2 silent killers - the toxic legacy of biocides in britain · 2019. 12. 2. · 2 silent killers –...

2SilentKillers–theToxicLegacyofBiocidesinBritain

ContentsIntroductionandexplanationofterms 2EuropeanCourtofJusticeruledthatsafetytestsmustbedisclosed 6EuropeanPesticideRegulatoryAuthoritiesandUK‘experts’gaveglyphosateacleanbillofhealth

BfRclaimedglyphosatehadonlyminimaleffectsonecosystems 8ThepeopleofWaleshavebeenexposedtochemicalcontaminationoftheenvironmentsinceWW2

Monsanto’ssecretstudiesshowedglyphosatecausedcataractsandeyedamage 12HowchemicalshavedestroyedbiodiversityintheUKsincebeforeWW2 13Pesticidescausecancersbuttheagrochemicalindustrydeniesit 19TheBattleinEuropeoverEndocrineDisruptingChemicals(EDCs) 20ThelegacyofPCBsinWaleswhentheywerebannedintheUS 25Thelegacyofourfoodbeingpoisonedbychemicals 27Thegloballegacyofaspartame,Monsanto’sneurotoxicsweetener 32GeneticallyEngineeredFoods:TheBiggestFraudintheHistoryofScience 34Thesearchforjusticeforthemanypeoplepoisonedbyorganophosphates(OPs).AmassivecoverupbyHSE,DefraandtheBritishGovernment

BiocidesRegulationsintheEuropeanUnionmakealotofmoneyforEuropeanRegulatorsandthePesticidesIndustry

Introductionandexplanationofterms

Whatisabiocide?Itisachemicalthatkillslife.Itcanbeanaturalchemical.Butnowadaystheyaremostlyman-madechemicals.Inmodernlifetherearethousandsofmade-madechemicalsusedinconsumerproducts,infoodandintheenvironment,mostofwhichareuntestedandnotmeasured.Inagriculturethereareinsecticidesthatkillinsects,herbicidesthat‘controlunwantedvegetation’,fungicidesthatkillfungiorfungalspores,nematocidesthatkillplant-parasiticnematodesandmolluscidesthatkillslugsandsnails.Thegeneraltermforthemis‘pesticides’buttheagrochemicalindustrypreferstocallthem‘plantprotectionproducts’(PPPs).ManyfarmersintheUKusePPPs,whichmeansthattherearepesticideresiduesinallournon-organicfood.AReportbyPesticidesActionNetwork-UKhasshownthatin200325%ofnon-organicfoodcontainedpesticideresiduesandthishadincreasedto46%in2013.AfurtherReportin2014byPAN-UK:Pesticidesinyourdailybreadshowedthatnearlytwo-thirdsofbreadcontainedoneormorepesticidesandthethreemostfrequentlyfoundwereglyphosate,chlormequatandmalathion.

Whatisanendocrinedisruptingchemical?Formostchemicals,‘thedosemakesthepoison.’Themoreyougive,themoreeffectyouget,soforregulatorsitispossibletodefinea‘safedose’.Themostworryingarethoseknownas‘endocrinedisruptingchemicals’(EDCs).Theyactondelicatehormonesystemsinthehumanbodyandforthemtheremaybenosafedoseforexposure.SomegovernmentssuchasSwedenwantthecriteriaforEDCstobedefined,becausethereiscurrentevidenceof:1)ahighincidence,andincreasingtrends,ofmanyendocrine-relateddisordersinhumans;2)observationsofendocrine-relatedeffectsinwildlifepopulations;3)identificationofchemicalswithendocrinedisruptingpropertieslinkedtodiseaseoutcomes

inlaboratorystudies.“Endocrine-relateddisordersinhumansaremanifestby:

• Increasesinlowsemenqualityinyoungmen(upto40%)• Incidenceofgenitalmalformationshasincreasedovertime• Adversepregnancyoutcomesandbirthdefectshasincreasedinmanycountries• Neurobehaviouraldisordersrelatedtothyroiddysfunctionhasincreased• Endocrine-relatedcancers(breast,endometrial,ovary,prostate,testicularand

thyroidcancers)havebeenincreasingoverthepast40–50years• Earlieronsetofbreastdevelopmentinyounggirlswhichleadstobreastcancer• Theprevalenceofobesityandtype2Diabetesisincreasing.TheWHOestimatesthat

1.5billionadultsworldwideareoverweightorobeseandthatthenumberwithtype2diabetesincreasedfrom153millionto347millionbetween1980and2008”

NaturallytheAgrochemicalIndustryisreluctanttodefineEDCs,becausetheyknowthatitwillimpactontheirsales.Theyaretryingtoweakenthecriteriaforhowtodefinethem.Whatismeantbytheterm‘silentkiller’?Chemicalbiocidesthatyoucan’tsee,tasteorsmellbutneverthelesstheyareintheair,thesoil,rainfall,infoodandaccumulatinginyourbody.In2003WWF-UKvisited13locationsinEngland,NorthernIreland,ScotlandandWalesandtookbloodsamplesfrom155volunteers.LancasterUniversityanalysedthesamplesfor78chemicals:12organo-chlorinepesticides(includingDDTandlindane),45PCBcongenersand21polybrominateddiphenylethers(PBDE)flameretardants,includingthosefoundinthecommerciallytradedpenta-,octa-anddeca-BDEs.Theyfoundthat“EverypersontestediscontaminatedbyacocktailofknownhighlytoxicchemicalswhichwerebannedfromuseintheUKduringthe1970sandwhichcontinuetoposeunknownhealthrisks.Wefound70(90percent)ofthe78chemicalswelookedforinthesurvey.Thehighestnumberofchemicalsfoundinanyonepersonwas49-nearlytwothirds(63percent)ofthechemicalslookedfor.Everypersoniscontaminatedbychemicalsfromeachgroup:organochlorinepesticides,PCBsandPBDEs(flameretardants).TheuseofDDTwasbannedintheUKmorethan20yearsago.ThemostfrequentlydetectedchemicalswerePCBcongeners99and118andtheDDT.metabolitep,pi-DDE,whichweredetectedinallbutoneofthe155volunteers.”TheReportwaspublished:CONTAMINATION:TheresultsofWWF-UK’sBio-monitoringSurveyNovember2003.1Whydon’tweknowaboutthissurvey?Onthesecondpagetherewasapictureofababysuperimposedbyachallenge:WHOCARESWHERETHECHEMICALSENDUP?“Thisadvertisementappearedinthemediain2002buttheAgrochemicalIndustrycomplainedtotheAdvertisingStandardsAuthority(ASA).TheASAbannedit.Itmadethefollowingstatement:“TheASAfoundWWF’sscientificresearchtobeabovereproachonallfrontsandrejectedeverytechnicalcomplaint.Butdespitebeingruledfactuallyaccurateandbeinginthepublicinterest,theadvertisementwasneverthelessbannedonthegroundsthatitwas‘undulyalarming’.Whatisalobbyist?Alobbyistissomeonehiredbyabusinessorcausetopersuadelegislatorstosupportthatbusinessorcause.Lobbyistsgetpaidtowinfavourfrompoliticians.CorporateEuropeObservatorysays:“Brusselsnowadaysisthesecondcapitalofcorporatelobbyingintheworld–afterWashingtonDC.Anestimated20,000-30,000lobbyistspopulatetheEUquarter,thelargemajorityofwhomrepresentcorporations.Allbigcorporationshavetheirownlobbyofficesandin-houselobbyists.”

1http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/biomonitoringresults.pdf

Whatareconflictsofinterest?Aconflictofinterest(COI)isasituationinwhichapersonororganizationisinvolvedinmultipleinterests,financialorotherwise,oneofwhichcouldpossiblycorruptthemotivationordecision-makingofthatindividualororganization.Someexamples:fewpeopleareawarethattheChairmanofCancerResearchUKMichaelPragnellwasfounderofSyngentaandformerChairmanofCropLifeInternational.ThatthewebsiteshouldclaimthattherewaslittleevidencethatpesticidescausecancerandforCRUKtopromotetheideathatalcoholcauses7typesofcancerandthattheideaisendorsedbyPublicHealthdoctorsandbyjournalistsconstitutesaconflictofinterest.Theindustry-fundedUKScienceMediaCentreisabletofeedjournalistswithacorporateagenda.TheSéralini2-yearfeedingstudythatshowedthatratsfedGMMaizeandRoundupdevelopedliverandkidneydamageandhormoneandsex-dependenttumoursgavetheopportunityforMonsantoscientiststoclaimfraudulentscience.ItwasnotreportedbytheUKmedia(apartfromJohnVidalinTheGuardian)buthadwidespreadcoveragethroughouttheworld,particularlyinFrance.Athirdexample:ProfessorAlanBoobisisVice-PresidentoftheInternationalLifeSciencesInstitute(ILSI)Europe,anindustry-fundedorganisationthathadreceivedmoneyfrombothMonsantoandCropLifeInternational.AngeloMorettiisaboardmemberofILSI’sHealthandEnvironmentalServicesInstitute.BoobisandMorettiwereChairandco-ChairrespectivelyoftheJointFAO/WHOMeetingonPesticidesResidues(JMPR)thatmadethedecisionthatglyphosatewasnon-carcinogenicandnon-genotoxic.“In2012,theILSIgrouptooka$500,000(£344,234)donationfromMonsantoanda$528,500donationfromtheindustrygroupCroplifeInternational,whichrepresentsMonsanto,Dow,Syngentaandothers,accordingtodocumentsobtainedbytheUSrighttoknowcampaign.”2ProfessorAlanBoobisisalsocurrentChairmanoftheUKCommitteeonToxicityofChemicalsinFood,ConsumerProductsandtheEnvironment(COT).Itisallegedlyanindependentscientificcommittee.However,thatisaconflictofinterest.MonsantoChiefExecutivesaidthatglyphosatedoesn’tcausecancerbutitwasalieMonsantosaidthesamethingaboutPolychlorinatedBiphenyls(PCBs),butitwasfoundthatthecorporationhadknownaboutthelinksbetweenPCBsandnon-HodgkinLymphomafor7yearsandstillkeptonusingthem.Infact,whenPCBswerebannedintheUSin1971,theTory(Heath)governmentatthetimeagreedtoincreasethemanufacturingcapacityintheMonsantofactoryinNewport.WastewasdumpedatsitesaroundWales.Thesecretsealedlong-termstudiesthatSamselobtainedfromtheUSEPAthatshowedthatMonsantoknewglyphosatecausedcancerfromthe1970sandcataractsandeyedamagefrom1990.Whyhaven’twebeentoldthetruthbythegovernment?Thegovernmentcaresmoreaboutmoneyandtheeconomythantheydoaboutpeopleandtheenvironment.Thiswasdespitedeclaring(whentheyvotedtoendorseEFSA’sopiniononglyphosate):“thegovernmentsupportspesticideusewherescientificevidenceshowsthatitisnotexpectedtoharmpeopleortohaveunacceptableeffectsontheenvironment.”GlyphosatehaspoisonedourNatureReservebutstilltheBritishGovernmentdoesn’tcareandhasvotedtorelicenseit

2https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/17/unwho-panel-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-glyphosates-cancer-risk

ItappearsthattheUKgovernmenthaswillinglysacrificeditspeopleformanyyearstotheAgrochemicalandPharmaceuticalCorporationsinexchangeformoney.MichaelPragnellMAMBAwasthefounderofSyngentaandCEOofSyngentaAGbasedinSwitzerland.HewasappointedaTrusteeofCancerResearchUK(CRUK)inMarch2010andChairmaninNovember2010.Syngenta’sparentcompanyisAstraZeneca.AstraZenecamanufacturessixdifferentanti-cancerdrugsmainlyaimedatbreastandprostatecancer.TheCorporationhaslinksinAsia,includingHospitalsinChina,Japan,Korea,andcollaboratorsinRussia.AstraZeneca’sOncologyWebsite3in2012hadthefollowingportentousprediction:“Cancerclaimsover7millionliveseveryyearandthenumbercontinuestorise.Deathsareestimatedtoreach12millionby2030.”CRUKisdonatingmoney(£450million/yearin2012)totheGovernment’sStrategyforUKLifeSciences4andAstraZenecaisproviding22compoundstoacademicresearchtodevelopmedicines.Thegovernmentwantstointroducefrackingwithyetmorepollutingchemicalsagainstthewishesofthepeople.On25November2016itwasrevealedthat:“Ministersdeliberatelydelayedacontroversialfrackingreportitwasbeingforcedtopublishuntilaftercrucialcouncildecisionsonplanningpermission. TheDefraReport,highlyredacted,showedfrackingcouldaffecthouseprices,healthandtheenvironment.5CouncillorMarcusJohnstone,whoproposedtheLCCmotionthatrequestedthereporttobepublishedinfull,said:“Itisdirtytricksofthehighestorder–arealeye-opener.Itshowscompletecontemptforlocaldemocracy.Itisveryobvioustheywerehellbentonfrackinghappeninganyway,whateverwesaidinLancashire.”APublicHealthEnglandReportclaimedthatfrackingwassafeforhumanhealth,butresearchersfromtheAmericanChemicalSocietyscoureddatabasesandreportstocompilealistofthechemicalscommonlyusedinfracking.Theyassembledalistof190ofthem,andconsideredtheirproperties.Foraroundone-thirdofthem,therewasverylittledataabouthealthrisks,andeightofthemweretoxictomammals.Frackingisahighlycontroversialtechniqueandhasnotbeenhandedacleanbillofhealthbythescientificsocietiesonlybythefrackingcompaniesthemselves.Whyhaven’twebeentoldthetruthbytheUKMedia?Itishardtoknow,butaccordingtoFWilliamEngdahl,“theconspiracyevidentlyinvolvedsomeformofcollusionbetweenMonsantoandtheGMOagrichemicalcartel,EUcommissioners,theGMOpanelmembersofEFSA,complacentmajormediaandseveralmembergovernmentsoftheEU,includingSpainandHolland.”6Indeed,theAgrochemicalindustrywieldsmassivepoweraroundtheworld.Perhapsthey‘placed’thecurrentEditors-in-ChiefinpositioninordertosupportthegovernmentintheiraimtointroduceGMcrops.7WWF-UKhadfrightenedthepesticidesindustrywhentheyundertookabio-monitoringsurveyofpeoplein2003.SotheyorganizedtheCEOtobereplacedbyRobertNapierin2004.“Napierhadspentmostofhiscareerworkingforenvironmentaldespoilers,tookovertherunningtheUKarmoftheWorldwideFundfor

3http://www.astrazeneca.co.uk/medicines/oncology4https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32457/11-1429-strategy-for-uk-life-sciences5https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/25/government-accused-of-dirty-tricks-over-controversial-fracking-report6Cancerousrats,corruptionandTerminatorseeds:EngdahlNewsletterFive:TheIncredibleSeraliniAffair©F.WilliamEngdahl7ObserverEditorial14thMarch2014:WemusthaveGMcrops.

Nature(WWF).”8Itwasasurprisingchoice.'It'slikeputtingKingHerodinchargeofacrèche,'saidonecommentator.“Butwiththecorporateworldbecomingevermoresophisticatedinitsrelationswiththeenvironmentalmovement,thefundwantedsomeonewhocouldtalkonleveltermswiththeCity.”SoWWF-UKendedupdroppingit’spesticidesmonitoringunit,handingovertoCHEMTrustandworkingwithMonsantoonResponsibleSoy.WhenwechallengedWWF-UKaboutittheWWF-USmadeastatement.Thisispartofit:“WWFco-foundedtheRoundtableonResponsibleSoy(RTRS),amulti-stakeholderinitiativetoencourageenvironmentally,sociallyandeconomicallysoundsoyproduction.MonsantoisamemberoftheRTRS,andaprominentactoringeneticallymodifiedsoyproduction,buttheirmembershipdoesnotmeanthatWWFendorsestheirpositionoractions.WebelievethatbeingpartoftheRTRStodevelopstandardswithotherstakeholderswillhaveamuchgreaterimpactthanrefusingtoparticipateandsowewillcontinuetodoso.Moreover,wemaintaintheprecautionaryprincipletouseofGMOs.”TheEuropeanPressinformstheircitizensthetruthabouthowpesticideexposuredamagesfoetalandinfantbrainsandcausescancer:wehavearighttoinformationLeMondejournalistStéphaneFoucarttellsuswhatthepesticidesindustryisuptointheUK;whoSyngentaisfundinginExetertoproducequestionablebeeresearch,thattheGermanRapporteurMemberStatePesticidesRiskAssessmentCommitteehasindustrymembersandtowhatextentMonsantowasinvolvedintheretractionoftheSéralinistudyfromFoodandChemicalToxicology.LeMondegavegoodcoveragetotheinternationalMonsantoTribunal.FranceandGermanyhaveamuchhigherBiodiversityIntactnessIndexthantheUK9andFrenchwomenhavenotalteredtheirweightin40years.10TheGermanGovernmenthassaidthatthe“EuropeanAuthoritiestwistedorignoredscientificfactsanddistortedthetruthtoenabletheconclusionthatglyphosateisnottobeconsideredacarcinogen,therebyacceptingandreinforcingthefalseconclusionproposedbytheMonsanto-ledGTF.TheGermanFederalInstituteforRiskAssessment(BfR)andtheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority(EFSA)committedscientificfraud.”However,itseemstobebusinessasusualinEurope;theBritishGovernmentseemstohavenoideabecauseithasnotbeenreportedintheBritishMedia.Hasthefollowingbeenreported?

