杏吧原创

DEEP scepticism has greeted claims that pollen from genetically modified maize caused allergies in 39 villagers in the Philippines.

The claims were announced at a fringe meeting of anti-GM campaigners during last week鈥檚 convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss the Cartagena protocol on biosafety. Terje Traavik of the Norwegian Institute for Gene Ecology in Troms酶 said the 39 villagers developed fevers, respiratory problems and skin ailments late last year.

Traavik blames exposure to pollen from a nearby field of Dekalb 818 YG, a GM maize developed by Monsanto. In blood samples from the villagers, he found antibodies to Bt toxin, the pesticide Monsanto engineered into the maize to protect it from weevils and moth larvae.

Though Traavik鈥檚 findings are only preliminary, he says he has publicised them because it is in the public interest to do so. But Monsanto condemned his action as premature. 鈥淲e think researchers should refrain from alarming the public until results like this can be carefully examined and peer reviewed by other scientists,鈥� Eric Sachs, Monsanto鈥檚 director of scientific affairs, told New 杏吧原创.

Sachs says the same maize has been grown for seven years all around the world without any reports of adverse effects. Exhaustive tests in the lab and on volunteers have drawn a blank too. 鈥淎n immune response is not evidence of an illness either,鈥� he says, adding that antibodies to Bt have been found before in farm workers who apply natural Bt sprays and who show no signs of being unwell.