Bt: A WHO REVIEW
From the World Health Organization (WHO)
comes one of the most thorough published reviews of _Bacillus
thuringiensis_ (Bt), the microbial agent that, in various forms, is
being used to control the larvae of numerous pest insects in major
crops. Prepared by an international task group and published in 1999,
BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS provides an array of pertinent background
material and, in its 105 pages, includes an extensive reference list. On
the basis of their intensive review, the authoring group concludes that,
"Bt products are unlikely to pose any hazard to humans or other
vertebrates or to the great majority of non-target invertebrates,
provided the commercial product is free from non-Bt microorganisms and
biologically active products other than the insecticidal crystalline
proteins." The report further states that, "Bt products can be
safely used for the control of insect pests of agricultural and
horticultural crops and forests." The softcover monograph is
Environmental Health Criteria no. 217, printed in English, with
summaries in French and Spanish. |--> Marketing and Dissemination,
WHO, 1211 Geneva 27, SWITZERLAND. E-mail: grisettim@who.ch.
Fax: 41-22-791-4857. |