EuropeanCourtofJusticeruledthatsafetytestsmustbedisclosed

EuropeanCourtofJusticeruledthatsafetytestsconductedbythechemicalindustryandusedbyregulatorstoassessthedangersofpesticidesmustbedisclosedLuxembourg/Brussels,23November2016Researchondangersofpesticidesmustbemadepublic.Informationonemissionsintotheenvironmentmustbedisclosed.11TheEuropeanCourtofJusticeruledtodaythatsafetytestsconductedbythechemicalindustryandusedbyregulatorstoassessthedangersofpesticidesmustbedisclosed.Itarguedthatsuchresearchfallsunder“informationonemissionsintotheenvironment”,asdefinedundertheAarhusConventionandtheEUlawimplementingthisConvention.

8https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2004/jan/11/business.conservationandendangeredspecies9https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/whatwedo/stateofnature201610http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/31/one-fifth-of-worlds-adults-will-be-obese-by-2025-study-predicts11http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2016/Landmark-ECJ-ruling-research-on-dangers-of-pesticides-must-be-made-public/

GreenpeaceEUfoodpolicydirectorFranziskaAchterbergsaid:“Therulingsaysthatregulatorsmustreleaseallresearchusedtoevaluatethedangersofpesticides,andcannotkeepitsecrettoprotectindustryinterests.Basedontheruling,nationalandEUauthoritiesshouldreleasethesestudiesautomatically,andnotonlyfollowingfreedomofinformationrequests.Transparencyinpesticideassessmentsisvital,aspublichealthandourenvironmentareatrisk.”TheEuropeanPesticideRegulatoryAuthoritiesandUK‘experts’gave

glyphosateacleanbillofhealthTheGermanGovernmentsummonedProfDrAndreasHenselbeforetheCommitteeonAgricultureandFoodandaccusedBfRofscientificfraudforusingGTFstatisticsThereportsaysthatBfRstands“accusedofendangeringthepopulation”andalsoof“intentionalfalsificationofthecontentofscientificstudies”.12“ThestatisticaldodgeemployedbytheGermanauthoritiestodefendglyphosatewasthesubjectofanexplosivein-depthnewsreportthatairedonGermanTVlastOctober(2015)inthemidstofdeliberationsbyEUauthoritiesonwhethertore-authorizethechemical.ThenewsreportwasbroadcastbyMDR,whichispartofARD,themainpublicnationalTVnetworkinGermany.ThereportsaysthatBfRstands“accusedofendangeringthepopulation”andshowsBfRdirectorProfAndreasHenselfacingquestionsfromexpertsbeforetheGermanParliamentarycommitteeforfoodandagriculture.Oneoftheexperts,ProfDrEberhardGreiser,aretiredepidemiologistattheUniversityofBremen,saysofBfR’sactions,“I’dsaythisisanintentionalfalsificationofthecontentofscientificstudies.”TheMDRfilmnotesthatBfR,initsinitialreporttotheEUauthorities,claimedthattherewerenosignsofcancerintheanimalstudies:“Theytookthepositionthateventhoughoneofthefivestudiesonmicedidshowasignificantincreaseinmalignantlymphoma,theydismisseditasirrelevant,because,theBfRasserted,theotherfourstudiesdidnotindicateanycancerrisk...”ButDrPeterClausingshowedhowtheydidit.DrPeterClausinggaveevidenceattheInternationalMonsantoTribunal13“AmpleevidencehasbeenprovidedaboveshowingthatEuropeanAuthoritiestwistedorignoredscientificfactsanddistortedthetruthtoenabletheconclusionthatglyphosateisnottobeconsideredacarcinogen,therebyacceptingandreinforcingthefalseconclusionproposedbytheMonsanto-ledGTF.TheGermanFederalInstituteforRiskAssessment(BfR)andtheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority(EFSA)committedscientificfraud.”InhisevidencetotheTribunal,ClausingsystematicallydemolishedargumentsthattheEUauthoritiesusedtodismissthesignificantfindingsofglyphosate-inducedmalignantlymphomainmousecarcinogenicitystudies.On21March2016:BaronessChisholmofOwlpen(Con)14announcedintheHouseofLordsMyLords,theGovernmentsupportpesticideusewherescientificevidenceshowsthatthisisnotexpectedtoharmpeopleortohaveunacceptableeffectsontheenvironment.UKexpertsparticipatedintheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority’sassessmentofglyphosateandsupportitsconclusionsparticularlythatglyphosatedoesnotcausecancer.

12http://www.gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/17307-german-toxicologist-accuses-eu-authorities-of-scientific-fraud-over-glyphosate-link-with-cancer13http://www.pan-germany.org/download/Memo_Monsanto-Tribunal_Peter_Clausing_10_2016.pdf14Foodsafety:glyphosate:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldhansrd/text/160321-0001.htm

ThecompleterecordingsfromtheInternationalMonsantoTribunalarenowavailableBelowisthelinktoDrPeterClausing’spresentation:hisisthethirdoneonpage8.15ButBfRhadcommittedfarmorecrimesagainsthumanitythanjustscientificfraud:theyintentionallyallowedGTFtodeletemanypapersworldwidethatshowedthatglyphosatecausedbirthdefectsandcancers,andthosethatprovidedevidenceofbioaccumulationEventheonesthatwereallowed,BfRmanagedtoexcludethembysayingthattheydidn’tmeettheKlimischcriteria:thesecriteriaweredevisedbyKlimischin1997,aBASFscientist,andwasamethodofassessingthereliabilityoftoxicologicalstudiesforregulatorypurposes.BythismethodBfReliminatedtheworkthatMonsantofearedthemost(apartfromthatofSéraliniandhiscolleaguesinFrance)byProfAndrèsCarrascoandhisteaminBuenosAiresthatshowedthatglyphosatecausedmalformationsinamphibianandchickenembryos,confirmingtheeffectsonhumansintheCrop-sprayedtownsofArgentina.16Abstract:Reportsofneuraldefectsandcraniofacialmalformationsfromregionswhereglyphosate-basedherbicides(GBH)areusedledthemtoundertakeanembryologicalapproachtoexploretheeffectsoflowdosesofglyphosateindevelopment.Treatedembryoswerehighlyabnormalwithmarkedalterationsincephalicandneuralcrestdevelopmentandshorteningoftheanterior-posterior(A-P)axis.Itwasshownthattheeffectswereduetotheglyphosateitself,ratherthantheadditive.HowBfRmanagedtoeliminatethisstudyandallthosereportingreproductivetoxicityIntheRenewalAssessmentReport(RAR)forglyphosateatotalof18peer-reviewedpublicationsshowingreproductivetoxicitywereranked3–notreliable.TheRARcommentedonthestudybyPaganellietal.(i.e.theCarrascostudy).‘Thestudyreportedendocrinedisruptionbutwasdeemed“notreliable”.TheRARcommented:“Non-Guidelinestudythatisnotsufficientlydescribedforassessment-Inadequatepositiveandnegativecontrolexperiments.Irrelevantroutesofexposureandinappropriatelyhighdoses.Testsystemnotadequateforhumanriskassessment”.[Volume3AnnexB.6.1,p669]Furthermore,“multiplehighqualitytoxicitystudiesandexpertreviewpanelsconsistentlyagreeglyphosateisnotateratogenorreproductivetoxicant.Theauthor’sjustificationforthisresearchisflawed,providingnovalidbasis,otherthananopinion,ofanincreaseintherateofbirthdefectsinArgentina.Directinjectionoffrogembryosandthroughchickeggshellsdonotreflectrealworldexposurescenariostoeitherenvironmentalspeciesorhumans.”17InfacttherewereseveralpapersontheincreaseintherateofbirthdefectsinSouthAmericawhereGMRoundupReadycropsaregrown;buttheGTFhadexcludedallofthem.TheyalsoexcludedthelaboratorystudybyThongprakaisang,S.,etal.(2013).Glyphosateinduceshumanbreastcancercellsgrowthviaestrogenreceptors.FoodChemToxicol59:129-136. 18Thisshowedthatglyphosatecouldactatextremelylowdoses.Thestudyfoundthatbreastcancercellproliferationisacceleratedbyglyphosateinextremelylowconcentrations.“Thepresentstudyusedpureglyphosatesubstanceatlogintervalsfrom10-12to10-6M.Theseconcentrationsareinacrucialrangewhichcorrelatedtothepotentialbiologicallevelsatpartpertrillion(ppt)topartperbillion(ppb)whichhavebeenreportedin

15https://vimeo.com/channels/mten/page:816Paganelli,A.etal.Glyphosate-BasedHerbicidesProduceTeratogenicEffectsonVertebratesbyImpairingRetinoicAcidSignalingChem.Res.Toxicol.,2010,23(10),1586–1595DOI:10.1021/tx1001749http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/tx100174917http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Scandal_of_Glyphosate_Reassessment_in_Europe.php18http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23756170

epidemiologicalstudies.”ThesewereorderofconcentrationsthatwerefoundinAugust2013and2014intapwaterandriverwaterinSwansea.

BfRclaimedglyphosatehadonlyminimaleffectsonecosystemsTheGermanRapporteurMemberStateFederalInstituteforPesticidesRiskAssessment(BfR)RenewalAssessmentReport(RAR)onEcotoxicity19toldyetanotherlieTheGlyphosateTaskForce’sevaluationofpeer-reviewedliteratureregardingecotoxicitybroadlyconcludedthatglyphosateisnotharmfultotheenvironment.SpeckledBushCrickets20andTheYearoftheBumblebee21IchallengedEFSAaboutthisassertionbyBfR.Thesebookswerewrittenin2009and2010.Since2013thereservehassufferedmassivebiodiversitylossessecondarytoultra-lowdoseRoundupsprayedoutsidetheareaonJapaneseknotweed,otherweedsandamenityareas,becauseMonsantodeclaredittobesafe.AsyoucanseefromthefrontispiecethisdocumentisaRequiemforbumblebees,bushcrickets,beetles,moths,butterflies,hoverflies,dragonflies,damselflies,spiders,ladybirds,shieldbugsandmanyotherinvertebratesthathavebeenpoisonedandprobablywillneverreturn.Allwehaveleftareafewwasps,theoccasionalbumblebeeandsomewaterboatmeninthepond. Whichofthesixindividualshasacknowledgedthereceiptofourphoto-journals?Ihavehadthreeacknowledgements.ThefirstwasfromthejudgesoftheInternationalMonsantoTribunalthataccompaniedmyTestimony.ThesecondwasfromGeertDancetExecutiveDirectorofEuropeanChemicalAgency.IalsosentacopyofSpeckledBushCricketstoSirDavidAttenborough,towhomIhadsentTheYearoftheBumblebeein2011.“Thankyou…itlooksasfascinatingastheBumblebeebookandIamsorryindeedtoknowthatitis,ineffect,arequiem.IamignorantaboutagrochemicalsandImusttrytodiscovermore.”Whohasnotreplied?IhavehadnoacknowledgementfromBernhardUrlEFSAExecutiveDirector,MichaelFlüh,HeadofPesticideUnit,HealthandConsumersDirectorateGeneral(DGSante)EuropeanCommissionandDrMarkPorter,ChairmanoftheBritishMedicalAssociation(BMA).IcanonlyassumethattheyaresupportingtheAgrochemicalIndustryandhaveshuttheireyesandearstoanythingthatmightshaketheirbeliefinindustrydata.ThebooksthatEFSA,theEUCommissionandtheBMAhaven’tacknowledgedtheycanclaiminthefuturetheyneverreceived.IalsoaskedMichaelFlühtoshowthebookstoPresidentJuncker(whohadaskedMichaelFlühtoreplytomyletteronhisbehalf)andVytenisAndruikaitistheEuropeanCommissionerforHealth.Idoubtifhehasdonethat.InthesamewaythatEFSA,togetherwiththeindustry-fundedUKScienceMediaCentreandMonsantosupporters,combinedtoviciouslyattacktheSeralini2-yearstudyonratsfedGMmaizeandRoundupandtriedtogetitremovedfromthejournalFood&ChemicalToxicology.Onceretracted,itwouldhavebeenasifthepaperhadneverexisted.ProfGilles-EricSéraliniwasawardedWhistlebloweroftheYear(asharedaward)byGermanScientistsforhisworkonthetoxicityofGMOsandGlyphosate

19RenewalAssessmentReportVol3AnnexB9.Evaluationofpeer-reviewedliteratureregardingecotoxicity20http://www.blurb.co.uk/books/1152946-speckled-bush-crickets-observations-in-a-small-nat21http://www.blurb.co.uk/books/1737995-the-year-of-the-bumblebee

CitationfromGermanScientists:“Hewasthefirsttopublishanimaltestresultsdemonstratingthetoxicandcarcinogenicpropertiesofthemostcommonlyusedherbicideworldwide,theglyphosate-based“Roundup”bycarryingoutatwo-yearfeedingtestonrats.Aftertheresearchwaspublished,ProfSéraliniwasattackedbyavehementcampaignby‘interestedcircles’fromthechemicalindustryaswellastheindustry-financedBritishScienceMediaCentre.”

WhiletheEditor-in-ChiefofFCT,A.WallaceHayes,personallytookthedecisiontoretracttheSéralinistudyfromhisjournal,hehadstronglinkswithMonsantoandotherconflictsofinterest.22However,theSéralinistudywasrepublishedinanotherpeer-reviewedjournal.23

Chemicalherbicidesmanufacturedbytheagrochemicalindustryhavecreatedinvasiveweeds;repeatedapplicationsmaketheweedsbecomeresistantJapaneseknotweedReynoutriejaponica(syn.Polygonumcuspidatum)wasintroducedintoEuropeinthemid-16

CenturybyanamateurbotanistfromtheNetherlands,VanReynoutrie

(syn.KarelvanSintOmaars).24For500yearsitcausednoproblems.In1969intheUKitwasstillbeingpromotedasaplantsuitableforlargegardens(aswasamemberoftheBalsamspeciesImpatiensglandulifera(royalei).25Glyphosatewasintroducedin1974andby1981bothplantswereclassifiedintheWildlifeandCountrysideActasinvasivespecies.26IntheUS,thefirstconfirmedGlyphosate-Resistantweed,rigidryegrasswasreportedin1998withintwoyearsofGenetically-Modified(GM)Roundup®Readycropsbeinggrown.Super-weedsintheUSinGMcroppingsystemsarenowamassiveproblem.Between1996and2011,asaresultofGMtechnology,22Glyphosate-Resistantsuper-weedshaddeveloped.In2016,CharlesBenbrooksays:“Since1974intheU.S.,over1.6billionkilogramsofglyphosateactiveingredienthavebeenapplied,or19%ofestimatedglobaluseofglyphosate(8.6billionkilograms).Globally,glyphosateusehasrisenalmost15-foldsinceso-called“RoundupReady,”geneticallyengineeredglyphosate-tolerantcropswereintroducedin1996.Two-thirdsofthetotalvolumeofglyphosateappliedintheU.S.from1974to2014hasbeensprayedinjustthelast10years.”27ThepeopleofWaleshavebeenexposedtochemicalcontaminationof

theenvironmentsinceWW2SouthWaleshasJapaneseknotweedgrowinginoldminingareaswherethegroundhasbeenexcavated:Swanseahasbeendubbed‘theJapaneseknotweedcapitalofEurope’SoSwanseaisatestbedforthelongtermeffectsofRoundup,whichisusedfreelyinunknownandunmonitoredquantities.Estateagentsdemandthatjapaneseknotweediseradicatedbeforeahousegoesonthemarket.TheWildlifeLawFeb2014:ControlofInvasiveNon-nativeSpeciesgivesstatutorypowerstotherelevantbodytoenterlandforthepurposesofspeciescontrol.ItwasimpossibletoobtainfiguresfortheamountofRoundupthatmusthavebeenusedovermanyyears,notjustforeradicatingJapaneseknotweed,butforalltheotherurbanusesthatMonsanto’s:AgronomicBenefitsof

22http://www.gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/17121-emails-reveal-role-of-monsanto-in-seralini-study-retraction23http://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-014-0014-524VanReynoutrie(orKarelvanSintOmaars)(1533-1569)H.Wille:ThediscoveryofthescientificheritageofKarelvanSintOmaars(1533-1569).TheLibriPicturatia16-30intheJagiellonLibraryinKrakow.ScientiarumHistoria22(1996)267.25MarshallCavendishIllustratedEncyclopaediaofGardening1969.26http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/6927http://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-016-0070-0

GlyphosateinEuroperecommends.28Thedocumentoutlinedatleast16useareas(p3)fromvegetationcontrolonlandthroughoutagriculturalproduction,onGMRoundup®ReadyCropsandonnon-agriculturalland“aroundstructuresonfarms,amenityandindustrialareasandonrailways”(p4).Thedocumentstatesonpage3:“Sinceitsdiscoveryintheearly1970stheuniqueherbicidalactiveingredientglyphosatehasbecometheworlds’mostwidelyusedherbicidebecauseitisefficacious,economicalandenvironmentallybenign”Glyphosatehasan“excellentsafetyprofiletooperators,thepublicandtheenvironment.”SwanseaCityandCountyCouncilrevealedinNovember2016“awaronweeds”AnitemfromtheSwanseaLeaderNovember2016:“TheCouncilhasalreadytreated1,500kmofroadsidearoundthecityoverthesummerwithweed-killertokeepunwantedplantsatbay.Andintheautumnthecounciltreatedthemalloveragaininanefforttopreventthemreturninginthespring.”TheapplicatorsignoredthenewrulesbyCRD(seenextparagraph).TheCouncilarepresumablyawarethatRoundupisunderscrutiny,so“whileitisstilllegal”itistryingtokillasmanyweedsaspossiblebeforeitisbanned.Oneofourneighbours,foundsprayinghisdrive,hadsimilarideasaboutusinguphistanksprayincaseitwasbanned.ChemicalRegulationsDirectorateNEWRULES2012forRoundupsprayingStreetsandpavements:“From2012newrulesfromtheregulator,ChemicalRegulationsDirectorate(CRD)prohibitsblanketsprayingofanyherbicideonnon-poroushardsurfaces.Targetedtreatmentofweedsmustbeundertakenonroads,pavements,concreteandpavedareasanddrainsmustnotbeover-sprayed.”Rounduphasbeensprayedblindly;nolevelshaveeverbeenmonitoredintheUKIn2013IhadaskedtheEnvironmentAgencytomonitorglyphosatelevels,sendingthemplentyofdocumentedevidenceofthewidespreaduseofglyphosateandanunpublishedReportfromtheBritishGeologicalSurvey(BGS)thatglyphosateanditsmetaboliteswere“emergingcontaminants”thathadbeenmeasuredinothercountries.Howeveron13May2013IhadafinaltetchyresponsefromtheformerChairmanoftheEnvironmentAgency:“Wedothereforehavetorefrainfromengaginginfurthercorrespondencewherewehavealreadyclearlygivenourpositionandansweredquestionstothebestofourability.”However,aReportfromtheUSGSin2014:“concludedthatGlyphosateanditsdegradationproductAMPAoccurfrequentlyandwidelyinU.S.soils,surfacewater,groundwater,andprecipitation.”29Pesticidedriftistheaerialmovementandunintentionaldepositofpesticideoutsidethetargetarea:30itresultsinheavycontaminationofpeopleandtheenvironmentSowhenRoundupissprayed,theparticlesdriftintheair,areblownbythewindandcomedownintherain.Swanseaiswetandwindy:fromJanuary1st2016toNovember29th1,417mm(about56inches)ofrainwererecorded.“Therearetwoformsofpesticidedrift.Particledriftisthemovementofpesticidedropletsorsolidparticlesoutsidetheareabeingtreated.Coarserdropletsmoveshortdistancesandfallclosetothepointofrelease.Finerparticles(i.e.lessthan200microns)canremainsuspendedonaircurrentsforlongperiodsoftimeandcanbecarriedfaroutsideofthetargetarea.Forexample,a100microndroplettakes11secondstofallthreemetresinstillair,andwilldriftmorethan20metresinan8km/hwind. Vapourdriftisthemovementofpesticidevapoursoutsidetheareabeingtreated.Vapourdriftisinvisibleandcanhaveaconsiderableimpact.

