E-waste recycling in India
There has been more and more waste being thrown away each year. As more waste is produce and we are not able to make good use of then or recycle them, they become wastage. Examples are computers and many more. Now, it is found that there are a lot of toxics in these computer or their parts. Like lead or mercury is commonly found in these old computers. But if we are to burn them, they cause air pollution as they produce poisonous smog by those burning lead and mercury. If they are buried, they cause land wastage. So recycling is the best option as it protects the environment and also save money. Another way out is to use environment friendly products when building these computers. Like using silicon chips so that they can be recycled.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3307815.stm
My point of view
From what I read, I can say that recycling is the best way out as they not only protects the environment. It also teaches other people the importance of the environment and also how we can help to protect it. Recycling these wastes would also create jobs for the people in the country.
19-05-07 11.57pm
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Chapter 8 - Mothballs, not just for humans
Mothballs: Not just for humans
Mothballs have many uses for humans like protecting our plants. Seal a plant in a plastic bag with a few moth balls and you will get a cleaned plant without any bugs in a few weeks. It will also keep moths off for a while.
We can also store woolens with mothballs to keep away moths. Not only is that, mothballs also used to keep off mice from our potting shed. Olds ones can even chase off cats and dogs since they hate that smell. It also keeps your books intact as it wards off silverfish and also bats from your house.
http://www.rd.com/content/extraordinary-uses-for-mothballs/
However, there are also other things that use mothballs other than human. Termites had been using them too According to researchers; a species of termite fumigates its underground nests with naphthalene, the active ingredient in mothballs. It makes use of the chemical into the soil and the chew up wood to use to insulate the complex of the tunnels in which the termites live in. The fumes produces keep ants and poisonous fungi and worms away.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/76115.stm
http://re3.mm-a7.yimg.com/image/3938304629
My point of view
From what I read, I must say there are still stuffs that we still do not know which we can use through other functions. And we can simply learn it by studying other living things who cleverly know how to make use of it.
19-05-07 11.35pm
Mothballs have many uses for humans like protecting our plants. Seal a plant in a plastic bag with a few moth balls and you will get a cleaned plant without any bugs in a few weeks. It will also keep moths off for a while.
We can also store woolens with mothballs to keep away moths. Not only is that, mothballs also used to keep off mice from our potting shed. Olds ones can even chase off cats and dogs since they hate that smell. It also keeps your books intact as it wards off silverfish and also bats from your house.
http://www.rd.com/content/extraordinary-uses-for-mothballs/
However, there are also other things that use mothballs other than human. Termites had been using them too According to researchers; a species of termite fumigates its underground nests with naphthalene, the active ingredient in mothballs. It makes use of the chemical into the soil and the chew up wood to use to insulate the complex of the tunnels in which the termites live in. The fumes produces keep ants and poisonous fungi and worms away.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/76115.stm
http://re3.mm-a7.yimg.com/image/3938304629
My point of view
From what I read, I must say there are still stuffs that we still do not know which we can use through other functions. And we can simply learn it by studying other living things who cleverly know how to make use of it.
19-05-07 11.35pm
Chapter 7 - Pesticides, Good or Bad??
Pesticides,Good or Bad?
What is pesticide?
Pesticide can be defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or lessening the damage of any pests.
There are many different types of pesticides.
1) Bactericides for the control of bacteria
2) Fungicides for the control of fungi and oomycetes
3) Herbicides for the control of weeds
4) Insecticides for the control of insects - these can be Ovicides, Larvicides or Adulticides
5) Miticides for the control of mites
6) Molluscicides for the control of slugs and snails
7) Nematicides for the control of nematodes
8) Rodenticides for the control of rodents
9) Virucides for the control of viruses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_pesticides_and_biological_control_in_agriculture
Many people claimed that pesticides were the cause of their harm. Like for example the people in the East of England, they claim to be victims of those chemically sprayed crops. This health concern is a problem as there is a help to go about helping it. Even though the government had recommend farmers to inform the public whenever they are spraying, the farmers do not usually care.
This spraying of chemically is hard to prevent from harming the nearby residents as there is no buffer zone separating them. Many people have become victims of these pesticides. There were attempts from environment to improve on the buffer zone of these farms with the houses of people but it was turned down.
