Saturday, October 12, 2019

Glyphosate Exposure is DANGEROUS








Global Glyphosate Study Pilot Phase Shows Reproductive and Developmental Effects at ‘Safe’ Dose

Prof. Anderson Joel Martino Andrade, Federal University of Paraná:“This pilot study shows that the development of the reproductive system seems to be particularly sensitive to glyphosate and that formulated pesticides may have a different profile of toxic effects than isolated active ingredients.”
Recently, a French farmer has been proved right in a legal dispute as to whether damage to health is related to a herbicide from Bayer subsidiary Monsanto. The Lyon Court of Appeal ruled that Monsanto was responsible for "defective products.
The current organic farmer Paul François attributes serious health problems to the now banned weedkiller Lasso of Monsanto, with which he used to treat his fields. The farmer claims to have suffered severe neurological damage since inhaling herbicide vapors in 2004.



A new study has found that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), including Roundup, caused reproductive and developmental effects in both male and female rats, at a dose level currently considered safe in the U.S. (1.75 mg/kg bw/day).
Exposure to GBHs was associated with androgen-like effects, including a statistically significant increase of anogenital distance (AGD) in males and females, delay of first estrous and increased testosterone in females.
AGD, the distance between the anus and the genitals, is a sensitive marker of prenatal endocrine disruption affecting the genital tract development. Exposure to different chemicals, including pesticides, has been linked previously to altered AGDs and other endocrine effects.
This is the fourth in a series of related papers from the pilot phase of the Global Glyphosate Study. The first results of the pilot phase of the study were presented to the European Parliament on May 16th, 2018. The previous peer-reviewed publications show that exposure to GBHs leads to other effects, including altering the gut microbiota of rats in early development, particularly before the onset of puberty.
The pilot phase of the study was performed by the Ramazzini Institute and a network of scientific partners including the University of Bologna, the Genoa Hospital San Martino, the Italian National Institute of Health, the University of Copenhagen, the Federal University of Paraná, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the George Washington University.
The € 300,000 study was funded by 30,000 members of the public in Italy, who are associates of the Ramazzini Institute cooperative.
crowd-funding campaign has been launched to help support a long-term comprehensive Global Glyphosate Study, which following these results is now urgently required.
Background:
Glyphosate is the most used herbicide in human history. 18.9 Billion pounds (8.6 Billion Kilograms) of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) have been sprayed worldwide since 1974. Glyphosate use has also increased 15-fold since genetically modified crops were introduced in 1996.
In 2015 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen”. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), following the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) evaluation, has since stated that glyphosate is “unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans” and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) stated that “the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, as a mutagen or as toxic for reproduction”. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has a new evaluation of glyphosate pending.
The scientific uncertainty surrounding glyphosate and GBHs has also led to political uncertainty, with a shortened 5-year re-approval for glyphosate having been granted by European Union Member States in November 2017.
The Ramazzini Institute and their partners have walked into this unclear situation so as to supply valuable and independent data to enable regulators, governments and the general public of every country to answer the question: Are glyphosate and GBHs safe at real-world levels of exposure?
The pilot study, which is vital for the long-term comprehensive study, aimed to obtain general information as to whether GBHs are toxic at various stages of early life (newborn, infancy, and adolescence), and to identify early markers of exposure and effect. Glyphosate and one of its formulates (Roundup Bioflow, MON 52276) were both tested in Sprague Dawley rats, starting from prenatal life until 13 weeks after weaning, exposed to a dose of glyphosate in drinking water corresponding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable daily dietary exposure, referred to in the U.S. as the chronic reference dose (cRfD) – 1.75 mg/kg/day.
Global Glyphosate Study: Crowdfunding
The Ramazzini Institute, with the support of other independent Institutes and Universities in Europe and the United States, has now launched a crowdfunding campaign for the most comprehensive long-term study ever on GBHs. A long-term study is now necessary to extend and confirm the initial evidence that has emerged in the pilot phase of the Study.
The total budget for this study is € 5 Million and it is already receiving support from the public, politicians, and NGOs around the world.
The Ramazzini Institute
The Ramazzini Institute, in over 40 years of activity, has studied more than 200 compounds from the general and occupational environment and many of its results have provided a solid scientific base for regulating and limiting the exposure of a number of substances. Examples include Vinyl Chloride, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and Mancozeb.
Quotes from Scientists:
Prof. Philip J. Landrigan, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College:
“This very important study from the Ramazzini Institute indicates that glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, has negative effects on reproductive development in mammalian species even at exposure levels that are currently considered safe and legally acceptable. Although these findings are not definitive, they are very worrisome and need to be followed closely by national and international regulatory agencies.
Dr. Fiorella Belpoggi, Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute
“A long-term study on GBHs encompassing intrauterine life through to advanced adulthood is needed to confirm and further explore the initial evidence of endocrine-related effects and developmental alterations emerged in this pilot study.”
Prof. Jia Chen, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
“GBHs are of significant public health concern because of their widespread and sharply increased usage and we still do not know enough about their noncancerous effects, in particular in developing children.”
Dr. Alberto Mantovani, Italian National Institute of Health
“A relevant feature of the findings for risk assessors are the definitely stronger endocrine-reproductive effects induced by the product GBH compared to an equivalent dose level of the pure substance glyphosate. The suggestion that other components of GBH may significantly enhance glyphosate toxicity definitely deserves further investigation.”
Prof. Melissa J Perry, George Washington University
“Although glyphosate has been around for decades, its global use has increased rapidly and we know surprisingly little about the human health effects of such widespread use. This study in rats uses doses that compare to what humans are exposed to in their everyday environments including from the food they eat.
“These most recent findings demonstrate important impacts on hormone production that shouldn’t be ignored. The study findings as a whole are providing valuable original information to more clearly assess the health risks to humans.”
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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Aviation News October 1