28http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/Agronomic%20benefits%20of%20glyphosate%20in%20Europe.pdf29http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.2014.50.issue-2/issuetoc30http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/11-001.htmn

Vapoursarecreatedwhenspraydropletsevaporatebothatthetimeofapplicationandforsometimeafterthesprayhasdriedonplantorsoilsurfaces.Thepotentialforvapourdriftismoreaproductofthevolatilityoftheactiveingredient,theformulation(e.g.esters)andenvironmentalconditions(e.g.hotanddry)thantheequipmentused.”Glyphosateisanendocrineandnervoussystemdisruptor(ENDs)actsatextremelylowlevels,oftheorderofpartspertrillion(ppt).OneofMonsanto’ssecretstudiesshowedglyphosatecausedcataracts

andeyedamage31

Duringthetimein2016whenRounduphadbeensprayedon3,000kmroadsSwanseabecameahotspotforthesuddendevelopmentofcataractsandmaculardegeneration

SamselandSeneffwrotepaperIVonGlyphosate:Glyphosate,pathwaystomoderndiseasesIV:cancerandrelatedpathologies32andconcludedthat:“significantevidenceoftumourswasfoundduringtheseinvestigations”.InthispaperTable11Page127showsthedistributionandbioaccumulationof14Clabelledglyphosateinblood,bone,organsandothertissuesofSpragueDawleyrats.Theeyeisincludedinthislist.TheresultsoftheCataractstudyisshownonpage126Table9.

31Stout,L.D.&Ruecker,F.A.Chronicstudyofglyphosateadministeredinfeedtoalbinorats.UnpublishedStudy,ProjectNo.MSL-10495.MonsantoAgriculturalCompany(2,175pp.)EPAMRID416438-01(26September1990)32https://www.academia.edu/17751562/Glyphosate_pathways_to_modern_diseases_IV_cancer_and_related_pathologies

AMonsantoscientisthadclaimedthatglyphosatedidn’taccumulatebutwasexcretedunchangedfromthebody33andreferredtotheglyphosatere-assessmentinEuropein2002.However,Monsanto’ssecretstudiesrevealedotherwise.TheincreaseincataractshasbeenconfirmedbyepidemiologicalstudiesinEnglandandbya2016WHOReportAnnualratesofadmissionforcataractsurgeryinEnglandrose10-foldfrom1968to2004:from62episodesper100,000populationin1968to637in2004.34A2016studybytheWHOalsoconfirmedthattheincidenceofcataractshadgreatlyincreased:35‘Aglobalassessmentoftheburdenofdiseasefromenvironmentalrisks’itsaysthatcataractsaretheleadingcauseofblindnessworldwide.Globally,cataractsareresponsiblefor51%ofblindness–anestimated20millionindividualssufferfromthisdegenerativeeyedisease.

Macular degeneration

MaculardegenerationisalsopredictedtoincreaseBy2050,theestimatednumberofpeoplewithAMDisexpectedtomorethandoublefrom2.07millionto5.44million.WhiteAmericanswillcontinuetoaccountforthemajorityofcases.However,Hispanicswillseethegreatestrateofincrease,withanearlysix-foldriseinthenumberofexpectedcasesfrom2010to2050.36

33https://gmoanswers.com/ask/hi-does-senior-monsanto-scientist-dan-goldstein-still-maintain-if-ingested-glyphosate-excreted34http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1955650/35http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204585/1/9789241565196_eng.pdf36https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata/amd

HowchemicalshavedestroyedbiodiversityintheUKsinceWW2

ThehistoryofagricultureinBritainassistedbyindustryThefateoftheBritishpeoplewassealedaslongagoas1843whenaphilanthropistandachemistgottogethertofoundRothamstedResearchstation.37ThetieswiththeUSDepartmentofAgriculturecameduringWW2whentogethertheydiscoveredtheveryfirstherbicide,2,4-D(2,4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid)thatcouldkillunwantedvegetation.ThePesticideConspiracy:eveninthe1970stheAgriculturalIndustrywasgivenmassivepowerbytheBritishGovernmentRobertvandenBosch,writingin1978inThePesticideConspiracy:38“Ifoneconsidershowdangerousthesechemicalsare,onewouldsupposethatitwouldbeGovernmentpolicytominimizetheirusebyeverypossiblemeans.HowevertheRoyalCommissiononEnvironmentalPollutionnotes,‘thereis...nosuchpolicyintheUK,nordoesthepossibleneedforitappeartohavebeenconsidered,notwithstandingthegreatincreasesintheuseofthesechemicals.”TheAgrochemicalIndustry,onthecontrary,seemstobeundertheimpressionitisGovernmentpolicytoencouragethemaximumuseofpesticides.ThusaccordingtotheAgrochemicalindustry,of367,000acresofpotatoesgrowninthiscountryin1976,310,000acresaretreatedwithherbicides,114,000acreswithgranularinsecticidesandnematocides,218,000acreswithfoliarinsecticidesand265,000acreswithfungicides.39Inthiswayoneacreofpotatoes,theindustryboasts,canbetreatedfrom2-11timeswithdifferentpesticides.”VandenBoschalsocondemnstheUKforaerialspraying.“Whatisparticularlyshamefulinthiscountryistheprevalenceofaerialspraying.Onemillionacresofagriculturallandaresprayedeachyear,whichinvolves34,000flights.Controlsonthispracticearepracticallynon-existent...norastheRoyalCommissionpointsout,doesthereappeartobeanycontrolsonthetypeofsprayingequipment.”andtheRoyalCommissioncreatedunderRoyalWarrantin1970,wascloseddownin2011aspartoftheCoalitionGovernment’sspendingcuts.BritainstillusesaerialsprayingasderogationfromtheEUrecommendations.TheUKrejectedalmostalloftheadviceonSustainableUseofPesticides21October2009:DIRECTIVE2009/128/ECOFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENT40Article9AerialsprayingEUDirectiveAdvice:Aerialsprayingofpesticideshasthepotentialtocausesignificantadverseimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment,inparticularfromspraydrift.Thereforeaerialsprayingshouldgenerallybeprohibitedwithderogationspossiblewhereitrepresentsclearadvantagesintermsofreducedimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironmentincomparisonwithothersprayingmethods,orwheretherearenoviablealternatives,providedthatthebestavailabletechnologytoreducedriftisused.UKGovernmentResponse:Wedonotconsiderthatresponsibleapplicationofpesticidesbyaerialsprayingposesanunacceptablerisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment,andconsequentlywewillusethederogation.WebelievethattheexistinglegislationcontrolregimeprovidesabasisformeetingtheDirectiveandthiswillbeadaptedtoensurethecontinuationofproperlyregulatedaerialapplicationsthroughaconsent-basedapproach.

37http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/about38VandenBosch,R.ThePesticideConspiracy:USADoubleday&Company(1978):Dorchester,UK:PrismPress(1980).39Industry’sStatistics:BritishAgrochemicalAssociationLondon197640http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32009L0128

TheGovernmenthascontinuedtoallowaerialspraying:PesticideUsageSurveyReport250ArableCropsintheUnitedKingdom2012(IncludingAerialApplications2012)41

Article10ProtectionofwaterEUDirectiveAdvice:Theaquaticenvironmentisespeciallysensitivetopesticides.Itisverynecessaryforparticularattentiontobepaidtoavoidingpollutionofsurfacewaterandgroundwaterbytakingappropriatemeasuressuchastheestablishmentofbufferandsafeguardzones,orplantinghedgesalongsurfacewatertoreduceexposureofwaterbodiestospraydrift,drainflowandrun-off.Thedimensionsofbufferzonesshoulddependinparticularpesticideproperties,aswellasagriculturalcharacteristicsoftheareasconcerned.GovernmentResponse:Currentstatutoryandvoluntarycontrolsrelatedtopesticidesandtheprotectionofwater,iffollowed,affordahighdegreeofprotectiontowatercoursesandcoverspecificmeasuresdetailedintheDirective.TheGovernmentwillprimarilyseektoworkwiththepesticidesindustrytoenhancevoluntarymeasures.Article11UseofpesticidesinspecificareasEUDirectiveAdvice:UseofpesticidescanbeparticularlydangerousinverysensitiveareassuchasNatura2000sitesprotectedinaccordancewithDirectives79/409/EECand92/43/EEC.Inotherplacessuchaspublicparksandgarden,sportsandrecreationgrounds,schoolgroundsandchildren’splaygrounds,andintheclosevicinityofhealthcarefacilities,therisksfromexposuretopesticidesishigh.Intheseareas,theuseofpesticidesshouldbeminimisedorprohibited.Whenpesticidesareused,appropriateriskmanagementmeasuresshouldbeestablishedandlow-riskpesticidesaswellasbiologicalcontrolmeasuresshouldbeconsideredinthefirstplace.GovernmentResponse:Wedonotconsideritnecessarytoprohibittheuseofpesticidesinpublicspacesorconservationareasortoimposenewstatutorycontrolsonpesticideuseintheseareas.WebelievethattheUKcanmeetitsobligationsundertheDirectivethroughexistingstatutoryandvoluntarycontrolsanddevelopadditionalvoluntarymeasures.PlantProtectionProductsRegulation(PPP)(EC)No1107/2009)TheconsultationsoughtviewsonwhetherandhowspecificprovisionsinthePPPRegulationshouldbeimplementedintheUK.Article31includedanoptionalprovisionthatcouldallowfutureproductauthorisationstoincludeobligationtoprovideadvancenoticetoanyneighbourswhocouldbeexposedtothespraydriftandwhohaverequestedtobeinformed.TheBritishMedicalAssociationwithregardtoArticle31,wantedadvancenotification,sothatvulnerablepatients,suchasthosesufferingfromrespiratoryproblems,maybealertedinadvanceofspraying.GovernmentResponse:Wedonotbelievethatitisappropriatetointroduceastatutoryrequirementforoperatorstogiveadvancednoticeofplannedsprayoperationstomembersofthepubliclivingadjacenttosprayedland.Wewillcontinuetoencouragefarmersandsprayoperatorstodevelopgoodrelationswiththeirneighbours.GeorginaDowns42hasbeencampaigningsince2001onbehalfofruralcommunitiesagainstcropsprayingShesays:“Therealityofcropsprayinginthecountrysideisnotmerelyrelatedtoexposuretooneindividualpesticideortoonesinglegroupofpesticides,asagriculturalpesticidesarerarelyusedindividuallybutcommonlysprayedinmixtures(cocktails)--quiteoftenamixturewillconsistof4or5differentproducts.Eachproductformulationinitselfcancontaina41https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/pusstats/surveys/documents/arable2012.pdf42http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk

numberofdifferentactiveingredients,aswellasotherchemicals,suchassolvents,surfactantsandco-formulants(someofwhichcanhaveadverseeffectsintheirownright,beforeconsideringanypotentialsynergisticeffectsinamixture(s)).Studieshaveshownmixturesofpesticides(and/orotherchemicals)canhavesynergisticeffects.”FoodandEnvironmentResearchAgency(FERA)surveyofpesticides1988to2014TheseindicatethatpesticideresiduesonBritishfoodareincreasingannually.Asurveyofpesticide(activesubstances)usageonOilSeedRape(OSR)1988-2014showedthatthenumberofactivesubstancesappliedhadincreasedfrom5in1988to15in2014(Fig1)andthenumberoftreatmentshadincreasedfrom5in1988to12in2014.(Fig2)In2014,herbicideswereusedon98.4%OSRandseedtreatmentson95.8%.In2014glyphosatewasusedonWheat(601,330kg)Winterbarley,Springbarley,Oats,Rye,Triticale,Oilseedrape(577,969kg),Linseed,Allpotatoes,Peas,Beans,Sugarbeet,withatotalof1,765,465kgglyphosateonallcrops.Thetotalweightofpesticides(herbicidesanddesiccants,fungicides,growthregulators,molluscicidesandrepellants,insecticidesandseedtreatments)appliedtofarmlandin2014wasinexcessof16,000tonnes.

Fig.1PESTICIDES:NumberofactivesubstancesusedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and

2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeeper’sSprayLiaisonOfficer.FiguressuppliedbyFERA

berofactivesubstances

Figure:Pesticides-activesubstances

Molluscicides

Insecticides

Fungicides

Herbicides

Fig.2PESTICIDESTIMESTREATED:usedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeepersSprayLiaisonOfficer.FiguressuppliedbyFERA

Pesticideusagestatisticsshowmassiveincreaseinglyphosatebetween2012and2014Ferastatisticsshowedthatin2012theareatreatedbyglyphosatewas1,750,000ha.Thishadincreasedin2014to2,250,000ha.GuyGagen,ChiefArableAdviserfortheNFU,saidincreasedglyphosateuse(uponethirdsince2012,toanareathesizeofWales)wasprobablyduetotreatmentof‘blackgrass.’43Blackgrassisaglyphosate-resistantsuper-weedjustlikeJapaneseknotweed.Herbicideresistantblackgrass,firstseenin1982(twoyearsafterfarmersstartedsprayingglyphosatepre-harvest)andisnowfoundon16,000farmsin34counties.GagensaidthatsprayingwheatcouldresultintracesofglyphosateendingupinbreadsoldinsupermarketsbuttheamountwaswellbelowthemaximumresiduelevelsetbytheEU.ADefraspokesmansaid:“Thereareextensiveregulationsinplacesothatpeopleandtheenvironmentareprotectedfrompesticides.TheapprovalofglyphosateforuseacrossEuropeisbeingreviewedbytheEUCommission.”TheStateofNatureReport201644MarkEatonoftheRSPB,theReport’sfirstauthorsaid:“Thereportincludesanew“biodiversityintactnessindex”,whichanalysesthelossofspeciesovercenturies.TheUKhaslostsignificantlymorenatureoverthelongtermthantheglobalaveragewiththeUKthe29thlowestoutof218countries.“Itisquiteshockingwherewestandcomparedtotherestoftheworld,evencomparedtootherwesternEuropeancountries:FranceandGermanyarequiteawayaboveusintherankings,”saidEaton.“Theindexgivesanideaofwherewehavegottooverthecenturies,andweareprettyknackered.”CompletedenialthatfarmingwasresponsibleItwasthereforeastoundingtohearthecompletedenialoftheNFUandDefraaboutTheStateofNatureReport.NFUvice-presidentGuySmithsaid“intensificationoffarminghadendedintheearly1990s.”thatfarmers“wereusinglessfertiliserandpesticidesthanever”andaspokeswomanfromDefrasaid:“Protectingourpreciousenvironmentandsupportingourworld-leadingfarmers,acornerstoneofoureconomy,willformanimportantpartofour

43http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4528297.ece44http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/State%20of%20Nature%20UK%20report_%2020%20Sept_tcm9-424984.pdf