However, there are also many farmers complaining that it was the chemical sprays that let the crops have their quantity and quality. Thus the government is actually ignoring requests of environmentalists to make changes the buffer zone level. They are actually protecting the farmers in this way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/3873761.stm
From what I know, the effects of pesticide
Effects of Pesticide
Firstly, pesticide is something used for the control pest. It can prevent the crops from being harm from pest as when the pest eats these pesticides, they actually die. Thus this prevents the crops from being eaten or destroys from insects. This would be the good point of the pesticides.
However there is many other side effect of the crops. Run off of these pesticide is very dangerous to the river as it does pollute them. For example, this pesticide can create eutrophication. This is when the amount of bacteria increases in great numbers blocking the amount of sunlight entering the river. With this problem, aquatic plants are not able to make food through photosynthesis as they are not able to obtain enough sunlight. Thus they will die in this process. As the plants die, the fish in the river is not obtain to have enough oxygen as there is not enough plants to maintain the oxygen level underwater. So they are also affected.
Not only that, too much pesticide applied on the crops is also not good. As the crops are eaten, they might not be very clean and we human or animals actually get some of this pesticide into our body and this is harmful to us.
My point of view
From what I can see, I think the government should restrict the buffer zone that it must be at least a certain distance to prevent any more harm done to the people nearby those farms. Furthermore, they should conduct good check to ensure that these crops and minimum pesticide level and the crop are safe for eating.
This way, there would be lesser people tuning due to pesticide. Pesticide is actually something good. Only when we misuse it, it would then cause harm to us.
19-05-07 11.14pm
What is pesticide?
Pesticide can be defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or lessening the damage of any pests.
There are many different types of pesticides.
1) Bactericides for the control of bacteria
2) Fungicides for the control of fungi and oomycetes
3) Herbicides for the control of weeds
4) Insecticides for the control of insects - these can be Ovicides, Larvicides or Adulticides
5) Miticides for the control of mites
6) Molluscicides for the control of slugs and snails
7) Nematicides for the control of nematodes
8) Rodenticides for the control of rodents
9) Virucides for the control of viruses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_pesticides_and_biological_control_in_agriculture
Many people claimed that pesticides were the cause of their harm. Like for example the people in the East of England, they claim to be victims of those chemically sprayed crops. This health concern is a problem as there is a help to go about helping it. Even though the government had recommend farmers to inform the public whenever they are spraying, the farmers do not usually care.
This spraying of chemically is hard to prevent from harming the nearby residents as there is no buffer zone separating them. Many people have become victims of these pesticides. There were attempts from environment to improve on the buffer zone of these farms with the houses of people but it was turned down.
However, there are also many farmers complaining that it was the chemical sprays that let the crops have their quantity and quality. Thus the government is actually ignoring requests of environmentalists to make changes the buffer zone level. They are actually protecting the farmers in this way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/3873761.stm
From what I know, the effects of pesticide
Effects of Pesticide
Firstly, pesticide is something used for the control pest. It can prevent the crops from being harm from pest as when the pest eats these pesticides, they actually die. Thus this prevents the crops from being eaten or destroys from insects. This would be the good point of the pesticides.
However there is many other side effect of the crops. Run off of these pesticide is very dangerous to the river as it does pollute them. For example, this pesticide can create eutrophication. This is when the amount of bacteria increases in great numbers blocking the amount of sunlight entering the river. With this problem, aquatic plants are not able to make food through photosynthesis as they are not able to obtain enough sunlight. Thus they will die in this process. As the plants die, the fish in the river is not obtain to have enough oxygen as there is not enough plants to maintain the oxygen level underwater. So they are also affected.
Not only that, too much pesticide applied on the crops is also not good. As the crops are eaten, they might not be very clean and we human or animals actually get some of this pesticide into our body and this is harmful to us.
My point of view
From what I can see, I think the government should restrict the buffer zone that it must be at least a certain distance to prevent any more harm done to the people nearby those farms. Furthermore, they should conduct good check to ensure that these crops and minimum pesticide level and the crop are safe for eating.
This way, there would be lesser people tuning due to pesticide. Pesticide is actually something good. Only when we misuse it, it would then cause harm to us.
