Use That Poo And Do The Right Thing!

In other parts of the world, biosolids (human waste) from sewage treatment plants are treated and used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. Research the pros and cons of this method and take a stand on whether this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. Who are the potential stakeholders in this issue? Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?


So, human waste is something that occurs within everyone. If you're a boy, you produce human waste. If you're a girl, you too produce human waste. It is something that is natural and something human nature calls for. But once you have flushed that toilet, where does it all go? Does it all pile up on a large piece of land 534563453 miles away from human civilization? Or does it build up on the bodies of water we see today? As individuals of today's modern world, I feel that everyone should be educated on how waste water is cleaned, and how biosolids are treated and what they are.

Biosolids. What's that?:

The same question appeared in my mind as I read the topic of this blog. To be all descriptive and what not, biosolids are basically the nutrient-rich solid organic matter recovered from the treatment of domestic sewage in a waste water treatment facility. Biosolids consists of essential plant nutrient and organic matter. When the biosolids are treated and processed, they can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.Biosolids can in addition fertilize parks and reclaim mining sites.

The Water We Flush:
Waste water is not only the water you flush, but also the water that drains down the sink and down the shower. Waste water, which can also be referred to as "used" water, travels through a large series of underground pipes - it makes up Toronto's sewer system. The series of pipes travel to about 9,000 kilometre - to one of four waste water treatment plans.

Through the process of undergoing waste water treatment, solids, chemicals and other unwanted material is removed.In many larger waste water treatment systems, pre-treatment regulations require that industrial facilities pre-treat their waste water to remove many harmful contaminants before it is sent to a waste water treatment plant. For example; before water is put in to Lake Ontario, contaminants are first, simply removed. Waste water treatment facilities monitor incoming waste water, to ensure they are able to be recycled and are compatible with the treatment plant process. The job of treating waste water is not simple. Physical and chemical processes are used when removing the contaminants from the waste water.

In Toronto, there are four waste water treatment plants:
- Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant
-Highland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Humber Wastewater Treatment Plant
- North Toronto Wastewater Treatment Plant

These four individual plants all take part in meeting and/or exceeding all the standards required by the provincial and federal environement ministries. It is clear that Toronto depicts a small portion in the world that can actually afford the waste water systems. There are some countries that are unfortunate, and cannot afford clean water.

After learning about the treatment process "used" water goes through, it comes time when we separate the pros and the cons of using biosolids for agriculture. As of now, before doing any research I'd like to say; It's good the biosolids are being recycled, because that calls for less "garbage" and waste to be set on land that can be potentially used, but at the same time it's pretty gross. Knowing that corn was covered in someone else's waste make me sick....just a little. I feel many people are greatly influenced by the view of human waste as being a disgusting thing because all we are surrounded by is garbage. We have garbage days where people can have up to their bags of waste. We get a sniff of the gross garbage truck as it passes by. We see porter potty's filled with disgusting waste - how aren't we influenced? As of right now, I feel torn in between the pro's and con's but hopefully continuing with my reasearch will allow me to result in a final decision.

PROS:
The world we live in today does a good job of causing problems for mother nature and her natural way of growth. Humans add this and that to living things to suit the needs for themselves. They reduce the need for chemical fertilizer, therefore letting those little critters below the ground live happily. Biosolids have also shown an improvement in crop growth and yield as well as show a significant amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, which are necessary for crop production and growth.

These articles of solid waste which have undergone treatment absorb water very well - keeping themselves moisturized for quite a while. By having this said, when it comes time for dry seasons and weather, biosolid fertilizer will not wear out as easily has regular, non-recycleable fertilizers!

It is quite clear that biosolids are the most environmentally friendly soils around. It is much of a safer source of fertilizer due to its natural ingredients and lack of additional chemicals. It has also allowed for better growth of crops- meaning that gardeners and farmers will have an exceptionally great amount of vegetables and fruits.

CONS:
As I mentioned earlier before my research, biosolids are technically waste from other humans. This is somewhat of a turn of simply because I do not enjoy realizing that what I put in my mouth was grown in poo.

Now, although treated and well cleaned, I cannot help but think of what my food has grown it. I find this to potentially be a con in biosolids. Another con is that, although biosolids are treated they will always have odors. The smell can be additionally treated and reduced by a stabilization process or various types of methods. If not treated, the smell of this organic fertilizer can get to the point of being very smelly. As weather differs everyday, the odor of bisolid fertilizer changes too. During humid and hot temperatures; what your nose inhales can be very unpleasant.

