Reused plastic bottles may seem like a simply harmless health risk, but many may be mistaken. Studies at a Calgary elementary school found bacteria in nearly one-third of reused water bottles by kids. Even washing the bottle may accelerate the breakdown of the plastic and diffuse the chemicals e through the bottle even faster. Simple disposable plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is harmless for the first time, but breaks down over time. The main component that appeared in nearly all the tests was DEHA which is known as a carcinogen. It also causes weight loss, liver problems, and possible reproductive problems.
Unknown Terms:
- Polyethylene terephthalate: a thermoplastic polymer of the polyester family that is used in synthetic fibers to make bottled water
-DEHA: A chemical used in some plastics
The reason that I chose this article is not because we are studying water, but because I am a frequent user of reused water bottles. The fact that I could be ingesting chemicals that could possible give me cancer is a big scare. A simply harmless way to save some money and not buy any new bottles could be potentially fatal. There has been some research done and many people use Nalgene bottles which do not breakdown and seep plastic chemicals into the water. That is why they are used in plastic dishes in chemical labs. Now that I know what the plastics can potentially do to my system really makes me think twice about reusing plastic bottles.
Osorio, Sonia. Reusing Water Bottles May Pose Health Risk. Patient Care, Mississauga. March 2003. Vol.14, Iss. 3, pp. 9
Sunday, November 4, 2007
AIDS Tent = Religion?
Taylor Atchison
FYS 08
November 4, 2007
Blog #9
The AIDS tent was an interesting experience. A Christian group put it up and ran it. As you go into the tent, a person sits down and talks with you about your current knowledge on Africa and the AIDS crisis. You are then handed a headset with one of three stories attached. The girl I became was Beatrice. She is a seven-year-old girl taking care of her older sister’s son because her sister died during child birth. This is an example of a family headed household. She is dirt poor and struggles to find food and water everyday. Luckily a very kind woman working for a relief program found her and she is doing much better off.
This tent was very eye opening. Of course many already know about the AIDS crisis however it is hard to make an emotional distinction to statistics. Being able to see pictures of real people who have died from AIDS, who have AIDS, and who are at least affected by AIDS adds an entirely new depth to the situation. There was a slight catch to the AIDS tent however. At the end a few people standing around a drawing greeting you. They ask you if you would like an interpretation of the drawing and they use this interpretation to bring up Jesus. What I disliked about the tent is the religious conversations going on after you exited the tent because I felt that it took away from the central issue – AIDS.
Christian Group, “AIDS Tent.” 4 Nov. 2007. University of Redlands, California.
FYS 08
November 4, 2007
Blog #9
The AIDS tent was an interesting experience. A Christian group put it up and ran it. As you go into the tent, a person sits down and talks with you about your current knowledge on Africa and the AIDS crisis. You are then handed a headset with one of three stories attached. The girl I became was Beatrice. She is a seven-year-old girl taking care of her older sister’s son because her sister died during child birth. This is an example of a family headed household. She is dirt poor and struggles to find food and water everyday. Luckily a very kind woman working for a relief program found her and she is doing much better off.
This tent was very eye opening. Of course many already know about the AIDS crisis however it is hard to make an emotional distinction to statistics. Being able to see pictures of real people who have died from AIDS, who have AIDS, and who are at least affected by AIDS adds an entirely new depth to the situation. There was a slight catch to the AIDS tent however. At the end a few people standing around a drawing greeting you. They ask you if you would like an interpretation of the drawing and they use this interpretation to bring up Jesus. What I disliked about the tent is the religious conversations going on after you exited the tent because I felt that it took away from the central issue – AIDS.
Christian Group, “AIDS Tent.” 4 Nov. 2007. University of Redlands, California.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Cocaine in the mem-brain.
When cocaine is used, it travels directly to the brain via blood vessels. It is mainly located in the dopamine synapses. It attaches itself to both the dopamine neurotransmitters and the receptor sites on the dendrite. This result in the axon being unable to re-absorb dopamine while the dopamine is only allowed to bind to certain dendrites. After all the available dendrites are taken up the remaining dopamine neurotransmitters simply float around in the synapse. The brain itself after a while becomes accustomed to the excess dopamine and it alters its chemistry to accommodate this. It accommodates this by slowing or sometimes even stopping the production of dopamine. It is due to this that if an addict stops using or even miss a dose, they start feeling cravings or withdrawals. It is the brain being starved of dopamine.
