Synthesis

Well, the time has come. The end of the semester is just around the corner, so this will be my final blog for my environment science class. This week’s assignment asked us to look back at everything that we have learned throughout the semester and pick a topic that we think is the most important today, and do some investigation as to why we think that is, So I pick….Climate Change.

But first I want to talk about the most interesting thing that I learned this semester. That just happened to come on field trip to Amy’s Farm, a small back-to-basics farm in Ontario, CA. I grew up on a ranch, so being there immediately took be back to my childhood. But my childhood didn’t include gardening, but it’s something that Amy’s Farm did. I’ve always been interested in gardening, but I didn’t know much, and I always assumed you had to have A LOT of space. But that’s not always the case. Yes, Amy’s Farm’s garden is much larger than I have at home, but it’s not about the size, it’s about what you plant and how you use land. Before this field trip, I really wasn’t aware that certain plants give and take certain nutrients to the soil, and with the right combination, you can harvest a lot in small spaces. This is something that I came home with, and plan on implementing in my life.

So back to Climate Change:

Human induced Climate changes, like global warming, is changing the world right in front of our very eyes, yet not everyone is on board, and doesn’t see this as an issue. But it is. According to the CEF, “Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification” (CEF.com). During the 20th century, the Earth’s average temperature increased by 1° Fahrenheit, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but Earth’s climate record shows that small changes in temperature lead to huge changes in the environment. For example, at the end of the last ice age, average temperatures in the united states were only 5-9 degrees cooler than today. Glaciers shrinking, polar ice melting, plant and animal ranges shifting, coral bleaching, floods and heat waves are just the tip of the iceberg. Over the next century, scientists predict the temperature to rise between 2.5 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a mean of 1.8 to 5.4°. This is expected to have beneficial impacts in some regions, but have harmful effects in others (nasa.gov)

What can we do about it as a society? –

Education:
As a society, I believe one of the most important things we can do to fight climate change is to support education efforts that help both the individual and communities to make informed decisions. Incorporating climate science into practical knowledge makes understanding a complex subject and making decisions slightly less daunting

Mitigation:
In simple terms, mitigation simply means “righting a wrong”. In this case, the wrong is the emission of greenhouse gasses. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions means reducing and conserving oil, gas, and coal, the main fossil fuels, and getting everyone on board is no easy task. “decarbonizing” is necessary for mitigation, this includes finding other sources of energy.

What can you do about it as an individual?
Simple measures all play important roles.

o Plant trees!

o Drive less: biking, carpooling, public transportation

o Buy local food

o Turn off lights, unplug electronics and appliances

o Use energy efficient appliances

o Switch to renewable energy

o Educate yourself

o Advocate

o Recycle

o Purchase fuel efficient car

Sources:

http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-current-environmental-problems.php

http://www.broward.org/POLLUTIONPREVENTION/AIRQUALITY/EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS/Pages/ThingsToPreventClimateChange.aspx

Summary: "Cowspiracy"

There are plenty of movies and books available that aim to educate people about environmental issues, The movie Cowspiracy is just one of the few I've watched recently. Here's a short or not so short summary:

In "Cowspiracy", Kip Andersen investigates the devastating effects of raising livestock and animal agriculture. Raising livestock produces more greenhouse gasses than all methods of transportation combine. On average livestock produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day, and methane is 86x more destructive to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Animal agriculture is also the leading cause of resource consumption, including deforestation. 

The amount of water that is used by animal agriculture is staggeringly high, consuming 34 trillion gallons of water a year. The average person living in California uses 1500 gallons of water a day, half of it caused by the consumption of meat and dairy. Most of the water is used to grow the grain to feed cattle. It takes about 660 gallons of water to produce a quarter-pound hamburger, averaging out at about 2,500 gallons of water per pound of beef. In order to save water, we need to eat less meat, however, the government and environmental organizations do not want to address the impact of animal agriculture.

Animal agriculture produces 65% of the world's nitrous oxide, a gas with global warming potential that is 296 x greater than carbon dioxide per pound, yet all we hear about is the burning of fossil fuels. By 2040, due to the increased consumption of meat and dairy, the carbon dioxide levels are expected to raise 80% by animal emissions compared to 20% by energy emissions. A recent study shows that animal agriculture is responsible for 51% of human caused climate change, 30% of the water consumption, and 91% of the Amazon Rainforest destruction. It also occupies 45% of the earth's land and is the leading cause of ocean dead zones, habitat destruction and species extinction. Yet organizations meant to protect the earth do not have this as their main focus. Because of animal agriculture, we are in the middle of the biggest mass extinction in the past 65 million years. 

