A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a notable concern on the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods/plants, an important and complex area of research, which demands rigorous standards. Diverse groups including consumers and environmental Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) have suggested that all GM foods/plants should be subjected to long-term animal feeding studies before approval for human consumption. In 2000 and 2006, we reviewed the information published in international scientific journals, noting that the number of references concerning human and animal toxicological/health risks studies on GM foods/plants was very limited. The main goal of the present review was to assess the current state-of-the-art regarding the potential adverse effects/safety assessment of GM plants for human consumption. The number of citations found in databases (PubMed and Scopus) has dramatically increased since 2006. However, new information on products such as potatoes, cucumber, peas or tomatoes, among others was not available. Corn/maize, rice, and soybeans were included in the present review. An equilibrium in the number research groups suggesting, on the basis of their studies, that a number of varieties of GM products (mainly maize and soybeans) are as safe and nutritious as the respective conventional non-GM plant, and those raising still serious concerns, was currently observed. Nevertheless, it should be noted that most of these studies have been conducted by biotechnology companies responsible of commercializing these GM plants. These findings suggest a notable advance in comparison with the lack of studies published in recent years in scientific journals by those companies. All this recent information is herein critically reviewed.
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Several groups reviewing the evidence for health hazards of genetic modification have found no evidence for harms, but methods for such evaluation remain heterogeneous.
“Several groups reviewing the evidence for health hazards of genetic modification have found no evidence for harms;130-134 however, methods for such evaluation remain heterogeneous.135-139”
From Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review (2016) · cites this paper as [135]
A detailed analysis of the data in the subchronic toxicity studies has revealed statistically significant alterations in kidney and liver function that may constitute signs of the early onset of chronic toxicity.
“A detailed analysis of the data in the subchronic toxicity studies [2–5] has revealed statistically significant alterations in kidney and liver function that may constitute signs of the early onset of chronic toxicity.”
From Republished study: long-term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerantgenetically modified maize (2014) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Domingo, J. L., & Giné Bordonaba, J.
- Affiliations
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Domingo, José L.
- ORCID
- Domingo, José L.
- Venue
- Environment International
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 734-742
- ISSN
- 0160-4120 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2166082387
- Cited by
- 272
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 1.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environment International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Agricultural safety and regulations
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Keywords
- transgenic plants, GM food safety, safety assessment, toxicological risk assessment, maize, soybean, rice
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Consumer Product Safety, Zea mays, Humans, Solanum tuberosum, Oryza, Glycine max, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Pisum sativum, Solanum lycopersicum, Cucumis sativus, Risk Assessment, Plants, Genetically Modified, Rats
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