In Conclusion:
I believe the pros outweigh the cons!
Therefore, I believe in the use of biosolid waste. The fact that biosolids are more environmentally friendly and is more natural allows me to believe that by the future, everyone should take part in using biosolids. I think I'll be able to eventually get over the fact the poo was used to eat that carrot I just popped into my mouth. If something helps the environment - I am all for it!

Potential Stakeholders?:
The government and farmers are who I believe have the power to use whatever fertilizer they please. The government would want what is best for their people, and farmers will use techniques they believe to be useful. Overall, I believe that everyone has their own ways of going about helping the Earth from the great damages it already faces, and if using bisolids is best for everyone, then so be it.

WORK CITED:

http://www.toronto.ca/water/wastewater_treatment/treatment_plants/index.htm

http://biosolids.org/docs/frequently%20asked%20biosolids%20questions.pdf

http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-304/452-304.html

Technology is a MUST for our health!

Evaluate the importance of various technologies, including Canadian contributions, to our understanding of internal body systems (digestive, circulatory or respiratory).

The use of technology to help a humans body is something mandatory now a days. It would be almost impossible for doctors do diagnose problems within a body if it weren’t for modern day technology. From fixing a broken bone to seeing diseases that can spread inside a body- is all covered. It is unbelievable to find that more technologies are being made to discover more about the internal body of individuals. My blog today will include various types of technological devices that help doctors solve problems- literally inside a human being. In addition, a Canadian contributor will be included.

Our world today most definitely solves problems with the use of technology. Of course there are cell phones, iPods, and lap tops that are not necessarily needed but more wanted by humans, but there are X-rays, MRI’s, and something newly introduced called MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) that greatly benefit us now, and in the future.

X-Ray:

When I was about 7 years old, I fractured my ankle. This was the first time I’ve ever actually encountered the use of an X-ray. I was put in a room by myself, and there they x-rayed my ankle. After waiting for a while, the picture of my skeletal ankle appeared and it was certain I had fractured my ankle.

If it were not for the invention of the X-Ray, the doctor, my mom and I would not be able to be completely certain that I had fractured my ankle. X-Ray technology allows doctors to see through the human tissue and to the skeletal bones of a human. This great piece of technology can easily examine broken bones, cavities and swollen objects. Also, there are modified x-ray procedures that can be used to look at softer tissues such as lungs, blood vessels and intestines.


It is surprising to find that such a great device was created completely by accident. In the year 1895, a German physicist named Wilhelm Roentgen made the discovery while experimenting with electron beams in a gas discharge tube. He basically found that a fluorescent screen in his lab began to glow when the electron beam was turned on even when it was surrounded by heavy black cardboard. He assumed that the board was blocking most of the radiation. Roentgen put different objects between the tube and the screen, and the screen still glowed. Finally, he put his hand in front of the tube, and saw the silhouette of his bones projected onto the fluorescent screen. TA-DA!!!!! The x-ray was created!

Without the X-Ray, broken bones, swollen objects and small cavities would not be identified. Think of a world without X-rays! If it weren’t for this miraculous piece of equipment, my ankle would’ve taken even longer to heal!

MRI:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a medical test that helps physicians diagnose and help treat medical conditions. It uses a strong magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce extraordinarily detailed photos of organs, soft tissues, bones and almost all other parts of inside a human being.

The MR pictures allow physicians to evaluate different parts of the body better, and determine the presence of any particular diseases that may not be seen by X-rays, ultrasound or computed tomography (CAT scan).

It would be difficult to determine diseases spread throughout the body without MRI. This creation evaluates almost all the parts in the body; heart, liver, biliary tract, kidneys, spleen, bowel, pancreas, adrenal glands, pelvic organs - including the reproductive organs in the male and the female, blood vessels (MR Angiography) and lastly, breasts. It is amazing to find that one machine can evaluate so many things within a human.

