glyphosate applied to GR crops adversely affect plant mineral content. Field studies were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in Stoneville, MS and Urbana, IL to examine this issue in maize. At each location, the experiment was conducted in fields with no history of glyphosate application and fields with several years of glyphosate use preceding the study. Neither glyphosate nor the GR transgene affected yield or mineral content of leaves or seed, except for occasional (<5%) significant effects that were inconsistent across minerals, treatments, and environments. Glyphosate and AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), a main degradation product of glyphosate, were found in leaves from treated plants, but little or no glyphosate and no AMPA was found in maize seeds. These results show that the GR transgene and glyphosate application, whether used for a single year or several years, have no deleterious effect on mineral nutrition or yield of GR maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna N Reddy
- Crop Production Systems Research Unit, USDA-ARS , P.O. Box 350, Stoneville , Mississippi 38776 , United States
| | - James V Cizdziel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Mississippi , 222 Coulter Hall , University , Mississippi 38677 , United States
| | - Martin M Williams
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research unit , USDA-ARS, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Jude E Maul
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS , 10300 Baltimore Avenue , Beltsville , Maryland 20705 , United States
| | - Agnes M Rimando
- Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS , P.O. Box 1848, University , Mississippi 38677 , United States
| | - Stephen O Duke
- Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS , P.O. Box 1848, University , Mississippi 38677 , United States
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Zou S, Lang T, Liu X, Huang K, He X. Safety evaluation of genetically modified DAS-40278-9 maize in a subchronic rodent feeding study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 96:146-152. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Delaney B, Goodman RE, Ladics GS. Food and Feed Safety of Genetically Engineered Food Crops. Toxicol Sci 2017; 162:361-371. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Delaney
- DuPont Pioneer, International, Inc, 8325 N 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA 50131, USA
| | - Richard E Goodman
- Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska, 1901 North 21St Street, Lincoln Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Gregory S Ladics
- DuPont Haskell Laboratory, 1090 Elkton Road, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
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Hong B, Du Y, Mukerji P, Roper JM, Appenzeller LM. Safety Assessment of Food and Feed from GM Crops in Europe: Evaluating EFSA's Alternative Framework for the Rat 90-day Feeding Study. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2017; 65:5545-5560. [PMID: 28573861 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b01492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory-compliant rodent subchronic feeding studies are compulsory regardless of a hypothesis to test, according to recent EU legislation for the safety assessment of whole food/feed produced from genetically modified (GM) crops containing a single genetic transformation event (European Union Commission Implementing Regulation No. 503/2013). The Implementing Regulation refers to guidelines set forth by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the design, conduct, and analysis of rodent subchronic feeding studies. The set of EFSA recommendations was rigorously applied to a 90-day feeding study in Sprague-Dawley rats. After study completion, the appropriateness and applicability of these recommendations were assessed using a battery of statistical analysis approaches including both retrospective and prospective statistical power analyses as well as variance-covariance decomposition. In the interest of animal welfare considerations, alternative experimental designs were investigated and evaluated in the context of informing the health risk assessment of food/feed from GM crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Hong
- Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. , Johnston, Iowa 50131, United States
| | - Yingzhou Du
- Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. , Johnston, Iowa 50131, United States
- Iowa State University , Snedecor Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Pushkor Mukerji
- DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences , Newark, Delaware 19711, United States
| | - Jason M Roper
- DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences , Newark, Delaware 19711, United States
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Koch MS, DeSesso JM, Williams AL, Michalek S, Hammond B. Adaptation of the ToxRTool to Assess the Reliability of Toxicology Studies Conducted with Genetically Modified Crops and Implications for Future Safety Testing. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2016; 56:512-26. [PMID: 25208336 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2013.788994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
To determine the reliability of food safety studies carried out in rodents with genetically modified (GM) crops, a Food Safety Study Reliability Tool (FSSRTool) was adapted from the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods' (ECVAM) ToxRTool. Reliability was defined as the inherent quality of the study with regard to use of standardized testing methodology, full documentation of experimental procedures and results, and the plausibility of the findings. Codex guidelines for GM crop safety evaluations indicate toxicology studies are not needed when comparability of the GM crop to its conventional counterpart has been demonstrated. This guidance notwithstanding, animal feeding studies have routinely been conducted with GM crops, but their conclusions on safety are not always consistent. To accurately evaluate potential risks from GM crops, risk assessors need clearly interpretable results from reliable studies. The development of the FSSRTool, which provides the user with a means of assessing the reliability of a toxicology study to inform risk assessment, is discussed. Its application to the body of literature on GM crop food safety studies demonstrates that reliable studies report no toxicologically relevant differences between rodents fed GM crops or their non-GM comparators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Koch
