GM crops may cause environmental disaster
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Environmentalists have expressed deep concern over the genetically modified (GM) crops now cultivated in the country fearing environmental disaster as such crops could change the genetic characters of indigenous species of crops and plants.
They urged the authorities concerned to remain alert about GM crops, which can cause wide variety of health problems, including accelerated aging, immune dysfunction, insulin disorders, organ damage and reproductive disruption, reports UNB.
"We are very scared about the genetically modified foods and the main reason is uncertainty. As we don't know how much harm these foods can cause to us," said Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Paribesh Banchao Andolon (save environment movement).
Talking to the news agency Thursday, he said the GM foods could destroy not only the nature but also the humanity. "Such foods are produced with the use of various harmful chemicals."
Mr Naser said indigenous species of crops should be produced more to meet the increasing food demands. "We'll have to emphasize on producing selected high-yielding breeds of paddy to produce more crops."
Referring to the recent warning by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, Dr Md Ataur Rahman, Director of Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC) and Programme on Education for Sustainability of IUBAT, said people should avoid genetically modified foods, as there was "more than a casual association between such foods and adverse health effects."
He said a large number of studies and incidents had implicated genetically modified foods in a wide variety of health problems, including accelerated aging, immune dysfunction, insulin disorders, organ damage and reproductive disruption.
Dr Rahman said researchers had found black patches in livers and intestines of dead animals fed on genetically modified crops and plants as well as signs of internal bleeding and poisoning. "Farm workers in India have begun developing allergic reactions upon handling corn, similar to the effects experienced by people exposed to chemical spraying."
They urged the authorities concerned to remain alert about GM crops, which can cause wide variety of health problems, including accelerated aging, immune dysfunction, insulin disorders, organ damage and reproductive disruption, reports UNB.
"We are very scared about the genetically modified foods and the main reason is uncertainty. As we don't know how much harm these foods can cause to us," said Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Paribesh Banchao Andolon (save environment movement).
Talking to the news agency Thursday, he said the GM foods could destroy not only the nature but also the humanity. "Such foods are produced with the use of various harmful chemicals."
Mr Naser said indigenous species of crops should be produced more to meet the increasing food demands. "We'll have to emphasize on producing selected high-yielding breeds of paddy to produce more crops."
Referring to the recent warning by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, Dr Md Ataur Rahman, Director of Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC) and Programme on Education for Sustainability of IUBAT, said people should avoid genetically modified foods, as there was "more than a casual association between such foods and adverse health effects."
He said a large number of studies and incidents had implicated genetically modified foods in a wide variety of health problems, including accelerated aging, immune dysfunction, insulin disorders, organ damage and reproductive disruption.
Dr Rahman said researchers had found black patches in livers and intestines of dead animals fed on genetically modified crops and plants as well as signs of internal bleeding and poisoning. "Farm workers in India have begun developing allergic reactions upon handling corn, similar to the effects experienced by people exposed to chemical spraying."