Animal agriculture is the greatest source of water pollution. In the United States alone, 116,000 pounds of feces is produced every second, polluting the water. This is 130x more waste than the entire human population combined. This has caused 500 nitrogen-flooded dead zones in our oceans, about 95,000 square miles of lifeless ocean. Currently, 75% of the world's fisheries are over exploited, fully exploited, or significantly depleted due to overfishing. Approximately 28 billion animals are pulled out of the oceans annually, with no chance to recover. If changes are not made, scientists predict fishless oceans by 2048.  

Because of animal agriculture, our rainforests, which are basically the planets lungs, are being destroyed at a rapid rate, one acre every second. Every day, 100 plant, animal and insect species are lost. While palm oil production is responsible for 26 million acres, animal agriculture is responsible for 136 million acres. There are people willing to speak up, but many people are afraid in fear of being shot in the head, like Sister Dorothy Stang. At least 1,100 activists have been killed in Brazil within the last 20 years. 

Most people blame the earth's problems on overpopulation, but really, it's really a people-eating animal population problem. There are 7 billion people on this planet, and they consume 5.2 billion gallons of water and 21 billion pounds of food, but there are 70,000,000,000 animals raised for food that consume 45 billion gallons of water and 135 billion pounds of food. It is not possible to feed the world meat and dairy in a sustainable way. There is too high of a demand, and it is only going to increase as the population continues to grow exponentially. 

To be sustainable, a plant-based diet is recommended; it uses one-twentieth of the land. Growing plants is efficient. To feed one person on a plant based diet for a year required 1/6th of an acre of land. Being vegetarian requires 3x that, and meat requires 18x that. On an acre and a half of land, 37,000 pounds of vegetables can be produced versus 375 pounds of meat on that same about of land. In addition to being more efficient, carbon dioxide levels would drop. Going vegan, in one year, one person can save 108 tons of carbon dioxide emissions; this is more than going solar or driving a hybrid car. By going vegan, everyday a person saves 1100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forest, 10 pounds of carbon dioxide, and 1 animal’s life! Also, ocean populations would return, land would return, the air would be cleaner, and climate change would reverse. It is the most powerful thing a person can do to save the planet!  

Climate Change

Climate change has been without a doubt one of the most talked about and controversial topics over the past decade. This week’s assignment asked us to take a closer look at the topic and human involvement from both sides, the scientific side, backed by data, and the side of the nay-sayers and the root of their beliefs.

Is the climate currently changing?

The short answer is yes. Although it doesn’t seem like it, there is overwhelming evidence to prove that the current climate is indeed changing. Per the UN, the average global temperature increased by 0.6 °C during the 20^th century, with numbers still rising. The temperature increase is directly linked to rising levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂). These gases absorb infrared radiation and change the natural flow of energy. The effects of the rising temperatures can already be seen. Glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost are melting. In Southern California, the drought continues due to lack of rain and longer, hotter days. And in other parts of the country there is massive flooding. There is definite evidence to show that the climate is currently changing.

How have humans contributed?

Since the industrial revolution, the demand for fossil fuels has increased dramatically. Burning fossil fuels is the largest contribution to the rise in carbon emissions in our atmosphere. But studies show that it’s not just humans burning fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, other activities do as well. Agriculture/animal culture is a big player in this game. First, land must be cleared to prepare for livestock, chickens, produce etc… Deforestation removes our natural CO₂ filters. Second, emissions from activities include methane and nitrous oxide. Studies show that methane is a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. We also indirectly generate ozone in our lower atmosphere with car exhaust fumes, other chemicals, and something we unfortunately can’t avoid…sunlight. So again, there is overwhelming evidence that links human activities to climate change.

How does this affect society?

Climate change is very much a social justice issue. Climate change will affect everyone, but the impact may go unnoticed in certain parts of the world and may be devastating to others. So not everyone will be affected the same. Food shortages are expected at the local but not global level. Weather pattern changes will affect water distribution. Some areas will lack access to water while other areas will flood. Physical infrastructure will be impacted affecting the economy. Climate change may have direct or indirect effects on human health whether it be malnutrition or disease. People in developing countries and people of low socio-economic status are especially vulnerable.