- a Monsanto Company, Product Safety Center , St. Louis , Missouri , USA
| | | | | | - Suzanne Michalek
- c Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
| | - Bruce Hammond
- a Monsanto Company, Product Safety Center , St. Louis , Missouri , USA
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Delaney B. Safety assessment of foods from genetically modified crops in countries with developing economies. Food Chem Toxicol 2015; 86:132-43. [PMID: 26456807 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Population growth particularly in countries with developing economies will result in a need to increase food production by 70% by the year 2050. Biotechnology has been utilized to produce genetically modified (GM) crops for insect and weed control with benefits including increased crop yield and will also be used in emerging countries. A multicomponent safety assessment paradigm has been applied to individual GM crops to determine whether they as safe as foods from non-GM crops. This paper reviews methods to assess the safety of foods from GM crops for safe consumption from the first generation of GM crops. The methods can readily be applied to new products developed within country and this paper will emphasize the concept of data portability; that safety data produced in one geographic location is suitable for safety assessment regardless of where it is utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Delaney
- Global Industry Affairs and Regulatory, DuPont Pioneer, 7100 NW 62nd Avenue, P.O. Box 1004, Johnston, IA 50131, United States.
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Koch MS, Ward JM, Levine SL, Baum JA, Vicini JL, Hammond BG. The food and environmental safety of Bt crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:283. [PMID: 25972882 PMCID: PMC4413729 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) microbial pesticides have a 50-year history of safety in agriculture. Cry proteins are among the active insecticidal ingredients in these pesticides, and genes coding for Cry proteins have been introduced into agricultural crops using modern biotechnology. The Cry gene sequences are often modified to enable effective expression in planta and several Cry proteins have been modified to increase biological activity against the target pest(s). Additionally, the domains of different but structurally conserved Cry proteins can be combined to produce chimeric proteins with enhanced insecticidal properties. Environmental studies are performed and include invertebrates, mammals, and avian species. Mammalian studies used to support the food and feed safety assessment are also used to support the wild mammal assessment. In addition to the NTO assessment, the environmental assessment includes a comparative assessment between the Bt crop and the appropriate conventional control that is genetically similar but lacks the introduced trait to address unintended effects. Specific phenotypic, agronomic, and ecological characteristics are measured in the Bt crop and the conventional control to evaluate whether the introduction of the insect resistance has resulted in any changes that might cause ecological harm in terms of altered weed characteristics, susceptibility to pests, or adverse environmental impact. Additionally, environmental interaction data are collected in field experiments for Bt crop to evaluate potential adverse effects. Further to the agronomic and phenotypic evaluation, potential movement of transgenes from a genetically modified crop plants into wild relatives is assessed for a new pest resistance gene in a new crop. This review summarizes the evidence for safety of crops containing Cry proteins for humans, livestock, and other non-target organisms.
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Koch MS, Ward JM, Levine SL, Baum JA, Vicini JL, Hammond BG. The food and environmental safety of Bt crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:283. [PMID: 25972882 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) microbial pesticides have a 50-year history of safety in agriculture. Cry proteins are among the active insecticidal ingredients in these pesticides, and genes coding for Cry proteins have been introduced into agricultural crops using modern biotechnology. The Cry gene sequences are often modified to enable effective expression in planta and several Cry proteins have been modified to increase biological activity against the target pest(s). Additionally, the domains of different but structurally conserved Cry proteins can be combined to produce chimeric proteins with enhanced insecticidal properties. Environmental studies are performed and include invertebrates, mammals, and avian species. Mammalian studies used to support the food and feed safety assessment are also used to support the wild mammal assessment. In addition to the NTO assessment, the environmental assessment includes a comparative assessment between the Bt crop and the appropriate conventional control that is genetically similar but lacks the introduced trait to address unintended effects. Specific phenotypic, agronomic, and ecological characteristics are measured in the Bt crop and the conventional control to evaluate whether the introduction of the insect resistance has resulted in any changes that might cause ecological harm in terms of altered weed characteristics, susceptibility to pests, or adverse environmental impact. Additionally, environmental interaction data are collected in field experiments for Bt crop to evaluate potential adverse effects. Further to the agronomic and phenotypic evaluation, potential movement of transgenes from a genetically modified crop plants into wild relatives is assessed for a new pest resistance gene in a new crop. This review summarizes the evidence for safety of crops containing Cry proteins for humans, livestock, and other non-target organisms.
