Forty-three scientists from five continents, including leading experts in toxicology, biology, public health, and environmental sciences, have issued a global call to action published on November 4, in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Sciences Europe.
In the article, “Scientists’ Warning: We Must Change Paradigm for a Revolution in Toxicology and World Food Supply.” Coordinated by Prof. Gilles-Éric Séralini, the researchers call for a radical paradigm shift in toxicology and chemical regulation to end an opaque and failing system that threatens human health, biodiversity, and global food security.
Biased regulatory testing and systemic scientific misconduct
According to the authors, current regulatory toxicology tests rely on partial, often biased or falsified data that do not reflect real-world chronic exposure to chemicals.
The commercial formulations of pesticides and plasticizers, derived from petroleum by-products, have never undergone long-term studies in mammals, contrary to legal requirements.
Yet, studies show that these mixtures can be up to 1,000 times more toxic than the isolated active ingredients typically tested by industry.
“Regulatory agencies validate these incomplete evaluations and conceal their data under the guise of industrial secrecy. This amounts to a global regulatory falsification that endangers public health and the environment” said Prof. Gilles-Éric Séralini, toxicologist and lead author of the study.
Petroleum pollutants and heavy metals found in pesticides
The researchers reveal that all analyzed pesticides contain undeclared petroleum residues and heavy metals, a long-standing and widespread practice since their invention.
These ingredients make the formulations thousands of times more toxic, fueling the spread of neurological, hormonal, immune, and cancer diseases.
This widespread contamination now affects the entire food chain and ecosystems, from soil to ocean.
“We are facing a silent epidemic of chemical pollution. Chronic diseases are surging, biodiversity is collapsing, and public trust in science is eroded by decades of conflicts of interest,” emphasized Dr. Angelika Hilbeck, biologist at ETH Zurich.
An economic model that subsidizes pollution
The authors also denounce the failings of the economic model born from the ‘Green Revolution,’ which has increased dependence on chemical inputs at the expense of subsistence farming and public health.
“The current agro-industrial system subsidizes the destruction of life. Public budgets enrich major chemical corporations instead of supporting healthy, resilient agriculture,” stated Dr. Louise Vandelac, environmental sociologist at the Université du Québec à Montréal.
A scientific action plan for a new paradigm
In response, the researchers suggest three immediate and concrete measures:
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Reduce existing regulatory toxicity thresholds by at least a factor of 100 for all already authorized substances.
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Systematically test full formulations of pesticides and plasticizers, at low doses and over long durations.
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Make all raw toxicological data and experimental protocols publicly available to restore scientific transparency.
“There is no ethical or scientific justification for keeping these data secret. Science must once again become a public good,” insisted Prof. Michael Antoniou, King’s College London.
Agroecology: the path to health and sustainability
The authors stress that a transition toward agroecology offers a credible and proven alternative to feed the global population while restoring soils and ecosystems.
Research shows that ecologically grown food contains lower levels of petroleum residues and heavy metals and contributes to better overall health outcomes.
“Today, the world is dying from this toxicity. We all carry pesticides in our bodies, absorbed from our food and environment. The future of our food depends on reconciling science, ethics, and health. Agroecology offers a path of hope grounded in knowledge and respect for life.” concluded Prof. Gilles-Éric Séralini.
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