What about the near future, the next 50 years?

If we continue our current path and do nothing to change the situation, we could be looking at a different world. I imagine colorless oceans, and by that, I mean the loss of coral reef ecosystems.  Increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification is leading to massive coral bleach events. If we don’t do something to stop this, coral reefs could be gone, forever. But it’s not just oceans, it’s everything else. Long hot days doesn’t sound too appealing. Aside from the hot days, lack of green scenery (at least here), increasing health issues, and colorless oceans, I see war and conflict between the people who demand change and those who don’t. Climate change goes beyond science and physical change.

The Nay-Sayers

Most of the world is in agreement that climate change is real and is happening as we speak. But there are some who disagree despite the overwhelming evidence that proves it. Heartland Institute is probably one of the most recognizable anti-climate change organizations out there. But I can’t put my finger on exactly what they base their beliefs on. One thing that comes to mind is Logical Fallacies. Their stance seems to be based on what people might want to hear or what might seem logical is absolutely backed by nothing. They claim to base their views off what the data shows, but clearly that doesn’t seem to be the case, or there is a misrepresentation of scientific data, showing only the portion that benefits them to support what they are saying instead of being factual and showing the entire picture.

.

It all boils down to climate change is real… but messy and slightly terrifying!

Sources used:

http://unfccc.int/resource/iuckit/cckit2001en.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/climatechange

24 Hours Unplugged

Can you go a full 24-hours using as little energy as possible? This means no use of electronic devices, unplug everything that doesn't absolutely NEED to be plugged in, drive as little as possible, and possibly take cold showers. It's not as easy as it sounds, or is it? This week's assignment asked us minimize our energy use and reflect on the experience. So, here it goes.

What did I completely "unplug"?

• Warm showers: This was TOUGH, but I wanted to see if I could do it, and I can. Every morning, I look forward to warm shower. It makes having to get up at the crack of dawn everyday seem bearable. With that being said, I hated it. It was definitely not the way I wanted to start my day.
• All electronic devices, including cell phone, television, laptop and tablet, nor did I use the computers at work/school: These were easier to give than I thought. The cell phone was the hardest. I rely on that way to much. I had to dig out my watch, but I made it through. Without these, I was much less distracted and was able to focus on things that needed to be done. So productivity was definitely a bonus!
• All small appliances: These are usually unplugged as I rarely use them.

What did I minimize?

• Lights: I only turned a light on once it got dark, and I only had one on in the room that I was in. This really wasn't anything different than normal. I stay up late almost every night, so even though it was just one light, you don't realize how many hours it's actually on for and how much energy it's using until you're forced to pay attention.
• Driving: I only drove when I had to, which was to go to school and then come home. This is actually the most difficult. I drive way more than I need it. One of the things that de-stresses me is going off-roading to find a quiet place to study.

What am I willing and NOT willing to give up?

• I'm definitely not willing to give up warm showers. I'm willing to make a time limit, but not give them up completely.
• Giving up electronic devices is simply not feasible. However, I can reduce how many I use at the same time. I don't need to be watching TV, working on the computer, listening to music on my phone, and having my tablet displaying slide shows for school all at the same time. And yes, i'm ashamed to say this happens on a regular basis.
• Clothes dryer and washing in cold water: I didn't need to do laundry during this time, but one easy way to cut back energy usage is to wash my clothes in cold water and hang them to dry.
• Unplug everything that doesn't need to be plugged it. This includes TVs, chargers, small appliances, etc... If i'm not using it, and its not "important" than it doesn't need to be plugged in.

How can I increase energy efficiency in my home?

     I took a good look around my home. All of our appliances are energy efficient. All of our light bulbs are either low-energy or LED. Our windows are dual-pane to conserve energy. However, I would like to have solar panels installed. I know its not cheap, but it really does pay off.

Food, glorious food!

This week’s assignment asked me to choose one food that I enjoy and do a little research to find out more about it. Where does it come from? How was it grown? What are the environmental impacts? What are the health effects? These are some of the questions that I’m going to answer about the one food that makes up most of my diet…rice! Basmati rice to be exact. I know, how boring is that, but I’m curious to find out more information about something that eat almost on a daily basis.

Basmati Field in India

Where and How is it grown?

