Norwegian scientist’s findings vs Bt corn rebuffed

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A University of the Philippines (UP) medical expert has dared a Norwegian scientist to support his claims that 39 farmers in Polomolok, South Cotabato have become immune to antibodies due to exposure to a genetically engineered corn variety.

"The findings need to be evaluated based on the principles of immunology and immunobiology," said Dr. Nina Gloriani Barzaga, professor of medical microbiology and microbial immunology at the UP College of Public Health.

Barzaga was reacting to the claims of Dr. Terje Traavik, of the Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology, that tests on the blood samples of the 39 Polomolok farmers showed that they have developed immunity to antibodies due to exposure to Bt corn.

Traavik reported his findings in an international trade conference of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week.

In a statement, Barzaga said Traavik’s findings must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for proper evaluation.

She, however, said the Norwegian scientist should show pertinent scientific data supporting his findings before publicly releasing them and causing undue panic.

Barzaga said the DA should also require Traavik to submit complete data on the 39 Polomolok farmers, including their demographic profile, clinical signs and symptoms, the period when their blood samples were taken and the clinical results.

"Results of the blood tests should also be provided, specifying the tests performed and the results obtained… Without these data being submitted in ‘black and white,’ I do not think we should even give Traavik the chance to have the exposure that he craves with these scare tactics," said Barzaga, who is also a director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology of the National Institutes of Health Philippines.

In his report, Traavik said the blood samples taken from the 39 farmers of Sitio Kalyong in Barangay Landan, Polomolok town, contained increased levels of three different target antibodies.

He said several residents manifested symptoms of various illnesses allegedly due to exposure to Bt corn, ranging from gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, headache, cough, colds to skin allergies.

For his part, Artemio Salazar, director of the DA corn program, said, "It is impossible for humans to develop immunity from certain antibodies by simple exposure to GM (genetically modified) corn plants, either by planting or eating it."

"This is a serious allegation and if Traavik is, indeed, the scientist that he professes to be, he should be able to explain convincingly how Bt maize pollen which is not known to carry toxin, could have sensitized these Filipinos against the Bt toxin," Barzaga said.