Effects of the herbicide Roundup on human embryonic
cells
Press Release CRIIGEN - May
2007
Committee
for Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering - http://www.criigen.org
Professor Séralinis
group (1), in the University of Caen, France, just
published a study on the previously unknown toxic effects of Roundup
on human embryonic cells.
Roundup is the major
herbicide in use worldwide, including on GMOs for food and feed. The
embryonic cells are from a line cultivated in the laboratory and their
use does not necessitate embryo destruction. The group wanted to confirm
and detail the understanding of the effects already observed on placental
cells, as published by Séralinis group in 2005.
Following comparison,
it appears that embryonic cells are far more sensitive. The deleterious
results of Roundup are noticed at very week doses (the product sold
in stores is diluted up to 10,000 times). Sensitivity is confirmed in
particular for the disruption of sexual hormones at non toxic levels,
especially on fresh placental extracts. The maximal active dilutions
correspond to less than the residues in discussion to be authorized
in GMO feed in the United States.
It is evidenced that
the herbicide Roundup, as sold on the market, is far more toxic than
the product which is known and approved to be its active ingredient:
glyphosate. The gaps in European legislation to study the effects of
mixtures and hormonal disruptions are underlined.
This work may be of
help in better understating the problems of
miscarriages, premature births or sexual malformations of babies, in
particular in agricultural workers families.
The paper published
on line first (1) on the website of the journal « Archives of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology » directed by Dr. Doerge
from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in USA, will appear in the
July 2007 issue.
This work is funded
by the Human Earth Foundation, the Denis Guichard Foundation, the CRIIGEN
and the Regional Council of Basse-Normandie.
Contact : Pr Gilles-Eric Séralini, Biochemistry, Institute of
Biology, University of Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, France.
Telephone: 33(0)2-31-56-56-84. Fax: 33(0)2-31- 56-53-20. Corinne Lepage
President of CRIIGEN. E-mail: criigen@unicaen.fr.
(1)
Time and Dose-Dependent Effects of Roundup on Human Embryonic and Placental
Cells by Nora Benachour, Herbert Sipahutar, Safa Moslemi, Céline
Gasnier, Carine Travert, Gilles- Eric Séralini.
(http://www.springerlink.com/content/d13171q7k863l446/fulltext.html)
Fuente:http://www.criigen.org/press-release_Rup_0507.pdf