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Zdziarski IM, Edwards JW, Carman JA, Haynes JI. GM crops and the rat digestive tract: a critical review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2014; 73:423-433. [PMID: 25244705 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this review is to examine the relationship between genetically modified (GM) crops and health, based on histopathological investigations of the digestive tract in rats. We reviewed published long-term feeding studies of crops containing one or more of three specific traits: herbicide tolerance via the EPSPS gene and insect resistance via cry1Ab or cry3Bb1 genes. These genes are commonly found in commercialised GM crops. Our search found 21 studies for nine (19%) out of the 47 crops approved for human and/or animal consumption. We could find no studies on the other 38 (81%) approved crops. Fourteen out of the 21 studies (67%) were general health assessments of the GM crop on rat health. Most of these studies (76%) were performed after the crop had been approved for human and/or animal consumption, with half of these being published at least nine years after approval. Our review also discovered an inconsistency in methodology and a lack of defined criteria for outcomes that would be considered toxicologically or pathologically significant. In addition, there was a lack of transparency in the methods and results, which made comparisons between the studies difficult. The evidence reviewed here demonstrates an incomplete picture regarding the toxicity (and safety) of GM products consumed by humans and animals. Therefore, each GM product should be assessed on merit, with appropriate studies performed to indicate the level of safety associated with them. Detailed guidelines should be developed which will allow for the generation of comparable and reproducible studies. This will establish a foundation for evidence-based guidelines, to better determine if GM food is safe for human and animal consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Zdziarski
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - J W Edwards
- Health and the Environment, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - J A Carman
- Health and the Environment, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Institute of Health and Environmental Research (IHER), P.O. Box 155, Kensington Park, SA 5068, Australia.
| | - J I Haynes
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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Thirteen week rodent feeding study with processed fractions from herbicide tolerant (DP-Ø73496-4) canola. Food Chem Toxicol 2014; 66:173-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Bartholomaeus A, Parrott W, Bondy G, Walker K. The use of whole food animal studies in the safety assessment of genetically modified crops: limitations and recommendations. Crit Rev Toxicol 2013; 43 Suppl 2:1-24. [PMID: 24164514 PMCID: PMC3833814 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2013.842955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
There is disagreement internationally across major regulatory jurisdictions on the relevance and utility of whole food (WF) toxicity studies on GM crops, with no harmonization of data or regulatory requirements. The scientific value, and therefore animal ethics, of WF studies on GM crops is a matter addressable from the wealth of data available on commercialized GM crops and WF studies on irradiated foods. We reviewed available GM crop WF studies and considered the extent to which they add to the information from agronomic and compositional analyses. No WF toxicity study was identified that convincingly demonstrated toxicological concern or that called into question the adequacy, sufficiency, and reliability of safety assessments based on crop molecular characterization, transgene source, agronomic characteristics, and/or compositional analysis of the GM crop and its near-isogenic line. Predictions of safety based on crop genetics and compositional analyses have provided complete concordance with the results of well-conducted animal testing. However, this concordance is primarily due to the improbability of de novo generation of toxic substances in crop plants using genetic engineering practices and due to the weakness of WF toxicity studies in general. Thus, based on the comparative robustness and reliability of compositional and agronomic considerations and on the absence of any scientific basis for a significant potential for de novo generation of toxicologically significant compositional alterations as a sole result of transgene insertion, the conclusion of this review is that WF animal toxicity studies are unnecessary and scientifically unjustifiable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Bartholomaeus
- Therapeutics Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of QueenslandQueenslandAustralia
- Faculty of Health, School of Pharmacy, Canberra UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Wayne Parrott
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of GeorgiaAthens, GAUSA
| | - Genevieve Bondy
