Human waste on food?

                We all know our crcops are grown using fertilizer, which is either made out of chemicals or animal wastes. But what if I tell you that maybe just maybe the farmer used a different type of waste. What if I say human? That’s right human wastes or as what they’d call it Biosolids. Biosolids are now used as fertilizer in different parts of the world.

                Where do biosolids go? Well our wastes are burned so that there wouldn’t be a build up in our sewers. Why burn it if it could still be re-used? Research has shown that in Ontario around 300,000 tonnes of biosolids are collected each year. Out of 300,000tonnes, 40% of those biosolids are beneficial for our crops; which could cover up tp 15 000 hectares of land. A lot of people though disagree to such thing mainly because of

-Potential health hazard 

-Effects irreversible

-Contamination resulting from accumulation of industrial waste

- Its true composition is unknown

-May contain hazardous 

chemicals

-Possibly transferable to crops 

-Decreases property value 

-Not sufficiently regulated

-Odor

 Obviously these wastes are treated before used. Chemicals that could be harmful to our health and also getting rid of the smell.

Biosolid treatment

A down side to this is when the biosolids are not treated properly. It could cause an awful smell. But as long as the biosolids are treated properly it wouldn't cause any harm to anyone.

 Since we’re all about going green and helping reduce waste in the world, I think that using biosolids as fertilizer is one way to reduce waste.

                Besides farmers, I think that the government should also be interested in this. They could use it to fertilize plants in the park or on the streets.

                Maybe it wouldn’t be so appetizing to others if they knew that the vegetable or fruit that they’re eating was grown using human waste. It has been said that biosolids are far way better than chemical fertilizers.

·         “Reduces the need for commercial fertilizers;

·         Reduces production costs;

·         Improves soil fertility;

·         Enhances soil structure, moisture retention and soil permeability;

·         Adds organic matter that helps to maintain good soil tilth and reduce the potential for soil erosion and runoff.” (OMFRA)

This may be disturbing to some people but I thnik that by using Biosolid as fertilization would help reduce our wastes. It helps both humans and also the environment. 

References and Sources

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/sewbiobroch.htm

http://www.weao.org/committees/biosolids/2007dEC12-WEAO_BUC/Meerveld.pdf

http://www.sencer.net/Outreach/pdfs/DCSymposium08/Posters/LUbiosolids.pdf

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_c286d348-8984-11e0-8b2c-001cc4c03286.html

Bioblogs I commented on 

1. Daniel Maznabi
2. Puji Wibowo

How technology works with our internal system

Society has grown rapidly with in the past two decades. Our development with technology too has been fast to meet our needs. It seems like everyday there’s something new out there. People would put together ideas to create something new to make life easier. To understand our bodies and what goes on inside, technology also becomes our friend.

                As new diseases develop, technology develops. More people come up with machines that would easily detect certain diseases. Technology too helps us learn more about with these new diseases. Different types of scans are used to check different types of diseases. Like the X-ray,  a CAT(Computed Axial Tomography) scan is used to find more than just a broken bone. It’s a 3D version of  an X-ray.  Doctors would use this in cases of cancer, brain tumour, kidney problems and more. It’s taking X-ray on another level.

CAT Scan

MRI Scan

 To get more specific, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is used for more details. It has a more clear imaging and more detailed compared to a CAT scan. It is also does not release harmful substance not like a CAT scan. While these machines are used to check our insides from the outside, an endoscope checks our insides from the inside.

ENDOSCOPE

 It used by doctors for plastic surgery, during pregnancy, to check our ears, nose, urinary track and many more. It works by inserting a small flexible tube like, with a lens on one end and an eyepiece for the doctor.  Since there are more and more diseases are developing we cope up with these by inveting new machines to help us learn and find a cure for it.

As time goes by our Society is in need of more new technology to help us out with our every day lives. It’s not only needed in work, hospitals or schools but it also needed at our homes and everywhere. By taking what is already made and develop It to make something better is how society works today. By taking different ideas and making it into something, like how scientists would take an idea from an older instrument and somehow develop it ( how the X-ray was developed into a CAT scan).

Sources

1.http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/mriscan.htm

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

3.http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ct_scan/article_em.htm

4.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153737.php

Blogs I commented on

1. Camela Fejer

2. Marc Gonzales