Blog 27: Ozone Pollution Linked to Higher Risk for Cardiac Arrest

Currently, national ozone standards are set at 75 parts per billion, but the EPA is thinking of further lowering the level to somewhere in the 60-70 ppb range because of the impacts ozone pollution can have on the environment and human health. In a study conducted at Rice University in Houston, eight years worth of data was analyzed, and results proved a positive correlation between people experiencing cardiac arrest and exposure to ozone and fine particulate matter. Researchers concluded that with an average increase of 6 micrograms in particulate matter over the course of two days, the risk for cardiac arrest, especially among those with a pre-existing condition, raised by 4.6%.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130217134200.htm

Blog 26: World's City With Worst Air Pollution

The city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran has surpassed all other cities in the world and has the number one rank for worst air pollution. The PM 10 level in Ahvaz is about 372, more than triple that of Beijing, China, which is roughly 121. Annually, close to 80,000 people in Iran due to environmental pollution. This number amounts to 21% of Iran's overall annual deaths. Ahvaz is so dangerously polluted as a result of oil, steel, and iron industries in the area being poorly regulated and pumping tons of hazardous materials into the air. These emissions, mixed with massive sandstorms in the area, provide for a terrible combination and toxic conditions.

http://www.ibtimes.com/inside-worlds-most-polluted-city-ahvaz-iran-video-1115920

http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/society/13027-iranian-city-of-ahwaz-has-the-world-s-worst-air-pollution.html

Video-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15109116

Blog 25: Carnitine in Red Meat Increases Heart Disease Risk

In a study conducted, men and women were asked to eat 8 oz. steaks, then had their blood drawn after as a way to further study how red meat contributes to heart disease. The results showed that a chemical called carnitine that is found in red meat is actually more dangerous than the meat's saturated fat and cholesterol. Carnitine by itself is not dangerous, but once ingested, it is metabolized by intestinal bacterial and turned into another chemical called TMAO, which then enters the bloodstream. TMAO allows cholesterol to get into artery walls, blocking them, and prevents the excretion of excess cholesterol. It is a major contributor to heart attacks and heart disease. In tests done, people who had high levels of carnitine or TMAO in their blood were found to be at higher risks for heart disease. In the test conducted, the subjects showed spikes of TMAO levels in their blood hours after eating the red meat. However, the researchers administered antibiotics to the subjects in order to wipe out the bacteria in their intestines, and TMAO no longer showed up in their blood after consuming red meat or any type of carnitine since they had almost no bacteria. Researchers are hoping to pinpoint which particular bacteria are the culprits of metabolizing carnitine into TMAO so that they can develop antibiotics to only wipe out that type as a new method of treating heart disease and lowering the risk for it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/health/study-points-to-new-culprit-in-heart-disease.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Blog 24: Recyclable Solar Cells Created From Trees

Researchers have successfully been able to develop solar cells from natural substrates from trees by manufacturing the cell on cellulose nanocrystal material, which is derived from plants. Organic solar cells were usually created on either glass or plastic, both of which are recyclable, but not nearly as much as this new invention made from raw materials. Other cells built on petroleum-based substrates are not good for the environment and hard to dispose of at the end of their life. These new cells, however, created on the cellulose material are very easily recycled, green, renewable, and durable. At the end of its lifecycle, the solar cell can be placed in water, and after only a few minutes, the substrate dissolves and the rest of the cell can be separated. This has been a major development in the solar technology industry, and now the next step is to hopefully increase the power conversion efficiency of the cells from 2.7% to about 10%.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130326111958.htm

Blog 23: Health Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

The March 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant was the worst since Chernobyl in 1986. Despite the severity of the meltdown, Japan quickly handled evacuations in a 20 kilometer radius of the plant, possibly decreasing the cancer risk to some extent. However, about 600 deaths resulted from the evacuation process itself. Experts have estimated that radiation from the disaster will result in approximately 130 deaths, along with 180 cases of cancer. The United Nations Science Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation predicted that there would be no serious resulting health consequences for the public, mostly because the majority of radioactive material was deposited in the ocean; only 19% of the material settled on land, but it still created a "dead zone" of several hundred kilometers.

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/july/fukushima-health-impacts-071712.html

Blog 22: Algae an Effective Source for Biofuel

Scientists have extensively been researching the usefulness of algae as a biofuel, and results have proven it to be capable of being turned into one. It is necessary to edge away from our dependence  on nonrenewable energy sources, such as coal and oil, in favor of greener, renewable fuel sources. Algae is ideal for this because mass amounts of it can be produced in small spaces in order to satisfy high fuel demands. Unlike other biofuels, like ethanol made from corn and biodiesel made from soybeans, great amounts of algae based biofuel can be produced efficiently in a small area since algae is very versatile and can be grown in various types of water ranging from wastewater to brackish water in small plots. Additionally, a biofuel made from algae would burn far cleaner than traditional fossil fuel based sources because it produces much less carbon emissions when burned, as well as the fact that the algae consumes CO2 when growing and living for use in photosynthesis. Currently, researchers are considering a strain of algae called Nannochloropis gaditana as a potentially viable fuel source since it can be produced at an industrial scale and contains the necessary lipid levels to function as a  biofuel.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403153602.htm

