BtCorn Toxins May Harm Stream Ecosystems
Filed in archive Energy, Environment and Ecology , Food and Agriculture by ruth on October 11, 2007

These issues have not been evaluated by the EPA prior to licensing the use of Bt corn, as their evaluation studies assumed that plant parts would remain in fields without being carried away by streams and the impacts of Bt corn were tested only on small lake organisms that are typically used to test the impacts of chemicals on aquatic ecosystems.
Source: NSF
Image: Genetically modified corn, commonly called Bt corn, is engineered to kill pests such as the European corn borer. However, a new study shows that Bt corn may also harm the caddisfly, which serves as food for fish and amphibians
. The new study also shows that parts of Bt corn, such as leaves, cobs and pollen, can travel as far as 2000 meters away from source areas-a phenomenon that was not considered when Bt corn was licensed. Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science FoundationPermalink: BtCorn Toxins May Harm Stream Ecosystems
Tags:
GMO GM corn cropping agriculture genetically+modified genetic+engineering ecology environment 2007 h
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