Results of a study conducted by scientists from the Ghent University
in Belgium show that most herbicide regimes used with genetically modified
(GM) herbicide-resistant maize have a better environmental impact than those
used in non-GM varieties. This is due to the lower potential of glyphosate
(Gly) and glufosinate ammonium (Glu) to leach into the groundwater and their
lower acute toxicity to aquatic organism.
The scientists used a pesticide occupational and environmental risk
(POCER) indicator to gauge the impacts of the herbicide regimes. When Gly or
Glu is used alone, the POCER factor values for the environmental modules
were reduced approximately by a sixth. However, the environmental impact of
novel herbicide regimes tested may be underestimated due to the assumption
that the active ingredients used with herbicide-tolerant maize would be used
alone.

The article published in the journal Transgenic Research is available
at [www.isaaa.org]

[www.springerlink.com]