Photo Stories
(January
5, 2004) On
December 23, 2003, a holstein cow in Washington state tested positive
for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a transmissible, slowly progressive,
degenerative, and fatal disease commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. While
only found in cattle, there is a disease similar to BSE called variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which is found in humans. According
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is strong epidemiological
and laboratory evidence linking BSE in cattle with vCJD in people.
While government officials have tied BSE to an infectious microorganism, some members of the scientific and agricultural community believe the disease may be linked to exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, such as Malathion and Phosmet. Cambridge University biochemist, David R. Brown, PhD, is dismissive of the science behind the infectious model of BSE. He terms it “a very limited amount of science by a few assumed- reputable scientists.” He insists there is “no evidence an infectious agent is present in either meat or milk.”
A number of researchers have found that organophosphate (OP) in systemic warble fly insecticide can deform the prion molecule, rendering it ineffective at buffering free radical effects in the body. Worse still, the prion is then partial to bond with manganese and become a 'rogue' prion. A chain reaction whereby rogue prions turn others to rogues also, can explain the bovine spongiform disease mechanism. Dr. Brown’s research shows how prion protein bonds benignly with copper, but lethally with manganese. Even natural variations in relative environmental availability of manganese versus copper can trigger prion degradation.
Organic dairy farmer and peer-review-published independent scientist, Mark Purdey, also believes BSE is linked to organophosphate pesticide exposure. Years ago, Mr. Purdey resisted his government’s order to spray his cattle with organophosphates for warble fly and went to court for a judicial review. He won his case, was exempted from using the spray, and has gone on to conduct research on the disease. No cows born in his herd developed BSE. Mr. Purdey’s article, “The Pesticide Link to Mad Cow Disease,” published (before BSE was discovered in Washington) in the Summer 2003 issue of Pesticides and You, is available here for free download.
Beyond Pesticides launched Photo Stories on March 1, 2002. The photos are updated on a biweekly basis. Read the instructions on how to get your photo story featured. To see what other visitors to this site thought about this photo story, visit the reader's comments page.