Biosolids as Sustainable Agricultural Fertilizer?

In our world we are all brainwashed into thinking our human waste is very unsanitary and just disgusting to think about. But, do you ever wonder where all your waste ends up? When I think about it, I would believe all this just gets thrown out or drifted into the drainage sewage system. However, how would you feel if you found out our biosolids are being used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer?

Many may not like the fact that our biosolids are being treated and re-used for different causes, but there so many positive points about it. With this there are also cons that come about when using our human waste as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. I will first start off with all of the pros, as there are an numerous number of advantages when using the biosolids for fertilizer. Well, According to the EPA (Environmental Protective Agency) "Biosolids are the treated residuals from wastewater treatment that can be used beneficially." The many benefits offered by the use of recycled wastes as fertilizers include lower disposal costs to waste treatment centres, the use of nutrients which otherwise would be wasted, a reduced use of chemical fertilizers and contributing to sustainable farming practices, land reclamation, forest fertilization and erosion control. Biosolids as fertilizer is actually a great invention! It's better to reuse these wastes than putting it to no use. It's said that, crop yields were significantly increased for all four subsequent years after the biosolids study in 1993. Results showed the biosolids treatment influenced grain moisture at harvest and helped the crops out greatly. Biosolids really make a great use in many ways! Either beneficial in lower disposal costs, the use of nutrients or reduced use of chemical fertilizers, human wastes can really be an effective method in re-using for fertilizer.

Although there are so many positive solutions with using our biosolids as fertilizer there are also cons in using this method. The negative points could be the contamination resulting from an accumulation of industrial waste, proposed health hazard, or the foul smells the wastes can send out. Even though biosolids may be high in nutrients, it can contain a multitude of metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens, which are harmful to us and the environment. A main concern on the issue of biosolids as fertilizers is that metals such as cadmium, zinc, and copper could build up to levels high enough to damage agricultural soils, causing long-term metal build-up. In Burlington City, N.C., residents have attributed their illnesses to farmers' use of biosolids. Not everybody loves this idea of biosolids even if it has a positive end to it. Legislators in Colbert County for instance are trying to amend the state constitution to stop the biosolids use. The powerful smell of the biosolids can offend many people as the biosolids may have a slightly musty ammonia order of scent.

All in all, I think our Western view of human waste is greatly affected on how we think of human waste. I won't lie to myself; I believe human waste is very disgusting and not clean at all. However, after finding out the great positive facts about how biosolids can help us all out it changed my views, and even though there are cons into sustainable agricultural fertilizer from biosolids, I believe all is natural and can benefit us in so many ways!

Sources:

http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/biosolids/fertil.shtml

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ayTG0RNPYOAJ:www.compost.org/Biosolids_Composting_FAQ.pdf+stakeholder+of+biosolid+fertilizer&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiovllwBAvwC5VHnPsQc3gj02-m8V2HXSsFMUAj7msduBIp_eyXEyO_Q02EgiPT3KzWSasrR0z1qgVoeB8EcPCBIRmE3-kLrtdP5dzFwn7q86E_iKKNjL55QeHiPyOj80M3VO0J&sig=AHIEtbTA5u7jCjJi8_azNDjuV8dXevPcFQ

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/biosolids-and-human-health/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080821-human-waste.html

http://www.wessuc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109:do-biosolids-smel&catid=45:concerns-and-risks-of-bioslids&Itemid=44

BLOGS I COMMENTED ON:

http://dropsneakersnotbombs.blogspot.com/2011/06/biosolids-rate-or-hate.html?showComment=1307463458517#c798103134386176926

http://catnippp.blogspot.com/2011/05/human-waste.html?showComment=1307463949495#c2735768206110254253

Importance of Technology on the Internal Body System

In our society today, Technology has seemed to impact the importance of various internal digestive, circulatory and respiratory body systems. With all the countless benefits from technology such as, health care, health administration, and alternative care delivery systems, our world will soon turn into a technology everything! The computers and different devices play such a huge role when it comes to the amount of health care personnel today and it is slowly impacting our health care costs because there will always be a continuation of improvement in productivity. With more and more technology being brought into our society, future doctors and surgeons will have an easier and more greater appreciation for what technology can offer.

Devices like x-ray's, ultra sounds, and MRI scans can really help patients in any situation. Patient records of their past appearances can be quickly brought out using a PDA or even a PC. When a patient is on his or her way to hospitals there can be pictures sent by paramedics from the accident site to help the emergency hospital assess and prepare for treatment when the patient is on his or her way to the hospital.

Importance of technology in health care sector has helped us develop many ways of diagnosing dangerous diseases. The vaccinations, drugs and medicines developed with great amount of research with technology has helped to save the life of millions of people across the globe. This has increased the survival rate in all parts of the world. Technological advancement in field of medicine has helped patients from backward nations get good health care facilities.

