Biosolids

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials that are acquired from sewage treatment plants and used beneficially, for fertilizer for example. In other words, the wastewater that you send from your toilets, showers, and drains end up at sewage treatment plants where they are treated and then used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. I think that this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices as human waste is very plentiful so fewer resources would need to be wasted to make agricultural fertilizers. This is just one of the many advantages of using biosolids but there are also some disadvantages to this method. 

Once biosolids are treated, they can be recycled as fertilizer and it helps to maintain productive soils stimulate plant growth. Biosolids are filling up the landfills so instead of wasting space, the biosolids can be used as fertilizer. Most of the fertilizers used in Canada are full of chemicals so biosolids would reduce the need to do so. There are many nutrients that are found in biosolids such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and trace elements such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulfur and zinc. All of these nutrients are necessary for crop production and growth. Biosolids also replenish the organic matter which improves the soils ability to absorb and store moisture. Using biosolids would save you a lot of money as all the chemicals needed to grow the plants would no longer be required. 

Some people may choose not to use biosolids because of the odour but it depends on the type of treatment it goes through before it becomes fertilizer. Most of the odour is caused by compounds containing sulfur and ammonia, which are both plant nutrients. We are definitely affected by the view that human waste is unsanitary but once it is put through treatment, you would not be able to tell that it is human waste if you were not told so. Pathogens and disease causing organisms can be present in biosolids which is why some people think that biosolids could harm human’s health. In the production of biosolids, they are disinfected to the point where pathogens are reduced to a very low level and the risk of disease is almost no longer present. Another concern with biosolids is metals that can enter the wastewater as it travels through metal pipes in homes and businesses. Metals in wastewater have dramatically improved as wastewater systems and treatment have improved. 

There has never been a case reported where biosolids have harmed human’s health. Potential stakeholders in this issue would be everyone who works for sewage treatment plants as they would have greater demands for their products if biosolids were to be used as fertilizer. Many people may choose not to use biosolids because they find it very unsanitary but it is a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. I feel that biosolids should be used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. 

Sources

"Biosolids - Ministry of the Environment." Ministry of the Environment / Ministère De L'Environnement. Web. 06 June 2011. <http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/subject/nutrient_management/STDPROD_079166.html>.

"Biosolids Management." City of Toronto: Toronto Water. Web. 6 June 2011. <http://www.toronto.ca/water/biosolids/index.htm>.

"Biosolids.com | About Biosolids: Common Concerns." _. Web. 06 June 2011. <http://www.biosolids.com/concerns.html>.

"The Burden of Biosolids | Green Halifax | Halifax, Nova Scotia | THE COAST." THE COAST | Halifax News, Events, Restaurants, Coast Mart | CoastMart, Concerts, Free Classifieds | Nova Scotia. Web. 06 June 2011. <http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/the-burden-of-biosolids/Content?oid=2439755>.

 "Frequently Asked Questions | Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) | US EPA." Index | Water | US EPA. Web. 06 June 2011. <http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/wastewater/treatment/biosolids/genqa.cfm>.Website

Blogs I Commented On

http://melissasbioblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/biosolids-simply-waste-or-agriculture.html#comments

http://bridgettebioblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/biosolid-arity.html#comments

Importance of Technology to Understand Internal Body Systems

Technology is critical in the understanding of internal body systems as it can be used to diagnose, monitor, or treat any diseases or conditions in the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory system. Various types of technology can be used to diagnose diseases earlier as these three systems are internal, which means that they are found inside your body. Technology has helped us to understand how these systems work in order to improve the quality of health care provided and have better treatment options. Based on all the knowledge that has already been gathered about our internal body systems, future medical technology will include things like replacement organs.

A spirometer is used to measure the vital capacity of the lungs and was invented in 1846. The sphygmomanometer was invented in 1881 and this device is used to measure blood pressure. These types of technology were fairly simple compared to the types of technology that are available today. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging method used to diagnose and treat many different medical conditions. Using powerful magnetic fields, radio frequency pulses, and a computer, thorough pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone, and many other internal body structures can be examined. MRI can be used to inspect blockages or enlargements of blood vessels, some types of heart problems, and diseases of the liver and small intestine just to name a few functions of the MRI. 

Frederick Banting and Charles Best are two Canadians who discovered insulin. It is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood and it is needed for our bodies to function properly. Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas. Without technology, they would not have known that our body needs insulin to function in the first place. 

X-ray computed tomographies (CT) are x-ray tests that can produce images of certain parts of your body using x-rays and a computer. These images allow professionals to be able to look inside your body to see things like tumors, blood vessel abnormality, organs, and much more. CT scans can evaluate soft tissues such as abdominal organs and abnormalities that can not be seen on regular x-rays will show up on a CT scan. 

Technology is very important to help us understand internal body systems. If technology was not available, surgery would be needed very often to see what is happening inside a person’s body when surgery may not have been required. With x-rays, MRI’s, and CT scans, very detailed images can be used to not only detect abnormalities, but to see how our body works. It provides us with knowledge to improve our health care. By understanding our body systems, things like molecular and gene-based diagnostics, which can detect diseases earlier, can be created. With technology like electrocardiographs, endoscopes, blood pressure reading devices, and so on, we can know what’s going on inside our bodies to help us understand internal body systems. 