02468101214

beroftreatments

Figure:Pesticides-timestreated

EUexitnegotiations.”ThestatisticsforpesticideusageproducedbyFerashowexactlytheopposite.Isn’tDefrasupposedtobeadvisingtheUKGovernment?Resultsareoutforspeciesthathavedeclinedinsummer2016comparedwith2015FromtheButterflyConservationTrustBigButterflyCount45“Itwasaprettygoodsummer,withaboveaveragetemperaturesandyetbutterfliesonthewholefaredbadly.Overhalfofthebigbutterflycounttargetspeciesdecreasedin2016comparedwiththepreviousyear.The'blues'didbadly,withSmallCopperrecordingitslowestnumberssincethebigbutterflycountbeganandbothCommonBlueandHollyBluehalvedinnumberscomparedwithsummer2015.ThiswasparticularlydisappointingforHollyBlue,whichhadanexcellent2015andnumbersinspring2016alsoappearedhigh.ThestunningPeacock,withitsbeautiful‘eye-spot’wingmarkingsthatcanscareoffwould-bepredatorssuchasBlueTits,decreasedforthethirdsummerinarow.Itsnumbershavenowdroppedfromanaverageof3.6individualspercountin2013tojust0.5percountin2016,asix-folddecreaseoverthreeyears.SmallTortoiseshellnumbersweredownonceagaintoo,fallingby47%from2015levels,andeventheComma,oneofthebutterflysuccessstoriesofthepastfewdecades,sufferedapoorsummer.Itsnumbersweredown46%yearonyear,resultinginitslowestabundanceinthesevenyearsofbigbutterflycount.Itwasallchangeatthetopofthebigbutterflycountchartin2016,withGatekeeper,themostabundantspeciesin2015'scount,sufferinga40%decreaseandfinishinginfourthplace.Anaverageofjust1.5Gatekeepersseenpercountin2016wasthelowestabundanceofthisspeciessincebigbutterflycountbegan.”Toads“Toadnumbershavefallenbymorethantwo-thirdsin30years,accordingtoastudyusingdatafromvolunteerpatrolssetuptohelptheamphibianscrossroads.”46Thisdeteriorationinbutterflynumbers2016hassomeresemblancetothestateofourNatureReserveBiodiversityIntactnessIndexcorrelateswithpesticideusageThisisalinktoananimatedpictorialrepresentationbutitisnoteasilyfindable.47“Of218countriesassessed,theUKisranked189:itis29thlowestoutof218:CountriesbelowaretheRepublicofIreland,USA,HongKongandMacao.ThismeansthatnatureisfaringworseintheUKthaninmostothercountries.UK165speciesareconsideredcriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.England109speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.Scotland65speciesarecriticallyendangeredandarelikelytogoextinct.NorthernIreland45speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.Wales41speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.”Around75%oftheUKismanagedforfoodproduction.HowwemanagethatlandiskeytothestateofNature.TheUSDAandtheUSDAARS(AgriculturalResearchService)areallowingMonsantoandDuPont’sGMcropstoproducebiologicaldeserts–surelytheymusthavenoticed?CraigChildsconfirmsitinhisbookApocalypticPlanet:FieldGuidetotheFutureofthe

45http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/2016mainresults?utm_source=Butterfly%20Conservation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7591230_October%202016&utm_content=BBC%20results&dm_i=DGT,4IPFI,KNFC3B,GQ32W,146https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/uk-common-toad-numbers-down-two-thirds-in-30-years47https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/whatwedo/stateofnature2016

Earth.48TheStateofIowawasjustoneareainwhichtheUSGeologicalSurveyreportedwidespreadcontaminationofsoil,air,rainwaterandriverwaterwithglyphosateanditslonger-actingmetaboliteAMPA(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionicacid).49GrundyCountyIowawaswhereCraigChildsspentalongweekendinamonocultureofGM“Roundup®Ready”cornlookingforwildlife."Ilistenedandheardnothing,nobird,noclickofinsect.MrOwenwasthefarmerwhohadgivenuspermissiontobackpackacrosshiscornfields.HegrewacombinationofDuPontandMonsantostock.WewereinDuPontnow.Itdidn’tlookanydifferenttome.”RobertKrulwichblog:50Cornfarmerschampioncorn.Anythingthatmighteatcorn,hurtcorn,bothercorn,iskilled.Theircornisbredtofightpests.Thegroundissprayed.Thestalksaresprayedagain.So,Craigwondered,"WhatwillIfind?"Theansweramazedme.Hefoundalmostnothing.Therewerenobees.Theair,theground,seemedvacant.Hefoundoneant"sosmallyoucouldn'tpinittoaspecimenboard."Alittlelater,crawlingtoadifferentrow,hefoundonemushroom,"thesizeofanappleseed."Then,later,acobwebspidereatingacranefly(onlyone).Asingleredmite"thesizeofadustmotehurryingacrossthebarrenearth,"somegrasshoppers,andthat'sit.”Thoughhecrawledandcrawled,hefoundnothingelse."Itfeltlikeanotherplanetentirely,"hesaid,aworlddenuded.OnehundredyearsagotherewasarichbiodiversityofspeciesintheUS;nowithasgoneKrulwichcontinues:“Yet,100yearsago,thesesamefields,theseprairies,werehometo300speciesofplants,60mammals,300birds,hundredsandhundredsofinsects.Thissoilwastherichest,theloamiestinthestate.Andnow,inthesepatches,thereisalmostliterallynothingbutonekindoflivingthing.We'veerasedeverythingelse.Weneedtofeedourplanet,ofcourse.Butwealsoneedtheteenycreaturesthatdrivealllifeonearth.There'ssomethingstrangeaboutafarmthatintentionallycreatesabiologicaldeserttoproducefoodforonespecies:us.It'sefficient,yes.Butit'ssoefficientthattheantsaremissing,thebeesaremissing,andeventhebirdsstayaway.Something'snotrighthere.Ourcornfieldsaretooquiet.”TheInternationalCriminalCourtinTheHagueisextendingitsremittoincludeecocide51TheUN-backedcourt,whichsitsinTheHague,hasmostlyruledoncasesofgenocideandwarcrimessinceitwassetupin2002.Ithasbeencriticizedforitsreluctancetoinvestigatemajorenvironmentalandculturalcrimes,whichoftenhappeninpeacetime.Inachangeoffocus,theICCsaidonThursdayitwouldalsoprioritizecrimesthatresultinthe“destructionoftheenvironment”,“exploitationofnaturalresources”andthe“illegaldispossession”ofland.Italsoincludedanexplicitreferenceto‘land-grabbing’.Environmentaldestructionandland-grabscouldleadtogovernmentsandindividualsbeingprosecutedforcrimesagainsthumanitybytheinternationalcriminalcourt.52

Pesticidescausecancersbuttheagrochemicalindustrydeniesit

IstheNFUawarethatfarmers,theirfamiliesandruralcommunitiesaremostaffectedby48http://houseofrain.com/bookdetail.cfm?id=134462197097749http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.12159/abstract50http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/11/29/166156242/cornstalks-everywhere-but-nothing-else-not-even-a-bee51https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases52https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1238

thetoxiceffectsofpesticides?CHEMTrustpublishedaReportin2010:53AReviewoftheRolePesticidesPlayinSomeCancers:Children,FarmersandPesticideUsersatRisk?“StudiesofdeathregistriesinsomepartsoftheworldsuggestthatfarmersandagriculturalworkersaremorelikelythanthegeneralpopulationtodiefromseveralcancersincludingNHL,leukaemia,multiplemyeloma,prostatecancer,Hodgkin’sdisease,pancreaticcancerandbraincancer.SomestudiesstronglyindicateanassociationbetweenpesticideexposureandNHL,leukaemiaandprostatecancer.” CancerResearchUK:ChairmanofCancerResearchUKworksfortheAgrochemicalIndustryMichaelPragnell,ChairmanofCancerResearchUKwasfounderofSyngentaandformerChairmanofCropLifeInternational.Itwasformedin2001fromBASF,Bayer,Dow,DuPont,FMCCorp,Monsanto,SumitomoandSyngenta.TheCRUKwebsitesaysthatthereisnoconvincingevidencethatpesticidescausecancer.CRUKlinkscancertoalcoholandobesity.SyngentaisamemberoftheEuropeanGlyphosateTaskForce(GTF),aconsortiumofcompaniesjoiningresourcesandeffortsinordertorenewtheEuropeanglyphosateregistrationwitha jointsubmission, andofInternationalLifeSciencesInstitute(ILSI).ILSIrepresentsGlobalCorporations(includingthesixAgrochemicalGiants)withmassiveresourcesthatareseekingtocontroltheworld’sfoodsupply.ILSIisanindustryorganisationbasedinWashington,DC,USA.Itclaimstobe“anon-profit,worldwideorganizationwhosemissionistoprovidesciencethatimproveshumanhealthandwell-beingandsafeguardstheenvironment”andallegedlyhascharitystatus.Ared-herringmanufacturedbyindustryinBritain:alcoholisclaimedtobelinkedwithsevenformsofcancer:this‘allegedfact’isendlesslyreinforcedbytheUKmediauntilpeopleintheUKarebrainwashedAnarticlewaspublishedintheBritishMedicalJournalon9April201654reportingasurveycommissionedbyCancerResearchUK‘Peoplelackawarenessoflinkbetweenalcoholandcancer.’TheReportproducedbyresearchersattheUniversityofSheffield‘comesaheadoftheconsultationclosingonhowwellnewdrinkingguidelinesproposedbytheUK’sChiefMedicalOfficerinJanuary2016,arecommunicated.’55“Almost90percentofpeopleinEnglanddon’tassociatedrinkingalcoholwithanincreasedriskofcancer”AlisonCox,CancerResearchUK’sDirectorofCancerPrevention.Shesaid:

“Thelinkbetweenalcoholandcancerisnowwellestablished,andit’snotjustheavydrinkerswhoareatrisk.Drinkingalcoholislinkedtoanincreasedriskofsevendifferentcancers-liver,breast,bowel,mouth,throat,oesophageal(foodpipe),laryngeal(voicebox)-butwhenpeoplewereasked“which,ifany,healthconditionsdoyouthinkcanresultfromdrinkingtoomuchalcohol?”just13percentofadultsmentionedcancer.”DrPennyBuykx,aseniorresearchfellowatTheUniversityofSheffieldandlead-authorofthereport,said:“We’veshownthatpublicawarenessoftheincreasedcancerriskfromdrinkingalcoholremainsworryinglylow.Peoplelinkdrinkingandlivercancer,butmoststilldon’trealisethatcancersincludingbreastcancer,mouthandthroatcancersandbowelcancerarealsolinkedwithalcohol,andthatrisksforsomecancersgoupevenbydrinkingasmallamount.” ThecitizensofSwanseaaresick;withcancers,neurologicaldiseasesandcataracts,justasMonsantofoundinlong-termstudiesbeforeitgainedillegalregistrationbytheUSEPA

53http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CHEM-Trust-Report-Pesticides-Cancer-July-2010.pdf54http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i188155http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2016-04-01-9-in-10-dont-link-alcohol-and-cancer

TherearecancerhotspotsinthesurroundingvillageswhereRounduphasbeensprayed.Overthelastfewyearspeopleintheareahavebeentreatedfor(orhavediedfrom)numerousdiseases:braintumours(mostlyglioblastomas),cancersofthebreast,ovary,prostate,lung(morethanhalfofwhichwereinnon-smokers),oesophagus,colon,pancreas,rectum,kidney,melanoma,osteosarcoma,non-Hodgkinlymphoma(NHL),uterinecarcinoma,leiomyosarcomaoftheuterus,multiplemyeloma,Parkinson’s,Multiplesclerosis,Motor-neuroneDiseaseandAlzheimer’s/Dementia.Manyofthecancersareaggressiveandunusual;theyresemblethecancersthatwereseeninfactoryworkersinthepesticidesindustryinthe1960s.HadIdetailedthemanycancersaffectingpeopleinourareaatthebeginningofmycampaign,Iwouldhavebeenaccusedofbeing‘anecdotal.’Butifwelinkthesecancerstothetotaldisappearanceofwildlifefromournaturereserveandthesuddendiagnosisofcataractsand/ormaculardegenerationamongstthisgroupofpeopleafterintenseapplicationofRoundupto3,000kmofcityroadsduringthesummerandautumn2016,wehaveaperfectstorm.

TheBattleinEuropeoverEndocrineDisruptingChemicals(EDCs)

TheoColborn’scrucialresearchintheearly1990sintothechemicalsthatwerechanginghumansandtheenvironmentwasignoredThelateTheoColborn56(1927-1914)wasthefirsttoresearchandwriteaboutEDCs,man-madechemicalsthatbecamewidespreadintheenvironmentafterWWII.Inabookpublishedin1996,OurStolenFuture:HowMan-madeChemicalsareThreateningourFertility,IntelligenceandSurvival,Colborn,DumanoskiandPetersrevealedthefullhorrorofwhatwashappeningtotheworldasaresultofcontaminationwithEDCs.57Therewasemergingscientificresearchabouthowawiderangeofman-madechemicalsdisruptdelicatehormonesystemsinhumans.Thesesystemsplayacriticalroleinprocessesrangingfromhumansexualdevelopmenttobehaviour,intelligence,andthefunctioningoftheimmunesystem.Atthatstage,polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs),pesticidesDDT,chlordane,lindane,aldrin,dieldrin,endrin,toxaphene,heptachlor,dioxin,atrazineanddacthalwereidentifiedasEDCs.Colbornillustratestheproblembyconstructingadiagram(page105)ofthejourneyofaPCBmoleculefromafactoryinAlabamaintoapolarbearintheArctic.Colbornsays:“Theconcentrationofpersistentchemicalscanbemagnifiedmillionsoftimesastheytraveltotheendsoftheearth…Manychemicalsthatthreatenthenextgenerationhavefoundtheirwayintoourbodies.Thereisnosafe,uncontaminatedplace.”EstimatingBurdenandDiseaseCostsofExposuretoEndocrine-DisruptingChemicalsintheEuropeanUnion58Rapidlyincreasingevidencehasdocumentedthatendocrine-disruptingchemicals(EDCs)contributesubstantiallytodiseaseanddisability.Expertpanelsachievedconsensusatleastforprobable(>20%)EDCcausationforIQlossandassociatedintellectualdisability,autism,attention-deficithyperactivitydisorder,childhoodobesity,adultobesity,adultdiabetes,cryptorchidism,maleinfertility,andmortalityassociatedwithreducedtestosterone.Conclusions:EDCexposuresintheEUarelikelytocontributesubstantiallytodiseaseanddysfunctionacrossthelifecoursewithcostsinthehundredsofbillionsofEurosperyear.TheseestimatesrepresentonlythoseEDCswiththehighestprobabilityofcausation;abroaderanalysiswouldhaveproducedgreaterestimatesofburdenofdiseaseandcosts.”56http://endocrinedisruption.org/about-tedx/theo-colborn57OurStolenFuture:HowMan-madeChemicalsareThreateningourFertility,IntelligenceandSurvival:Colborn,MyersandDumanoski:Little,BrownandCompany,NewYork.1996.58http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-4324

ProfessorSéralini,whohasstudiedglyphosatefor30years,saysthatRoundupisanendocrinedisruptorandanervoussystemdisruptor(ENDs).59“Abstract: Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely usedpesticidesintheworld;theirresiduesareamongthemainpollutantsinsurfacewaters.Theiruse has increased through the spraying of 80% of edible agricultural GMOs, which alsocontainhigh levelsoftheirresidues.Theyarecomposedofglyphosate(35–40%ingeneral)andadjuvantsthatarearound1,000timesmoretoxicthanglyphosatealone,andarealsoendocrinedisruptors below toxic thresholds.All endocrinedisruptors (ED) arealsonervoussystemdisruptors(ND),becausetheyactas“spam”forcell–cellcommunication,inthesensethat they are spurious messages (or molecules) sent to a group of organisms or cells,impeding and slowing down, and in some cases accelerating, the physiologicalcommunication system. Therefore, they should be called ENDs (endocrine and nervoussystem disruptors). From 0.1 ppb in chronic tests in vivo, Roundup is highly tumorigenic,provoking hormone-dependent tumours, other hormonal imbalances, and important liverandkidneytoxicities.Pesticideadjuvantsplaythesameroleinotherpesticideformulations.The declared active principles often appear to be by far the least toxic compounds afterwaterinformulations.Unfortunatelyforpublichealth,theyaretheonlysubstancestestedbycompanies for regulatory purposes over the long term in vivo. Thus, the acceptable dailyintakes deduced from these tests are 1000–10 000 times too high. In regulatory tests thedeleteriouseffects inratsarecomparedwithhistoricaldataonratpathologies.Analysisoflaboratoryrodentfeedssourcedfromfivecontinentsrevealsthattheyaresocontaminatedby pollutants that comparison to these hence inappropriate controls generally masks thechronicpathologiesprovokedbythepesticidesandotherchemicalstested.Thedisputeswithindustryrepresentativesandlobbygroupsthataroseinthecourseofthisresearcharealsosummarized in this short review.Finally,potentialmethodsof improving transparencyandadvancingscientificknowledgearerecommended.”EndocrineDisruptingChemicals(EDC)–2012CommissionedbyWHOandUNEPAnassessmentoftheStateofScienceofEndocrineDisruptorswaspreparedfortheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramandtheWorldHealthOrganizationbyagroupofapproximately50expertscientistsledbyProfessorÅkeBergman,UniversityofStockholm.60Theauthorsoutlinedthecurrentevidenceof:1)ahighincidence,andincreasingtrends,ofmanyendocrine-relateddisordersinhumans;2)observationsofendocrine-relatedeffectsinwildlifepopulations;3)identificationofchemicalswithendocrinedisruptingpropertieslinkedtodiseaseoutcomesinlaboratorystudies.“Endocrine-relateddisordersinhumansaremanifestby:

