Natural Born Killers Charles W. Schmidt Abstract
This year, 30 million acres of the corn, cotton, and potatoes planted in the United States will have been genetically engineered to produce an endotoxin normally found in the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) , a self-contained pesticide that will be toxic only to target insects. Transgenic pest-resistant crops are a cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides, and may offer a way to help feed the world's growing population with minimal environmental impact. But many consumers are suspicious of genetically engineered foods, and the EPA, the FDA, and public health advocacy groups have been watching the development of pest-resistant crop strains closely. Some scientists fear that the genetic variants produced could introduce foreign biological substances, including allergens, into the food supply, with unforeseen public health and environmental effects. Others warn of dire ecological consequences in the event that pest-resistant genes are inadvertently bred into wild weed populations, providing them with a survival advantage. A primary fear is that insect pests will develop a tolerance to the popular and environmentally friendly Bt, thus prompting the need for greater use of potentially toxic pesticides. In November 1994, the EPA proposed to strengthen its oversight of the pest-resistant crop industry by regulating pesticidal transgenic proteins under both the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Exactly how the EPA will approach resistance management under the proposed rule is still being negotiated.
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