Environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants - Concepts and controversies

Environmental Sciences Europe

Volumn 23, Issue 1, 2011, Pages

  Hilbeck, Angelika ^a   Meier, Matthias ^b   Römbke, Jörg ^c   Jänsch, Stephan ^c   Teichmann, Hanka ^d   Tappeser, Beatrix ^d  

^a Ecostrat GmbH   (Germany)

^b RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FIBL   (Switzerland)

^c ECT OEKOTOXIKOLOGIE GMBH   (Germany)

^d Bundesamt für Naturschutz Leiter der Abteilung I2   (Germany)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BACTERIA (MICROORGANISMS);

EID: 79958243028     PISSN: 21904707     EISSN: 21904715     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1186/2190-4715-23-13     Document Type: Review

References (62)

1. CBD: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Text and Annexes. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; 2000.
2. EC: Directive 2001/18/EC of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EC, 17.4.2001, Official Journal of the European Communities L 106/1-38 2001.
3. EC: Commission Decision 2002/623/EC of 24 July 2002 establishing guidance notes supplementing Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modfied organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC, 30.7.2002, Official Journal of the European Communities L 200/22-33 2002.
4. Council of the European Union: Environment Council conclusions on genetically modified organism (GMOs). 29 12th Environment Council Meeting, Brussels 2008 [http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms-Data/docs/pressdata/en/ envir/104509.pdf].
5. EurActive: Commission hesitant to approve more GM crops 2008 [http://www.euractiv.com/en/environment/commission-hesitant-approve-gmcrops/ article-172209;].
6. EFSA: Guidance document of the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms for the risk assessment of genetically modified plants and derived food and feed. The EFSA Journal 2006, 99:1-100.
7. Mendelsohn M, Kough J, Vaituzis A, Matthews K: Are Bt crops safe? Nature Biotechnology 2003, 21:1003-1009. (Pubitemid 37064725)
8. Garcia-Alonso M, Jacobs E, Raybould A, Nickson Th, Sowig P, Willekens H, van der Kouwe P, Layton R, Amijee F, Fuentes AM, Tencalla F: A tiered system for assessing the risk of genetically modified plants to nontarget organisms. Environmental Biosafety Research 2006, 5:57-65. (Pubitemid 46594583)
9. Romeis J, Bartsch D, Bigler F, Candolfi MP, Gielkens MMC, Hartley SE, Hellmich RL, Huesing JE, Jepson PC, Layton R, Quemada H, Raybould A, Rose RI, Schiemann J, Sears MK, Shelton AM, Sweet J, Vaituzis Z, Wolt JD: Assessment of risk of insect-resistant transgenic crops to nontarget arthropods. Nature Biotechnology 2008, 26:203-208. (Pubitemid 351225956)
10. FAO/WHO: Biotechnology and food safety. Report of a joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Consultation Rome, Italy: FAO/WHO; 1996.
11. OECD: Report of the task force for the safety of novel foods and feeds. C (2000) 86/ADD1 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris 2000.
12. Romeis J, Meissle M, Bigler F: Reply. Nature Biotechnology 2007, 25:36-37.
13. Dolezel M, Hilbeck A, Miklau M, Eckerstorfer M, Heissenberger A, Gaugitsch H: Standardisation of Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the EU. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Bonn - Bad Godesberg: BfN-Skripten 259; 2009.
14. Millstone EP, Brunner EJ, Mayer S: Beyond 'substantial equivalence'. Nature 1999, 401:525-526.
15. Royal Society of Canada: Elements of precaution: recommendations for the regulation of food biotechnology in Canada Ottawa: Royal Society of Canada; 2001, 245.
16. Freese W, Schubert D: Safety testing and regulation of genetically modified engineered foods. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews 2004, 21:299-324. (Pubitemid 39657094)
17. Romeis J, Meissle M, Bigler F: Reply. Nature Biotechnology 2006, 24:751-753.
18. Baird DJ, Maltby L, Greig-Smith PW, Douben PET, ECOtoxicology: Ecological Dimensions London: Chapman & Hall; 1996.
19. Chapman PM: Integrating toxicology and ecology: putting the 'eco' into ecotoxicology. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2002, 44:7-15. (Pubitemid 34072089)
20. Forbes VE, Calow P: Extrapolation in ecological risk assessment: Balancing pragmatism and precaution in chemicals controls legislation. BioScience 2002, 52:249-257. (Pubitemid 34271430)
21. Hilbeck A, Jänsch S, Meier M, Römbke J: Analysis and validation of present ecotoxicological test methods and strategies for the risk assessment of genetically modified plants. In Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. Volume 236. Bonn - Bad Godesberg: BfN-Skripten; 2008:287.
22. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Monsanto; Pesticide Tolerance Petition Filing. Federal Register 1996, 61(248):67804-67807.
23. Arregui MC, Lenardon A, Sanchez D, Maitre MI, Scotta R, Enrique S: Monitoring glyphosate residues in transgenic glyphsate-resistant soybean. Pest Management Science 2003, 60:163-166.
24. Cerdeira AL, Duke SO: The current status and environmental impacts of glyphosate-resistant crops: a review. Journal Environmental Quality 2006, 35:1633-1658. (Pubitemid 44497917)
25. Andow DA, Hilbeck A: Science-based risk assessment for non-target effects of transgenic crops. BioScience 2004, 54:637-649. (Pubitemid 38940961)
26. Birch ANE, Wheatley R, Anyango B, Arpaia S, Capalbo D, Getu Degaga E, Fontes E, Kalama P, Lelmen E, Lövei G, Melo IS, Muyekho F, Ngi-Song A, Ochiendo D, Ogwang J, Pitelli R, Sétamou M, Sithanantham S, Smith J, Van Von N, Songa J, Sujii E, Quang Tan T, Wan FH, Hilbeck A: Biodiversity and non-target impacts: Case study of Bt-maize in Kenya. In Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms Volume 1: A Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya. Edited by: Hilbeck A, DA Andow. Oxon: CABI Publishing; 2004.
27. Hilbeck A, Andow DA, Birch ANE, Fitt G, Johnston J, Nelson K, Osir E, Songa J, Underwood E, Wheatley R: Nontarget and Biodiversity Assessment: Methodologies and Framework. In Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms, Volume 2: A Case Study of Bt Cotton in Brazil. Edited by: Hilbeck A, Fontes E, DA Andow. Oxon, CABI Publishing; 2006.
28. Hilbeck A, Fontes E, Andow DA, (Eds): Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms, Volume 2: A Case Study of Bt Cotton in Brazil Oxon: CABI Publishing; 2006.
29. Hilbeck A, Andow DA, Arpaia S, Birch ANE, Chen Y, Fontes E, Fitt G, Lang A, Thi Thu Hong Le, Lövei G, Manachini B, Nguyen Cuc Thi Thu, Van Huynh Nguyen, Van Tuat Nguyen, Van Lam Pham, Van Toan Pham, Pires C, Sujii E, Trac Lai Khuong, Underwood E, Wheatley R, Wilson L, Zwahlen C: Non-target and Biological Diversity Risk Assessment. In Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms, Volume 4: Challenges and Opportunities with Bt Cotton in Vietnam. Edited by: Andow DA, Hilbeck A, Nguyen Van Tuat. Wallingford: CABI Publishing; 2008.
30. Hilbeck A, Nelson K, Andow DA, Underwood E: Problem Formulation and Options Assessment (PFOA) to Assess the Ecological Risks Associated with a GM Crop. Risk, Hazard, Damage - Specification of Criteria to Assess Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Organisms. In Naturschutz und Vielfalt Edited by: Breckling, B, Verhoeven R 2004, 1:131-143.
31. Nelson KC, Kibata G, Muhammad L, Okuro JO, Muyekho F, Odindo M, Ely A, Waquil JM: Problem formulation and options assessment (PFOA) for genetically modified organisms: the Kenya case study. In Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms, Volume 1: A Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya. Edited by: Hilbeck A, Andow DA. Oxon: CABI Publishing; 2004:57-82.
32. Nelson KC, Banker MJ: Problem formulation and options assessment handbook A publication of the GMO ERA Project at; 2007 [http://www.gmoera.umn.edu], free download.
33. OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development): Guidelines for the testing of chemicals, Paris, France (including all updates until today) 1981.
34. Andow DA, Hilbeck A, Van Tuat Nguyen, (Eds): Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms, Volume 4, Challenges and Opportunities with Bt Cotton in Vietnam Wallingford: CABI Publishing; 2008.
35. Hilbeck A, Andow DA, (Eds): Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms, Volume 1: A Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya Oxon: CABI Publishing; 2004.
36. Harwood JD, Wallin WG, Obrycki JJ: Uptake of Bt-endotoxins by nontarget herbivores and higher order arthropod predators: molecular evidence from a transgenic corn agroecosystem. Molecular Ecology 2005, 14:2815-2823. (Pubitemid 41576963)
37. Zwahlen C, Andow DA: Field evidence for the exposure of ground beetles to Cry1Ab from transgenic corn. Environmental Biosafety Research 2005, 4:113-117.
38. Obrist LB, Dutton A, Albajes R, Bigler F: Exposure of arthropod predators to Cry1Ab toxin in Bt maize fields. Ecological Entomology 2006, 31:143-154.
39. Harwood JD, Samson RA, Obrycki JJ: Temporal detection of Cry1Abendotoxins by coccinellid predators in fields of Bacillus thuringiensis corn. Bull Entomol Res 2007, 97:643-648. (Pubitemid 350100418)