• Increasesinlowsemenqualityinyoungmen(upto40%)• Incidenceofgenitalmalformationshasincreasedovertime• Adversepregnancyoutcomesandbirthdefectshasincreasedinmanycountries• Neurobehaviouraldisordersrelatedtothyroiddysfunctionhasincreased• Endocrine-relatedcancers(breast,endometrial,ovary,prostate,testicularand

thyroidcancers)havebeenincreasingoverthepast40–50years• Earlieronsetofbreastdevelopmentinyounggirlswhichleadstobreastcancer• Theprevalenceofobesityandtype2diabetesisincreasing.TheWHOestimatesthat

1.5billionadultsworldwideareoverweightorobeseandthatthenumberwithtype2diabetesincreasedfrom153millionto347millionbetween1980and2008”

59http://www.amsi.ge/jbpc/31515/15-3-abs-3.htm60http://unep.org/pdf/9789241505031_eng.pdf

Theconclusionwas,asusual,delayingtactics:“ItisessentialtoevaluateassociationsbetweenEDCexposuresandhealthoutcomesbyfurtherdevelopingmethodsforwhichproofofconceptiscurrentlyunderdevelopment.”AnEditorialinTheLancetconcluded:“thereiscurrentlynowidelyagreedsystemforassessingthestrengthofassociationsbetweenexposuretochemicals(includingEDCs)andadversehealthoutcomes.” CorporateEuropeObservatoryandStéphaneHorelReport:AToxicAffair:HowtheChemicalLobbyBlockedActiononEndocrineDisruptingChemicals61Page2:“ThisreporttellsthestoryofhowamajorEUpublichealthinitiativewaseffectivelyobstructedbycorporatelobbygroupsintandemwithactorswithintheEuropeanCommission.Itshowshowindustryhassuccessfullyusedsomeclassictacticsofcorporatelobbying.Thisreportshowsthatsomecivilservants,eventhoughemployedintheservicesinchargeofpublichealthintheEuropeanUnion,seemtohaveservedcorporateinterestsoverpublicones.”Page3:“Humanexposuretoendocrinedisruptingchemicals(EDCs)hasbeenlinkedtodiseasessuchasinfertility,cancerandobesity.Themedicalcostofthisseriouspublichealthissuehasbeenrecentlyestimatedat€157billionayearintheEUalone.62Page6:Endocrinedisruptingchemicals(EDCs)caninterferewiththehormonalsystemsofmammals,fish,frogs,andothertypesoflivingorganisms.Theirtoxicityonlystartedtobefullyacknowledgedbyscientistsintheearly1990s.EDCshavetheabilitytomimic,block,oralterthelevelsofhormonessuchasoestrogens,testosterone,orthyroidhormoneswhoseactionsaffectmanyfunctionsofthebody.Exposuretothesechemicalsintheearlydevelopmentalstagesofanorganismcancauseirreversibleeffectsthatwillonlybecomeevidentlaterinlife.ThereisahighprobabilitythatEDCsplayaroleinthegenesisofmany‘modern’diseasessuchasprostate,breast,andtesticularcancers,infertility,genitalabnormalities,braindevelopment,diabetes,andobesity.Page7:Brusselsnowadaysisthesecondcapitalofcorporatelobbyingintheworld–afterWashingtonDC.Anestimated20,000-30,000lobbyistspopulatetheEUquarter,thelargemajorityofwhomrepresentscorporations.Allbigcorporationshavetheirownlobbyofficesandin-houselobbyists.Page8:Lobbygroupsoftenemploytheclassictacticofthe‘revolvingdoor’:inotherwords,tohirepeoplewhocomestraightfromajobingovernment.ManylobbyistsareformerCommissionofficialsorMembersoftheEuropeanParliament,orParliamentorCouncilstaff.Theyarethereforeinagoodpositiontothenlobbytheirformercolleagues,andtheyknowhowthesystemworksfromtheinside.Therevolvingdoorscanalsospinintheotherdirection,thatis,whensomeonefromwithintheindustrymovestoakeypositioninapublicauthority.Page13thereareexamplesoflobbyingemailssentbyindustrytovarioustargetsintheEuropeanCommission.TheUSDAmadeasubmissiontoEuropeonendocrinedisruptors.63TheyidentifiedPublicHealth,EnvironmentalProtectionandClimateChange,FoodSecurity,ConsumerWelfare,TradeandJobs.Conclusion:U.S.stakeholderanalysissuggeststhefailuretoadoptascientificapproachcouldimpact€65.3billionworthofimportsintotheEU(ofwhichover€4billionworthwouldbeU.S.exports).TheUnitedStatesGovernmentfullysupportsmeasurestoprotectpublichealthandtheenvironment.WeurgetheCommissiontotaketheU.S.commentsinto

61http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/toxic_lobby_edc.pdf62http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-432463http://www.usda-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/United-States-Submission-Endocrine-Disrupters-2015-01-20.pdf

accountandtoadoptanapproachthatfullyconsidersthevitalrolethatpesticidechemicalsplayinfoodsafetyandsecurity,whilepromotingstronglevelsofprotection,inspiringpublicconfidence,andavoidingunwarrantedburdens.Suchconsiderationiscriticaltoaccomplishingourjointpurposeandtoensuringthatanydecisionsareinformedbyriskassessments.OwenPatersonformerUKEnvironmentMinisterinasecretlettertoSyngentaaboutneonicotinoids(April2013)inwhichEDCswerementioned64“Youraisethepointthatthisissueisoneofseveralthatimpactontheavailabilityofpesticidesinagriculture.Wearewellawareofthispointandyouwillknowthatamongstotherthings,theUKhasbeenarguinghardforaproportionateapproachtoregulatingEndocrineDisruptingChemicals.”USEPAdeclaresthatglyphosateisnotanendocrinedisruptorbutmostofthestudiescomefromMonsantoandareunpublishedTheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencypublishedaReporton29June2015WeightofEvidence(WoE)assessmentevaluatingresultsoftheEndocrineScreeningProgram(EDSP)forglyphosate.65However,underFOI,TheInterceptdiscoveredthat“outof32studies,justfivewereindependentlyfunded.66Theother27werefundedbyMonsanto.Notsurprisingly,all27oftheindustry-backedstudiesconcludedthatglyphosatedoesnotcauseendocrinedisruption–eventhoughdatawithinthosestudiesmightsuggestotherwise.”Infactmostofthemwereunpublishedandcamefrom,orwerefundedvariouslyby,Syngenta,theGlyphosateTaskForce,USEPA,CeetoxKalamazoo(Pfizer).IndustryisstilltryingtoweakenthecriteriaforEDCs,despitehavingbeenaccusedofsupplyingstatisticsforEFSAandBfRPhilipLightowlerofChemicalWatch(anindustryjournal)reportedon23/11/2016.“Aninternationalconference,hostedbytheFreseniusAcademyinBonnlastweek,heardthatleadingscientistshavereachedaconsensusthatenvironmentalriskassessmentforendocrine-disruptingchemicals(EDCs)isscientificallysound.67Consultantecotoxicologist,PeterMatthiessen,reportedthatthisconclusionwasreachedattheSocietyofEnvironmentalToxicologyandChemistry(Setac)Pellstonworkshop,heldinFloridaearlierthisyear.Theyfoundthattoolsformeasuringtheenvironmentaleffectsofoestrogenic,androgenic,thyroidandsteroidogeniccompoundsarenowlargelyinplace,asaremethodsfortheirinterpretationandextrapolationtopopulations,accordingtoDrMatthiessen.“Despitetheneedforcontinuingdevelopmentoftools,ourworkshopconcludedthat,inmostcases,itispossibletoestablishsafelevelsforEDCs,”hesaid.They“dohavethresholdconcentrationsforpopulationsand,withadequatedata,conductingenvironmentalriskassessmentofthemisscientificallysound.”AndifsuchaconsensuswaspossiblefortheenvironmentDrMatthiessentoldChemicalWatchthenasimilarapproachforhumanhealthcannotbefarbehind.LennartWeltje,conferencechairmanandecotoxicologistatBASF,commentedthatthe

64http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2013/apr/29/environment-secretary-letter-syngenta-insecticide-ban65https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/glyphosate-417300_2015-06-29_txr0057175.pdf66http://www.healthynaturalcures.org/feds-used-monsanto-funded-studies-determine-glyphosate-containing-weedkillers-safe/67https://chemicalwatch.com/51177/environmental-risk-assessment-of-edcs-scientifically-sound?pa=true#utm_campaign=51114&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert

Pellstonworkshop“helpedtremendously”ingettingafeelingforstudyqualityandwhatitislikeconductingaweight-of-evidenceapproach.“Intheend,allagreedthatriskassessmentisfullyappropriate,onceremaininguncertaintieshavebeenaddressed,”headded.DrWeltje’sviewsreflectageneralfeeling,attheconference,thatalthoughthereweredisagreementsaboutEDCcriteria,therewasgreaterconsensuswhendatawasavailableandcompoundswereconsideredonacase-by-casebasis.DanielPickford,aseniorecotoxicologistfromSyngenta,presentedanexaminationinBonnofonesuchcase:thefungicidepropiconazole(madebySyngenta)anditsendocrineactivity.Invitroassaysshowthecompoundisanaromataseenzymeinhibitorand,therefore,likelytocausemasculinisation.However,invivoassaysonmammalsandbirdsshownoeffects,andthoughthereareeffectsinfishathighdoses,environmentalexposureisunlikelytoreachtheselevels.Fielddatashowthatexposuretothefungicideiserraticandexperimentsshowthatfishrecoveryfromanyeffectisrapid.Sotherewasagreementonthedecisionthat,oncurrentevidence,propiconazoleshouldnotbeconsideredanendocrinedisruptor.LeMondecallsforEuropenottoallowindustrytomanipulatethecriteriaforEDCsLet’sstopthemanipulationofscience68AroundahundredscientistsaskEuropeandtheinternationalcommunitytoactagainstendocrinedisruptingchemicals.Theycondemntheuseofstrategiesformanufacturingdoubtemployedbyindustriesintheclimatechangebattle.ThelegacyofPCBsinWaleswhentheywerebannedintheUS:the

Governmentaccusedofacover-upovertoxicwaste

WhenPCBswerebannedintheUSforcausingillhealthinAnniston,Alabama,theHeathGovernmentagreedtorampupproductioninaMonsanto-ownedfactoryinWalesin1971AMonsanto-ownedfactorywasbuiltinNewportin1949.Theypaidcontractorstoillegallydump67chemicalssuchasPCBs,dioxinsandAgentOrangederivativesbetween1965and1972:BrofiscinQuarryoneofthemostcontaminatedplacesinBritain,ispollutingCardiff.Polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)weremanufacturedbyMonsantofrom1930-1977primarilyforinsulatingfluidsinheavy-dutyelectricalequipmentinplants.TheyweretoxicandpersistentintheenvironmentandwereEDCs.“TheAnnistonandotherscandalsledtothebanningofPCBproductioninAmericain1971.Duringthatperiod–andupuntil1977,whentheUKgovernmentreluctantlyfollowedsuit–PCBproductionwasrampedupatNewport,creatingevenmorewastes.WhileBrofiscinandMaendyquarriestookthebulkofthese,fiveotherquarriesacrossWalesandintothenorthofEnglandwerealsousedasMonsantodumpinggrounds.Itisnotclearthatanywereprepared(linedandsealed)toacceptsuchwastes.BothBrofiscinandMaendycertainlyweren’tandbothareporous:Brofiscinbeinglimestone,andMaendysandstone,whichmeansthatthewastesslowlyandinevitablyleachintothewaterways,groundwater,andmajoraquifers.OfparticularconcerntodayisthatBrofiscinstandsaboveanundergroundreservoirthatmightwellinthefuturebeusedasapublicwatersupply.69 TheUKgovernment, whichknewofthedangersofPCBs68http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2016/11/29/let-s-stop-the-manipulation-of-science_5039867_3232.html69http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/politics_and_economics/269077/exlusive_how_the_envi

intheenvironmentinthe1960s,allowedtheirproductioninWalesuntil1977.70 “In2003,theresidentsofGroesfaenbegantocomplainaboutvilesmellsemanatingfromtheBrofiscinquarry,a36-meterdeepquarrylocatedattheedgeofthevillage.71Morealarmingstill,thewatersofthestreamthatflowedaroundthequarrybegantoturnvividorange…TheinvestigationrevealedthataMonsanto-ownedplantinNewport(acitynearGroesfaen)hadpaidcontractorstoillegallydumpthousandsoftonsofcancer-causingchemicals-amongthemPCBs,dioxinsandAgentOrangederivatives-intotheBrofiscinquarrybetween1965and1972.Thesechemicals,whichhadcorrodedtheircontainersandwereleachingintothesoil,notonlyendangeredthelivesofthelocalvillagersbutalsothoseofthemorethan350,000residentsofCardiff,sincethechemicalswerecomingintocontactwithamajorundergroundaquiferthatwas(andstillis)destinedtobethecity'smainwatersupply.”TheEnvironmentAgency-agovernmentagencyconcernedwithfloodingandpollution–washiredtocleanupthesitein2005.“Firstly,theAgencyrepeatedlyfailedtoholdMonsantoaccountableforitsroleinthepollution(arolethatMonsantodeniedfromtheoutset).Secondly,theAgencyconsistentlydownplayedthedangersofthechemicalsthemselves,evenclaimingthattheyofferedno“identifiableharmorimmediatedangertohumanhealth”intheirofficialreport.”In200772previouslyunseenEnvironmentAgencydocumentsfrom2005showthatalmost30yearsafterbeingfilled,BrofiscinisoneofthemostcontaminatedplacesinBritain.AccordingtoengineeringcompanyWSAtkins,inareportpreparedfortheagencyandthelocalauthorityin2005butnevermadepublic,thesitecontainsatleast67toxicchemicals.SevenPCBshavebeenidentified,alongwithvinylchloridesandnaphthalene.Theunlinedquarryisstillleaking,thereportsays."Pollutionofwaterhasbeenoccurringsincethe1970s,thewasteandgroundwaterhasbeenshowntocontainsignificantquantitiesofpoisonous,noxiousandpollutingmaterial,pollutionof...waterswillcontinuetooccur.”DouglasGowan,apollutionconsultantwhoproducedthefirstofficialreportintotheBrofiscinquarryin1972afterninecowsonalocalfarmdiedofpoisoning,said:"Theauthoritieshaveknownaboutthesituationforyears,buthavedonenothing.Thereisevidenceofnotonlynegligenceandutterincompetence,butcover-up,andtheproblemhasgrownunchecked.Thedocumentsshowthatin1953,companychemiststestedthePCBchemicalsonratsandfoundthattheykilledmorethan50%withmedium-leveldoses.However,itcontinuedtomanufacturePCBsanddisposeofthewastesinSouthWalesuntil1977,morethanadecadeafterevidenceofwidespreadcontaminationofhumansandtheenvironmentwasbeyonddoubt.”In2013anassociationwasfoundbetweenPCBserumlevelsandnon-Hodgkinlymphoma(NHL).PCBandotherorganochlorineresiduesinthepeopleofWalesDuarte-DavidsonetalstudiedPCBsandotherorganochlorinesin75adiposetissuesamplesfromhumancadaversthroughout1990andearly1991fromWelshpopulations.73Theycommentedonthe:“littlechangesintheconcentrationsofthesecompoundsintheWelshpopulationoverthelastdecade,despitereductionintheirusethatcameintoforceinthe1970s.”

ronment_agency_is_gagging_one_eyewitness_to_what_is_potentially_one_of_the_uks_biggest_environmental_crimes.html70https://www.theguardian.com/guardian/2007/feb/12/frontpagenews.uknews71http://www.naturalnews.com/044009_Monsanto_Brofiscin_environmental_damage.html72https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/feb/12/uknews.pollution173https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15091726

Buttheyweren’tawarethattheWhitehallgovernmenthadonlyreluctantlybannedthemin1977andhadallowedMonsantotostockpilethewastesinquarriesalloverWales.InthestudybyWWF-UKin200374,althoughitwassmall,asinglepersontestedinCardiffhad:thehighestlevelofchemicals(3105ng/glipid)testedfor;thehighestleveloforganochlorinepesticidestestedfor;andthehighestleveloftotalDDTandmetabolites.ItishardlysurprisingthattheAgrochemicalIndustrypersuadedtheAdvertisingStandardsAuthoritytobantheadvertisementofthebabyandrapidlygotWWF-UKtoreplacetheCEO.MonsantohasfinallybeenfoundguiltyofgrossnegligenceintheUS:May2016However,MonsantohasfinallybeenfoundguiltyofgrossnegligencebysellingpoisonousPCBstomembersofthepublic,someofwhomdiedasaresult.75Theagrochemicalandagriculturalbiotechnologygianthasbeenforcedtopayatotalof$46millionindamagestoplaintiffsinthecase.ASt.Louisjuryvoted10-2infindingMonsanto,Pfizer,Solutia,andPharmaciaguiltyinthesellingofpolychlorinatedbiphenyls,orPCBs,afterthecompoundhadbeenbanned.OneMonsantodocumentdatedSeptember20,1955reportedbyEcoWatchstated:“WeknowAroclors[PCBs]aretoxicbuttheactuallimithasnotbeenpreciselydefined,”Plaintiffsinthiscase—threeofnearly100involvedinlitigation,someofwhomdied—saidtheydevelopednon-HodgkinlymphomafromexposuretoPCBs.“Thisisthefuture,”plaintiff’sattorneyStevenKherkhertoldEcoWatch,explaininghislawfirmhadto‘poolresources’toinitiatethelawsuit.“TheonlyreasonwhythisvictoryisrareisbecausenoonehashadthemoneytofightMonsanto.”However,headded,mentioninghisfirmhasaround1,000plaintiffssurroundingPCBs,“It’snotgoingtoberareanymore.”Kherkheralsoexplainedasmorecasesagainstthecompanycometocourt,“everyjudgeallowsustoacquiremoreandmoreinformationfromMonsantoanddiscovertheirdocuments.Thereisalotmoreinformationoutthereyettobemined.”MustardgasmanufactureandstorageinWales:secretstockpilingofMustardGasandotherchemicalsbytheWinstonChurchillGovernmentnearMoldThesearequotationsfromareportbyAndrewPSmithwiththefullpermissionofDefra,theDepartmentoftheEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs.76“TheWinstonChurchillGovernmenthadbeenstockpilingMustardGaswithaviewtoitsuseinWW2.MustardproductionatthemanufacturingsitesnearMoldinFlintshire,Walesstartedin1939-40andceasedinApril1945andbetween1946and1948theassociatedplantandfacilitiesweredecommissioned.ByApril1959theentirestockpilehadbeensentfordestructionanddismantlinganddecontaminationofalltheremainingpipeworkandequipmentwascompletedbyApril1960.Fromthe1960sthesitewasusedasabufferdepotforthestorageofavarietyofnon-perishablefoodstuffssuchassugarandflour.In1994Defrawaschargedwithcleaningupthesite.However,investigationofthetoxicburialpitmarkedby“Headstones”northofthetunnelentrancesfoundcontaminationwithchemicalwarfaredegradationproducts,dioxins,asbestosandheavymetals.”Itwasnotedthatalthoughtherewerebatshuntingintheareatherewasnoevidencethattheywerelivinginthestoragetunnels.“Burntmaterialfromthetoxicburialandsoilfromtheadjoiningriverbankwerefoundtocontainhighdioxinconcentrationsandsomecarbontetrachloridecontaminationwasidentifiedinacoupleofsoilsamples.”