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health CanadaOttawa, OntarioCanada
| | - Kate Walker
- ILSI International Food Biotechnology CommitteeWashington, DCUSA
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Van Eenennaam AL. GMOs in animal agriculture: time to consider both costs and benefits in regulatory evaluations. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2013; 4:37. [PMID: 24066781 PMCID: PMC4015968 DOI: 10.1186/2049-1891-4-37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2012, genetically engineered (GE) crops were grown by 17.3 million farmers on over 170 million hectares. Over 70% of harvested GE biomass is fed to food producing animals, making them the major consumers of GE crops for the past 15 plus years. Prior to commercialization, GE crops go through an extensive regulatory evaluation. Over one hundred regulatory submissions have shown compositional equivalence, and comparable levels of safety, between GE crops and their conventional counterparts. One component of regulatory compliance is whole GE food/feed animal feeding studies. Both regulatory studies and independent peer-reviewed studies have shown that GE crops can be safely used in animal feed, and rDNA fragments have never been detected in products (e.g. milk, meat, eggs) derived from animals that consumed GE feed. Despite the fact that the scientific weight of evidence from these hundreds of studies have not revealed unique risks associated with GE feed, some groups are calling for more animal feeding studies, including long-term rodent studies and studies in target livestock species for the approval of GE crops. It is an opportune time to review the results of such studies as have been done to date to evaluate the value of the additional information obtained. Requiring long-term and target animal feeding studies would sharply increase regulatory compliance costs and prolong the regulatory process associated with the commercialization of GE crops. Such costs may impede the development of feed crops with enhanced nutritional characteristics and durability, particularly in the local varieties in small and poor developing countries. More generally it is time for regulatory evaluations to more explicitly consider both the reasonable and unique risks and benefits associated with the use of both GE plants and animals in agricultural systems, and weigh them against those associated with existing systems, and those of regulatory inaction. This would represent a shift away from a GE evaluation process that currently focuses only on risk assessment and identifying ever diminishing marginal hazards, to a regulatory approach that more objectively evaluates and communicates the likely impact of approving a new GE plant or animal on agricultural production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Van Eenennaam
- Department of Animal Science, 2113 Meyer Hall, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Delaney B, Karaman S, Roper J, Hoban D, Sykes G, Mukerji P, Frame SR. Thirteen week rodent feeding study with grain from molecular stacked trait lepidopteran and coleopteran protected (DP-ØØ4114-3) maize. Food Chem Toxicol 2013; 53:417-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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19
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Lundry DR, Burns JA, Nemeth MA, Riordan SG. Composition of grain and forage from insect-protected and herbicide-tolerant corn, MON 89034 × TC1507 × MON 88017 × DAS-59122-7 (SmartStax), is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2013; 61:1991-1998. [PMID: 23311749 DOI: 10.1021/jf304005n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences LLC have developed the combined-trait corn product MON 89034 × TC1507 × MON 88017 × DAS-59122-7 (SmartStax, a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC). The combination of four biotechnology-derived events into a single corn product (stacking) through conventional breeding provides broad protection against lepidopteran and corn rootworm insect pests as well as tolerance to the glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium herbicide families. The purpose of the work described here was to assess whether the nutrient, antinutrient, and secondary metabolite levels in grain and forage tissues of the combined-trait product are comparable to those in conventional corn. Compositional analyses were conducted on grain and forage from SmartStax, a near-isogenic conventional corn hybrid (XE6001), and 14 conventional reference hybrids, grown at multiple locations across the United States. No statistically significant differences between SmartStax and conventional corn were observed for the 8 components analyzed in forage and for 46 of the 52 components analyzed in grain. The six significant differences observed in grain components (p < 0.05) were assessed in context of the natural variability for that component. These results demonstrate that the stacked product, SmartStax, produced through conventional breeding of four single-event products containing eight proteins, is compositionally equivalent to conventional corn, as previously demonstrated for the single-event products.