Blog 21: Downsides to Nuclear Energy

Many people believe that nuclear energy is the direction the US should take. They think it is far more efficient and cleaner than other nonrenewable sources of energy we are currently using; however, they fail to realize that there are major drawbacks to the use of nuclear energy that make it just as harmful as other energy sources. The significant harmful factors associated with it that many neglect are:

• It is extremely expensive to build nuclear power plants, ranging between $12 and $18 million to establish a new facility, not to mention the costly expenses of maintaining and upgrading existing plants.
• We will still be just as dependent on oil from the Middle East since it is predominantly used in cars, while nuclear energy produces electrical energy.
• Nuclear power plants run on minerals, such as uranium, that are high in radons, and the mining of which produces radioactive substances that easily contaminate the environment.
• These facilities produce large quantities of radioactive materials, which are impossible to store or dispose of safely without contaminating the environment or posing harm to people. Radioactivity is proven to result in disorders and disease in people, particularly cancer, and those exposed to it will suffer the harmful effects. 
• The actual process of refinement and use of the minerals these plants run on cause carbon emissions in at least equal if not greater amounts as coal plants, so it really isn't a cleaner form of energy. 

http://www.examiner.com/article/7-reasons-why-nuclear-power-is-bad-for-the-environment-and-the-nation

Blog 20: Detecting Pollution By Studying Water's Natural Fluorescence

Dissolved organic matter comes from a wide array of sources, both natural and man-made. While some of these sources are point sources that are easily identified, many are unknown, non-point sources. Using new techonolgy and equipment, such as spectrophotometers, it is possible to measure the natural fluorescence given off by dissolved organic material. This is given off at shorter wavelenghts, invsible to the naked eye. Molecules of the matter are energized by ultaviolet light and appear fluorescent when studied with particular equipment. By tracking the fluorescence, we can analyze trends, concentrations, and sources of dissolved organic materials. This will help to determine where problem areas are along bodies of water and the effects high pollutant concentrations have on the ecosystems.

http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/14000/%60Glowing%60_technique_could_detect_river_pollution.html

Blog 19: US Delays Passing A Carbon Tax

It comes as absolutely no surprise that carbon emissions are extremely harmful to the environment and are one of the leading sources of pollution. This problem comes mainly from developing countries, such as China and India, as well as countries that are already highly developed and rely on industry, like the US. While many admit to carbon emissions being a major problem, those with the power to change the situation and actually implement reform choose to do nothing. For a long time, the US has been delaying taking action because of the ridiculous mentality that if the country stopped using such a massive amount of coal it would do nothing since other countries are unwilling to stop. Politicians basically view the scenario ridiculously as since we can't be the entire solution, we might as well continue being part of the problem. Efforts have been taken to try and propose reform, but they've been shot down. Most recently, a carbon tax bill was proposed to the Senate with provisions for

• cutting the level of carbon emissions by 80% from levels they were at in 2005 by 2050
• imposing a tax of $20 per ton of emissions on companies that pollute, with a 5.6% increase every year
• refunding 60% of the taxes collected back to the public and putting the rest towards funding clean-energy ventures

The bill was proposed in February of 2013, and upon proposal, President Obama made it clear that he's unwilling to push for it. Aside from lacking the support of the president, which would be essential, the bill and most others like it are strongly opposed by Congressional Republicans. While many politicians acknowledge that problems are present, they are not willing to take measures needed to improve conditions. This hypocrisy is further exemplified by China's February announcement for their own carbon tax. Without the support of the president and more members of Congress and the Senate, it is practically assured that China will pass a bill before the US.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/02/26/carbon_tax_treasury_nominee_jack_lew_says_obama_won_t_propose_one.html?wpisrc=most_viral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cyD_6DNS_UA

Blog 18: Aral Sea Source of Toxic Dust Storms

The Aral Sea in Central Asia previously received its water supply from two main rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya. That was up until the 1950s when the Soviet Union diverted water flowing to the sea to support its massive irrigation projects aimed at increasing its cotton and rice production. The Aral Sea has shrunk in size by almost 75% since then, and what was once a site for thriving fisheries has also experienced greater than a three-quarter decline in fish harvests, rendering the sea's commercial fishing industry practically nonexistent. Decreased biodiversity played a significant role in this. As the Aral Sea becomes smaller and smaller, its salt and mineral concentrations increase, resulting in dramatic drops in the populations of its native fish species that can no longer survive in the increasingly saline water. The shrinkage in size of the sea exposes large amounts of its lake bed, composed of dust polluted with harmful pesticides from the nearby irrigation practices and toxic levels of salt and other minerals. Strong winds that blow across this area of Asia stir up the dust and carry it across the land, causing respiratory problems and lung disease in those exposed to the toxic dust. Additionally, people in this area also suffer from a lack of clean drinking water.

http://www.jcu.edu.au/jrtph/vol/v01whish.pdf
http://www.aralsea.org

Aerial comparisons of the Aral Sea in 1989 (left) and 2008 (right).