Thelegacyofourfoodbeingpoisonedbychemicals

74http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/biomonitoringresults.pdf75http://yournewswire.com/monsanto-loses-lawsuit-pays-46-million-to-poisoned-victims/76http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/r/rhydymwyn/defra_1.html

OurDailyPoison:FromPesticidestoPackaging,HowChemicalsHaveContaminatedtheFoodChainandAreMakingUsSick.77Marie-MoniqueRobinisanaward-winningFrenchjournalistandfilmmakerandauthoroftheabovebook.ShewasthepatronoftheMonsantoTribunalandontheSteeringCommittee.Shereceivedthe1995Albert-LondresPrize,awardedtoinvestigativejournalistsinFrance.Sheisthedirectorandproducerofmorethanthirtydocumentaries.“Pullatthecornerofanyrecentpublichealthscandal,andyoucanfindthefingerprintsofthemultinationalsthatprofitfromlaxregulation.Inthismuckrakingexposé,Marie-MoniqueRobinlaysbarethehiddenhistoryofthechemicalindustryanditslongtrailintothepresent.Unlessyou’repartoftheinternationallobbyingset,you’llbeshockedbytheglobalconnectionsbetweenregulatoryagencies,thecorporationsthathavenestledintothem,andthebetrayalofpublichealththattheyhavelicensed.Foranyoneconcernedaboutdemocracy,corporatepowerorpublichealth,thisisagrippingandurgentbook.”RajPatel,authorofStuffedandStarved“Marie-MoniqueRobin’sOurDailyPoisonisagifttocitizensacrosstheworld.Shebringsusscientificfactsaboutpesticidesandpoisonsinaperiodwhenthisevidenceisbeingkeptfromthepublic.Whetheryouareinterestedinyourhealthandthesafetyofyourfood,theprotectionofspeciesandecosystems,ortheindependenceofscienceandlawsfromcorporatelaw,thisisabookyoumustread.”VandanaShiva,authorofStolenHarvestandMakingPeacewiththeEarth.Genetically-engineeredcrops,glyphosateandthedeteriorationofhealthintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Swansonetal.78Abstract:AhugeincreaseintheincidenceandprevalenceofchronicdiseaseshasbeenreportedintheUnitedStates(US)overthelast20years.Similarincreaseshavebeenseenglobally.Theherbicideglyphosatewasintroducedin1974anditsuseisacceleratingwiththeadventofherbicide-tolerantgeneticallyengineered(GE)crops.Evidenceismountingthatglyphosateinterfereswithmanymetabolicprocessesinplantsandanimalsandglyphosateresidueshavebeendetectedinboth.Glyphosatedisruptstheendocrinesystemandthebalanceofgutbacteria,itdamagesDNAandisadriverofmutationsthatleadtocancer.Inthepresentstudy,USgovernmentdatabasesweresearchedforGEcropdata,glyphosateapplicationdataanddiseaseepidemiologicaldata.Correlationanalyseswerethenperformedonatotalof22diseasesinthesetime-seriesdatasets.ThePearsoncorrelationcoefficientsarehighlysignificant(<10-5)betweenglyphosateapplicationsandhypertension(R=0.923),stroke(R=0.925),diabetesprevalence(R=0.971),diabetesincidence(R=0.935),obesity(R=0.962),lipoproteinmetabolismdisorder(R=0.973),Alzheimer’s(R=0.917),seniledementia(R=0.994),Parkinson's(R=0.875),multiplesclerosis(R=0.828),autism(R=0.989),inflammatoryboweldisease(R=0.938),intestinalinfections(R=0.974),endstagerenaldisease(R=0.975),acutekidneyfailure(R=0.978)cancersofthethyroid(R=0.988),liver(R=0.960),bladder(R=0.981),pancreas(R=0.918),kidney(R=0.973)andmyeloidleukaemia(R=0.878).ThePearsoncorrelationcoefficientsarehighlysignificant(<10-4)betweenthepercentageofGEcornandsoyplantedintheUSandhypertension(R=0.961),stroke(R=0.983),diabetesprevalence(R=0.983),diabetesincidence(R=0.955),obesity(R=0.962),lipoproteinmetabolismdisorder(R=0.955),Alzheimer’s(R=0.937),Parkinson's(R=0.952),multiplesclerosis(R=0.876),hepatitisC(R=0.946),endstagerenaldisease(R=0.958),acutekidneyfailure(R=0.967),cancersofthethyroid(R=0.938),liver(R=0.911),bladder(R=0.945),77http://thenewpress.com/books/our-daily-poison78http://www.organic-systems.org/journal/92/JOS_Volume-9_Number-2_Nov_2014-Swanson-et-al.pdf

pancreas(R=0.841),kidney(R=0.940)andmyeloidleukaemia(R=0.889).ThesignificanceandstrengthofthecorrelationsshowthattheeffectsofglyphosateandGEcropsonhumanhealthshouldbefurtherinvestigated.IntheUSglyphosateandGMcropshavehighcorrelationswithhumandiseases,includingcancers.HowglyphosatedamageshumanmetabolismbysuppressingmetabolicpathwaysSamselAandSeneffS(2013)Glyphosate’ssuppressionofCytochromeP450enzymesandaminoacidbiosynthesisbythegutmicrobiome:PathwaystoModernDiseases.79Abstract:Glyphosate,theactiveingredientinRoundup®,isthemostpopularherbicideusedworldwide.Theindustryassertsitisminimallytoxictohumans,buthereweargueotherwise.ResiduesarefoundinthemainfoodsoftheWesterndiet,comprisedprimarilyofsugar,corn,soyandwheat.Glyphosate'sinhibitionofcytochromeP450(CYP)enzymesisanoverlookedcomponentofitstoxicitytomammals.CYPenzymesplaycrucialrolesinbiology,oneofwhichistodetoxifyxenobiotics.Thus,glyphosateenhancesthedamagingeffectsofotherfoodbornechemicalresiduesandenvironmentaltoxins.Negativeimpactonthebodyisinsidiousandmanifestsslowlyovertimeasinflammationdamagescellularsystemsthroughoutthebody.Here,weshowhowinterferencewithCYPenzymesactssynergisticallywithdisruptionofthebiosynthesisofaromaticaminoacidsbygutbacteria,aswellasimpairmentinserumsulfatetransport.ConsequencesaremostofthediseasesandconditionsassociatedwithaWesterndiet,whichincludegastrointestinaldisorders,obesity,diabetes,heartdisease,depression,autism,infertility,cancerandAlzheimer’sdisease.Weexplainthedocumentedeffectsofglyphosateanditsabilitytoinducedisease,andweshowthatglyphosateisthe“textbookexample”ofexogenoussemioticentropy:thedisruptionofhomeostasisbyenvironmentaltoxins.Glyphosate,pathwaystomoderndiseasesII:Celiacsprueandglutenintolerance.80Abstract:Celiacdisease,and,moregenerally,glutenintoleranceisagrowingproblemworldwide,butespeciallyinNorthAmericaandEurope,whereanestimated5%ofthepopulationnowsuffersfromit.Symptomsincludenausea,diarrhea,skinrashes,macrocyticanemiaanddepression.Itisamultifactorialdiseaseassociatedwithnumerousnutritionaldeficienciesaswellasreproductiveissuesandincreasedrisktothyroiddisease,kidneyfailureandcancer.Here,weproposethatglyphosate,theactiveingredientintheherbicide,Roundup®,isthemostimportantcausalfactorinthisepidemic.Fishexposedtoglyphosatedevelopdigestiveproblemsthatarereminiscentofceliacdisease.Celiacdiseaseisassociatedwithimbalancesingutbacteriathatcanbefullyexplainedbytheknowneffectsofglyphosateongutbacteria.CharacteristicsofceliacdiseasepointtoimpairmentinmanycytochromeP450enzymes,whichareinvolvedwithdetoxifyingenvironmentaltoxins,activatingvitaminD3,catabolizingvitaminA,andmaintainingbileacidproductionandsulfatesuppliestothegut.GlyphosateisknowntoinhibitcytochromeP450enzymes.Deficienciesiniron,cobalt,molybdenum,copperandotherraremetalsassociatedwithceliacdiseasecanbeattributedtoglyphosate'sstrongabilitytochelatetheseelements.Deficienciesintryptophan,tyrosine,methionineandselenomethionineassociatedwithceliacdiseasematchglyphosate'sknowndepletionoftheseaminoacids.Celiacdiseasepatientshaveanincreasedrisktonon-Hodgkin'slymphoma,whichhasalsobeenimplicatedinglyphosateexposure.Reproductiveissuesassociatedwithceliacdisease,suchasinfertility,miscarriages,andbirthdefects,canalsobeexplainedbyglyphosate.Glyphosateresiduesinwheatandothercropsarelikelyincreasingrecentlyduetothegrowingpracticeofcropdesiccationjustpriortotheharvest.Wearguethatthepracticeof“ripening”sugarcane79http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/4/141680http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945755/

withglyphosatemayexplaintherecentsurgeinkidneyfailureamongagriculturalworkersinCentralAmerica.Weconcludewithapleatogovernmentstoreconsiderpoliciesregardingthesafetyofglyphosateresiduesinfoods.Glyphosate,pathwaystomoderndiseasesIII:Manganese,neurologicaldiseases,andassociatedpathologies81Abstract:Manganese(Mn)isanoftenoverlookedbutimportantnutrient,requiredinsmallamountsformultipleessentialfunctionsinthebody.ArecentstudyoncowsfedgeneticallymodifiedRoundup®‑ReadyfeedrevealedaseveredepletionofserumMn.Glyphosate,theactiveingredientinRoundup®,hasalsobeenshowntoseverelydepleteMnlevelsinplants.Here,weinvestigatetheimpactofMnonphysiology,anditsassociationwithgutdysbiosisaswellasneuropathologiessuchasautism,Alzheimer’sdisease(AD),depression,anxietysyndrome,Parkinson’sdisease(PD),andpriondiseases.Glutamateoverexpressioninthebraininassociationwithautism,AD,andotherneurologicaldiseasescanbeexplainedbyMndeficiency.Mnsuperoxidedismutaseprotectsmitochondriafromoxidativedamage,andmitochondrialdysfunctionisakeyfeatureofautismandAlzheimer’s.ChondroitinsulfatesynthesisdependsonMn,anditsdeficiencyleadstoosteoporosisandosteomalacia.Lactobacillus,depletedinautism,dependscriticallyonMnforantioxidantprotection.Lactobacillusprobioticscantreatanxiety,whichisacomorbidityofautismandchronicfatiguesyndrome.ReducedgutLactobacillusleadstoovergrowthofthepathogen,Salmonella,whichisresistanttoglyphosatetoxicity,andMnplaysarolehereaswell.SpermmotilitydependsonMn,andthismaypartiallyexplainincreasedratesofinfertilityandbirthdefects.Wefurtherreasonthat,underconditionsofadequateMninthediet,glyphosate,throughitsdisruptionofbileacidhomeostasis,ironicallypromotestoxicaccumulationofMninthebrainstem,leadingtoconditionssuchasPDandpriondiseasesGlyphosate,pathwaystomoderndiseasesIV:cancerandrelatedpathologies82Abstract:Glyphosateistheactiveingredientinthepervasiveherbicide,Roundup,anditsusage,particularlyintheUnitedStates,hasincreaseddramaticallyinthelasttwodecades,instepwiththewidespreadadoptionofRoundup®-Readycorecrops.TheWorldHealthOrganizationrecentlylabelledglyphosateas“probablycarcinogenic.”Inthispaper,wereviewtheresearchliterature,withthegoalofevaluatingthecarcinogenicpotentialofglyphosate.Glyphosatehasalargenumberoftumorigeniceffectsonbiologicalsystems,includingdirectdamagetoDNAinsensitivecells,disruptionofglycinehomeostasis,succinatedehydrogenaseinhibition,chelationofmanganese,modificationtomorecarcinogenicmoleculessuchasN-nitrosoglyphosateandglyoxylate,disruptionoffructosemetabolism,etc.Epidemiologicalevidencesupportsstrongtemporalcorrelationsbetweenglyphosateusageoncropsandamultitudeofcancersthatarereachingepidemicproportions,includingbreastcancer,pancreaticcancer,kidneycancer,thyroidcancer,livercancer,bladdercancerandmyeloidleukaemia.Here,wesupportthesecorrelationsthroughanexaminationofMonsanto’searlystudiesonglyphosate,andexplainhowthebiologicaleffectsofglyphosatecouldinduceeachofthesecancers.Webelievethattheavailableevidencewarrantsareconsiderationoftherisk/benefittrade-offwithrespecttoglyphosateusagetocontrolweeds,andweadvocatemuchstricterregulationofglyphosate.GlyphosatepathwaystomoderndiseasesV:Aminoacidanalogueofglycineindiverseproteins8381http://www.surgicalneurologyint.com/temp/SurgNeurolInt6145-4381109_121011.pdf82https://www.academia.edu/17751562/Glyphosate_pathways_to_modern_diseases_IV_cancer_and_related_pathologies

Abstract:Glyphosate,asyntheticaminoacidandanalogueofglycine,isthemostwidelyusedbiocideontheplanet.Itspresenceinfoodforhumanconsumptionandanimalfeedisubiquitous.EpidemiologicalstudieshaverevealedastrongcorrelationbetweentheincreasingincidenceintheUnitedStatesofalargenumberofchronicdiseasesandtheincreaseduseofglyphosateherbicideoncorn,soyandwheatcrops.Glyphosate,actingasaglycineanalogue,maybemistakenlyincorporatedintopeptidesduringproteinsynthesis.Adeepsearchoftheresearchliteraturehasrevealedanumberofproteinclassesthatdependonconservedglycineresiduesforproperfunction.Glycine,thesmallestaminoacid,hasuniquepropertiesthatsupportflexibilityandtheabilitytoanchortotheplasmamembraneorthecytoskeleton.Glyphosatesubstitutionforconservedglycinescaneasilyexplainalinkwithdiabetes,obesity,asthma,chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease(COPD),pulmonaryedema,adrenalinsufficiency,hypothyroidism,Alzheimer’sdisease,amyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS),Parkinson’sdisease,priondiseases,lupus,mitochondrialdisease,non-Hodgkin’slymphoma,neuraltubedefects,infertility,hypertension,glaucoma,osteoporosis,fattyliverdiseaseandkidneyfailure.Thecorrelationdatatogetherwiththedirectbiologicalevidencemakeacompellingcaseforglyphosateactionasaglycineanaloguetoaccountformuchofglyphosate’stoxicity.Glufosinate,ananalogueofglutamate,likelyexhibitsananalogoustoxicitymechanism.Thereisanurgentneedtofindaneffectiveandeconomicalwaytogrowcropswithouttheuseofglyphosateandglufosinateasherbicides.

