Community | March 03, 2010 | 25 comments

New study shows Roundup pesticide kills fish

source: http://invw.org/node/958

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JanforGore
http;//invw.org/node/958

Roundup is one of the most widely used pesticides in the world. But it increases the incidence of disease in fish, a new study shows. And yet it looks like the government is about to greatly expand the U.S. acreage where it is applied by approving planting of vast swaths of genetically engineered alfalfa. These “Roundup-Ready” hayfields worry opponents of GE foods, and this latest news about the effect on fish is bound to stir the pot some more. (The opportunity for public comment on allowing GE alfalfa ends soon, btw.) The new fish study, out of New Zealand, showed that when applied at recommended rates on fields near a freshwater stream, Roundup didn’t kill young freshwater fish outright. Score one point for Monsanto, Roundup’s manufacturer. However, what Roundup did at this relatively dilute concentration was to increase the production of worm that’s a parasite of the fish, and comes from a particular snail. And the combination of more parasites and moderate levels of Roundup – aka “glyphosate” – produced what scientists called “significantly reduced fish survival.” They concluded: "This is the first study to show that parasites and glyphosate can act synergistically on aquatic vertebrates at environmentally relevant concentrations, and that glyphosate might increase the risk of disease in fish. Our results have important implications when identifying risks to aquatic communities and suggest that threshold levels of glyphosate currently set by regulatory authorities do not adequately protect freshwater systems."
  1. groups:
    Community,   Green,   Sustainable Agriculture,   Earth Care,   2 more
  2. tags:
    Pollution,  Monsanto,  Fish,  Toxic,  5 more
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25 comments // New study shows Roundup pesticide kills fish

  • epstud74
  • epstud74
    • 0
      epstud74  

    • My god, you guys are dumb. Roundup is not a pesticide. If you cannot tell the difference between pesticides and herbicides, you should stay out of the "Green" game

    • 2 years ago
  • captainplanet71
    • 0
      captainplanet71  

    • Intensive organic farming techniques can uproot Roundup! These findings are all the more reason to support the use of sustainable practices in agriculture.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • +1
      JanforGore  

    • http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/12014-negative-impacts-of-rou...
      "EXTRACT: This system is altering the whole soil biology.
      ---
      ---
      Professor Robert Kramer discusses the impacts of the Roundup Ready system
      via The Organic and Non-GMO Report
      [extracted from an article here]
      http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march052010/roundup-judge.php

      *Please give me an overview of your research

      RK: We started in 1997 wanting to see if this new system, Roundup Ready, would change the production of nematodes in soybean. We started looking at organisms in soybean roots and saw microorganisms colonizing the roots. We suspected that glyphosate was having an impact. There was a root fungi problem that seemed to be encouraging sudden death syndrome (SDS). We saw the increase of these fungi in the Roundup Ready (genetically modified) system, both soybeans and corn.

      *What types of things are you seeing in the Roundup Ready system?

      RK: This system is altering the whole soil biology. We are seeing differences in bacteria in plant roots and changes in nutrient availability. Glyphosate is very systemic in the plant and is being released through the roots into the soil. Many studies show that glyphosate can have toxic effects on microorganisms and can stimulate them to germinate spores and colonize root systems. Other researchers are showing that glyphosate can immobilize manganese, an essential plant micronutrient.

      *What are glyphosate's impacts on beneficial soil bacteria?

      RK: The most obvious impact is on rhizobia, a bacterium that fixes nitrogen. It has been shown that glyphosate can be toxic to rhizobia. (Nitrogen fixing bacteria are important to soils because nitrogen is the most commonly deficient nutrient in many soils.)

      *What about research showing increased incidence of Fusarium in Roundup Ready GM crops?

      RK: We've taken field surveys and seen an increase in Fusarium with the use of glyphosate. Some Roundup Ready varieties even without using glyphosate tend to be more susceptible to being impacted by Fusarium. It could be an unintended consequence of genetic manipulation that could make it more susceptible.

      *Your paper also mentioned the potential of glyphosate to contaminate groundwater.

      RK: Yes, under certain circumstances. The big assumption for claims that glyphosate is benign is that it isn’t immediately absorbed by the soil. But research is showing that isn’t necessarily true; that it is still available in the soil.

      If soil is full of phosphorous, glyphosate could leach into ground water. For example, farmers may use manure from confined animal feeding operations as a fertilizer. The soil will then contain high amounts of phosphorus, which overwhelms the soil. Any glyphosate that hits the soil will be a potential contaminant. It can stay in the soil or it might run off into streams or waterways.

      *What about glyphosate resistant weeds?

      RK: We have eight different species of glyphosate resistant weeds in Missouri. Some species of Johnson Grass are found in fields where Roundup is used year after year. It is a very aggressive weed.

      To solve the problem of weed resistance, genetic engineers are developing soybeans that tolerate Roundup and Dicamba, another herbicide. They are incorporating another gene resistant to another herbicide. When resistance happens again, will they then develop a plant resistant to five or six herbicides? It's an illogical circle."

      ____
      Negative impacts of Round Up Ready systems. They destroy all that is good about agriculture.

    • 2 years ago
  • dalistuff
    • 0
      dalistuff  

    • "my saint" mon santo is evil bio- engineers mixing bizarre DNA onto feed or grains and getting a top spot on the presidents team of agriculture. Ain't that a bitch?

    • 2 years ago
  • mkennedy09
    • 0
      mkennedy09  

    • yep and its one of monsantos best selling products.
      Watch the movie Monsanto. kinda slow but, informative but shocking.
      they should've called it death to mankind.

    • 2 years ago
  • mcjk
  • JanforGore
  • diabolical44
  • lizziehoffman
  • CalgarC
  • mkennedy09
  • JanforGore
    • +1
      JanforGore  
    • CalgarC:

      Yes we do. We need to see glyphosate and a whole list of pesticides BANNED worldwide.
      Boycotting Monsanto, Bayer, etc. is a start. Sales of Round Up have been dropping. Information is power if used wisely.

    • 2 years ago
  • CalgarC
  • zionoe
  • lsywlw
  • JanforGore
  • CalgarC
  • Pjplasma
    • +3
      Pjplasma  

    • Interesting article, a bit miss leading as everything in the world, so from what i understand the parasite is killing the fish, but glyphosate is weakening the fish to fighting off this parasite.....

      Hahaha, can't wait for Monsanto's spray for the parasite.... solve one problem, make 5, solve 5 make 10, etc etc, what poison is next for Monsanto

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • bailey78
  • aid616
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • aid616:

      So true. There's so much of it in the biosphere already. But I had no illusions that many here would take this seriously or even care. It's the main reason companies like Monsanto have so much influence on our lives and toxifying our planet.... the majority let them have it because they are too busy making smartass remarks on Internet message boards for effect to care.

    • 2 years ago
  • bailey78
  • JanforGore
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