The MRI can, in addition diagnose diseases and problems that can harm and easily arise within a human internally or simply monitor treatment for particular conditions. The many problems it can see are:
- Tumors in the chest, abdomen or pelvis
- Heart problems
- Blockages or enlargements of blood vessels
- Diseases of the liver
- Cysts and/or solid tumors in the kidneys
- Tumors and other abnormal problems in the reproductive organs - Causes of pelvic pain within women
- Breast cancer


MRI’s typically look like the picture given (right), but others are designed to not completely surround the body. Also, some are open on the sides, oppose to being closed- this comes in handy when patients dislike the feeling of being in closed area, or if patients are kind of obese.

MRS:

I actually never heard of MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) until I started my research for this bio blog. I came across MRS as I was looking for information about MRI. MRS is a new technology that determines how much fat is in a human’s pancreas. It is assumed that this imaging device can somehow help determine an individual’s risk for diabetes.

MRS is closely related to MRI due to the fact that MRS gives more of a detailed description of what may be happening in your body. An example given is; A MRI can help a doctor determine that you have tumor, but a MRS can help a doctor determine what kind of tumor it is and what kind of tissue it contains. Thus, finding answers about the pancreas of whether a patient has a high or low risk of having diabetes. MRS is the new technology that can prevent individuals from having diabetes by offering therapy before it is too late.

Canadian contributor:


As I was trying to find a Canadian contributor, I stumbled upon a man in my Biology Textbook that I feel, has really helped with the "technology" doctors use today. Although this man has no created a device, he has helped introduce something new to the world of science.



A man who goes by the name of Dr.Michael Sefton is a key person for today's health. Dr.Sefton is the director of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. He has created something called a "heart in a box" and it may probably be the answer to many of the transplants done today. "Heart in a box" is basically a transplantable heart grown in the laboratory.



The first thing that has to be done in order to create this heart is; make scaffolding that the cells will grow around- usually biodegradable plastics are used. After, the scaffolding and cells are placed in a bioreactor- which is like a incubator that maintains constant body temperature and provides the nutrients and oxygen required to suppor cell division. Cells eventually stick together to form living tissues because of the proteins within the cell.


Now, although this does not create a complete heart - it has successfully created components of it.

Without a system of various technologies, doctors and physicians would have a great deal of difficulty when it comes to diseases, bacterias, swelling and broken bones. Think of what would happen if it weren't for the MRI, MRS and X-Rays...how would anything get fixed. The human body is an important thing, and with the use of these many technologies, our body stays healthy and unbroken.

Work Cited:

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2342/8/3/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148633

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003337.htm

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xatw69_new-technology-helps-doctors-measur_news

Why Can't Anything Be Natural?

Artificial selection has resulted in plants that are more disease- resistant, and cows that produce more milk, and racehorses that run faster. One must wonder what will come next. In the blog entry answer the following question –under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?

As years pass and science becomes more and more complex, we, humans, tend to become greedier as well. The fact that we have the power to modify and select basically any living thing- gives us a great advantage. To start this blog off, I should explain what artificial selection is.

Artificial selection is when plants and animals are bred for desirable traits. The traits given may not necessarily allow the offspring to live a better and easier life. In addition, artificial selection does not make survival in the wild easier for the offspring.

What happened to everything being natural? It seems as though now a days we are constantly modifying living things to suite our needs. It is strange that there was once a point in time where none of this picking and choosing what we want and don’t want existed. It all comes down to what scientists discover, and how they can apply that to make life better for humans, plants and/or animals.

I personally find this blog being closely related to my last blog –which was about “designer babies.” In that previous blog, I had said that picking and choosing what features you want for your child out of selfishness is definitely wrong, but when it comes to the health of the child, then choosing your child’s gender and what not is acceptable. The same thing applies to this blog. I feel that humans should only be artificially selecting plants or animals if it prevents them or others from getting harmed.

If changing a dogs’ physical appearance, or producing horses that will run faster in races is all you want from artificial selection, then that iss wrong. Artificial selection that results in cows being able to produce more milk is an example in the blog topic- and I still feel that that it is wrong. It is understandable that people need milk, but I do not think that it needs to go to the extent where cows that can produce more milk need to be created. To me, something definitely sounds wrong with that considering it is not natural. It all comes down to greed in humans. We want more than what we have, and once we have it, we eventually end up wasting it at the end. There’s a large difference between doing what’s good for the plant or animal from doing what benefits and suits you and your needs.

