Threatened Coral Reefs

The World Resources Institute, along with 24 other organizations, published a report stating that the amount of threatened coral reefs has increased from 58% to 75% within the past decade. Activities such as overfishing, destructive fishing, and pollution are all leading causes of the deterioration of coral reefs. Global warming, which increases bleaching and oceanic acidification, also makes it difficult for coral to grow.

It has been estimated that more than 90% of coral reefs will be endangered by 2030, and nearly all reefs will be at risk by 2050. If these predictions are proven true, nearly 275 million people who depend on coral reefs for their livelihood will be affected. Countries such as Haiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines whose local communities rely heavily on these reefs as a major food source will severely threatened.

The report concluded that, in order to slow the decline of coral reefs, more effective marine protected areas need to be put into effect. Currently, nearly 27% of reefs are in parks/reserves, however only 6% are effective. In addition, there needs to be a reduction in carbon dioxide levels in order to decrease bleaching and oceanic acidification.

I chose this article because I have recently become certified in scuba diving, and have begun to experience the beauty of sea life up close. There is nothing in the world like swimming through a maze of coral reef alongside of sea turtles and colorful fish. Preserving these reefs is not only important for people who enjoy experiencing live underwater, like myself, or for people who rely on these reefs as a means of food, it is also important because it is the habitat that many smaller sea creatures use to protect themselves. Damaging coral reefs will destroy the only means of protection for many smaller fish, which will in turn have an impact on the food chain. In addition to marine protected areas, and reduction in carbon dioxide, I feel that scientists could collect and breed coral in man-made aquariums as an effort to protect coral reefs. This coral could then be cultivated and placed into reef environments in order to repopulate what has been lost.

Source: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/02/three-quarters-of-coral-reefs.html?ref=hp

Beer. Good for the Bones!

According to recent studies, scientists have found that beer contains nutritional properties that can contribute to a healthy diet, if consumed in moderation. One of beer’s active ingredients that contribute to these health benefits is folate. Folate is a water-soluble form of vitamin B that occurs naturally in certain foods, such as egg yolk, leafy vegetables, beans, and grain. Folate, or vitamin B, is essential to many bodily functions. It is especially important in synthesizing and repairing DNA, cell division, and producing red blood cells. Studies have shown that folate aids in a variety of different medical complications, such as bone health, the prevention of cancer, and in the reduction of birth defects.

Beer also contains large amounts of silicon, which is found in connective tissues and in the skin of humans. Researchers have also linked silicon with increasing bone-mineral density in humans. Silicon can also be found in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Nutritionists are not certain on the amount of silicon that should be consumed daily, however humans have an average intake of between 20 and 50 mg per day.

The brewing technique and ingredients used in the beer have an affect on how much folate and silicon end up in the final product. Malted beers contained the most silicon, followed by barley and wheat. When it came to brewing styles, studies showed that vigorous processing released greater amounts of silicon into the beer. The method used to dry the grain also had a result on the silicon level. The more the grain is dried, the more flavor the beer has, however it reduces the amount of silicon present in the beer. Therefore, dark beers, in which excessive drying techniques are used, have less silicon.

I chose this article because I felt like it coincided with the video we watched in class discussing the history of beer. When I stumbled upon this article I felt that it was appropriate to blog about considering that we just had a class discussion on the movie, and how a majority of the class felt that it was somewhat of an exaggeration. I felt that there was some interesting scientific evidence proving the that beer does in fact help ones bone density.

Source: http://news.discovery.com/human/beer-healthy-bones.html

Bioterrorism

In 2001, between the months of September and October, anthrax letters were dropped into a Princeton, N.J. mailbox; killing 5 people and leaving 17 others sickened. The FBI’s investigation determined Bruce Ivins, an Army microbiologist was responsible for these attacks. The genetic analysis portion of their investigation concluded that the mailed anthrax spores were grown from Dr. Bruce Ivins’ laboratory in Frederick, Maryland. After the investigation, the National Academy of Sciences was paid $1.1 million to review and assess the scientific aspects of the investigation.

Although the panel reached no conclusion as to the guilt or innocence of Dr. Ivins, their report revealed that the FBI attached too much certainty to the scientific aspects of the investigation. The report stated that the FBI overstated the strength of genetic analysis, which linked the mailed anthrax to a supply kept by Dr. Ivins. The panel felt that the genetic analysis “did not definitively demonstrate” that the mailed anthrax was grown from the samples acquired from Ivins’ Fort Detrick laboratory. The report also stated that investigators need to reconsider the tests that indicate the possible presence of anthrax at a lab used by Al Qaeda. Although the report did not include any detail on the exact location, such a lab was found in Afghanistan after the American invasion.

Regardless of the evidence, many of Dr. Ivins colleagues at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease refuse to believe that he was guilty of the anthrax mailings. Others believe that the evidence, which was “consistent with and supports an association” between Ivins’ flask and the anthrax mailed, is too close-fitting for Ivins to be innocent. I personally feel that, while there is an ample amount of evidence incriminating Bruce Ivins, the FBI closed this case prematurely. Investigators closed the case following Dr. Ivins’ suicide in 2008. While the case itself may have seemed to be at a dead end, investigators could still identify and characterize the anthrax samples obtained from the mailing, Dr. Ivins’ laboratory, and the samples found in the Al Qaeda lab in Afghanistan.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/us/16anthrax.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

Fecal Bacteria in Fountain Sodas

A recent study was conducted on fountain soda machines in Roanoke, Virginia, and revealed that nearly half of the sodas poured from these machines contain coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans, and are commonly used as an indicator of sanitation in food and beverages. When any type of food or drink tests positive for this type of bacteria, it is usually an indicator of fecal contamination.

According to the study, 48% of the sodas, diet sodas, and water poured from the 30 local soda fountains contained traces of this bacteria. In addition to the coliform bacteria, 11% of the sodas poured tested positive for E. coli, which violated standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency for safe drinking water. These standards require all food and beverages to test negative for E. coli.

The National Restaurant Association issued a response stating that this case “isn’t representative of our industry and that our guests can safely enjoy beverages from dispensers and single-serve containers alike”. It is evident that the sanitation practices at these facilities fall below US drinking water standards. Regardless of whether or not this is an accurate representation of the industry, it is apparent that these restaurants were not being regulated properly.

All beverage samples were obtained from 30 fast food restaurants within a 22 mile radius of Roanoke, Virginia. They acquired samples from both self-service and employee-dispensed machines. Researchers remain unaware of how the bacteria got inside these soda machines. They suspect that employees were not washing their hands properly and contaminating the soda while dispensing it. They also stated that coliform bacteria could contaminate the wet rags the in which employees are using to wipe down the soda machine, therefore contaminating the machine.

I personally feel that, while it is imperative to have laws and regulations established regarding sanitation, it is even more important for these laws and regulations to be enforced. From the results of this study, it is clear that there is a lack of enforcement; no one is paying attention to whether these regulations are being followed. Although these results may not be representative of the entire restaurant industry, they do pose a threat to the average consumer. In addition, this study was performed strictly on traces of coliform bacteria and E. coli. The results make me curious as to other types of bacteria or germs that may be contaminating these machines that researchers did not test for.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/08/soda.fountain.bacteria/index.html