I buy my rice in bulk from Winco, and I was able to find out that the rice is imported from India (roughly 65% of basmati rice is imported from India). It was difficult to find out anything more specific, like exact location etc...

Because, the rice isn't labeled organic and an inability to find out enough information, I'm going to assume that it wasn't grown free of pesticides, etc..., but i'm not 100% sure.

What are the environmental impacts of rice cultivation?

Apart from requiring large, flooded areas for growing, which limits overall water availability, one of the biggest problems with growing rice is that it accelerates global warming. Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and warmer temperatures cause rice plants to release copious amounts methane gas among others, an even more potent greenhouse gas that carbon dioxide, although its not the rice itself that is causing the problems. Flooded soil provides anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions, and this is just the environment that methane-producing bacteria thrive in. The more rice paddies, the more abundance of methane-producing bacteria, the more methane being released, all of this leads to an acceleration of global warming.

What are the health effects of consuming rice?

•  Rice is loaded with carbohydrates; thus, it is a great source of fuel for the body, helping with normal functioning of the brain
• Rice doesn’t contain cholesterol or harmful fats. This reduces the risk of obesity and associated conditions.
• Rice is low in sodium. It is one of the better foods for reducing blood pressure.
• Contains loads of antioxidants needed to scour the body of cancer causing free-radicals
• Rich in Vitamins and minerals: Vitamin D, calcium, fiber, iron, thiamine, riboflavin. These are important in the regulation of metabolism and organ system functioning
• This is probably the most interesting thing I learned researching basmati rice. Typically, we are told to stay away from “white grains”. They contain large amounts of starch which is metabolized and causes high fluctuations in blood glucose levels, so they score high on the glycemic index. However, basmati has a relatively low glycemic index (56) compared to other grains and products made from white flour (89). 
• Contains resistance starch. Unlike most starch, which starts to break down in the mouth, rice starch reaches the bowels in undigested form, regulating your microbiota, which aids in digestion.
•          Prevents chronic constipation
  
  (source: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/cereal/health-benefits-of-rice.html)

        Overall, I would say that rice has many benefits and is indeed healthy! 

How much trash do I produce and what can I do?

This past week, I was asked to keep track of how much trash I produce in a two-day period. After the two days were up, I researched ways that I can reduce how much waste that I create, then implement several techniques and keep track for another two days to see if there was any difference. And there was, but I just wanted to take a quick second to note that this was no ordinary week for me. I was constantly on the go, out of state, or both. Without these extreme circumstances, during a normal week, I would expect to generate more waste than I did this week, quite a bit more actually, so I plan on repeating this experiment when life has normalized so I can make some changes and reduce my footprint!

Waste accumulated in 48 hours:

-          5 gum wrappers - Trash

-          2 cardboard boxes from amazon - Recycled

-          2 plastic grocery bags - Trash

-          3 banana peels - Trash

-          2 orange peels - Trash

-          Avocado skins - Trash

-          Coffee grinds - Trash

-          Tea bag - Trash

-          Potato skins - Trash

-          Paper plate - Recycled

      After the two days were up, I noticed that most of waste was food scraps, which didn't surprise me. This is something that i've noticed for a long time, but I've never done anything about it. Now, I know it doesn't seem like a lot was produced in two days, but after reading some ways to reduce my waste, I realized that most of my waste could have been either recycled, which I always do, or reused! 

What are some ways I can reduce waste?

-          Reusable shopping bags: easy enough, right?

-          Buy in bulk

-          Reusable glass/metal/BPA Free water bottles

-          Buy fresh, loose fruits and vegetables

-          Compost food scraps

-          Don’t buy more than you need!

-          Repair don’t replace!

-          Buy secondhand: Reuse!

-          Sort and Recycle

-          Storage: proper storage = less waste

Waste accumulated in 48 hours after implementing some waste reduction methods:

-          Plastic water bottle: I’m ashamed! I try my hardest not use single-use water bottles!

-          2 plastic grocery bags

** There was no food waste due to a lack of cooking (not normal).

One of the hardest changes for me is the plastic grocery bags. I have reusable bags, but remembering them is a different story, and when I do forget them, which is more often than I care to admit, it’s habitual to say “plastic” when asked if I prefer paper or plastic. This is something I need to continuously work on changing. All of the techniques that I have listed are things that I already do, or I'm going to start from here out! 

