California laboratory backs its use of volunteers

Article Abstract:

A study into the impact on humans of methyl isothiocyanate, the active ingredient in the pesticide metam sodium, produced no negative effects at all, according to Michael Russell, a neurobiologist at the medical school of the University of California in Davis. This research was funded by a number of chemical companies concerned about animal data being used by California's Department of Pesticide Regulation for risk assessments. Some observers believe that metam sodium is extremely poisonous, and that the government should therefore not use human data to regulate it.

Health aspects, Ethical aspects, Chemical industry, Pesticides industry, Pesticides

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Dispute over insect resistance to crops

Article Abstract:

Some observers believe that extensive planting of corn and cotton which has been genetically engineered to produce a toxin made by the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) will place great genetic pressure on insects. This will in turn cause resistance to Bt toxin to emerge very quickly. Furthermore, they believe that resistance management plans are insufficient. They claim that if Bt cotton is to continue to be used, it will be necessary to increase refuges in order to ensure that sufficient numbers of non-resistant insects are present.

Environmental aspects, Plants, Plants (Organisms), Diseases and pests, Plant genetic engineering

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US scientists call for fairer animal funding

Article Abstract:

US scientific societies have challenged a government policy they believe is harmful to biomedical research by penalizing those investigators who work with animal models. The current policy means that the overhead costs of animal research facilities (ARFs) may not be billed to an institutions's general overheads, as government accountants maintain that ARFs are specialized service facilities.

Finance, Animal models in research, Animal research models

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