40. Saxena D, Stotzky G: Insecticidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is released from roots of transgenic Bt corn in vitro and in situ. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 2000, 33:35-39. (Pubitemid 30462290)
41. Raps A, Kehr J, Gugerli P, Moar WJ, Bigler F, Hilbeck A: Immunological analysis of phloem sap of Bacillus thuringiensis corn and of the nontarget herbivore Rhopalosiphum padi (Homoptera: Aphididae) for the presence of CryIAb. Molecular Ecology 2001, 10:525-533. (Pubitemid 32232357)
42. Lutz B, Wiedemann S, Einspanier R, Mayer J, Albrecht C: Degradation of Cry1Ab protein from genetically modified maize in the bovine gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2005, 53:1453-1456. (Pubitemid 40322135)
43. Zwahlen C, Hilbeck A, Howald R, Nentwig W: Effects of transgenic Bt corn litter on the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. Molecular Ecology 2003, 12:1077-1086. (Pubitemid 36524299)
44. Blackwood CB, Buyer JS: Soil microbial communities associated with Bt and non-Bt corn in three soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 2004, 33:832-836. (Pubitemid 38661572)
45. Douville M, Gagné F, Blaise C: André C: Occurrence and persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and transgenic Bt corn cry1Ab gene from an aquatic environment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2007, 66:195-203. (Pubitemid 44821408)
46. Rosi-Marshall EJ, Tank JL, Royer TV, Whiles MR, Evans-White M, Chambers C, Griffiths NA: Toxins in transgenic crop byproducts may affect headwater stream ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America (PNAS) 2007, 104:16204-16208. (Pubitemid 350099385)
47. Bøhn T, Primicerio R, Hessen DO, Traavik T: Reduced fitness of Daphnia magna fed a Bt-transgenic maize variety. Archives of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2008.
48. Hilbeck A, Schmidt JEU: Another view on Bt-proteins - how specific are they and what else might they do? Biopesticides International 2006, 2:1-50.
49. Hawes C, Haughton AJ, Osborne JL, Roy DB, Clark SJ, Perry JN, Rothery P, Bohan DA, Brooks DR, Champion GT, Dewar AM, Heard MS, Woiwod IP, Daniels RE, Young MW, Parish AM, Scott RJ, Firbank LG, Squire GR: Responses of plant and invertebrate trophic groups to contrasting herbicide regimes in the Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically-modified herbicide-tolerant crops. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 358 2003, 1439:1899-1913. (Pubitemid 37399319)
50. Berenbaum MR: Turnabout is fair play: Secondary roles for primary compounds. Journal of Chemical Ecology 1995, 21:925-940.
51. Scheirs J, de Bruyn L, Verhagen R: Host nutritive quality and host plant choice in two grass miners: primary roles for primary compounds? Journal of Chemical Ecology 2003, 29:1373-1389. (Pubitemid 36870432)
52. National Research Council (NRC): Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants: The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation Washington, DC: National Research Council, National Academy Press; 2002.
53. Hayes KR: Ecological risk assessment for ballast water introductions: A suggested approach. ICES Journal of Marine Science 1998, 55:201-212. (Pubitemid 28276249)
54. Hayes KR: Identifying Hazards in Complex Ecological Systems. Part 1: Fault-tree Analysis for Biological Invasions. Biological Invasions 2003, 4:235-249. (Pubitemid 35404622)
55. Hilbeck A, Meier M, Benzler A: Identifying indicator species for postrelease monitoring of genetically modified, herbicide resistant crops. Euphytica 2008, 164:903-912.
56. Andow DA, Zwahlen C: Assessing environmental risks of transgenic plants. Ecology Letters 2005, 9:196-214.
57. Andow DA, Lövei G, Arpaia S: Ecological risk assessment for Bt crops. Nature Biotechnology 2006, 24:749-751
58. Lang A, Lauber E, Darvas B: Early-tier tests insufficient for GMO risk assessment. Nature Biotechnology 2007, 25:35-36. (Pubitemid 46087894)
59. Raybould A: Problem formulation and hypothesis testing for environmental risk assessments of genetically modified crops. Environmental Biosafety Research 2006, 5:119-125. (Pubitemid 46846028)
60. Raybould A: Ecological versus ecotoxicological methods for assessing the environmental risks of transgenic crops. Plant Science 2007, 173:589-602 (Pubitemid 47562597)
61. AGBIOS GM Database: 2009 [http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php? action=ShowProd&data=MON89034+x+TC1507+x+MON88017+x+DAS-59122-0037], MON-89Ø34-3 x DAS-Ø15Ø7-1 x MON-88Ø17-3 x DAS-591 (MON89034 x TC1507 x MON88017 x DAS-59122-7).
62. EPA Environmental Protection Agency OPPTS 7501P: Pesticide Fact Sheet 2009 [http://www.agbios.com/docroot/decdocs/09-211-001.pdf]