DeclinesineducationalattainmentinBritainoverrecentyearsTheUKratingshavedeclinedsignificantlyintheProgrammeforInternationalStudentAssessment.PISAisaworldwidestudybytheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)inmemberandnon-membernationsof15-year-oldschoolpupils'scholasticperformanceonmathematics,science,andreading.84PISAwasfirstperformedin2000andthenrepeatedeverythreeyears.Itisdonewithaviewtoimprovingeducation83http://www.amsi.ge/jbpc/11616/03SA16A.pdf84http://www.cmec.ca/252/Programs-and-Initiatives/Assessment/Programme-for-International-Student-Assessment-(PISA)/PISA-2012/index.html

policiesandoutcomes.Itmeasuresproblemsolvingandcognitionindailylife.TheUKisfallingbehindglobalrivalsininternationalteststakenby15-year-olds,failingtomakethetop20inmathematics,readingandscience(3December2013).Althoughnotdirectlycomparable,becausetherehavebeendifferentnumbersofcountriestakingpart,thismarksasustaineddecline,withtheUKhavingranked4thintheteststakenin2000.In2016anOECDstudyshowedthatinEnglandtheyounghavelowerbasicskillsthantheircounterpartsinEurope.85Butadultsapproachingretirementage(55-65year-olds)inEnglandcomparereasonablywellwiththeircounterpartsinothercountries.Thestudysays:“ThepriorityofprioritiesisthereforetoimprovethestandardofbasicschoolinginEngland,improvingbothaverageandminimumstandards(whichareespeciallyweakinEngland).”Proofthatobesityisaproblemrelatedtoglyphosate:astudyshowedthatby2025,theUKwillhavethehighestobesityratesamongbothmenandwomeninEurope,at38%:incontrastinFrancewomenhavehadvirtuallynoincreaseinBMIover40yearsAstudyonobesitypublishedintheLancetinMarch2016says:“AboutafifthofalladultsaroundtheworldandathirdofthoseintheUKwillbeobeseby2025,withpotentiallydisastrousconsequencesfortheirhealth”.86TheLancetStudysaysthereiszerochancethattheworldcanmeetthetargetsetbytheUNforhaltingtheclimbingobesityrateby2025.“Overthepast40years,wehavechangedfromaworldinwhichunderweightprevalencewasmorethandoublethatofobesity,tooneinwhichmorepeopleareobesethanunderweight,”saidseniorauthorProfMajidEzzatifromtheSchoolofPublicHealthatImperialCollegeLondon.“TheEnglish-speakingworldisparticularlybadlyaffected.TheUKwillhavethehighestobesityamongbothmenandwomeninEurope,at38%.Incontrast:“Againstthetrendofsteadilyrisingweight,womeninsomecountrieshadvirtuallynoincreaseinBMIoverthe40years–inSingapore,Japan,andafewEuropeancountriesincludingCzechRepublic,Belgium,France,andSwitzerland.”

85http://www.oecd.org/unitedkingdom/building-skills-for-all-review-of-england.pdf86http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/31/one-fifth-of-worlds-adults-will-be-obese-by-2025-study-predicts

Graph1USdatafor%GEcornandsoycropsplantedandglyphosateappliedtocorn&soyplottedagainst%ofU.S.populationwhoareobese(BMI30.0-99.8).CropandglyphosatedatafromtheUSDA;obesitydatafromU.S.

CDC.BykindpermissionofDrNancySwanson.DeathrateinEnglandandWaleshasincreasedby5.6%in201587ProfDominicHarrison,DirectorofPublicHealthinBlackburnandDarwensaysthatEnglandandWaleshaveseenthebiggestjumpinthenumberofdeathsayearforawholegeneration.PublicHealthEnglandsaysitismonitoringtheprovisionaldataanditsofficialssayaparticularlybadstrainoffluandanineffectivevaccinemaybebehindtherise.ProfHarrison'sownanalysisbacksupfiguresintheHealthServiceJournalwhichsuggesttherehavebeen5.6%moredeathsinEnglandandWalesin2015thaninthepreviousyear-thebiggestincreaseinthenationaldeathratesincethe1960s.Takentogetherhesaysthefiguressuggest"somethingismakingthepopulationmorevulnerabletodeath."Andhesaysthefindingsareunlikelytobefullyexplainedbywinterinfectionsorariseintheelderlypopulation.

Thegloballegacyofaspartame,Monsanto’sneurotoxicsweetener

WhyMonsantochoseBritaintobetheRapporteurMemberStatewithbackupfromEFSAAspartamewasfirstsynthesisedin1965intheUS.Itisanaddictive,excite-neurotoxic,carcinogenic,geneticallyengineereddrugandadjuvantthatdamagesthemitochondriaandinteractswithdrugsandvaccines.Forthefirst16yearstheFDAbannedit.AspartamewasshownbyFDAscientiststocausebraintumours,epilepsyandneurotoxiceffects.However,theCEOofSearlethatmanufacturedaspartamewasamancalledDonaldRumsfeld.HeandPresidentRonaldReagan(amanfamedforhisderegulationoftheUSEPA)betweenthemmanagedtogetitpassedforuseinawidenumberoffizzydietdrinksin1982.IthasbeenapprovedforuseinBritainsincethen.In1985(whenMonsantopurchasedSearle,thatheldthepatenttoaspartame)thelateFDAtoxicologist,DrAdrianGross,confirmedtocongressthatitwashighlyneurotoxic(l985,Senate)andthataspartameviolatedtheDelaneyAmendmentbecauseitcausedbraintumorsandbraincancer.88Manyindependentresearchershaveconfirmeditsdangersbutindustrystudiessayitissafe.In2007aReviewwaspublishedinNature:Directandindirectcellulareffectsofaspartameonthebrain.89“Aspartameiscomposedofphenylalanine(50%),asparticacid(40%)andmethanol(10%).Phenylalanineplaysanimportantroleinneurotransmitterregulation,whereasasparticacidisalsothoughttoplayaroleasanexcitatoryneurotransmitterinthecentralnervoussystem.Glutamate,asparaginesandglutamineareformedfromtheirprecursor,asparticacid.Methanol,whichforms10%ofthebrokendownproduct,isconvertedinthebodytoformate,whichcaneitherbeexcretedorcangiverisetoformaldehyde,diketopiperazine(acarcinogen)andanumberofotherhighlytoxicderivatives.”TheUKistheRapporteurMemberStateforaspartameMonsanto’scontroversialsweetener.ECrulesspecifythattheRMSbechosenbyIndustry.90ItappearsthattheCommitteeonToxicityofChemicalsinfoods(CoT)hadonlyconsultedindustryliterature,sincetheyhaveallowedaspartametobeapprovedsince1982.ProfessorDavidCoggonwasChairmanatthetimeofthelatestreassessmentofaspartame.

87http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-3558956488http://www.mpwhi.com/main.htm89http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v62/n4/full/1602866a.html90http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1107

“Atitsmeetingon29October2013,theCommitteeonToxicityofChemicalsinfoods(CoT)discussedapaper,describingresultsfromastudyledbyscientistsatHullYorkMedicalSchool”…CoTPOSITIONPAPERONADOUBLEBLINDRANDOMIZEDCROSSOVERSTUDYOFASPARTAME.91Nooneisallowedtoseethisstudyuntilithasbeenacceptedforpublicationinapeer-reviewedjournal.“TheCommitteejudgedthedelayacceptablesincetheresultspresenteddidnotindicateanyneedforactiontoprotectthehealthofthepublic.”EFSAhasalsore-evaluatedthesafetyofaspartame.92Asaresult,itconcludedinDecember2013that'aspartameanditsbreakdownproductsaresafeforhumanconsumptionatcurrentlevelsofexposure'.IndependentscientistErikMillstone93ProfessorinScience&TechnologyPolicy,SussexUniversitysenta67-pagedetailedresponsetotheHeadofEFSA‘FoodIngredientsandPackaging’UnitandtheSeniorScientificOfficer.94Hestronglydisputedtheirre-assessment.EFSAignoredhisresponse,justastheUSEPAignoredevidencefromDrBettyMartiniandDrJohnOlney.95NewlyleakedemailsfromJohnPodesta(ChairmanofHillaryClinton’spresidentialcampaign)discussRumsfeld’sinvolvementinaspartameapproval96“JohnPodesta'sleakedemailshaveturnedupanumberofdamningpiecesconfirmingthecollusionbetweenthesodaindustryandhighlevelofficialswithintheU.S.government,includingHillaryClinton.Inarecentbatchofleakedemails,DonaldRumsfeld'sinvolvementintheapprovalofaspartameisdiscussed.RumsfeldservedasWhiteHousechiefofstafffrom1974to1975.Hewasalsosecretaryofdefensefrom1975to1977,andagainfrom2001to2006.

GeneticallyEngineeredFoods:TheBiggestFraudintheHistoryofScience

GovernmentsandleadingscientificinstitutionshavesystematicallymisrepresentedthefactsaboutGMOsandthescientificresearchthatcastsdoubtontheirsafetyOn4March2015theOrganisationBeyondGMfacilitatedthePressReleaseofAmericanpublicinterestattorneyStevenDruker’sacclaimednewbook,AlteredGenes,TwistedTruthHowtheVenturetoGeneticallyEngineerOurFoodHasSubvertedScience,CorruptedGovernmentandSystematicallyDeceivedthePublic.HisbookrevealshowgovernmentsandleadingscientificinstitutionshavesystematicallymisrepresentedthefactsaboutGMOsandthescientificresearchthatcastsdoubtontheirsafety.97GMWatchreported:“ThebookfeaturesaforewordbytherenownedprimatologistDameJaneGoodall,whowillalsospeakattheconference,hailingitas“withoutdoubtoneofthemostimportantbooksofthelast50years.”Thebook’srevelationscomeatacrucialtimewhentheUKisconsideringthecommercialplantingofGMcropsfollowingtheEuropeanParliament’sdecisiontoallowmemberstates91http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/cotposponaspar.pdf92http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/dec/efsa-aspartame#.UuAtV3xFDcs93ProfessorofSciencePolicyattheUniversityofSussex94http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/43821/1/EM_Letter_to_EFSA_on_Aspartame_22Feb2013.pdf95http://www.scribd.com/doc/6669992/Dr-John-Olney-Statement-Aspartame-l987Dr.JohnOlney'slettertotheSenatein1987.96http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/11/09/podesta-aspartame-dangers.aspx97http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php/news/archive/2015-articles/15973

tooptoutoftheblockadethathasbarredthemfromtheEUuntilnow.Basedontheevidencepresentedinthebook,DrukerandGoodallwillassertthatitwouldbefoolhardytopushforwardwithatechnologythatisunacceptablyriskyandshouldneverhavebeenallowedonthemarketinthefirstplace.Thebookistheresultofmorethan15yearsofintensiveresearchandinvestigationbyDruker,whocametoprominenceforinitiatingalawsuitagainsttheUSFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA).StevenDrukerinitiatedalawsuitagainsttheUSFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)thatforcedittoopenitsfilesonGMfoodsThosefilesrevealedthatGMfoodsfirstachievedcommercialisationin1992onlybecausetheFDA:*Covereduptheextensivewarningsofitsownscientistsabouttheirdangers*Liedaboutthefacts*Andthenviolatedfederalfoodsafetylawbypermittingthesefoodstobemarketedwithouthavingbeenprovensafethroughstandardtesting“Druker’swell-referencedbookpointsoutthatiftheFDAhadactuallyheededitsownexperts’advice,toldthetruthandobeyedthelaw,theGMfoodventurewouldhaveimplodedandnevergainedtractionanywhere.”Therewereextensivemediaresources98butthelaunchwasn’treportedinthemainstreammedia.ItisnotsurprisingsincemembersofeminentsocietiesandsomeeditorsofscientificjournalsandphilanthropistsintheUK&USaresupportingGM.99DrukerchallengesUKRoyalSocietyovermisleadingstatementsmadeaboutGMfoodsOpenLettertotheUKRoyalSocietycanbereadhere.100Extracts:“BecauseclarifyingthefactsaboutGMfoodsiscrucialfordevelopinganintelligent,science-basedpolicyonthefutureofagriculture,andbecausetheRoyalSocietyhassignificantlycontributedtotheconfusionthatcurrentlysurroundsthisissue,itisimperativethatremedialactionbepromptlyinitiated.Thisisespeciallysoconsideringthat:•TheEuropeanCommissionisabouttoapprovesubstantialregulatorychangesinregardtoGMcrops.•TheUKisseriouslyconsideringallowingthemtobecommerciallyplanted.•TheSocietyandotherproponentsofGMfoodshaveinculcatedthewidespreadillusionthatthereisanoverwhelmingscientificconsensusthatthesafetyoftheseproductshasbeenestablishedthroughrigoroustesting…”Unlessyoupromptlytakethesesteps,itwilldemonstratethatyourcommitmenttopromotingGMfoodsisstrongerthanyourcommitmenttohonoringthetruthandupholdingtheintegrityofscience.FURTHER,whetherornotyouownuptoyourirresponsibleactionsandtakethestepsspecifiedabove,Ichallengeyoutoreadmybookandspecificallylistanyinaccuratestatementsoffactthatyoufindinit,accompaniedbyanexplanationofwhythestatementiserroneousandareferencetotheevidencethatcorroboratesyourassertion.”TheRoyalSocietysupportsGMcropsbutrefusestohavearationaldebateaboutthemDrBrianJohnofGM-Free-CymruwroteanOpenLettertothePresidentoftheRoyalSociety

SirPaulNurseon26/01/2011.101ItwasinresponsetoaBBCHorizonprogrammeinwhichSir

98http://beyond-gm.org/altered-genes-twisted-truth-media-resources/99RoyalSociety,WellcomeFoundation,Bill&MelindaGates,LordDavidSainsburyandtheGatsbyFoundation,RothamstedResearch,JohnInnesCentre,SainsburyLaboratory,CivilServantsfromDefra,NFU,JamesHuttonInstitute,BIS,OfficesofLifeSciences,CentreforFoodSecurity,FoodStandardsAgency,etc.100http://beyond-gm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DRUKER_OPEN-LETTER-TO-THE-ROYAL-SOCIETY_Final.pdf

PaulexaminedsomeofthereasonswhythepublicatlargeisprofoundlyscepticalaboutscienceandscientistswithregardtoglobalwarmingandGM.DrJohnsays:“Formorethanadecadenow,scientistsworkingintheGMfieldhavemountedviciouspersonalattacks(sometimespoliticallyratherthanscientificallymotivated)uponseriousscientistswhohavehadthetemeritytodiscover‘uncomfortablethingsaboutGMcropsandfoods’.Thistrendstartedwiththevitriolictreatmentmetedout(withtheRoyalSocietyinthevanguard)onArpadPusztaiandStanleyEwenadecadeago,andcontinuedwiththecrucifixionofIgnacioChapelaandDavidQuist,AngelikaHilbeck,MaewanHo,JudyCarman,Gilles-EricSéralini,AndrésCarrasco,ManuelaMalatesta,ChristianVelot,IrinaErmakovaandmanyothers…YouwillbeawarethattherehasneverbeenasinglepieceofepidemiologicalresearchtobackuptheclaimsthatGMfoodsareentirelysafetoeat.SincetheearliestdaysoftheGMenterprise,theindustryhassetitselfagainstsuchresearch,andgovernments,regulatorsandaugustbodiesliketheRoyalSocietyhaveconnivedinthiscunninglittleplan,allowingGMadvocateslikeJulianLittle(Bayer)totrotoutthissortofnonsense:‘twotrillionmealscontainingGMingredientshavebeenconsumedwithnoadversehealtheffects.’Asweallknow,thereareabundantanimalfeedingstudiesthatshowthatGMcomponentsinthedietleadtophysiologicalchangesandcelldamage.TheAmericanAcademyofEnvironmentalMedicinedrewattentiontostudiesthatindicate"serioushealthrisksassociatedwithGMfoodconsumptionincludinginfertility,immunedysregulation,acceleratedaging,dysregulationofgenesassociatedwithcholesterolsynthesis,insulinregulation,cellsignalling,andproteinformation,andchangesintheliver,kidney,spleenandgastrointestinalsystem”.Theyconcludedthat:“ThereismorethanacasualassociationbetweenGMfoodsandadversehealtheffects.Thereiscausation…”StevenDrukersaysthattherehasbeensilencefollowinghischallengetotheRoyalSociety“TheRoyalSocietywantsustotakeitswordthatGMcropsaresafeandhealthy”,writesStevenDrukeronJune2015inTheEcologist.102“Butitrefusestoretractitserrors,apologisetothosewhosereputationsithasimpugned,orenterintoconstructivedebateontheissue.Torestoreitsscientificintegrity,itmustabidebyitsownmotto.”“Scientifictruthsarenotmerelyasserted,noraretheycreatedbytheauthorityofthespeaker,nomatterhoweminent.Theymustbefirmlyrootedinevidenceandrationalargument.”DrukertalksabouttheRoyalSociety'spreposterouspretensions“ButneitherhenortheSocietyhaveacknowledgedtheerrors,orprovidedanyreplytotheallegationsmade.Instead,themisrepresentationofrealityhasbeenamplified.Inresponsetomediainquiriesaboutthechallenge,here'stheofficialstatementthattheinstitutionprovides:”"TheRoyalSocietybasesitsviewsonevidence,evidencethathasbeencloselyscrutinizedbypeoplewithexpertknowledgeandthathasstooduptothatscrutiny.Personalopinionsandunsubstantiatedanecdotesareunhelpfultohavingarationalpublicdebateonscienceandtheuseofnewtechnologies."TheSocietydismissedoneofthemostrigorousstudiesyetperformedonaGMOfood“NorhastheSocietyfaceduptothefactthatitdispensedmultiplemisrepresentations,andotherwisebehavedunethically,inordertodiscreditthesolid,andunsettling,researchconductedattheRowettInstituteunderthedirectionofDr.ArpadPusztai,oneoftheworld'sforemostexpertsinfoodsafety.Thatstudy103isstilloneofthemostrigorousyetperformed

