Current environmental issues impacting global public health

Environment

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are a current environmental topic. A large portion of genetically modified foods, in the United States, for example, are foods grown on a farm. Many forms of produce, including vegetables and fruits are genetically modified. Animals that are raised to be slaughtered for food are also victims of GMOs. In global news, people around the world are protesting GMOs. Some people do not want any GMOs as part of their food supply. Some people advocate that products that are GMOs must be properly labeled as such so that consumers can make more informed decisions regarding their food consumption. There is not much regulation for companies to label foods as GMO, and this is another issue within the issue. GMO's must be grown and cultivated slightly different than regular foods. GMO cultivation may involve spraying or dusting the crops with substances that are harmful to the humans and animals who may eat them, as well as harmful to the land in which the food is grown. In some cases, GMOs are exposed to certain forms of radiation in order for them to grow with the intended modifications.

The commercial sale of genetically modified foods began nearly twenty years ago, with the first GMO food to be a tomato. Other popular GMOs are corn, soybeans, and canola. These products are foods that are used in many other food products, especially ones that require sugars and oils. GMOs have greater risks to safety to humans, animals, and land than compared with normal foods. GMOs are a safety risk and some would say a safety hazard, both while they are being grown and after they are sold (and eaten). GMOs can be cultivated to have or lack certain traits with respect to the natural counterparts. Some GMO apples, for example, can be modified to resist turning brown after the skin has been pierced. Some GMO bananas may lack seeds. Again, the growth of some of these products is dangerous from start to finish. GMOs are often sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers that kill bugs, animals, and that are harmful for humans, too. The process by which GMOs are created seem to cause the greatest concern or risk to safety. They are grown because they can grow faster and in greater quantities than the natural counterparts. It can also be cheaper to grow GMOs relative to the expenses of growing normal foods. Small farmers can be pushed out by large corporations that harvest GMOs because they have the money to purchase the land as well as the equipment needed to pump out several generations of GMOs in shorter time than it would take small farmers to harvest generations of crops of normal foods. The machinery, equipment, and materials needed to sustain a GMO farm cause damage to the environment as well -- the materials are not biodegradable or "green," and there are hazardous side effects such as chemical run off. The issue of genetically modified foods affects the environments in several key ways.