A frightening new study has provided some damning evidence to expose the serious genetic damage suffered by children exposed to the pesticides used on GM soy fields. The 2015 study demonstrates the importance of further studies and restrictions to GM soy fields in Argentina and the markets in general.
A team of researchers from The National University of Rio Cuarto (UNRC) in Cordoba have made comparisons between children who lived close to a GM soy field area to those living in Cordoba away from the soy fields. The results are difficult to argue, with findings suggesting that exposed children suffered a 44% increase with genetic damage than in the unexposed children.
The sprayed crops routinely consisted of pesticides including the use of glyphosate, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos. Those living within a 500m radius were considered seriously damaged.
Further to the study, the researchers found that of the exposed children, 40% had varying persistent symptoms, including repetitive sneezing, respiratory distress, and bronchospasm, skin itching, nose bleeds, and eye and ear burning or itching. In the children not exposed, these symptoms were absent.
On the positive side, researchers suggested that children be followed up as the symptoms can be reversed. However, it remains a question as to if biological markers of cell damage continue to present.
Delia Aiassa, the lead researcher, studied the children because their genes are still at the developing stage: genetic damage at their young age could determine future health (epigenetics). She observed damage in the exposed children that included:
- Cytogenetic damage (damage to the structure and function of the cell, especially chromosomes)
- Increased frequency of DNA damage to chromosomes in childhood that is a predictive marker to the development of future cancer in adults.
The study concludes:
“A significant difference was observed between exposed children living less than 500 m from areas subjected to spraying and those who were not exposed. Forty percent of exposed children suffer some type of persistent condition, which may be associated with chronic exposure to pesticides.”
The question dangling is the potential future suffering to those who consume GM soy, which constitutes some 94% of the soy grown in the United States, according to some reports.
This Article (Research concludes GM soy production harmful to children) is free and open to source. You have permission to republish under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and AnonHQ.com.