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20
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Arjó G, Capell T, Matias-Guiu X, Zhu C, Christou P, Piñol C. Mice fed on a diet enriched with genetically engineered multivitamin corn show no sub-acute toxic effects and no sub-chronic toxicity. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2012; 10:1026-1034. [PMID: 22928600 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2012.00730.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Multivitamin corn is a novel genetically engineered variety that simultaneously produces high levels of β-carotene, ascorbate and folate, and therefore has the potential to address simultaneously multiple micronutrient deficiencies caused by the lack of vitamins A, B9 and C in developing country populations. As part of the development process for genetically engineered crops and following European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations, multivitamin corn must be tested in whole food/feed sub-chronic animal feeding studies to ensure there are no adverse effects, and potential allergens must be identified. We carried out a 28-day toxicity assessment in mice, which showed no short-term sub-acute evidence of diet-related adverse health effects and no difference in clinical markers (food consumption, body weight, organ/tissue weight, haematological and biochemical blood parameters and histopathology) compared to mice fed on a control diet. A subsequent 90-day sub-chronic feeding study again showed no indications of toxicity compared to mice fed on control diets. Our data confirm that diets enriched with multivitamin corn have no adverse effects on mice, do not induce any clinical signs of toxicity and do not contain known allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Arjó
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida-Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
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21
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Do genetically modified crops affect animal reproduction? A review of the ongoing debate. Animal 2012; 5:1048-59. [PMID: 22440100 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731110002776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few years, genetically modified (GM) crops aimed at producing food/feed that became part of the regular agriculture in many areas of the world. However, we are uncertain whether GM food and feed can exert potential adverse effects on humans or animals. Of importance, the reproductive toxicology of GM crops has been studied using a number of methods, and by feeding GM crops to a number species of animals to ensure the safety assessment of GM food and feed. It appears that there are no adverse effects of GM crops on many species of animals in acute and short-term feeding studies, but serious debates of effects of long-term and multigenerational feeding studies remain. The aims of this review are to focus on the latest (last 3 to 4 years) findings and debates on reproduction of male and female animals after feeding daily diets containing the GM crops, and to present the possible mechanism(s) to explain their influences.
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22
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A three generation study with high-lysine transgenic rice in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2012; 50:1902-10. [PMID: 22510491 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Revised: 03/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Lysine-rich rice (LR) is a transgenic rice produced by fusion protein expressed genes into the germline of rice seeds. Compositional analysis of LR showed that the absolute concentration of lysine was significantly higher as compared to a near-isogenic non-transgenic rice. Lysine is believed to be the first limiting essential amino acid in rice, it is important to improve lysine content on rice nutritional quality. Here we report the results of a three generation study comparing the outcome in rats fed the transgenic rice to those fed conventional, near-isogenic rice or a control diet. In the study, both clinical performance variables and pathological responses such as body weight, food consumption, reproductive data, hematological parameters, serum chemistry and relative organ weights were examined respectively. It was evident that there were no adverse effects observed in rats that were fed transgenic rice compared with non-transgenic rice. There were significant differences in some hematology, serum chemistry parameters and relative organ weights in rats consuming the transgenic rice diet or non-transgenic rice diet compared with the control diet, but no macroscopic or histological adverse effects were observed. So the results from this study demonstrate that LR rice is as safe as near-isogenic non-transgenic rice.