The one thing I’m actually excited to take away from this assignment is composting. I’ve always wanted to learn how, and now I’m more motivated than ever. If most of my waste is food, why not return its nutrients back to the ground to fertilize my garden, instead of having it end up in a landfill. It sounds like a win-win scenario to me!

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Water: Bottled vs. Tap

This week's focus is on water, our most valuable resource. We were asked to take a closer look at bottled water and drinking (tap) water and compare and contrast them. Where does my tap water come from? What does the annual water quality report say? What are the concerns about bottled water? Who sets the regulations for both? These are some of the questions that I hope to answer with a little bit of research.

Drinking water:

Unlike bottled water, drinking water is governed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA established National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) which set mandatory standards for water quality. These standards, known as maximum contaminant levels, are designed to prevent the public from consuming water that has contaminants that present a risk to human health. Contaminants include microorganisms such as Coliforms or Giardia, water disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radioactive particles like uranium. There are 100's of contaminants that are being tested within these categories. In addition, NPDWRs set non-mandatory standards, guildines, for an additional 15 contaminants, but the EPA does not enforce these.

Bottled water:

Because it is treated as a food, The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency that regulates bottled water. FDA requires that regulations for bottled water as it concerns public safety be as ironclad and as protective as EPA regulations for drinking water. According to the FDA, there are different classifications of bottle water, each has a different definition and requirements (standards of identity) that must be met. The classifications include: drinking, artesian, groundwater, distilled, deionized, reverse osmosis, mineral, purified, sparkling, spring, and well water. Standards of identity are mandatory and determine marketability. In addition to these laws, the FDA has established Standards of Quality for more than 90 physical and chemical substances. Maximum contaminant levels are typically the same as EPA regulations. The FDA also mandates that bottling be done under sanitary conditions and monitors any potential additives to the water, therefore regulations are stricter.

Drawbacks to bottled water:

• Bottled water costs ≈ $1.22 per gallon compared to 1/10 of a cent for tap water. 
• Bottling water has produced more that 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.
• 1.5 million tons of plastic is used annually to make bottles. Less than 5% of that is recycled.
• 60 million bottles make their way into our landfills every day.
• Common plasticizers, phthalates leech from plastic bottles contaminating the water.

Where does MY water come from?
I live in Menifee, so my water comes from the Eastern Valley Municipal Water District.

2015 EMWD Water Quality Report
After reading the 2015 water quality report for the Eastern Municipal Water District, I learned a few a facts:
- 3046 coliform samples were ran. Only 1 was positive
- Copper and Lead were sampled 50 times. No sample exceed action levels.
-All contaminants were under max levels
- Overall quality was excellent
-Water quality reports are hard to read!

Do you know how clean your water is?

A quick peak at nature...

This week’s assignment asked us to get outside, sit, and really observe all of natures living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as identify some of the interactions between organisms that are going on all around us if we just look close enough. We were asked to sit down anywhere, park, backyard, field, etc... and imagine a sphere around us for at least 20 minutes. 

First Attempt:
Location: Backyard

My first attempt at this assignment did not go so well, But it was a funny experience so I thought I would share anyways. One of my favorite times of day is early morning, just as the sun is starting to break the horizon. So I thought that would be the perfect time to sit in my backyard and make my observations for this week's assignment. I sat down the middle of my backyard, which is not very big, and within 30 seconds, two small house sparrows came darting across the yard, landing in my dog's food bowl. Both birds took a piece of dog food and flew off, getting my dog's attention. A few seconds later, they flew back and stole another piece. My dog's jealousy got the better of him, so he gobbled up the food, leaving nothing for the birds. This competition between different species, bird and dog, for the same resource is a perfect example of interspecific competition. Although I was able to experience some interactions in the two minutes I was sitting there, it was clear that I needed to get away from my house to properly do this assignment.

Second Attempt:
Location: One of the few undeveloped patches of land left in Menifee.