From personal experience with my friends I can say that cocaine is a powerfull drug. Any drug after a while begins to alter the chemistry of the brain. Even presciption drugs, which is how I can relate to the withdrawls. After being prescribed pain killers for a broken bone, I simply stopped taking them and it was as if I had a bad case of the flu. If I took them again, the feelings of weariness went away.
There were no real terms that I didn’t understand due to the fact that I have previously written a blog about this and im taking intro to psychology.
The National institute on drug abuse. “Section III: Introduction to Drugs of Abuse: Cocaine, Opiates (Heroin) and Marijuana (THC)”. October 29,2007. http://www.drugabuse.gov/pubs/teaching/Teaching4.html
From personal experience with my friends I can say that cocaine is a powerfull drug. Any drug after a while begins to alter the chemistry of the brain. Even presciption drugs, which is how I can relate to the withdrawls. After being prescribed pain killers for a broken bone, I simply stopped taking them and it was as if I had a bad case of the flu. If I took them again, the feelings of weariness went away.
There were no real terms that I didn’t understand due to the fact that I have previously written a blog about this and im taking intro to psychology.
The National institute on drug abuse. “Section III: Introduction to Drugs of Abuse: Cocaine, Opiates (Heroin) and Marijuana (THC)”. October 29,2007. http://www.drugabuse.gov/pubs/teaching/Teaching4.html
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Natural Pesticides
Natural Pesticides
There are a number of pesticides found in nature. Several species of plants use pesticides to ward off insects. Examples are nicotine, rotenone, pheromones, and juvenile hormones. Chemists have isolated some of these pesticides to use on insects. A type of natural pesticide that humans have used for centuries is pyrethrins. Pyrethrins were used in Napoleonic times to control body lice, and can even be found in flea products for animals today. They work by paralyzing insects, but not killing them. This field of study is known as Green Chemistry.[i] Green chemistry research has developed safer pesticides and procedures. An example if a low-toxicity pesticide created by Green Chemistry is hexaflumuron. This insecticide is used against termites, and interrupts their molting process.[1] This field of Green Chemistry is quickly becoming popular as people want safe alternatives with minimal environmental impact.
[1] Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 394-395.
[i] The science of designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.
I was aware that we were copying nature for pesticides and insecticides, but I didn’t know there was an entire field of Green Chemistry. With an increasing demand for green and safe products, I guess it was just a matter of time. I think we’ll begin to see a lot more research put into this field, and hopefully a lot more eco-safe products. I was also a little surprised to see that insecticides were used all the way back in the Napoleonic era. But it makes sense for the time.
[1] Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 394-395.
There are a number of pesticides found in nature. Several species of plants use pesticides to ward off insects. Examples are nicotine, rotenone, pheromones, and juvenile hormones. Chemists have isolated some of these pesticides to use on insects. A type of natural pesticide that humans have used for centuries is pyrethrins. Pyrethrins were used in Napoleonic times to control body lice, and can even be found in flea products for animals today. They work by paralyzing insects, but not killing them. This field of study is known as Green Chemistry.[i] Green chemistry research has developed safer pesticides and procedures. An example if a low-toxicity pesticide created by Green Chemistry is hexaflumuron. This insecticide is used against termites, and interrupts their molting process.[1] This field of Green Chemistry is quickly becoming popular as people want safe alternatives with minimal environmental impact.
[1] Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 394-395.
[i] The science of designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.
I was aware that we were copying nature for pesticides and insecticides, but I didn’t know there was an entire field of Green Chemistry. With an increasing demand for green and safe products, I guess it was just a matter of time. I think we’ll begin to see a lot more research put into this field, and hopefully a lot more eco-safe products. I was also a little surprised to see that insecticides were used all the way back in the Napoleonic era. But it makes sense for the time.
[1] Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 394-395.
