Quality of risk analysis and insecurity of transgenic to environmental and human health

Abstract

In general, transgenic plants carry genes of antibiotic resistance and sequences that promote the transfer of genes and instability. It is also unpredictable the site of insertion of transgenes, the side effects and the effects to non-target organism or animals in the food chain. Nor it is possible to control the expression of the transgenes that are inserted or the spread of them. These features require scientific studies for decision making. Proponents of the technology prefer to use the criterion of substantial equivalence, which doesn’t have scientific basis and will be argued in this article, but being accepted by regulatory agencies. In general, the few studies submitted by applicants are very low quality and therefore they wouldn’t be published in prestigious journals. Examples of these studies are discussed here as the low number of repetitions and the short duration of trials. Therefore, society is not known of what happens during the review and approval of transgenics for commercial use. Now, there are studies by independent researchers indicate damage to human health and the environment. Part of these studies are presented and discussed in this article. finally, in the absence of risk assessments on scientific basis, we suggest the use of the precautionary principle.