A few days after my disastrous first attempt, I hiked a mile into a small, undeveloped patch of land along the eastern edge of Menifee's city limits. This spot is surrounded by sage brush with the occasional juniper tree. It was peaceful, and I was able to relax and take everything it. Here is a list of some of the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things I observed during my 35 minute "nature meditation":

Abiotic (non-living)

-Sunshine

-Wind/Air

-Dirt

-Small rocks

-Granite boulders

-Plastic trash

-Old car tire

-Water

-Scrap metal

-Chunks of concrete

Burrowing Owl

Biotic (living)

- Sage brush 

- 1 Juniper tree

- Trail of large black ants

- 2 Burrowing owls

- 7 Eurasian collared doves

- 3 American Crows

- 2 ducks

- Moss

- Algae

- Mosquitoes

- Moth
- Cottontail rabbit

- Rabbit carcass

- Grass

Moth on tree trunk

As I sat, one of the first things that I noticed was the army of ants about 10 feet in front of me. These ants were the biggest ants that I have ever seen in my life! Some of the individuals were carrying small pieces of leaves two or three times its size. I couldn't pinpoint where the trail came front, but it was definitely headed into a HUGE anthill. After 5 or so minutes, things started to move. I noticed 2 burrowing owls seeking shelter on a bare, low hanging branch of the Juniper tree. This is a great example of commensalism. The tree provided the owls with protection, but the owls neither help nor harmed the tree. I thought it was pretty amazing to see these owls. Human development is destroying these owls natural habitats, so their numbers are decreasing and finding them is becoming more and more rare. On the same juniper tree as the owls was a moth blended in so perfectly to the bark of the tree that it was hard to spot. This moth's colors mimic that of the tree to hide from potential predators.

In addition to these interactions, the coolest event that I was able experience was predation. About 200 yards away, a coyote started chasing a cottontail rabbit, but luckily for the rabbit, the coyote stopped after a short distance and took off out of site. Some other sightings included several crows scavenging at the remains of a rabbit and two male ducks fighting over the tiny pond that hasn't dried up yet.

It's amazing to see what is around you every single day. Yet, we rarely take the time to stop and notice the small things.

An ocean full of plastic... is it true?

This week, we were asked to look for an article related to an environmental science topic that was particularly interesting to us. In addition to giving a brief summary and our reaction to the article, we were asked to look at where the article came from, the source. Can you trust what you’re reading? Is the source reliable? Is the information backed by data or are logical fallacies at play? Like most people nowadays, I read my news online, and it’s not always easy to tell which sources of information are reliable, and which sources are not.

Let’s take a look at the article:

Where Has All The (Sea Trash) plastic gone?

Plastics are a huge problem in our marine environments. While the large pieces can end up clogging the GI tract of organisms, microplastics pose other threats despite their minute size. They are chemical magnets, attracting toxic chemicals like phthalates, that are easily consumed by small prey and eventually work their way up the food chain, posing potential threats to humans. This article focuses on recent study that uncovered the “disappearing sea trash” mystery. The floating trash that researcher expected to find but didn’t, has been found, broken down into tiny pieces called microplastics, in remote deep sea habitats. The study showed that every square kilometer contains 4 billion microplastic fibers, illustrating plastic pollution’s ubiquity. The presence of this plastic poses major threats, but how it works its way into food webs and affect humans is unknown at this point, so further studies are needed to answer these questions.

After reading the article, my reaction was a mixture of multiple emotions. Recently, I completed a research project concerned with microplastic consumption in fish, so this article, along with any other that is related to plastics in our natural habitats, naturally sparked an interest. Having that first-hand experience, I know there is a lot of plastic present in our marine ecosystem, yet I’m still shocked by the sheer numbers, “4 billion pieces per km²”. That is a lot of plastic! It’s disheartening to see the enormous amounts of microplastics that are contaminating our oceans. While this article talks about the accumulation of plastic in the deep sea, microplastics are found at every depth of the ocean, so it affects many ecosystems as well. Protecting marine ecosystems is a passion of mine, and I’m pleased to see that attention to this matter is being brought forth, and hopefully steps will be taken to protect our natural habitats and wildlife by stopping plastic before it can enter the water shed. All of this really makes you think. Is that facial scrub worth it?

Let’s look back at the source of this article, which was published by National Geographic News. Established in 1888, Their mission is clear. National Geographic is a worldwide nonprofit organization with a strong belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change and protect the planet. National Geographic funds scientists to conduct research and share their findings with the world. One thing that impressed me is that everything the author "claimed" was supported with scientific data from previous studies. It shows that the author of article did his research and educated the public with truthful information and not something that he thought we wanted to hear, sticking with National Geographic’s belief in science. Although I was unable to find all of the evidence that I wanted to determine this a reliable, based on the information I did find, I’m confident that National Geographic News is a reliable source, and the information is science based.

