Archive for March, 2010

Genetically Engineered Animals and Your Family’s Diet

As we round the corner on yet another contamination scare – this time, peanut butter – the world has gained heightened awareness of the lax standards imposed by governmental agencies charged with the task of keeping the public safe.  Safe from improper handling, safe from unintended chemical and biological contamination, and safe from overt efforts to taint the food chain.  So where do we draw the line? The scientific world has been testing the limits of genetic engineering for decades.  They’ve been charged with the task of finding ways to improve the genetic resistance of crops to insects, bacteria and fungi.  As knowledge and understanding of imposed genetic mutations grew, it was only a matter of time before they would turn their attention to feed animals, and that time has crept upon us. Traditional genetic engineering took generations to perfect.  Breeding stock was selected for specific characteristics and the offspring were monitored to determine the relative success of the experiment.  The difficulty with traditional breeding trials, however, is firmly grounded in the root of genetics.  Selective breeding intensifies breed traits: size, function, appearance and temperament, but while one desired element may improve, an undesirable trait may be magnified, as well. Selective breeding has ...

Is Shampoo a Poison to Us and Environment?

We all wash our hair to clean dirt and styling products out of it and to reduce the oiliness from our scalp.  While the lovely lather and nice smelling shampoo we use might make our hair feel clean, the chemicals we use to create these effects could be harming ourselves as well as polluting and poisoning the environment. Take a look at the list of ingredients on the label of your shampoo bottle.  The list reads more like a chemistry class and that’s even for the shampoo products that claim to be ‘herbal’ or moisturizing. One of the primary ingredients in most shampoos is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is known to be a major skin irritant.  Studies and testing have also shown this chemical compound may also cause mutagenic effects in animals. Another chemical ingredient in many shampoos is Ammonium Chloride, which is also known to be a respiratory irritant.  This chemical cocktail is extremely harmful if swallowed and can cause serious eye irritation if you get it near your eyes. The chemical compound Methylchloroisothiazolinone is supposed to be a preservative with antibacterial and antifungal properties.  It’s also a potent immune system toxin.  If this compound is used in high concentrations, it can cause ...

Noise Pollution: Few Tips to Reduce it

Take a step outside your front door and what do you hear?  The joyful laughter of kids at play?  Birds, singing in the trees?  The occasional barking of a dog down the block?  Most likely, the answer is a resounding, “No!” We humans love our machines.  Gas and electric powered mowers, blowers, trimmers and saws fill most home garages.  And long gone are the days of the self-contained vacuum … now we blast the neighborhood with a garage mounted monster that screams to the neighborhood “I’m a good housekeeper!”  Tying it all together is the constant drone of televisions, radios and computer games running 24-hours a day.  Who have we become? In bygone days the relative peace of a quiet neighborhood was shattered only by the occasional roar of a treasured Harley or dad’s darling Jeep fired up for a trip to the countryside.  Now, however, we rely upon these resounding vehicles for everyday transportation. Even docile country landscapes are shattered by the constant din of dirt bikes and ATVs as weekend warriors make their way to the out of doors.  The former calm of rural quietude has been replaced by mechanized entertainment that pollutes the bucolic scenes, churns soil and destroys delicate ...

Looking at Compact Fluorescent Lamp Bulbs

The increased public awareness of environmental issues has led to a number of unique, “green” products entering the marketplace.  One such product is the compact fluorescent lamp (light) bulb.  This new light bulb is rapidly replacing the traditional incandescent bulb thanks to its cost and energy saving benefits. Surprisingly, compact fluorescent lamps are not a new invention.  There were originally developed in response to the 1973 Oil Crisis.  Since these new bulbs were far more energy efficient than the traditional light bulbs, there were high hopes for their success.  However, the compact fluorescent lamps were far from cost effective and could not compete in the marketplace. For the past several years, the prices for compact fluorescent lamp bulbs were quite stratospheric.  As recently as only a few years ago, the cost of the bulbs was around $20.  That put them well out of the range of affordability for most people.  Recently, the bulbs have dropped significantly in price and can be purchased for around $5. Yes, it is true that that $5 is more than the cost of an incandescent light bulb.  However, there is a significant benefit to purchasing compact fluorescent lamp bulbs.  Namely, they last upwards of ten times longer than ...

Light Pollution Facts

Have you ever seen one of the satellite images of earth in the darkest hours of the night?  It’s an incredible testimony to the degradation of nature’s beauty from Thomas Edison’s elementary invention a mere 100 years ago.  What must our planet look like to passersby from neighboring galaxies?  Most likely, the stellar equivalent of the Las Vegas Strip at midnight! Then, there’s the effect of light pollution for the night sky watcher from earth.  Unless you have the good fortune to live – or camp – far from the reaches of man, an unimpeded view of the heavens is a virtual impossibility.  Street lamps, traffic lights, advertisements, cars and buildings emit untold kilowatts of light to keep the darkness at bay.  Look into the night sky on a cloudy or foggy night.  City skies emit a rosy glow of reflected light that overpowers nature’s delicate sparkle. The effects of light pollution can also be found in more than 70% of homes the world over:  night lights, LED emissions from clocks and appliances and a cacophony of glowing green, red and yellow indicators reassure us that the power grid is still functioning.  For most, especially young children nurturing a fear of the ...