Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) insecticide was sprayed this week over parts of Portland Oregon to kill gypsy moth. If you are in Portland or live near there, you may be scheduled for BT to be sprayed above your home in the future and you may have already been sprayed this week. You might want to know that research shows it may persist for years in the soil following its dispersal in urban environments. This week, they sprayed three times to kill the gypsy moth. For people eating a GMO diet, it will just be more of the same since they eat BT in corn already. In Canada it was found that many women have BT already in their body even though the manufacturer says it does not accumulate in the body.
93 percent of pregnant women tested had BT in their body
80 percent of umbilical blood in their babies
67 percent of non-pregnant women had BT in their body
The authors thought this was due to the usual middle class diet of the people they studied being heavy in GMO corn/corn syrup that is in many processed foods. It can also come from animal meat since conventionally fed animals eat BT corn in their diets usually.
Now some of us don't like to consume food that makes its own insecticide (BT). I am one of those.
What becomes frightening to me is that some scientists believe BT genes can be shared with our gut bacteria and turn those beneficial gut bacteria into bacterial insecticide factories. I don't want to take the chance of a BT factory in my gut.
This insecticide destroys the lining of the insects stomachs. We are told this does not happen in mammals.(However, there are some studies showing it does bind with intestinal tissue in monkeys and mice. Hmmm.) BT research has shown that Monsantos BT corn called MON 863 has caused changes in the immune system of rats. Additionally the rats had liver and kidney toxicity. Hmmmm.
Then there is the concern over BT inciting resistance in pests and creating super pests. This has already happened with corn and the EPA has put out warnings to farmers as well as manufacturers and told them to change what they are doing.
Additionally, the beneficial insects are also killed. Just part of the collateral damage.
I don't know that spraying cities or forests with any insecticides is a good idea. If I lived in Portland right now, I would be complaining. I am sure the helicopters will be visiting my neck of the woods in Eugene oregon in the near future. None of us will be left out.
Here are some good articles to learn more about BT:
A mercola article on BT and health effects
Bt cotton — bitter harvest
93 percent of pregnant women tested had BT in their body
80 percent of umbilical blood in their babies
67 percent of non-pregnant women had BT in their body
The authors thought this was due to the usual middle class diet of the people they studied being heavy in GMO corn/corn syrup that is in many processed foods. It can also come from animal meat since conventionally fed animals eat BT corn in their diets usually.
Now some of us don't like to consume food that makes its own insecticide (BT). I am one of those.
What becomes frightening to me is that some scientists believe BT genes can be shared with our gut bacteria and turn those beneficial gut bacteria into bacterial insecticide factories. I don't want to take the chance of a BT factory in my gut.
This insecticide destroys the lining of the insects stomachs. We are told this does not happen in mammals.(However, there are some studies showing it does bind with intestinal tissue in monkeys and mice. Hmmm.) BT research has shown that Monsantos BT corn called MON 863 has caused changes in the immune system of rats. Additionally the rats had liver and kidney toxicity. Hmmmm.
Then there is the concern over BT inciting resistance in pests and creating super pests. This has already happened with corn and the EPA has put out warnings to farmers as well as manufacturers and told them to change what they are doing.
Additionally, the beneficial insects are also killed. Just part of the collateral damage.
I don't know that spraying cities or forests with any insecticides is a good idea. If I lived in Portland right now, I would be complaining. I am sure the helicopters will be visiting my neck of the woods in Eugene oregon in the near future. None of us will be left out.
Here are some good articles to learn more about BT:
A mercola article on BT and health effects
Bt cotton — bitter harvest