101http://www.gmfreecymru.org.uk/open_letters/Open_letter26Jan2011.html102http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2921277/the_royal_societys_assault_on_the_science_of_gm_foods_must_cease.html103http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673698058607.pdf

onaGMfood,andit'sstillhighlyrelevantbecauseitcontrolledfortheeffectsofthenewforeignprotein-whichentailsthattheadverseresultsitregisteredwereattributabletoabroaderfeatureofthegeneticengineeringprocessitself.AndthatiswhyproponentsofGMfoodscannotabideitandhaveardentlyattackedit-withtheRoyalSocietyleadingthecharge.Asdocumentedinmyletter,firsttheSocietysavagedtheresearchwithouthavingseenthecompletedata,whichpromptedtheeditorofTheLancettorebukeitforits"breath-takingimpertinence."Itthenstrovetopreventtheresearchfrombeingpublished.AndaftertheresearcheventuallywaspublishedinTheLancetdespitetheattacks,theSocietycontinuedtomisleadinglymalignit.”RoyalSociety’s‘deafeningsilence'onGMOsColinTodhunterwroteinTheEcologiston03/06/2015:104“ItisnowthreemonthssinceStevenDrukeraddressedtheRoyalSocietyinhisopenletterand44dayssince20April.ThereappearstohavebeennoresponsefromTheRoyalSociety-andcertainlynotapublicone-exceptforabriefanddeliberatelyinsultingstatementissuedtoday.”(Seetheunderlinedstatementabove).“TheRoyalSocietyisthepreeminentscientificbodywithintheUKthatadvisesthegovernment.ItthereforehasanobligationtotheBritishpublictoprovideapublicresponseand'puttherecordstraight'onGMOs-notleastbecausethecurrentstaunchlypro-GMOCameron-ledadministrationwilllikelysanctiontheplantingofGMcropsinEnglandwithinthenextcoupleofyears,andtheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnership(TTIP)dealcouldopenthefloodgatestoGMfoodsappearingontheshelvesofUKsupermarkets.”ThepurposeofTheRoyalSocietyis,accordingtoitswebsite,to"recognise,promote,andsupportexcellenceinscienceandtoencouragethedevelopmentanduseofscienceforthebenefitofhumanity."HowtheGEfoodventurehasbeenchronicallybasedondeception105SteveDrukerwritesagaininAugust2016:“Althoughitpurportstobebasedonsolidscienceandtheopenflowofinformationonwhichsciencedepends,themassiveventuretoreconfigurethegeneticcoreoftheworld’sfoodsupplyhassubstantiallyreliedonthepropagationoffalsehoods.Itsadvancementandverysurvivalhavebeencruciallyandchronicallydependentonthemisrepresentationofreality–totheextentthatmorethanthirtyyearsafterthecreationofthefirstgeneticallyengineeredplant,thevastmajorityofpeopletheworld-over(includingmostgovernmentofficials,journalists,andevenscientists)continuetobemisledabouttheimportantfacts…Soiftheworld’soldestandmostrespectedscientificinstitutioncannotargueforthesafetyofGEfoodswithoutsystematicallydistortingthefacts,itindicatesthatsuchdistortionisessentialtotheargument.Moreover,whenthemultitudeofdistortionsanddeceptionsthathavebeenissuedonbehalfoftheseproductsoverthelastthirty-fiveyearsarecompiledandirrefutablydocumented(asinmybook),theconclusionthattheGEfoodventurecouldnothavesurvivedwithoutthembecomesvirtuallyinescapable.”AjournalistaskedthelateDrMaewanHo:doesn’tGeneticModificationfollowwhatnaturedoesalready?Noitbreaksalltherulesofevolution

104http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2893487/gmos_the_royal_societys_deafening_silence.html105https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/how-the-ge-food-venture-has-been-chronically-dependent-on-deception/

InApril2004,AnastasiaStephens,106ajournalistfromtheEveningStandard,interviewedthelateDrMaewanHo,GeneticistandCo-DirectoroftheformerInstituteofScienceinSociety.AS“Doesn'tgeneticmodificationfollowwhatnaturedoesalready-theevolutionaryprincipleofgeneticselection?”MWH“No,GMbreaksalltherulesofevolution,itshortcircuitsevolutionaltogether.Itby-passesreproduction,createsnewgenesandgenecombinationsthathaveneverexisted,andisnotrestrictedbytheusualbarriersbetweenspecies.”Callforjusticeforthemanypeoplepoisonedbyorganophosphates:a

massivecoverupbyHSE,Defraandthegovernment

TheFrancisCrickInstituteinLondonhasjustbeenopened;asheepdipsufferermusesastowhytheyarespendingsomuchmoneywhenmanyoftheresearchershaveknownallalongwhattheproblemsare:exposuretoagriculturalpoisonsRichardBrucerecentlysentanemailreflectingontheQueen’sopeningofthe£700millionFrancisCrickInstitute,whichwillhavesome£130millioninannualfunding.“ItisthebiggestresearchbuildingunderoneroofintheentireEuropeanUnionemployingsome1500scientistsandstaff.Itsaimistofindnewwaystoprevent,diagnoseandtreatconditions.”RichardBrucewhohasanextensiveknowledgeontheeffectsoforganophosphatesthatareusedfarmorewidelyinagriculturethanjustsheepdip.HepersonallywasbadlyaffectedbyActellicanOPinsecticideusedingrainstores,musesabouttheopeningofthisedifice.107HehastriedtofindoutwhyMAFFhadmadeyearlysheepdipscompulsorywithorganophosphoruscompoundsin1979andbiannuallyin1984thensuddenlystoppedthemin1992.OrganophosphateSheepDip10June2015WestminsterHalldebates:JessicaMordenMPspeaksonbehalfofAndyBurnham108“Wewantafullinquiry,independentofDEFRA,toallowustoquestionwhyfarmersmighthavebeencompelledtousethischemicalwithnoguidanceifgovernmentalresearchpointedtohealthimpacts.WascompulsorydippingstoppedbecauseMAFFknewitwasaffectingfarmworkers’andfarmers’health?Ifso,whydiditnotsayso?Weneedananswertothatquestioninparticular.”OrganophosphoruscompoundsarelikelytoberesponsibleforGulfWarsyndromeandmaybeassociatedwithAerotoxicSyndromeinpilotsandcabincrewasaresultofexposuretoOPsinengineoil.SarahMackenzieRossandcolleaguesperformedameta-analysisof14studiesinvolving1600participants.109AlthoughDefrahaddeniedalink,MackenzieRossfoundthattherewasasignificantassociationbetweenlow-levelexposuretoOPsandimpairedneurobehaviouralfunctionprimarilyinvolvingcognitivefunctions,psychomotorspeed,executivefunction,visuospatialability,workingandvisualmemory.[Chlorpyrifos,anOPcompound,isstillapprovedbytheChemicalsRegulationDirectorate.Glyphosateisalsoanorganophosphoruscompound.LabourMPAndyBurnhamsaid:“Farmerswhoallegedlysufferedasaresultoforganophosphate(OP)sheepdippoisoningareentitledtoa’Hillsborough-styledisclosure’ofthetruth.”]RichardBrucegoeson:itissaidtobe“aworld-leadingcentreofbiomedicalresearchandinnovation,ithasscale,visionandexpertisetotacklethemostchallengingscientific

106http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMmyths.php107https://gmandchemicalindustry9.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/causes-of-diseases-are-already-well-known-but-nothing-is-done-to-remove-those-causes/108https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2015-06-10a.130.0109http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/10408444.2012.738645

questionsunderpinninghealthanddisease.Theaimistofindnewwaystoprevent,diagnoseandtreatconditionssuchascancer,heartdiseaseandstroke,infectionsandneurodegenerativeconditionslikemotorneuronedisease.”Richard’spoststatesthatthecauseoftheseillnessesisalreadywell-knownandhasbeenknownforaverylongtimebutnothingisdonetoremovethosecauses.Hesaysthatprotectingthepoisonsindustryseemstobetherealaim:“Poisonedpeopleearntheindustry£millionsindrugsalesandresearch”.Heasks,“WhyistheMedicalResearchCouncilnowimplyingthatitdoesnotunderstandtheeverpresentdangernotonlytotheoccupationallyexposedbuttoeveryone,adult,childandunborn,exposedasweareinourfood,clothes,furniture,fuels,paints,oilsandourenvironment?” Heasks:“Dotheyneedallthatmoneytore-discoverwhattheyalreadyknow?”“TheMedicalResearchCouncil(MRC),CancerResearchUK,Wellcome,UniversityCollegeLondon,ImperialCollegeLondonandKing’sCollegeLondonareinvolved”.Richardcomments:“Someinterestingnamestherewithstaffwhomustknowwhatisreallygoingon”andsummariseshispostexaminingwhattheMRCactuallyknewandwhatithasreportedoverthedecades.”[MyComment:BearinginmindthatCancerResearchUKhasconflictsofinterestandtheWellcomeTrusthoststheIndustry-fundedScienceMediaCentre,thelinkswiththeRockefellerFoundationandBillandMelindaGatesFoundationbecomesevenmoresignificant.]IsitevenmoresignificantthatthenewCEOoftheFrancesCrickInstituteSirPaulNurse,formerPresidentoftheRoyalSociety,camefromtheRockefellerFoundation?TheRoyalSocietychampionsGMcrops,butSirPaulNurse,towhomSteveDrukerfirstlaiddownhischallengeaboutGMcropsbeingTheBiggestFraudintheHistoryofSciencewasgreetedbysilencefromthePresidentThreatofoverpopulation:isthereadepopulationinitiative?OntheinitiativeofBillGates,inMay2009someofAmerica’srichestpeoplemettodiscusswaysoftacklinga‘disastrous’environmental,socialandindustrialthreatofoverpopulationatthehomeofSirPaulNurse,110aBritishNobelprizebiochemistandPresident(electedin2003)oftheprivateRockefellerUniversityinManhattan.111DavidRockefellerJr.hostedthemeeting.Thesesameindividualshavemetseveraltimessincetodevelop“astrategyinwhichpopulationgrowthwouldbetackled…”112TheRockefellerFoundation(RF)fundedtheearliestresearchonGMOsTheRFfundedtheearliestresearchonGMOsinthe1940sandfoundedthescienceof‘molecularbiology’thatreducedthecomplexityoflifetoasinglegenethatwasnotstableoutofthetesttube.Itwascalledreductionism.113TheRF’s100thAnniversaryAgriculturewebsitesays:114“Sincethe1970s,thetechniquespioneeredbytheRFhavebeencriticizedfortheirenvironmentalimpact,fortheirrelationshipwithbigagribusiness,andforfailingtoeliminatehungercompletely.”TheRFalsofoundedthe‘GreenRevolution’.“Asoneanalyst

110Therewassomedoubtastowhetherhewaspresentornot.http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/31/new-york-billionaire-philanthropists111http://www.globalresearch.ca/billionaire-club-in-bid-to-curb-overpopulation/13736112http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2014/March20/202.html165http://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/23503114http://rockefeller100.org/exhibits/show/agriculture

putit,ineffect,theGreenRevolutionwasmerelyachemicalrevolution.Atnopointcoulddevelopingnationspayforthehugeamountsofchemicalfertilizersandpesticides.”115TheIslingtonTribuneinterviewedSirPaulNurse116“HeisnowtheNobelPrize-winningchiefexecutiveofthe£700millionmedicalresearchcentreTheFrancesCrickInstitute,whichtowersoverthehistoricblocksofsocialhousinginSomersTown.”AftersomediscussionaboutthelocalhousingandhowtheyhadtriedtoaccommodatethembybuildingcommunityfacilitieswithintheInstitute,SirPauladded:“NowI’mofftoTheRoyalEntomologicalSociety,I’mbeingmadeafellow.I’minterestedinbutterfliesandbeetles.”[I’msorrySirPaul,theyhaveallbeenwipedoutintheUKbytheagrochemicalindustrythatyouarepromoting.]BiocidesRegulationsintheEuropeanUnionmakealotofmoneyfor

EuropeanRegulatorsandthePesticidesIndustry

REACH(Registration,Evaluation,AuthorisationandRestrictionofChemicalsubstances):TheBiocidalProductRegulation(BPR,Regulation(EU)528/2012)concernstheplacingonthemarketanduseofbiocidalproducts,whichareusedtoprotecthumans,animals,materialsorarticlesagainstharmfulorganisms,likepestsorbacteria,bytheactionoftheactivesubstancescontainedinthebiocidalproduct.117“REACHisaregulationoftheEuropeanUnion,adoptedtoimprovetheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromtherisksthatcanbeposedbychemicals,whileenhancingthecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry.Italsopromotesalternativemethodsforthehazardassessmentofsubstancesinordertoreducethenumberoftestsonanimals.” Itcameintoforceon02/08/07.ExponentInc.isacompanythathelpschemicalfirmswithREACHcompliance.118Itdescribesitselfas“aresearchandscientificconsultantfirmwithclientsfromindustry(includingcropprotection)andgovernment.”ExponentInc.wasemployedbyBayertocriticiseEFSA’sworkonneonicotinoidsandbeesin2013.ItalsocontributedtoareviewbyaDowemployee(DowmanufactureschlorpyrifosthatisstillauthorisedbyCRD)thatconcludedthat“exposuretospecificpesticidesduringcriticalperiodsofbraindevelopmentandneurobehavioraloutcomesisnotcompelling.119”DrCarolineHarris,aVice-PresidentofExponentIncwasontheUKAdvisoryCommitteeonPesticidesevenbeforeitbecametheExpertCommitteeonPesticides(aconflictofinterest).AglobalindustryhasemergedtoadviseonBiocidesRegulation.TheBritishGovernmentisalsomakingalotofmoneyoutofitbecauseBiocidesHubisbasedintheUKAswiththeregulationofpesticides,itiscontrolledbythepesticidesindustryandbasedintheUK.BiocidesSymposiaareheldregularlyaroundtheworldto“getup-to-speedonallthat’snewinbiocidalproductsregulation”to“stayonestepahead.”Coursesarefrom£300-400perdayto$1585foraSymposium.Amultitudeoffirmshaveclientsfrom‘industry,cropprotectionandgovernment’.ChemicalWatchBiocidesHub(Shrewsbury)offers13EventsonBiocidesRegulationin2016,rangingfrombeginnerscoursestoadvancedcourses.

115http://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/23503116http://www.islingtontribune.com/scientists-moving-super-lab117https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation118http://www.exponent.com/REACH/119http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23777200

ARoadmapproducedbyDGSanteandEFSAtoplanthefutureofpesticidesregulation:120thisisdespitetheBfRandEFSAbeingaccusedofintentionalscientificfraudinitsreassessmentofglyphosatebytheGermanParliamentaryCommitteeonAgricultureandFooditisclearly‘businessasusual’ “TheCommissionapprovesactivesubstances(i.e.theagentusedtoachievetheprotectiveeffect)fortheuseinPPP(i.e.theendproduct)inaverystrictregulatoryframework.Italsosetsmaximumlevelsfortheirresidues(MRLs)infoodstuffs,inordertoprotectconsumers,andregulatestheuseofPPPtofurtherreducepossiblerisksandimpacts.PPPareindispensableinagriculturebuttheirusemayinvolveriskstohumanandanimalhealthandtotheenvironment.FoodandfeedcontainingpesticidesresiduesabovetheallowedMRLsmustnotbeplacedontheEUmarket(includingimportedproducts).”

BIOCIDESHAVENOPLACEINAGRICULTURE.ABIOCIDEISASUBSTANCETHATISKILLINGALLLIFE

PredictionsforthefutureoffarmingwithbiocidesintheUKandtheUS

• Peoplebornin1960willhaveaoneintwochanceofgettingcancerduringtheirlifetime.

• In1970,theincidenceofautismintheUSwas1:10,000.In2007itwas1:150.In2009itwas1:100.In2013itis1:50andby2025itwillbe1:2,i.e.50%.

• By2050theincidenceofpeoplewithvisionlossfromcataractsandmaculardegenerationwillbedoubled.

• Obesity:by2025theUKwillhavethehighestobesityratesamongbothmenandwomeninEurope,at38%:incontrastinFrancewomenhavehadvirtuallynoincreaseinBMIover40years.

• Diabetes:WHOsaidworldwidein1980108millionpeoplehaddiabetes;in2014,thishadrisento422million.Thisispredictedtorisesteeply

HumanhealthdependsonbiodiversityDrEricChivianfoundedtheCenterforHealthandtheGlobalEnvironmentatHarvardMedicalSchoolin1996“Tohelppeopleunderstandthatourhealth,andthatofourchildren,dependsonthehealthoftheenvironmentandthatwemustdoeverythingwecantoprotectit”.HeandAaronBernsteinco-editedabook:SustainingLife.HowHumanHealthDependsOnBiodiversitythatincludedcontributionsfrommorethan100leadingbiodiversityandhealthscientistsandco-sponsoredbytheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,theUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,theSecretariatoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversityandtheWorldConservationUnion.AstheChairmanoftheJudgesoftheInternationalMonsantoTribunal,FrancoiseTulkenssaid,“WewilltrytodeliverthelegalopinionbeforeDecember10th,theInternationalDayofHumanRights.ItwillbeaddressedtoMonsantoandtotheUnitedNations.Fromthislegalopinion,otherjurisdictionscanbeinvolvedandmorejudgeswillstepin.We,asthejudges[attheMonsantoTribunal]haveseen,heard,notedanddeliberated.Chancesarethattheinternationallawwilltakeintoconsiderationnewissuessuchastheonesrelatedtoecocide."121

120http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2016_sante_197_ealuation_plant_protection_products_en.pdf121http://www.gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/17273-chair-of-the-monsanto-tribunal-explains-what-it-means-and-what-it-might-do

June292015 July062016Duringthesummerandautumnof2016,theSwanseaCityandCountyCouncilauthorisedthesprayingof3,000kmofRounduponcityroadsidesina‘waronweeds’(There’snohidingplaceforweeds)SwanseaLeader.RosemaryMasonMBChBFRCADecember12016

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