Call for ban on BT spray?
Note, from the story I posted earlier, "commercial strains of Bt (spray)tested by the researchers also killed some mice or caused lung inflammation when inhaled."
Obviously, such BT spray will kill caterpillars (Monarchs, et. al) quite effectively, more so than the BT corn pollen. However, now we know the BT spores from spraying can infect and kill mice, according to the study. This also means BT spray will kill creatures in or near the field, such as birds or rabbits. And what about spray drift to humans? The H34 strain is lethal, and we can never be sure when that strain might show up in BT spray...BT spray could even cause a plague.
Importantly, it is the BT BACTERIA that cause these additional problems, NOT the BT toxin itself. Therefore, in the case of BT crops (such as the corn), there is no such problem. This is because the BT crops contain only the gene which produces the BT toxin to kill the insects, which has been proven to be safe. On the other hand, the BT spray contains ENTIRE LIVE bacteria, which can infect animals and people, possibly even resulting in death.
What this all means is that we should not be deploying BT via bacteria, since it can have unpredictable and deadly consequences, and affects a wider number of creatures than previously thought, including humans. The controversial BT corn is much safer in this respect; the other crops such as cotton and potatoes (which don't carry the BT pollen risk to butterflies) are perhaps the best uses of BT yet made.
I noticed Greenpeace called for a ban on BT corn in Europe, based on the butterfly experiment. When will Greenpeace call for a ban on BT spray due to the new evidence that it can infect and kill animals and humans? The public deserves to be protected on this count, infectious spray is way more dangerous than BT corn pollen, since many more creatures (and humans) could be killed or injured.
Dan
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