Monday, October 29, 2007
You Need Protein in Your Diet
Caleb Cato
You Need Protein in Your Diet
Proteins are an essential part of the human diet. They are so important because without the ingestion of outside proteins, your body cannot produce its own. Every human has tens of thousands of types of proteins, each of which performs a different function; in short, proteins are essential to life as we know it. They create or breakdown essential molecules, facilitate chemical reactions needed for survival, move things in the body around, build cells, breakdown waste, and form every enzyme (catalysts within the body which control the rate of chemical reactions or make it easier for certain reactions to occur). (Baird, p. 341)
Proteins come in tens of thousands of types, but every protein is formed from the same basic structures. Human proteins are all formed from the same twenty amino acids strung together in different orders; indeed, the proteins of all living things are, with some organisms using a few additional types (Baird, p. 341). In order for the body to form every type of protein that it needs, it must have every type of amino acid available in the correct ratio. If they aren’t available in the correct amounts, not all protein types may be produced. Some amino acids may be formed by the body; these ten are called non essential amino acids. The other ten must be taken from the diet (Baird, p. 350).
The key to absorbing all of the essential amino acids is eating a varied diet. Foods such as grains have essential amino acids such as methionine, while legumes have tryptophan and lysine in abundance. Meat, seafood, poultry, meat, cheese and eggs have all kinds of essential amino acids. (Baird, p. 350)
Excess protein taken in by the body is disposed of through the urine, and so it is not so dangerous to eat to many foods rich in protein, whereas a lack of protein may be very dangerous; malnutrition is one of the least dangerous things someone who doesn’t get enough protein must worry about. (Baird, p. 351)
The article on proteins in Chemistry in your Life made it clear how important it was to have a varied diet. Without one, the body may not be able to go through all of its essential functions because it lacks the necessary proteins in high enough numbers. Vegetarians especially must worry about their protein intake, because so many of the proteins necessary are hard to find in high quantities in plants.
Proteins come in tens of thousands of types, but every protein is formed from the same basic structures. Human proteins are all formed from the same twenty amino acids strung together in different orders; indeed, the proteins of all living things are, with some organisms using a few additional types (Baird, p. 341). In order for the body to form every type of protein that it needs, it must have every type of amino acid available in the correct ratio. If they aren’t available in the correct amounts, not all protein types may be produced. Some amino acids may be formed by the body; these ten are called non essential amino acids. The other ten must be taken from the diet (Baird, p. 350).
The key to absorbing all of the essential amino acids is eating a varied diet. Foods such as grains have essential amino acids such as methionine, while legumes have tryptophan and lysine in abundance. Meat, seafood, poultry, meat, cheese and eggs have all kinds of essential amino acids. (Baird, p. 350)
Excess protein taken in by the body is disposed of through the urine, and so it is not so dangerous to eat to many foods rich in protein, whereas a lack of protein may be very dangerous; malnutrition is one of the least dangerous things someone who doesn’t get enough protein must worry about. (Baird, p. 351)
The article on proteins in Chemistry in your Life made it clear how important it was to have a varied diet. Without one, the body may not be able to go through all of its essential functions because it lacks the necessary proteins in high enough numbers. Vegetarians especially must worry about their protein intake, because so many of the proteins necessary are hard to find in high quantities in plants.
Bibliography
Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 2006.
The Production of Soap
Even though soap has been around for ages the same ingredients have been added for years. The main ingredient for soap is animal fat. The fat is either decomposed of heated at a high temperature in water in order to form glycerol and free fatty acid. Also fat can be broken down much quicker with a basic substance and adding heat to it. The base used to do this is a mixture of sodium and potassium carbonate. Salt is then added and the soap and glycerol is separated from each other. The glycerol is then removed from the mixture. Hard soaps mainly consist of sodium, but a soft soap such as shaving later and liquid soap mainly contains potassium. Most of the time a sort of perfume is added to the mixture to add a scent. Hard water consisting of calcium or magnesium deactivates the cleaning process of soap and builds soap scum. Many people prefer soft water to wash their hair so that the soapy residue is not left over.
Unknown terms:
-glycerol: a byproduct in the production of soap.
-hard water: water containing calcium or magnesium ions
Soap has always interested me on how it is made. I never did know the chemical properties or any of its features. I just accepted the fact that it cleaned. The fact that animal fat if the real reason for the production of soap surprises me. I never would have expected animal fat to make a substance that can clean objects. I have basically been cleaning my body with a dead animal. The process to make soap is actually not hard either. Most of the time soap could be made in someone’s home. I also didn’t know that soap can have different qualities because of the salt added to it. Next time I jump in the shower I will make sure to think of what I am rubbing on myself when I use a bar of soap.
Unknown terms:
-glycerol: a byproduct in the production of soap.
