The health effect of genetically modified plants based on glyphosate residues in Roundup Ready crops

In recent years, after expanding of the global area cultivated with genetically modified plant there has been a notable concern on the safety Genetically Modified (GM) food crops. Among various types of transgenic events, about 81% of GM crops are herbicide-tolerant varieties. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the health effect of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) residues in GM crops. The scientific publications on health risk studies and from resent literature about glyphosate residue in Roundup Ready crops was reviewed. According to findings, Glyphosate was the most commonly used herbicide in the world and increased considerably after the development of herbicide-tolerant GM verities. The studies indicated GM-herbicide tolerant crops in some cases contained high residues of glyphosate and its metabolites. Experimental studies in laboratories showed adverse or chronic effects of glyphosate on the liver and kidney. Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogenic agent. The survey revealed a coherent body of evidence indicating that GBHs could be toxic. These indicates that regulatory safety assessment for residue of GM Roundup Ready crops have been ignored. According to our findings, it is suggested that toxicity studies should be prolonged and formulations of GBHs prioritized for toxicology testing programs, as well as sexual hormones should be assessed.

Keywords:

genetically modified plant , Roundup Ready , Herbicide residues , glyphosate , Risk assessment , Toxicity