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. The machine sends the individual x-ray particles called photons. When the particles past through the body a computer orspecial film records the images that are created.The parts of your body appear light or dark due to the different rates that your tissues absorb the X-rays. Calcium in bones absorbs X-rays the most, so bones look white on the radiograph. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less, and look gray. Air absorbs least, so lungs look black. X-rays examinations are quick and easy and the amount of exposure to radiation is slight.

Ultrasounds involve exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation because ultrasound images are captured in real-time and they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. Ultrasounds are used when a mother checks if her baby is a boy or girl during the months before birth.

There is also something called a CT (computerized tomography) scanner that is a specialized X-ray machine that sends out single X-rays through your body that are sent with several beams simultaneously from different angles. This scanner is designed to to take pictures of any part of any part of your body. The CT scanner is good at testing for bleeding in the brain, aneurysms, brain tumors and brain damages. In addition the CT scanner can be used to look into internal injuries such as a torn kidney, or bone injury.

All in all, technology has made a huge impact in our world today. The CT scanner, X-rays and ultra sounds are used for the benefit of doctors and patients in our society. Each and everyday these technologies continue to develop and grow into a more sufficient system. The improvement in our health care system, is very essential to the increasing human population.

Sources:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-technology.html

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=genus

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003337.htm

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xea0ay_the-importance-of-technology-in-hea_lifestyle

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/ctgeneral.htm

Blogs commented on:

http://dropsneakersnotbombs.blogspot.com/2011/04/theres-always-room-for-improvement.html?showComment=1306524349429#c8298916854451272219

http://bridgettebioblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/technology-whats-in-it-for-you.html?showComment=1306524728772#c101606920748390655

Feeding a Growing Population vs Conserving Biodiversity

Food is a basic a necessity all humans want and need to survive. But do you ever ask yourself where we get this food? It is obvious this food comes from the farms but however do you know how it's made in the farms and factories? How do we know we'll have enough food for the millions of people in our world?

In our world today, the human population is growing faster and faster and many people are thinking there won't be enough food for everybody! There are very high demands of the global human population increasing and the consumer demand is changing agriculture each and everyday. With this being said they turn to Industrial Agriculture! I think Industrial Agriculture isn't the right way at all to produce your food. I believe it's unsafe and just not right, Luckily there is another option called Sustainable Agriculture which I believe is a much more easier and better method in producing food.

Industrial agriculture views the farm as a factory with, let's just say "inputs." These Factories may use pesticides, feed, fertilizer, and fuel and "outputs" such as corn, chickens, and so forth. Their goal is to increase the size and amount of animals, so they can grow faster and make more money. I find this absolutely wrong! You shouldn't give an animal steroids just for it to grow faster, stronger and bigger.

There are many purported benefits of this industrial approach, such as lower food prices for consumers, cheap feed for animal factory farms, a potential energy source to replace foreign oil, and substantial exports to foreign markets. We should really think about our environment and how it will affect it greatly! However industrial agriculture isn't the only method of agriculture. There is also a sustainable approach which

embraces a wide range of techniques, including organic, free-range, low-input, holistic, and biodynamic.

A sustainable approach, based on understanding agriculture as an ecosystem, promises sufficient produce without sacrificing the environment. This is a much better method for farms as they minimize tilling and water usage, encourage healthy soil by planting fields with different crops year after year, and avoiding pesticide use. However it is said that Industrial agriculture is one of the best inventions ever made for the costs and benefits! I believe it's great how you can get cheaper food, greater ability of labour, environmental, economic, and industrial agricultural costs.

Agriculture plays a big part in our world! I think as humans we should not take advantage of what is given to us. It is proven that our population is growing rapidly and should really understand what can happen to us as time goes on. It's obvious Sustainable Agriculture is the right way to go. Animals should not be injected with any kind of steroid or substance just so it will make it bigger because in the long run that can effect us humans too! Sustainable agriculture may be a slower and harder way to produce food today, but you know what? I believe it's a more safer and sufficient way. And besides, I don't mind paying an extra few bucks just so I know where my food is coming from and if it's safe to consume or not.