Domestic offspring are probably the most who suffer from too much artificial selection. There are times when traits in animals are so rare, that they may only be inherited in simply one or two family lines. If a specific trait is wanted from the owner, but is too recessive, two members from the same family (making them related) may have to be bred with one another in order to have that desirable trait visible. When this occurs, it is likely that genetic defects and other serious problems will occur in the offspring.


In the short video of "Dog Breeding" a woman explains that artificial selection is like art. You pick and choose what paint colours you want, so by the end, you have a beautiful work of art. This woman is a Papillion Breeder and she is proud of her work and the fact that it will be held down from generation to generation. I was actually surprised that she compared creating her dog to creating a piece of art because i honestly find that very unreal. She compared picking desired traits, to picking colours of different paints. The fact that a breeder picks the traits he or she desires without thinking about the health of the animal amazes me. Some people may agree with this video, and say that artificial selection for animals is fine, while others may disagree. I am just one of the people who say that doing this to an animal is wrong -especially when it comes down to physical appearance and the wants of the human being


Some cows that are bred to produce more milk undergo serious fertility problems and increased infections.



The above picture (if you don’t know) is a Persian cat. Some are bred for extremely flat faces. Although that may be a desirable trait for some cat owners –it definitely does no justice for the cat. When a Persian cat is bred with a flat face, respiratory problems occur while in addition, they have problems eating.

Do you find something common between the cow and the Persian cat? Both animals face artificial selection due to what people want and need instead of helping the life, and suiting the needs of the actual animal facing this selection.

Clearly, animals face artificial selection, but so do plants. Many plants have selected traits due to the fact that they are less likely to survive (without them) since so much fertilizer and pesticides are used. It is predicted that soon, the species of the plant will change.

So, at the end of it all – the question is what do I personally feel about artificial selection? Honestly, when it comes down to choosing traits for only physical purposes –then I must say it is wrong. Putting an animal’s life and health at risk only for their physical appearance simply shows how selfish a human can be. I must also say animals like cows and horses that are produced to make more of something, or perform better are undergoing the procedure of artificial selection for the wrong reasons. As for plants, I do not really have a settled answer. I feel that it is wrong to have our plants constantly selected for traits, but at the same time, we need to have it that way. If we don’t, we would be consuming vegetables and fruits that consist of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers. Having the option of choosing desired traits has its pros and cons, but either way, if we continue with artificial selection, we must learn to deal with the consequences they may come with.

http://www.macroevolution.net/hybrid-plants.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-artificial-selection.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0007942.html

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/media/dog_breeding-lg.wmv

I Recall Babies Being Humans..Not Products

“Designer babies” is the term being used by the media to describe the future of modifying or selecting our children’s genes for desirable characteristics (medical and cosmetic). Are things getting out of hand without research into genetic processes? In this blog investigate social and ethical implications of this research and technologies that have been developed from it.



Honestly, I had no idea that people will eventually be able to pick and choose what genes they want for their children. When I first read this bio-blog topic, I was surprisingly interested at the fact that parents would actually want their children to have traits that were specifically chosen out them. Whatever happened to waiting nine months and just giving birth to their child, I guess you can say “normally.” All this choosing of “I want my child to have this hair” or “these eyes” really makes me wonder why parents would want such a thing. Maybe I just prefer everything to be, natural? Altering a child to have certain traits is definitely, what I personally think, is wrong. But although it is pretty obvious I’m against “designer babies” I do feel it is appropriate to alter a child if it concerns their health being on the line, such as a disease/ disorder.

The advancement of technology has provided humans with more opportunities and more open decisions. In the case of designer babies, I feel that technology is trying to play God –probably like everything else nowadays. Like mentioned earlier, I feel it is morally wrong to choose how you want your child to look and be like, while at the same time, I feel designing a baby to avoid disorders and/or diseases is an okay thing to do.

It is important to keep in mind that a child is a blessing from God, not just a “thing” we can pick and choose to play around with.

There have been some controversy about designer babies, and one of those examples are James Hughes. When a Los Angeles fertility clinic offered to allow parents to choose their child’s hair and eye colour, the public was outraged. On March 2, the clinic was then shut down leaving transhumanist author James Hughes to say it “is a shame.”

(According to the source of Wikipedia tanshumanism is an international intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of supporting the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics and capacities.)

