Study Links Roundup Weedkiller To Overgrowth of Deadly Fungal ToxinsSayer Ji A new study lead by Argentinean researchers and published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health titled, Influence of herbicide glyphosate on growth and aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus section Flavi strains isolated from soil on in vitro assay,[1] adds to an increasing body of research indicating that glyphosate (aka Roundup), the primary herbicide used in GM agriculture, is seriously undermining the quality of our global food supply, and may help to explain recent observations that GM corn heavy markets, such as the U.S., have a significant aflatoxin problem.[2] Researchers from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University of Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina, set out to evaluate the effect of glyphosate (Roundup) on the growth of aatoxin B1 production by strains of Aspergillus under different water availabilities on maize based medium. Aflatoxin B1, one of at least 14 different types, is a naturally occurring mycotoxin that is produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, two species of fungi that commonly effect cereal grains. Known to be one of the most carcinogenic substances in existence, aflatoxin B1 is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1, carinogenic to humans, with an oral, rat LD50 (the dose that acutely kills 50% of a test group) of 5mg/kg compare that to a 6.4 mg/kg LD50 for potassium cyanide, which is used in lethal injection. Aspergillus section Flavi and Nigri Argentina is the worlds second biggest exporter of maize (Zea mays L.), and was responsible roughly for 15 percent of the worlds maize exports in the last three years. During the harvest season 2011/2012 the maize production is expected to be of 20 million tons. These cereal grains are colonize by several fungi communities, including mycotoxigenic species. Argentinas total acreage dedicated to GM corn, while small in comparison to the U.S. majority stake in the world market, is second only to the U.S. [See figure 1] Figure 1: Acreage of GM maize in million hectares/GMO-Compass.org Figure 2: GM maize share in the total maize acreage of a country/Source: GMO-Compass.org In brief, the researchers discovered that all six different concentrations of glyphosate tested decreased the lag phase of fungi growth proportionately to the increase in glyphosate concentrations. In other words, the glyphosate enhanced the growth of the aflatoxin-producing Apergillus strains, and at concentrations lower than the range generally detected in Argentinean soils destined to crop production, specifically an agricultural area belonging to the province of Buenos Aires.[3] In the authors words: This study has shown that the eight Aspergillus avus and A. parasiticus strains evaluated are able to grow effectively and produce AFs [aflatoxins] in natural medium with high nutrient status over a range of glyphosate concentrations under different aW [water activity] conditions. The figure below shows the influence of glyphosate on growth and aflatoxin B1 production: Figure 3: Influence of glyphosate on aflatoxin click to enlarge They noted: [S]everal studies have demonstrated that microbial activity and/or biomass can be stimulated following application of some glyphosate formulation to eld soil. This may be explained by the fact that glyphosate-tolerant species of fungi use glyphosate as a source of food, utilizing available phosphate or amine structures that result from its metabolic breakdown. Indeed, previous studies indicate glyphosate can be used by fungal strains as a nutriment and energy substrate.[8][9] [10] A major implication of the study is that there exists a synergism between glyphosate (Roundup) and soil-borne pathogens, which would lead to increased susceptibility to and severity of disease in glyphosate-treated plants.[11] Not only would Roundup-ready corn contain residues of highly toxic glyphosate, its inactive yet still highly toxic ingredients (surfactants), and metabolites (AMPA), but it would also be more likely to contain aflatoxins taken together, represent a veritable nightmare of synergistic toxicities, whose sum harms no regulatory agency yet adequately accounts for. The researchers conclude their paper with a cautionary note: This situation suggests that quantitative changes could occur in these fungi population in the soil exposed to longtime action of this xenobiotic. The survival of these microorganisms, capable to adapt to different glyphosate concentration represents a toxicological risk When one takes into account recent research that Roundup herbicide contributes to the suppression of beneficial lactic-acid producing gut bacteria, while enhancing some of the most deadly known to man, e.g. Clostridium botulinum (1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) would be enough to kill the entire human population), the days of casually classifying the ever-expanding numbers of anti- or non-GMO supporters and activists as alarmists, or GM food itself as substantially equivalent to non-GM food, are over. Those who continue to toe Biotechs party-line, under the much maligned banner of checkbook Science, and in face of clear evidence against its safety, will increasingly be perceived as morally, financially and even legally liable for the damages being caused to exposed populations. [1] Carla L Barberis, Cecilia S Carranza, Stella M Chiacchiera, Carina E Magnoli. Influence of herbicide glyphosate on growth and aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus section Flavi strains isolated from soil on in vitro assay. J Environ Sci Health B. 2013 ;48(12):1070-9. PMID: 24007484 [2] Reuters.com, Tate Lyle says aflatoxin in U.S. corn complicates grain sourcing, Nov. 2012 [3] Peruzzo, P.; Porta, A.; Ronco, A. Levels of glyphosate in surface waters, sediments and soils associated with direct sowing soybean cultivation in north pampasic region of Argentina. Environ. Pollut. 2008, 156, 6166. [4] K N Reddy, H K Abbas, R M Zablotowicz, C A Abel, C H Koger. Mycotoxin occurrence and Aspergillus flavus soil propagules in a corn and cotton glyphosate-resistant corn. [5] Larson, R.L.; Hill, A.L.; Fenwick, A.; Kniss, A.R.; Hanson, L.E.; Miller, S.D. Inuence of glyphosate on Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rot in sugar beet. Pest. Manag. Sci 2006, 62, 11821192. [6] Wardle, D.A.; Parkinson, D. Inuence of the herbicide glyphosate on soil microbial community structure. Plant Soil 1990, 122, 2937. [7] Hanson, K.G.; Fernandez, M.R. Glyphosate herbicides affect plant pathogenic fungi. Can. J. Plant. Pathol 2003, 25, 120. [8] Krzysko-upicka, T.; Orlik, A. The use of glyphosate as the sole source of phosphorus or carbon for the selection of soil-borne fungal strains capable to degrade this herbicide. Chemosphere 1997, 34, 26012605. [9] Krzysko-upicka, T.; Strof, W.; Kubs, K.; Skorupa, M.; Wieczorek, P.; Lejczak, B.; Kafarski, P. The ability of soil-borne fungi to degrade organophosphonate carbon-to-phosphorus bonds. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol 1997, 48, 549552. [10] Krzysko-Lupicka, T.; Sudol, T. Interactions between glyphosate and autochthonous soil fungi surviving in aqueous solution of glyphosate. Chemosphere 2008, 71, 13861391. [11] Rahe, J.E.; Levesque, C.A.; Johal, G.S. Synergistic role of soil fungi in the herbicidal effect of glyphosate. In Microbes and microbial products as herbicides, : Hoagland, R.E., Ed.; ACS Symposium Series No. 439; Oxford University Press: New York, 1990; 260275. 