"By 2025, half of children are autistic because of glyphosate"

Stephanie Seneff is one of the most controversial names in science after she reported that the increase in autism was linked to a herbicide

That of Dr. Stephanie Seneff is one of the most controversial names in American science, especially after she denounced that genetically modified (GMO) foods have triggered the number of chronic diseases, as well as food allergies and other ailments such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis or irritable bowel syndrome, among many others. The latest work of this scientist at MIT focuses on autism, a disease that is becoming more frequent and of which, however, we still have little information.

According to the presentation made last June, glyphosate, the main component of the Roundup herbicide, is the main cause of these diseases have soared so quickly, as well as intolerance to gluten. The problem is that this herbicide is produced by Monsanto, the world's largest manufacturer of transgenic seeds and one of the most powerful multinationals in the world, which has defended the safety of its product on its own website. Many have been quick to discredit Seneff's theory, as is the case with veteran nutrition journalist Tamar Haspel in the pages of The Huffington Post. In this article, the author recalls that it is nothing more than pure speculation, not endorsed by any data and, furthermore, reveals that Seneff specializes in computer science and electrical engineering, and that her interest in food is recent.

Be that as it may, what is undeniable is that the prevalence of autism has increased significantly during the last decades, and we have not yet been able to reach a consensus on it. Currently, about one in every 175 children around the world is born with this disorder, although it varies in each country. In the United States, the prevalence is currently 1.5%, while in 1975, only one in 5,000 children had autism, according to data published by K. Wintraub in an article published in Nature. Seneff uses this chart to chart his forecast and ensure that, if growth remains stable, by 2025 half of the children could suffer from autism. "At the current rate, one in two children will be autistic," he announced at the conference in Groton, Massachusetts.

One of the main problems with autism is that, in most cases, its causes are unknown. As explained by Wintraub's article, in 46% it is impossible to explain the origin of the disorder, although it raises other reasons why the number of diagnoses has skyrocketed. It is the case that some of those who would simply have been considered as victims of mental retardation are now classified as autistic (25%) or those who fit the description for a greater knowledge of the disease (15%). There is no consensus on the origins of the disease, which are attributed both to genetic causes (twin brothers often develop the same disease) or neurological disorders.

The study presents an almost perfect correlation between the increase in the use of glyphosate and the prevalence of autism, although the correlation does not have to mean causality
More worrying still is that autism is due to environmental agents, such as exposure to certain substances during pregnancy, something would be in line with the thesis advocated by Seneff. This presents an almost perfect correlation between the increase in the use of glyphosate and the prevalence of autism although, as usual, the correlation does not have to mean causality. According to the theory of the MIT scientist, glyphosate inhibits the enzymes CYP (cytoprome p450), active in many metabolic processes, and damages the route of the skihímico acid, that nevertheless is only carried out by bacteria, plants, algae and fungi , but not by animals, something that its detractors or Monsanto itself have raised as an important inconsistency. Seneff clarifies, in this regard, that the stomach bacterium does perform this process, and that it is necessary to provide us with essential amino acids

Another difficulty with which these investigations are found is that they have not been able to demonstrate the correlation between the compound and its supposed pernicious effect among men. But Seneff recalls that this effect is cumulative, and that it is impossible to be reflected in short-term studies, such as those that have been done so far. Only a long-term investigation could demonstrate this connection. The study published in the magazine Entropy and conducted with Anthony Sampel was described as "fallacious" by an article in The Examiner, which recalled that it had not provided any information, but had limited to review other previous studies, some of the which had been discredited, such as the one in which Gilles-Eric Sérallini claimed that genetically modified foods caused the appearance of tumors in rats.

The only solution, for Seneff, is that: completely prohibit the use of glyphosate in agriculture
Glyphosate, the researchers explain, can be found in the urine and blood of pregnant women. In the United States, these levels are 10 times higher than in Europe. And some of the biomarkers of autism, such as malfunctioning stomach bacteria, methionine deficiency, mitochondrial disorder or aromatase deficiency syndrome, may be the product of a single cause, the dangerous glyphosate. In an interview with Alternet, Seneff clarified that in Sri Lanka or El Salvador, many farm workers died young from kidney problems caused by glyphosate, which has led to their ban in these countries. The only solution, for Seneff, is that: completely prohibit the use of glyphosate in agriculture.

Like every time a similar dispute arises, it is difficult to know who is right and who is not, and above all, to what extent. Not even an expert in chemistry and nutrition could ensure the falsity or plausibility of such investigations without dedicating himself, on his own, to investigate it, and even then he would not reach a definitive conclusion. In addition, there will always be suspicion of the influence that large corporations exercise not only on various scientists at the individual level, but also how this conditions the scientific community in general. Meanwhile, the number of autistic people will probably continue to grow.