Pesticides From GMO Corn Found In Water Ways

Most genetically modified corn is altered to grow its own pesticide on the cellular level. New research is showing this same pesticide showing up in water ways all over the mid-western U.S. farm belt.

Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall and colleagues from the Cary Institute published their recent findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their research documented the existence of the GM corn protein Cry1Ab throughout waterways that are within a 500 meter range of the actual corn feilds.

"Our research adds to the growing body of evidence that corn crop byproducts can be dispersed throughout a stream network, and that the compounds associated with genetically-modified crops, such as insecticidal proteins, can enter nearby water bodies," explained Roshi-Marchall.

"The tight linkage between corn fields and streams warrants further research into how corn byproducts, including Cr1Ab insecticidal proteins, potentially impact non-target ecosystems, such as streams and wetlands,” Roshi-Marshall concluded.