Sources:

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/sustainable-agriculture/

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_industrial_agriculture/industrial-agriculture-features.htm

http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/comparison/

http://www.portaec.net/library/food/costs_and_benefits_of_industrial.html

Blogs I commented on:

http://vanezzabioblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/massive.html?showComment=1306446770433#c8669846668718666351

http://catnippp.blogspot.com/2011/02/hormones-in-our-foooooood.html?showComment=1306447543253#c5502156440449636210

"Designer Babies"

The term "Designer babies"has become a trending answer to many people today. Designer babies are perfect embryos changed into the ideal baby that is created in your needs. Parents ask themselves, "Should we go for the brown haired with blue eyes? Tall or short? Funny or clever? Girl or boy? And with all that should we make him/her into a muscle-bound sports hero? Or an innocent and smart book worm?" In my opinion this is so stupid! Babies are supposed to be created from their parents' genes and past hereditary and not from genetic processes into their bodies. You should be able to accept the characteristics of your daughter or son that God has given to them, and not change their whole figure for your own sake.

This designer baby with her Blue Eyes

However, on the other hand I find it pretty neat to be able to check before hand if your child has a certain disease-bearing gene. I believe in supporting the use of allowing couples at risk to have healthy children. Any parent would want to check if their children is alright and well (I know for a fact I would) So when they use this system for the positive, it's only right! Nevertheless when parents use this system for non-medical purposes and for the point to change cosmetic aspect, that's when I think it isn't needed. If we continue to use this system I think our world will get brainwashed into always being perfect and would want their kids to be the perfect of them all, when in actual fact we should all accept flaws because that's life and that's how we live. You never know how your daughter or son could look like after going through the process of cosmetic procedure.

Having a cosmetic designer baby could result in your child having certain diseases in their future life. You never know what they put in your babies' bodies to change their characteristics. Your child's future baby may lose genetic variability and may even increase the chance for their own kids to get some kind of genetic diseases. Your parents may like the method of "Designing your baby" but what happens if you get affected by it in the future? You never know what could happen. Technology is getting more and more advanced til the day. I believe designing your baby isn't what God would want in the Catholic Faith. Your kids should be made from your own previous genes, and not from fake features.

REFERENCES:

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-10-30/tech/designer.babies_1_genetic-screening-designer-babies-animal-embryos?_s=PM:TECH
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/03/earlyshow/health/main4840346.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4840229n

Blogs commented on:

http://btotheio.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html?showComment=1306462406775#c3865405278369907756

http://dropsneakersnotbombs.blogspot.com/2010/11/designer-babies-smh.html?showComment=1306463342080#c2573789671306093441

Eight year old receives WWF-Philippines award for dolphin rescue

Humans are shown to be very persistent when it comes to our environment. Us humans seem, to take advantage of our beautiful world that we have by polluting and/or littering, etc!

But on the other hand there are many organizations today trying to help these causes. One very significant organization is WWF (World Wildlife Fund). This organization is one of the world's largest well known independent conservation that is helping the world wildlife within 90 offices in 40 countries each and everyday all over the world.

WWF’s Johnjoe Cantos poses with Carl Andrei Leuterio, WWF’s youngest Hero of the Environment thus far.

A great article I found was about a 3 Filipinos together with a young eight year old boy named Carl Andrei Leuterio receiving the WWF Hero of Environment awards in San Teodoro, Philippines. They had obtained this award because of their courageous behavior of saving a stranded dolphin that couldn't save itself. In a heavy rain fall, the 2.5-meter long Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) was found floating by the shoreline in the early afternoon on September 2. The poor dolphin looked very weak, and had noticeably red eyes with heavy skin irritations. The 3 guys quickly called the Philippine civilian fisheries patrol and they rushed to arrive on the scene. Within 3 hours the dolphin was all better and safely released back into the deep waters.

The 2.5 meter Risso’s Dolphin was slowly coaxed off into deeper waters. It swam off unharmed. Barangay San Teodoro. 2 September 2010.

The actions of Carl, Terence and Jacinto brought so much honour to the Philippines. It really showed who the true leaders were. While dolphins are getting killed in other parts of the world, these 3 heroes chose to do the right thing! There are so many people that ignore news like this. It really showed the true colours of these 3 young men. Many animals are endangered or are getting killed by countless problems today. We really need to take a look at what's really happening in our world and try to help whenever needed! It could of been any other animal other than a dolphin that was suffering. We all need to just realize that these animals are living things too, and we should respect that. I really admire and awknowledge the little boy that tried to help. There are grown men out there who wouldn't even care. I'm happy for the 3 boys that got awknowledged by WWE for their great work. WWE is a very great organization that is trying to help world wildlife all over the world!

References:
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?194950/Eight-year-old-receives-WWF-Philippines-award-for-dolphin-rescue
http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/
http://assets.panda.org/img/new_heroes_by_wwf_philippines_crop_329688.jpg
http://assets.panda.org/img/rissos_dolphin_rescue_by_the_mindoro_provincial_agricultural_office__2__329647.jpg

Commented on:
http://francesbio.blogspot.com/2010/09/endangered-african-rhinoceros.html#comments
http://vanezzabioblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/unit-2-bio-blog.html#comments