19-05-07 11.14pm
Friday, May 18, 2007
Chapter 6 - Pesticides in a third of all our food
Pesticides in a third of all our food
Research have shown that more than one third of the food tested actually contains more than the limiting legal thing found on the food. Further researches confirm that there is actually pesticide in those foods. However, it was lucky to know that most food is just below or at the maximum permitted level.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4585353.stm
A weak dosage of these chemical or pesticides is not very harmful to our body. Before allowing the use of pesticide on food, there is always a check done on the amount of pesticide allowed to remain in the food. We often consider the
1) Toxicity of the pesticide and its break-down produce.
2) How much pesticide is applied
3) How much pesticide remains in or on the food when marketing or preparing
This would ensure the food to be saved for consuming. There is also food test conducted by the United States and only when it passed the test, it can be export to other countries.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/index.htm
My point of view
From what I can see, pesticide is not really a big problem when we eat in small amount. It is only when huge portions of the food are eaten, and then there would be danger of getting food poisoning. Also, there are usually strict regulations for the food that is imported from other countries. So normally the food we have is usually safe to eat.
This can also be a serious matter as there are also animals eating the fruits or food. If they happen to eat these pesticide filled food, they may also get sick and die. This would affect the food chain of the eco-system. Thus it is very important to keep the pesticide in the food as low as possible.
19-05-2007, 3.55am
Research have shown that more than one third of the food tested actually contains more than the limiting legal thing found on the food. Further researches confirm that there is actually pesticide in those foods. However, it was lucky to know that most food is just below or at the maximum permitted level.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4585353.stm
A weak dosage of these chemical or pesticides is not very harmful to our body. Before allowing the use of pesticide on food, there is always a check done on the amount of pesticide allowed to remain in the food. We often consider the
1) Toxicity of the pesticide and its break-down produce.
2) How much pesticide is applied
3) How much pesticide remains in or on the food when marketing or preparing
This would ensure the food to be saved for consuming. There is also food test conducted by the United States and only when it passed the test, it can be export to other countries.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/index.htm
My point of view
From what I can see, pesticide is not really a big problem when we eat in small amount. It is only when huge portions of the food are eaten, and then there would be danger of getting food poisoning. Also, there are usually strict regulations for the food that is imported from other countries. So normally the food we have is usually safe to eat.
This can also be a serious matter as there are also animals eating the fruits or food. If they happen to eat these pesticide filled food, they may also get sick and die. This would affect the food chain of the eco-system. Thus it is very important to keep the pesticide in the food as low as possible.
19-05-2007, 3.55am
Chapter 5 - How healthy is Barbequed Food?
How healthy are barbequed food?
Barbequed food can be nice but when they are not handled properly, they can turn out just as bad as junk food. This is when improper handling of food occurs and these good food might turn out to be a nightmare or you as it may cause food poisoning.
There are a lot of steps to be taken when we handle barbequed food.
1) Always remember to wash our hand before we handle any raw food.
2) Use gloves when handling hot tools or food
3) Raw food should be cooked right away
4) Common lighter should be use with charcoal, not fuel
5) Always store cold food in insulated containers
6) Do not eat overcooked or undercook food
7) Always cook in a steady fire
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4585353.stm
BBQ food is actually not quite good for the health. For the women, if they eat too much BBQ researches have shown that they tend to get breast cancer more easily.
http://www.cancerline.com/cancerlinepat/6096_27023_2_0_0.aspx?mid=1
Barbequed Food
http://mud.mm-a6.yimg.com/image/3551911826
My point of view
Nowadays, people often set up BBQ parties to celebrate events. BBQ food is actually not good for our health as they tend to contain a high level of saturated fats which is unhealthy for our body. It can also cause high blood pressure. When we get over cooked food, we often throw them away and this is wastage. We should try as much as possible to reduce on that so that we would not need to obtain so much food and help save the environment as they will have a longer time to span.
19-05-2007 3.17am
Barbequed food can be nice but when they are not handled properly, they can turn out just as bad as junk food. This is when improper handling of food occurs and these good food might turn out to be a nightmare or you as it may cause food poisoning.