Sources  

"CAT Scan (CT) - Body." RadiologyInfo - The Radiology Information Resource for Patients. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct>.

Dinh,, Tuan. "What Is Medical Technology? | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_4672066_medical-technology.html>.

"Introduction to Insulin: Insulin Discovery and Actions." Endocrine Diseases: Thyroid, Parathyroid Adrenal and Diabetes - EndocrineWeb. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/diabetes/diabetes-what-insulin>.

"Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Body." RadiologyInfo - The Radiology Information Resource for Patients. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr>.

"What Is Medical Technology?" AdvaMed — Advanced Medical Technology Association. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.advamed.org/MemberPortal/About/NewsRoom/MediaKits/whatismedtechnology.htm>.

Blogs I Commented On

http://nicolesbioblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/horay-for-technology-i-love-technology.html#comments

http://itsbiotime.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-life-from-more-technology.html#comments

Feeding a Growing Population vs. Conserving Biodiversity

Biodiversity is very important and each species, no matter how small it is, plays an important role in the ecosystem. By relying only on a few highly productive livestock breeds and allowing less productive breeds to become extinct, the genetic diversity will decrease which means that the biodiversity of our earth will suffer as well. The human population is rapidly growing and people think that there is not enough food in the world which leads to industrial agriculture to be able to produce food faster. Industrial agriculture causes many problems and sustainable agriculture should be our method of producing food instead. There are high demands on the agriculture industry to be able to feed the growing human population but the biodiversity of breeds and crops need to be maintained. 

This is what industrial agriculture looks like.

Industrial agriculture is the modern form of farming and they view a farm as if it were a factory. They rely heavily on pesticides, fertilizer, and genetically engineered hormones. Industrial food also contains a lot of bacteria which causes many illnesses. Industrial agriculture puts many animals at risk and it also demolishes wildlife habitats as well as corrupting water and soil. The livestock are always kept in filthy conditions making them vulnerable to diseases. Monoculture, which is growing one crop at a time, is used as it lowers production costs which means that the products can be sold at a cheaper price in the marketplace. Because of the global success of fast food, more than half the world plants only one type of potato. The decrease in genetic diversity in agriculture is deadly for multiple reasons. Crops and animals that are very similar to each other have the same vulnerability to disease. Growing genetically uniform crops and animals is a disaster waiting to happen. Animals that become extinct or plants that are no longer grown take with them genes that farmers will one day need. 

Sustainable agriculture is a way of producing food that is healthy for both the consumers and the animals. It also does not harm the environment and the animals are well cared for. Sustainable agriculture conserves biodiversity by raising different types of plants and animals. Many sustainable farms do not use any type of chemicals to grow their food. Critics claim that sustainable agriculture produces very little food and uses a lot more land than industrial agriculture. There’s recent evidence, though, stating that over time, sustainable agriculture can be just as productive as industrial agriculture.     

      

Sustainable agriculture is healthier for everyone, including the environment.

Conserving biodiversity is crucial in keeping a sufficient food supply. Using sustainable agriculture to produce our food would be the best solution as food is being grown while biodiversity is being sustained and it keeps our environment in better shape. I think there is enough food in the world but it is not being distributed evenly. Many developed countries waste a lot of food everyday while other people are living in poverty with no food. Conserving biodiversity is important, it is too risky to let certain breeds become extinct. 

Sources

Contrast, By. "The Myth: Industrial Agriculture Benefits the Environment and Wildlife." Keep Maine Free From Genetically Engineered Crops. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://www.keepmainefree.org/myth5.html>.

"Sustainable Agriculture -- National Geographic." Environment Facts, Environment Science, Global Warming, Natural Disasters, Ecosystems, Green Living - National Geographic. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/sustainable-agriculture/>.

Utilizing, By. "What's Wrong with Industrial Agriculture." Organic Consumers Association. May 2002. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/IndustrialAg502.cfm>.

"What Is Sustainable Agriculture? - Introduction to Sustainability - Sustainable Table." Sustainabletable. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/whatis/>.

"What Is Sustainable Agriculture?" UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm>. 

Blogs I Commented On  

http://adorablogs.blogspot.com/2010/11/foods-we-eat-could-kill-tons-of-other.html#comments

http://claudia-d-123.blogspot.com/2010/11/stop-before-its-too-late.html#comments

Designer Babies

          As reproductive technology becomes more advanced, parents and doctors could one day choose the genes that a child inherits. Like most other situations, there are pros and cons to having designer babies. By being able to modify or select genes, you can avoid heredity disorders such as Huntington’s chorea, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy. On the other hand, by picking and choosing genes, it creates many social problems as the genes that were chosen would be seen as the “ideal” genes and the genes that were left behind would be seen as “imperfect.” The vast amount of knowledge that is known about genetic processes today is very helpful for people who have genetic disorders but I think it is unnecessary to select desirable genes for cosmetic reasons.    

