Cancer deaths double in Argentina's GMO agribusiness areas

[Judi Lynn]

Cancer deaths double in Argentina's GMO agribusiness areas
Lawrence Woodward
24th August 2014

Sharply increased levels of crop spraying in Argentina's most intensively farmed areas have resulted in a public health disaster, writes Lawrence Woodward, with large increases in cancer incidence. And it's all the result of the widespread use of GMO crops engineered for herbicide resistance.


A report by the Ministry of Health in Córdoba, Argentina reveals that deaths from cancerous tumours are double the national average in areas where genetically engineered crops are grown and agro-chemicals are used.

This comprehensive report documented five years of information on cancer cases in the province.

It provides more evidence that, far from being the miracle it is claimed to be, industrial, GMO driven cropping is turning into a public health hell.

The highest rate of death occurs in the 'pampa gringa' area, where most GMO crops are grown and most agrochemicals are used.

The 'pampa gringa' makes up the whole of the east of Córdoba province and is its premier agricultural region.

The provincial average for cancer deaths is 158 per 100,000 inhabitants but in four of the 'pampa gringa' departments the death rates are much higher - ranging from 216 to nearly 230.

Other intensive agriculture regions in Córdoba also have cancer deaths well above the provincial and national average - ranging from 180-201 per 100,000 inhabitants.

More:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2525411/cancer_deaths_double_in_argentinas_gmo_agribusiness_areas.html

[darkangel218]

1. And some swear up and down that GMO is safe.

Safe my ass.

[ZombieHorde]

2. If you read the article,

you will see that the pesticides are the current suspect, not the GMOs.

[darkangel218]

3. I read what was posted.

Sharply increased levels of crop spraying in Argentina's most intensively farmed areas have resulted in a public health disaster, writes Lawrence Woodward, with large increases in cancer incidence. And it's all the result of the widespread use of GMO crops engineered for herbicide resistance.

"GMO crops engineered for herbicide resistance.* What that means is they modified the crops so super strong herbicides can be used. So is not just the herbicides, it's a combination of the two. They could have never used the herbicides on unmodified crop.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Yes, but the GMOs are not causing the cancer. nt

[Live and Learn]

5. Since the only purpose of the GMOs is to allow spraying

and the spraying is causing cancer, doesn't that negate the usefulness of the GMOs?

The only way to test if the GMOs alone caused cancer would be to grow them without spraying them but that would negate the purpose of them.

[darkangel218]

6. Its a contributing factor.

I don't know the stats, but my guess is the vast majority of GMO use is for this very reason: to make crops more resistant to chemicals.

[darkangel218]

7. Here:

What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.

http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/

[LiberalEsto]

10. Glyphosphate, aka Roundup may be linked to breast cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and more

Breast cancer link:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/25/glyphosate-residue.aspx#!


non-Hodgkins lymphoma link:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/glyphocancer.cfm


Link for article on peer-reviewed study on possible connection to diabetes, autism, infertility and more. The article cites a study showing that rats exposed to glyphosphate might not show immediate or short term effects, but life-long exposure demonstrates liver and kidney dysfunction and greatly increased risk of cancer with shortened lifespan.

http://sustainablepulse.com/2013/04/18/new-study-links-roundup-to-diabetes-autism-infertility-and-cancer/#.U_uTaWMW6f0

[ZombieHorde]

11. I didn't look at the links, but lets assume they are absolutely correct.

This isn't about GMOs, but rather about Roundup, which most GMOs don't use.

[LiberalEsto]

13. I'm under the impression that crops like corn and soybeans and others

are genetically engineered to resist the chemical glyphosphate, so it can be used to douse the fields with glyphosphate to kill weeds in the soil. Even though the glyphosphate supposedly disappears some time after use, there is concern that it could have residual effects over a period of time, both on the crops and the soil, Long-term effects in rats were mentioned in one of the links I posted. The other concern is that genetic engineering of food crops may have unknown effects, including long-term effects, on those that consume them. This includes possible effects on cattle, poultry and other animals raised as food. I do not eat meat, but I am very worried about the potential for harm in GMO food.

Asbestos used to be considered safe and was used as a fire-retardant in stage curtains, pot holders, ironing board covers, pipe insulation, floor tiles, siding and many other applications when I was young. I worked for a small newspaper in the town of Manville, NJ, around the time men who worked at the Johns-Manville asbestos plant starting coming down with mesothelioma lung cancers from inhaling asbestos fibers in the plant years earlier. Their wives were coming down with mesothelioma too - frpm washing their husbands' work clothes.It takes anywhere from 20 to 40 years for these cancers to develop and become detectable.

[Demeter]

8. GMO doesn't work without the pesticides, though

It's a package deal--engineered that way.

[darkangel218]

9. Exactly.

[ZombieHorde]

12. That is a weird claim.

There are tons of GMOs that work without pesticides.