Here’s a short but interesting info-video about plastic in marine environments, and what you can do to help. 

Chemical Hazards in Everyday Products

This week, we were asked to research the potential risks that are correlated with the chemicals found in common household and personal care products. There are too many chemicals and not enough time to talk about all of them, so I’m going to focus on two: 1) 1,4-dioxane and 2) phthalates.

1,4-dioxane
EPA Classification: B2-probable carcinogen

(http://www.safecosmetics.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/02/CFSC_14-Dioxane_1-1-copy.jpg)

1,4- dioxane is a waste product of the chemical ethylene oxide, and it is used as an industrial solvent in the manufacturing of other chemicals. 1,4-dioxane is not intentionally added but is often an unintentional byproduct of added ingredients, including PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, and ingredients with the suffix -eth (e.g. laureth) (epa.gov).

What are some of the health risks?

First, the chemical has to get in. There are several ways that 1,4-dioxide makes its way into our bodies; It is absorbed through our digestive tract (via contaminated water, food, etc…), across our skin (via shampoo, soap, face wash, toothpaste, etc.), or inhaled (occupational workers).1,4-dioxane is linked to neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and organ damage. Although, it is thought to have adverse effects on the reproductive system, no information is available on the effects in humans (atsdr.cdc.gov). Studies have shown that 1,4-dioxane can cause liver and kidney damage with chronic exposure. If high levels of the chemical are inhaled in a short amount of time, 1,4-dioxane can cause dizziness, headache, and irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract (epa.gov)

Phthalates

(http://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/phthalates/)

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are used to make plastic soft and flexible yet hard to break. They are found almost everywhere, from IV tubing and hairspray to children’s toys and insecticides. (cdc.gov)

What are some of the health risks?

We are exposed to phthalates many different ways. Phthalates leech from plastics, contaminating food. So, one of the most common ways we are exposed is simply by eating and drinking foods that have been in contact with them. Phthalates are also absorbed across the skin. According to the CDC, children have a higher risk of exposure because of their “hand-to-mouth behavior”. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. “Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the production or activity of hormones in the endocrine system” (toxtown.nlm.nih.gov). Recently, research has shown that phthalates are linked to asthma, ADHD, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, low IQ, behavioral issues, and male fertility issues (cdc.gov)

This is a SHORT list of products that contain phthalates:

•          PVC
•         Children's toys
•          Food packaging
•          Shower curtains
•          Vinyl flooring
•          Wallpaper
•          Household cleaners
•          Nail polish
•          Hair spray
•          Lipstick
•          Nail polish remover
•          Shampoo
•          Perfume
•          Garden hoses
•          Lubricants: oil
•          Adhesives: glue
•          Laundry detergent
•          Foods packaged with plastic
•          Tap water
•          Medical equipment
•          Insecticides

On more than one occasion, I have found myself reading the ingredients on the back of my shampoo bottle and not having the slightest idea what most of it is. But there is one ingredient that I have noticed on almost every bottle that I can remember. Sodium laureth sulfate. Most shampoo, including what you will find in my bathroom, contains it. Products containing sodium laureth sulfate can up to 270 parts per million of 1,4-dioxane (atsdr.cdc.gov)

Are there Alternatives?

Yes!

• One of my favorites is Dr. Bronner’s natural, organic soap. The best part about this product is that it is affordable and readily available, so I don’t have hunt it down. I’ve found it at Target for around $12.00. I know that seems like a lot, but it is a big bottle, and a little goes a long way. The best part? No 1,4-dioxane.
• I haven't tried this personally, but my Aunt is paranoid about chemicals, so she tries to be as natural as she can. For shampoo, she mixed Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap with coconut milk.
• Homemade Shampoo using two (or three) simple ingredients (http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-shampoo/)

- 1 tbsp baking soda

- 1 cup water

- a couple drops of essential oil

These chemicals are everywhere and are hard avoid, but with time and patience, our exposure to these hazardous chemicals can be reduced.

Sources:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=953&tid=199

http://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/phthalates_factsheet.html

https://www.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/dioxane.html

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrro_factsheet_contaminant_14-dioxane_january2014_final.pdf

https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=24

https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=65

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/phthalates-plastics-chemicals-research-analysis