There are a lot of steps to be taken when we handle barbequed food.
1) Always remember to wash our hand before we handle any raw food.
2) Use gloves when handling hot tools or food
3) Raw food should be cooked right away
4) Common lighter should be use with charcoal, not fuel
5) Always store cold food in insulated containers
6) Do not eat overcooked or undercook food
7) Always cook in a steady fire
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4585353.stm
BBQ food is actually not quite good for the health. For the women, if they eat too much BBQ researches have shown that they tend to get breast cancer more easily.
http://www.cancerline.com/cancerlinepat/6096_27023_2_0_0.aspx?mid=1
Barbequed Food
http://mud.mm-a6.yimg.com/image/3551911826
My point of view
Nowadays, people often set up BBQ parties to celebrate events. BBQ food is actually not good for our health as they tend to contain a high level of saturated fats which is unhealthy for our body. It can also cause high blood pressure. When we get over cooked food, we often throw them away and this is wastage. We should try as much as possible to reduce on that so that we would not need to obtain so much food and help save the environment as they will have a longer time to span.
19-05-2007 3.17am
Chapter 4 - Peral River Delta And Yellow River
Pearl River delta and Yellow river
There seems to be a lot of chemical factories located just beside the Pearl River delta and the Yellow river. Therefore, it would be very dangerous for the villagers living near these rivers as any pollution by these chemical plants would mean a lot of harm done to the rivers.
It was said that the fishes were never safe to eat due to the chemical plant leaking toxics into the river on 13 November. The toxin was not removed totally as there is not enough treatment done to totally clean the water.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4642090.stm
My point of view
There should not be any chemical plants build near the rivers or city so that the people will not be affected even if there was any leakage any more in the future. This would ensure the safety of the people as there would not be anyone living near there.
The government should also take extra care in setting the measurement of the safety of the chemical and also set guidelines for these chemical plants to follow. This is very important as it not only help to protect the people in the country,they can also help to protect the environment.
19-05-2007 2.41am
There seems to be a lot of chemical factories located just beside the Pearl River delta and the Yellow river. Therefore, it would be very dangerous for the villagers living near these rivers as any pollution by these chemical plants would mean a lot of harm done to the rivers.
It was said that the fishes were never safe to eat due to the chemical plant leaking toxics into the river on 13 November. The toxin was not removed totally as there is not enough treatment done to totally clean the water.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4642090.stm
My point of view
There should not be any chemical plants build near the rivers or city so that the people will not be affected even if there was any leakage any more in the future. This would ensure the safety of the people as there would not be anyone living near there.
The government should also take extra care in setting the measurement of the safety of the chemical and also set guidelines for these chemical plants to follow. This is very important as it not only help to protect the people in the country,they can also help to protect the environment.
19-05-2007 2.41am
Chapter 3 - Harbin Leaks
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41048000/jpg/_41048352_fish-getty203b.jpg
Chapter 3
Harbin leak in China
On November 13 in Jilin, a chemical plant was blasted, causing the pollution of the Songhua River. It had a very serious toxic leak and these toxic actually spread to Russia through the Songhua River nearby. Nitrobenzene level was about 3.7 times more than the healthy rate.
Due to the pollution, the water supply for hot and cold water was cut off for around 40 hours and this provided trouble for the residents living near the polluted river.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41048000/jpg/_41048352_fish-getty203b.jpg
My point of view
From what I see, China should not have held the leaking of the toxics into the river as a secret and assumed that the water is clean for use as there is no evidence of pollution. They should have been honest with the people as people living near the Songhua River depended on the river water for many uses. If the water is contaminated and the people still continued using, this may cause greater harm to the people there. Therefore, the government should have told them immediately what happened so that they can prevent themselves from getting poisoned.
Also, the safety rules of the chemical plants should also be changed so that it would be more saved from any leakages. This could be done by using more advanced equipment. This preventing of the leakage is very important as once the river gets polluted, not only will the people is affected by it, people from neighboring countries is also affected by it. Also, the environment would also be greatly harmed through this pollution. Like those marine sea creatures will also be affected by those chemicals. Many of them actually cannot live with too much of these toxics in the river.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4474284.stm
19-05-2007 1.13am
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)