Adria Airways Files For Bankruptcy
In what has been a dreadful month for European airlines, September ended with a final victim: Adria Airways, the national airline of Slovenia. Adria Airways follows Thomas Cook Airlines, and two French carriers – XL Airways and Aigle Azur – into bankruptcy in September.
"Due to the opening of insolvency proceedings, all Adria Airways flights from Ljubljana airport were canceled: Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Manchester, Munich, Paris, Podgorica, Prague, Priština, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Tirana, and Zurich", the airport announced. Aeroflot, Air France, Air Serbia, Easyjet, Finnair, Lot Polish Airlines, Montenegro Airlines, Transavia, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air are also active.

Brussels flies to Ljubljana
But there was also good news: Brussels Airlines announced on Tuesday (1 October) that it would be connecting Brussels to Ljubljana six times a week from 4 November. The aircraft to be used will be the Airbus A319.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/adria-airways-collapse-flight-grounded-passengers-cancelled-bankrupt-a9127366.html


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Thomas Cook stranding 150,000 UK holidaymakers 
And many more in other European countries. The sum insured is "far from being enough":
Thomas Cook tourists remain sitting on part of the damage 
This affects customers who had not yet filed for bankruptcy. Thomas Cook had canceled all trips by 31 October, even if they had already been paid in advance or fully paid.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/22/thomas-cook-in-last-ditch-talks-to-avoid-collapse

Versicherungssumme "reicht bei weitem nicht": 
Thomas-Cook-Touristen bleiben auf Teil des Schadens sitzen
Betroffen sind Kunden, die beim Insolvenzantrag noch nicht unterwegs waren. Thomas Cook hatte alle Reisen bis 31. Oktober abgesagt, auch wenn sie schon angezahlt oder voll bezahlt waren.
https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/thomas-cook-group-volle-entschaedigung-nach-pleite-nicht-fuer-alle-moeglich-a-1289486.html 
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Corendon Airlines
We are looking for qualified and experienced Boeing 737NG Captains and First Officers for our Antalya base. To apply for this opportunity, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

Captains:
Holder of a valid EASA or Turkish ICAO Licence with IFR and type rating, rated on the B737-300/900 type airplanes
Valid PBN endorsement on ATPL license/logbook
5.000 flight hours’ experience in total. A minimum of 2500 hours of flight shall be on the B737CL or NG type airplanes as a Commander
Having a minimum of 5 years’ civil aviation experience
With at least an ICAO Level 4 English Language Proficiency
With at least an ICAO Level 4 English Language Proficiency
No History of Accidents and Incidents
Enthusiastic and self-motivated
Ability to work in a multicultural environment
https://www.corendonairlines.com/tr/ikilan0001

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Why Alaska is urging passengers to bring their own water bottles
Alaska is inviting guests to join flight attendants like Tran and #FillBeforeYouFly – a new initiative encouraging guests and employees to bring their own water bottles and become active partners in the airline’s goal to reduce single-use plastics. Members of Alaska’s Green Team, a group of employees devoted to education and innovation around environmental issues, handed out water bottles provided by environmental leader MiiR, and to direct guests to water-filling stations.
https://blog.alaskaair.com/values/fillbeforeyoufly-water-bottles/


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