Genetically modified foods are responsible, in part, for the widespread use of chemical herbicides. RoundUp-ready GM crops are being planted across the country, allowing for the liberal use of the toxic chemical herbicide RoundUp. 

Sugar beets were genetically modified in this way, but were originally taken out of production by a court order issued by district court judge Jeffrey S. White, who said a full environmental impact statement (EIS) needed to be done first. Well, a recent study that suggests a shortage of sugar beet seeds this spring has catalyzed a reaction by food companies to pressure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lift the ban. 

The result? Genetically modified sugar beets are being partially deregulated, and will be planted this spring.  The USDA is permitting farmers to plant the GM sugar beets in line with rules designed to prevent the plant’s wind-blown pollen from reaching organic fields, where it could contaminate the organic crops with its own GM traits. Whether these rules will actually be followed (if they are even effective!) is another story.

This is a perfect example of the HUGE influence that the food industry has on government regulation. Alfalfa crops have already been deregulated in this way. The Organic Consumers Association said this about the deregulation of alfalfa: “[It is] guaranteed to spread its mutant genes and seeds across the nation; guaranteed to contaminate the alfalfa fed to organic animals; guaranteed to lead to massive poisoning of farm workers and destruction of the essential soil food web by the toxic herbicide, RoundUp; and guaranteed to produce RoundUp-resistant superweeds….”

Too bad the Organic Consumers Association doesn’t have the same pull as the food industry!

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Pesticides…it’s a scary subject folks! And it’s one that comes up a lot these days thanks to modern industry. Pesticides and herbicides are among the more than 80,000 chemicals being used in America today, most of which have been shown to cause serious health problems in humans—even in small amounts. So when I heard recently that the Environmental Protection Agency is finally taking steps to ban one of the most harmful pesticides in use today, I couldn’t help but celebrate!

Last month the EPA moved to ban the use of endosulfan once and for all in the U.S., and I wasn’t the only one doing a happy dance. Health advocacy groups like the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) have been trying to remove endosulfan from the market for years because of its widely documented health effects in humans.

Banned in more than 60 countries worldwide, endosulfan is used most commonly on vegetable crops and cotton and has been linked to birth defects and delayed sexual development in children, as well as an increased risk of developing autism. And even though it’s not considered a carcinogen (a cancer-causing toxin), research shows that endosulfan may also contribute to certain types of cancer, in particular breast cancer.

Right now the EPA is working with the sole U.S. manufacturer of endosulfan to establish a timeframe that would allow farmers to come up with effective alternatives to endosulfan use—bravo! My only hope is that other countries will follow suit, and pretty soon we can phase out the use of endosulfan for good.

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Last week I told you about a new report just released by the President’s Cancer Panel—a panel of experts created in 1971 to keep the president informed about the activities of the National Cancer Program. It’s a 200-page report that warns about the dangers of environmental pollution on the nation’s health and urges government to take a stronger position on the regulation of these chemicals in our environment.

In an effort to determine the effects of environmental toxins on our health, the PCP report reviews the dangers of exposure to industrial chemicals that persist in the environment (like PCBs), as well as insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers; heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic; air pollution; tobacco smoke; contaminated drinking water (including pharmaceutical drug contamination); electromagnetic waves (think cell phones); UV radiation; and even military chemical exposure. What’s more, it gives recommendations to help reduce our exposure to these harmful toxins. Here are some of the highlights:

• “Parents and child care providers should choose foods, house and garden products, play spaces, toys, medicines, and medical tests that will minimize children’s exposure to toxics. 
• Both mothers and fathers should avoid exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals [such as BPA] and known or suspected carcinogens prior to a child’s conception and throughout pregnancy and early life, when the risk of damage is greatest. 
• Family exposure to numerous occupational chemicals can be reduced by removing shoes before entering the home and washing work clothes separately from other family laundry.
• Filtering home tap or well water can decrease exposure to numerous known or suspected carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.  Unless the home water source is known to be contaminated, it is better to use filtered tap water instead of commercially bottled water. 
• Storing and carrying water in stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free and phthalate-free containers will reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting and other chemicals that may leach into water from plastics. Similarly, microwaving in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers will reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may leach into food when containers are heated. 
• Exposure to pesticides can be decreased by choosing food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and washing conventionally grown produce to remove residues.
• Exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones and toxic runoff from livestock feed lots can be minimized by eating free-range meat.
• Avoiding or minimizing consumption of processed, charred, and well-done meats will reduce exposure to carcinogens.
• Individuals can choose products made with non-toxic substances or environmentally safe chemicals.
• Reducing or ceasing landscaping pesticide and fertilizer use will keep these chemicals from contaminating drinking water supplies.” 

Though all of this information at once may seem a little alarming, I can’t stress enough how important it is that the danger of toxin exposure is finally receiving the attention it should. My hope now is that more people will take responsibility for their health—and the health of our planet—by taking steps to reduce toxins in their daily lives.

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Summary:
In this video blog I discuss an article posted on Science Daily about herbicides that are used on corn. What are herbicides? Do herbicides pose a risk to your health? Tune in and find out the answers…

Full Script:
Yesterday I read an article posted on Science Daily website I found frightening and frankly downright stupid. The article was citing a recent study which found that the herbicides mesotrione and atrazine, when applied to sweet corn, increased the corn’s nutritional value.

Specifically, they stated that these herbicides increased the carotenoids called lutein and zea-zan-thin which are linked to health benefits.

How stupid do they really think we are? Should we now be making sure our corn has these herbicides on it? Obviously this study was funded by either the American Chemical Society or the biggest herbicide manufacturer Monsanto.

And what about the “benefits” of these herbicides? How about birth defects, ocular lesions, liver, kidney and heart damage! These herbicides are even more harmful to our children.

My response to this type of scientific reporting? “Give Me A Break!”

And don’t forget to visit DetoxStrategy.com, the website of my book, The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps.

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birth defects, Brenda Watson, carotenoids, detox strategy, heart damage, herbicides, kidney damage, liver damage, lutein, monsanto, ocular lesions, zea-zan-thin