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23
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Scientific Opinion on application (EFSA-GMO-CZ-2008-54) for placing on the market of genetically modified insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize MON 88017 for cultivation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto. EFSA J 2011. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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Zhou XH, Dong Y, Xiao X, Wang Y, Xu Y, Xu B, Shi WD, Zhang Y, Zhu LJ, Liu QQ. A 90-day toxicology study of high-amylose transgenic rice grain in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2011; 49:3112-8. [PMID: 21967780 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Revised: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A transgenic rice line (TRS) with high amylose level has been developed by antisense RNA inhibition of starch branching enzymes. Compositional analysis of TRS demonstrated that the content of resistant starch (RS) was significantly higher compared to conventional non-transgenic rice. High level of RS is an important raw material in food industry and has various physiological effects for human health. In order to provide the reliable theory basis for field release of TRS rice, we evaluated the potential health effects of long-term consumption of the TRS. The 90-day toxicology feeding experiment was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with diets containing 70% of either TRS rice flour, its near-isogenic rice flour or the control diet. The clinical performance variables (body weight, body weight gain and food consumption) were measured and pathological responses (hematological parameters and serum chemistry at the midterm and the completion of the experiment, urinalysis profile and serum sex hormone response at the completion of the experiment) were performed. Besides, clinical signs, relative organ weights and microscopic observations were also compared between TRS group and its near-isogenic rice group. The combined data indicates that high-amylose TRS grain is as safe as the conventional non-transgenic rice for rat consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Hua Zhou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
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25
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Domingo JL, Giné Bordonaba J. A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2011; 37:734-42. [PMID: 21296423 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Revised: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a notable concern on the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods/plants, an important and complex area of research, which demands rigorous standards. Diverse groups including consumers and environmental Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) have suggested that all GM foods/plants should be subjected to long-term animal feeding studies before approval for human consumption. In 2000 and 2006, we reviewed the information published in international scientific journals, noting that the number of references concerning human and animal toxicological/health risks studies on GM foods/plants was very limited. The main goal of the present review was to assess the current state-of-the-art regarding the potential adverse effects/safety assessment of GM plants for human consumption. The number of citations found in databases (PubMed and Scopus) has dramatically increased since 2006. However, new information on products such as potatoes, cucumber, peas or tomatoes, among others was not available. Corn/maize, rice, and soybeans were included in the present review. An equilibrium in the number research groups suggesting, on the basis of their studies, that a number of varieties of GM products (mainly maize and soybeans) are as safe and nutritious as the respective conventional non-GM plant, and those raising still serious concerns, was currently observed. Nevertheless, it should be noted that most of these studies have been conducted by biotechnology companies responsible of commercializing these GM plants. These findings suggest a notable advance in comparison with the lack of studies published in recent years in scientific journals by those companies. All this recent information is herein critically reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
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26
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Azevedo L, Dragano NRV, Sabino APL, Resck MCC, Alves de Lima PL, Gouvêa CMCP. In vivo antimutagenic properties of transgenic and conventional soybeans. J Med Food 2010; 13:1402-8. [PMID: 20874245 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the this study was to evaluate the mutagenic/antimutagenic effects of conventional (BRS133) and transgenic (BRS 245 RR) soybeans (CS and TS, respectively) in vivo using the bone marrow micronucleus (MN) test, histopathological analysis, chromosome aberration test (CAT), and mitotic index (MI) determination. Six-week-old male Swiss mice were fed with pelleted commercial diet mixed with CS or TS at 10% or 20%. Two experimental designs (MN and CAT) were conducted simultaneously with 10 groups each during a 15-day period. Animals were treated with pelleted commercial diet, CS (10% or 20%), or TS (10% or 20%), and on day 14 they also received cyclophosphamide (CP) (50 mg/kg i.p.). The 10% and 20% CS and TS diets did not significantly decrease the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow induced by CP. However, the CAT indicated that the 10% and 20% CS diets significantly (P < .05) protected nucleated bone marrow cells against chemical-induced mutagenesis and also produced a significant (P < .05) decrease in the total percentage of spontaneous aberrations. Among the treatments with TS, only the 10% TS diet reduced the percentage of total aberrations induced by CP. The results also indicated that the treatment with 20% TS alone significantly (P < .05) decreased the MI, indicating cytotoxic effects related to the treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that, under the tested conditions, TS and CS have antimutagenic properties and are not toxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Azevedo
- Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alfenas, Unifal, Brazil.
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Subchronic feeding study of grain from herbicide-tolerant maize DP-Ø9814Ø-6 in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2009; 47:2269-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2009] [Revised: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 06/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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28
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Appenzeller LM, Malley L, MacKenzie SA, Hoban D, Delaney B. Subchronic feeding study with genetically modified stacked trait lepidopteran and coleopteran resistant (DAS-Ø15Ø7-1xDAS-59122-7) maize grain in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2009; 47:1512-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2009] [Revised: 03/24/2009] [Accepted: 03/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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