-hard water: water containing calcium or magnesium ions
Soap has always interested me on how it is made. I never did know the chemical properties or any of its features. I just accepted the fact that it cleaned. The fact that animal fat if the real reason for the production of soap surprises me. I never would have expected animal fat to make a substance that can clean objects. I have basically been cleaning my body with a dead animal. The process to make soap is actually not hard either. Most of the time soap could be made in someone’s home. I also didn’t know that soap can have different qualities because of the salt added to it. Next time I jump in the shower I will make sure to think of what I am rubbing on myself when I use a bar of soap.
Chemistry of Food
10.5 Additives are used to enhance food’s appearance, texture, and flavor
For food labels, the ingredients list goes in order of amounts. There are three main enhancers used in food, colors and bleaching agents, thickening agents and texture modifiers, and flavor enhancers. First color and bleaching agents are used to make food more appetizing and pleasing to the consumer. There have been seven food colorings that have been certified for use in the United States, and that actually are used currently. There are many natural products used to create different textures and agents. Some of those products are carrageenan, a carbohydrate extract, xanthan gum, and many other various cellulose derivatives. The most common flavor enhancer is MSG, which is used in Chinese food, such as soups. MSG is sodium salt of the naturally occurring amino acid glutamics acid. The side effects of MSG are headaches and nausea. Some enhancers are used to exaggerate the flavor of meat, and allow the manufactures to use less of the “real thing.” They are ionic compounds produced from organic acids and occur at small concentrations in some natural products. Ever wondered why food spoils? It’s when unsaturated fat molecules can decompose and produce foul-smelling, foul-tasting, that react with oxygen in the air.
Unsaturated fat+ O2ààAldehydes, acids, ketones
Unknowns
Carrageenan: extracts of carrageen seaweed, has been used as food additives for hundreds of years.
Xanthan gum: is a polysaccharide used as a food additive and rheology modifier.
Glutamics acid: is the protonated form of glutamate (the anion). Glutamate is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. It is not among the essential amino acids. Its codons are GAA and GAG.
Aldehyde: An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a terminal carbonyl group. This functional group, which consists of a carbon atom which is bonded to a hydrogen atom and double-bonded to an oxygen atom (chemical formula O=CH-), is called the aldehyde group.
In society, most people don’t have a clue of what is in their food, or what at all they may be eating. By informing the public would bring much satisfaction to the world. People would be more cautious, aware, and healthier. Less problems and consequences would arrive in light of this new information. Next time, it wouldn’t hurt to look and see what your food contains and maybe choose a healthier route!
Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 380-386
For food labels, the ingredients list goes in order of amounts. There are three main enhancers used in food, colors and bleaching agents, thickening agents and texture modifiers, and flavor enhancers. First color and bleaching agents are used to make food more appetizing and pleasing to the consumer. There have been seven food colorings that have been certified for use in the United States, and that actually are used currently. There are many natural products used to create different textures and agents. Some of those products are carrageenan, a carbohydrate extract, xanthan gum, and many other various cellulose derivatives. The most common flavor enhancer is MSG, which is used in Chinese food, such as soups. MSG is sodium salt of the naturally occurring amino acid glutamics acid. The side effects of MSG are headaches and nausea. Some enhancers are used to exaggerate the flavor of meat, and allow the manufactures to use less of the “real thing.” They are ionic compounds produced from organic acids and occur at small concentrations in some natural products. Ever wondered why food spoils? It’s when unsaturated fat molecules can decompose and produce foul-smelling, foul-tasting, that react with oxygen in the air.
Unsaturated fat+ O2ààAldehydes, acids, ketones
Unknowns
Carrageenan: extracts of carrageen seaweed, has been used as food additives for hundreds of years.
Xanthan gum: is a polysaccharide used as a food additive and rheology modifier.
Glutamics acid: is the protonated form of glutamate (the anion). Glutamate is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. It is not among the essential amino acids. Its codons are GAA and GAG.
Aldehyde: An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a terminal carbonyl group. This functional group, which consists of a carbon atom which is bonded to a hydrogen atom and double-bonded to an oxygen atom (chemical formula O=CH-), is called the aldehyde group.
In society, most people don’t have a clue of what is in their food, or what at all they may be eating. By informing the public would bring much satisfaction to the world. People would be more cautious, aware, and healthier. Less problems and consequences would arrive in light of this new information. Next time, it wouldn’t hurt to look and see what your food contains and maybe choose a healthier route!
Baird, C. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman and Company Press: USA, 2006; pp 380-386
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