A lot of research has been done on genetics which has created technologies that enable us to be able to view the genes of a child before it is born. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) are used to create designer babies. Using these types of technology, genetic illnesses can be avoided and it helps to create healthy futures for those children. PGD is used with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and a cell can be removed from the embryo before it transfers back to the mother. The DNA in the cell can be analyzed for genetic errors such as Down syndrome, and then the embryo can be transferred back to the mother’s uterus. PGD makes it possible to detect genetic errors before the pregnancy is established. This is just one example of the many different technologies that have been developed from the extensive amount of research that has been done on genetic processes. 

I think that when you are able to avoid genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy, the research that was done on genetics is being put to good use. For example, someone with muscular dystrophy can be confined to a wheelchair by the time they are 12 which is very unfortunate. That child will not get to live life the way everyone else does so using technology to change those genes would be a positive thing. On the other hand, when this technology is used to choose genes for cosmetic reasons, it creates many social problems. I personally think choosing a child’s genes because you would rather have a tall child as suppose to be a short child is unnecessary. There are people that do not live past their first birthday because of a genetic disorder that they have so worrying about the little details of a child’s appearance is ridiculous. Most people were brought up believing that it is fine to be different and unique and it is, but designer babies completely go against that statement. I think using technology to choose genes for medical reasons is understandable but choosing genes for cosmetic reasons is pointless. 

Sources

By, Park/New York, and Thompson/Washington. "Designer Babies - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989987,00.html>.

Year, By. "PGD Technology Offers More Than Designer Babies." Medical News Today: Health News. 01 Apr. 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144448.php>.

            "What Is a Designer Baby?" Bionet - New Discoveries in Life Sciences - Explore the Science and Debate the Issues. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/db_cont1.htm>.

             "Will Screening for Birth Defects Lead to 'designer Babies'?" Canada.com – Breaking News‚ Canada‚ World‚ Weather‚ Travel‚ Video & More. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/parenting/story.html?id=af85fffa-81df-4c47-b389-d7eefc2faccf&k=7781>.

 Blogs I Commented On

http://nicolesbioblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/designer-babies.html#comments
http://maeisdabomb.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-build-stuff-toy-when-you-can-build.html#comments

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The World Wildlife Fund is one of Canada's leading conservation organizations which work to protect the world's biological diversity, assure that the use of renewable natural resources are maintainable, and publicize the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. This organization works to reduce humanity's impact on natural habitats. WWF is one of the worlds largest and most respected conservation organizations. They have over 90 offices in over 40 countries around the world. Since 1985, WWF has completed over 11 000 projects in more than 100 countries.
The WWF has had many projects that have been a success and has helped to maintain the abundance and diversity of wildlife. For example, over 10 million hectares of wilderness in the Mackenzie River Basin are protected from industrial development. This benefits the many different species that live in that region including barren-ground caribou, wolves, lynx, grizzly bears, moose and huge populations of migratory ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds and loons. Another example of a successful WWF project includes shifting shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy. This helped to decrease the risk of deadly collisions with endangered right whales.

 This is a picture of a Northern Atlantic right whale. 

The Arctic is the largest but least inhabited region on Earth. It is one of the most important places on the planet as it is the most biologically productive and diverse. The Bering Sea attracts many animals from the Arctic, but the Arctic's future is at stake. In the United States, more than half the fish caught every year come from this sea. The Arctic is now threatened due to overfishing, toxic pollution, and more. WWF has been working to battle these threats to protect the Arctic's biodiversity since 1992.
WWF has had a lot of success in conserving the biodiversity of our ecosystems and this is another example of what they have done. An area off the coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut is now protected. This benefits the threatened bowhead whales as well as polar bears, Canadian geese, snow geese, halibut, narwhal, and many other species. The area provides protection from their main predator, the orca whales. Plans to protect this area had been floating around since the 1980's and now that the area is protected, the bowhead whales have a much larger chance for survival. When bowhead whales return to this area each year, it shows that there is hope for this species who is threatened. If this area is permanently protected, bowhead whales will be around for a long time to come.

 

This is a map of where the bowhead whales can be safe. 

 

This is a picture of a bowhead whale in its sanctuary. 

In the news, there are stories of how humans are destroying the planet everyday. But humans are doing many things to save the biodiversity of our ecosystems and the World Wildlife Fund is one of the organizations that work to do this. The examples that were talked about before are projects that WWF has completed which have helped to save the biodiversity of our ecosystems. Humans have positively affected the biodiversity on earth. 

References

"Conservation Successes in Canada." WWF - Local to Global Environmental Conservation. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://wwf.ca/>.

World Wildlife Fund - Wildlife Conservation, Endangered Species Conservation. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html>

WWF - WWF. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://wwf.panda.org/>.

"Bowhead Whale Conservation: Canadian Geographic Magazine - Explorer." Canadian Geographic - Canadian Geographic Magazine. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/travel/great_places/explorer/mj05/five.asp>.

Blogs I Commented On

http://vanezzabioblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/unit-2-bio-blog.html#comments

http://adorablogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/whats-your-knowledge-on-coral-reefs.html#comments