Basically, Hughes argues with the fact that if nobody gets hurt while creating a designer babies than what’s the problem? Hughes clearly says "It’s in the same category as abortion. If you think women have the right to control their own bodies, then they should be able to make this choice.” "There should be no law restricting the kind of kids people have, unless there’s gross evidence that they’re going to harm that kid, or harm society,” he says.

Everyone has their own opinion on things, but I really feel that when the time comes that parents can pick and choose certain traits, it is the wrong thing to do.

Already genetic engineering is moving at such a fast pace that individuals can even choose their child’s gender even before they are born! Clearly, it is a very important topic that many can go for days arguing about it. Searching for genetic diseases in a child has already been something genetic engineers are allowed to do, and I am completely for it. Just like everything, there are pros and cons –and I find the good thing that we can get from designer babies is the fact that we can remove any potential harm from a child, because really…who wants’ their child to be harmed? There is a difference between doing something for yourself, and doing something good for someone else, especially someone you plan to love for the rest of your life. Choosing how you want your child’s hair, eyes and even height is something entirely different from allowing your child to have a healthy future.

IVF and PGD can be used to help create a healthier life for a child. IVF which is short form for InVitro Fertilization is an advanced reproductive technique in which scientists mainly fertilize a woman’s egg with a sperm outside of the woman’s womb, in test tubes. By doing this, doctors and parents are allowed to reduce the chances of their child to be born with a genetic disorder. Right now, it is only legal to have two types of advanced reproductive technologies on humans. The first involves having the ability to choose the particular sperm that will fertilize an egg – by doing so it determines the sex and genes of the child that is soon to be born. The second technique is called Pre- Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), which screens embryos for a genetic disease –only the carefully selected embryos are put back into the mother’s womb.

I am personally unsure about how I feel about choosing the gender of a child due to that fact that it can be taken advantage of or be very useful. Sometimes selfishness can occur, and parents may just want a boy, or just want a girl. In particular countries, men are needed more than woman or vice versa, that sometimes determining a child’s gender before it is born can be taken advantage of- sometimes even used for selfishness. At the same time, choosing a child’s gender can be very useful when it comes to the health of this baby. Some genetic diseases such as hemophilia and muscular dystrophy can only occur in men that parents who have history of this can use Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis to avoid it.

Personally I find our image of beauty is corrupted because of the media and society. Sometimes we get a little selfish in what we want. Advertisements and television shows constantly promote to us people who look perfect; nice hair, body, height and so on. Parents may get influenced and want to create their child to be ‘perfect’ and flawless, so they may choose what they feel are the 'perfect' traits. I would say that designer babies are somewhat like plastic surgery patients. You’re fixing original traits so that a child will look a certain way.

It is amazing what science can do, but sometimes it is obvious that we get too carried away. Babies are human beings, not purses, t-shirt or a pair of jeans that we can pick and choose what we like and dislike about them. We tend to become selfish when such an opportunity is given to us.I find that everyone should remember that when these babies grow old, how they will feel about being “custom made.” Soon enough, we will probably be able to fix the talents our child(ren) will be able to have! I feel it is a definite NO-NO to change characteristics and traits of a child to suite what YOU feel is perfect. If you are changing your child to avoid genetic disorders, well then, that’s another story. Doing what is best for your child health-wise will definitely help them in the long run and save you a lot of potential surgeries or problems. In conclusion, it is a parents’ choice of what they want to do to their child, but I personally would never pick and choose genes for mine. I feel that choosing what kind of nose they should get, what hair they should have, or what eye colour they should receive is not for me to choose –they should be born with whatever they have with no alterations. If I knew my child would suffer from a disease or disorder, then I would definitely make a change before they are born.

Designer babies, and science at that, have caused so much controversy that it makes me wonder when the time will come when we stop playing the role of God. All it is doing is causing problems in society and corrupting the thought of natural beauty. Plus, you never know. Designer babies may be a problem in the future, and parents would wish they didn’t change their child/children for cosmetic reasons.

But this is only what I feel about this whole topic. Only time will tell what else science will come up with with these designer babies!

http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont1.htm

http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont2.htm

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate/

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989987,00.html

http://www.goldprodukt.de/wearables/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/designer-babies.jpg

http://lifestyle.indiainfo.com/2009/03/03/images/babies_400.jpg