Blog 17: Privatization of Water

A large amount of the world's freshwater sources are owned by private companies, which buy as many rights to groundwater and aquifers as they can. Because of this, water being sold for $4 a gallon one day has become a good possibility. Because so much of the freshwater sources are privately owned, prices for this water increase, and those that are impoverished and in desperate need are unable to afford it. In addition to water becoming increasingly privatized, it's also becoming more scarce through over-pumping, use for agriculture, waste, climate change, and droughts. It is estimated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development that by 2030, nearly half of the world's population will live in areas afflicted by significant water stress, and water demand will be 40% above sustainable amounts. Although water was once plentiful, that is far from the case today, and new restrictions are necessary regarding the management of water. 

http://www.naturalnews.com/035603_water_monopoly_privatization.html

Blog 16: Pollution in Oceans Releases BPA

Research has shown widespread contamination of the oceans around the globe by the endocrine-disrupting compound bisphenol A, or BPA. The compound is released by plastic trash adrift in the ocean as it slowly breaks down and also from epoxy plastic paint used on the hulls of boats. Scientists analyzed samples of seawater from about 200 sites, and the results yielded high amounts of BPA- as high as 50ppm. As plastics break down, they release harmful toxins that affect many marine organisms, including mollusks, crustaceans, and amphibians. BPA is one chemical released and acts as an endocrine system disruptor, interrupting metabolic and reproductive processes of many organisms. It also inhibits the successful reproduction of organisms by having adverse effects on embryonic development, gonadal formation, overall growth, and it also blocks hormone receptors. Massive amounts of plastics pollute the ocean each year, and no effective preventative or clean up measures are taken. Annually, about 150,000 tons of plastic pollutions wash ashore in just Japan. Furthermore, it was predicted that because of the significant amounts of plastic waste produced, global consumption of BPA would exceed 5.5 million metric tons by 2011.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100323184607.htm
http://www.consbio.umn.edu/download/Flint_et_al_2012_BPA.pdf

Blog 15: Brazil Cracks Down on Animal Trafficking

Annually, about 38 million animals are poached from forests in Brazil and sold illegally on the black market. However, close to 90% of the animals die during transportation, and those that survive live in terrible conditions and are usually very sick and starved. Many animal traffickers don't mind these losses though because they are still able to make a profit, sometimes off of just a single sale. The illegal trafficking of animals is an ever-increasing industry that is worth an estimated $2 billion a year, but authorities are cracking down on it and becoming more stringent in enforcement. Each year, federal police seize about 250,000 wild animals being traded illegally. Ibama, the Brazilian environmental agency, rescues an additional 45,000 and helps to rehabilitate them at wildlife centers because many are ill and starving when they're rescued. Unfortunately, it is difficult to release them back into the wild because the animals are unable to fend for themselves, so only about 20-30% of them are successfully released. Even though it is illegal in Brazil to hunt or hold wild animals in captivity, poachers continue to do so, and it is contributing to the destruction of biodiversity and threatens hundreds of species. According to the records of the environmental agency, the number of endangered species has increased threefold in the past 15 years, and 627 species are now faced with the threat the extinction.

http://phys.org/news/2012-05-brazil-lucrative-wild-animal.html

Blog 14: New Plant That Can Possibly Be Used In Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

 According to the CDC, each year about 44,000 cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed, and there is only a 20% survival chance for patients who are sick for over a year. It drops to a 14% survival rate after five years, and the current drug on the market for treatment, Gemzar, doesn't do much to combat the cancer. It's rather ineffective, and Vice Chairman of Research at the CDC, Ashok Saluja, even said, "It adds six weeks- it's nothing." There has been a need for a more effective drug treatment, and researchers think that the answer may be a drug made from a plant called "Thunder God Vine." The plant is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for rheumatoid arthritis. In a study conducted among lab mice with pancreatic cancer, after 40 days of treatment with the drug they showed no signs of tumors. Thunder God Vine, or its technical name Tripterygium wilfordii, contains the compound triptolide, which has shown to kill cancer cells in previous studies. Although there is no guarantee whatsoever that the plant will be effective in combating pancreatic cancer in humans, researchers hope to soon begin the first three stages of human clinical trials necessary before being approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and hopefully the results from the trials are successful.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-17/drug-from-chinese-thunder-god-vine-slays-tumors-in-mice.html

Blog 13: Controversial Population Control in India

Due to India's massive population of about 1.2 billion, the country has been trying to implement various ways to stabilize population growth. Attempted methods by the government include forced vasectomies in the 1970s, having parents sign written pledges prohibiting their daughter(s) from marrying before age 18, and, recently, even paying 5,000 rupees, or about $106, to couples who promised to wait until after saving up money and finishing schooling to have children. Almost every attempt by the government received some kind of backlash from the public for being an infringement upon personal rights, but the efforts have been met with some success, more so in some areas than others. But overall, the success has been limited especially outside of major, urbanized cities in India, like Kerala. Population control methods were met with hostility and resistance from many citizens, who viewed them as "top-down" coercive acts that targeted the poor. Despite limited success, these methods in the long run are not viable solutions to rapid population growth and more effective ways to control the population will have to be introduced.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/world/asia/22india.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0