SCIENCE BUZZ

Contemporary Issues In Science 8th July 2013

Volume 1, Issue

WHAT’S INSIDE

Counterfeit Drugs………...2

Hazardous Air ....... ……...3

Fertility Treatment .. ……...4

Weight Loss ........... ……...8

Global Warming…………..9

SPECIAL POINTS OF

INTEREST

Comic Relief

Experiments

Healthy Recipes

Science Facts

CRN 37157

COUNTERFEIT DRUGS; ONE OUT OF FIVE!

Written By; Collis Edwards 2nd July 2013

Imagine running out to your favourite pharmacy to fill a prescription for your ailing mom. Imagine as well that you are in the company of four of your friends who are also filling prescriptions for members of their families. Everyone purchases the required drugs and returned home to grateful family members who soon recuperate after ingesting the required medication.

Now fast forward to 8th May 2013, and listen to the Minister of Health Dr. Fuad Khan as he addresses the British-

Caribbean Chamber of Commerce’s Forum on the Deadly Implications of Counterfeit Drug Trafficking, “About 20 per cent of the drugs here and worldwide are counterfeit drugs. Quite a lot of them are cancer drugs, anti-hypertension, anti-diabetic and also antibiotics.”

Whoa!!!

What that means is that, had your imaginary trip to your local pharmacy been real, one of you would have taken home counterfeit medication to your loved one. Your loved one could have died!

This scourge in society requires the combined effort of government and populace. Fortunately, the government is compiling a list of those drugs that, hopefully, could raise public awareness and with any luck reduce incidences of counterfeiting. This is particularly significant in the face of deepening trade ties with China (a renowned counter-feiting giant).

In the interim, however, we can play our part by increasing our knowledge of the drugs we use and exercising de-termined vigilance when purchasing medication. This looming crisis is manageable, but it requires nothing less than our united efforts.

Reference

Bethel, C. (n.d.). Fuad: 20% drugs sold are fake | Trinidad Express News paper | News . Trinidad express News

paper . Retrieved July 3, 2013, from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Fuad-20-drugs -sold- are- fake-206697711.htm

Written By; Erica Wilson & Paulla Joseph 3rd July

2013.

There have been terrifying images of the

catastrophic air pollution that has plagued Port- of -

Spain, in recent weeks. As the toxins from the

Beetham Landfill hovers over the city's capital and

its surroundings. Numerous reports have shown

apocalyptic images of the city blanketed with clouds

of pollution, snarled traffic and distressed citizens.

For too long, smog pollution has left the citizen’s with poor visibility and gasping for breath. This injures the

lungs of humans and other animals, decreasing their ability to fight infection and remove inhaled particles, it

can also result in permanent lung damage. The most vulnerable are children, the elderly, and those with

existing health problems.

The smog that hovers over the city is said to, “... Contain cyanide gas and other carcinogenic pollutants”,

environmentalists Broadbridge warns. He also said that, “... these are not landfills but dumps and that

we need to get with the times”.

The EMA CEO Dr. Singh stated, “The smoke is not necessarily harmful but the public can take

measures to protect themselves by staying indoors, closing windows and turning-off air-condition

units”.

However, we believe that immediate attention should be given to the Beetham landfill. It is an eyesore and

poses a threat to the overall eco- system. This is unacceptable and action needs to be taken to deal with this

issue of urgent importance.

In the interim we propose that citizens employ the 3 R System. Reduce the amount of waste that you

produce, Reuse and Recycle materials , as well as create compost with your organic waste. The se

techniques will assist us while we await the intervention of our government.

References

Boodram, K. (2013). EMA: Avoid inhaling smog in

Port of Spain | Trinidad Express Newspaper | News . Trinidad Express Newspaper . Retrieved July 4, 2013, from http:// www.trinidadexpress.com/news/EMA-Avoid- inhaling-smog-in-Port-of-Spain- 208750851.html

Environmentalist warns: Beetham landfill smoke

health risk |The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. (2013). The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved

July 4, 2013, from http://www.guardian.co.tt news/2013-02-21/environmentalist-warns-beetham-

landfill-smoke-health-risk

HAZARDOUS AIR

4

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) AND FERTILITY TREATMENTS: A

BLESSING OR A TRAGEDY?

Written By; Danielle Grant, 3rd July 2013

On March 4th 2013, history was created in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean with the birth of sextuplets to

parents Petra Lee Foon and Kieron Cummings. To facilitate their arrival, approximately $5 million dollars was

spent by the state to acquire the necessary equipment. Notwithstanding this, three of the babies did not survive,

and the parents believed it to be insufficient health care. This prompted Health Minister, Dr. Fuad Khan to call for

legislation regarding fertility treatment.

According to Dr. Adam J. Flisser, doctor of Gynecology at Park Avenue Gynecology, New York, when a woman

ingests a fertility drug, such as Clomid®, her ovaries should be monitored carefully by her physician to observe its

readiness to produce an egg, within the period of consumption of the drug to when ovulation begins. Also, when

receiving IVF treatment (the fertilizing of eggs outside of the uterus and its subsequent re-admission), only two

embryos should be placed within the uterus.

Medical Director of the Advanced Center for Infertility and Reproductive Medicine, Dr. Eric Fiedler, explained that

placing more than two embryos in the uterus is thought to increase the chances for a successful pregnancy, but

actually increases the possibility of a high order multiple pregnancy, with considerable risks for mother and ba-

bies.

Whether taking fertility drugs or IVF treatment, one ought to be properly educated concerning the risks, as well as

visit their physician regularly. Furthermore, attending physicians ought to be evaluated to prevent malpractice.

Legislation must also be implemented for the protection of prospective parents and the state.

References

How many is too many? Fertility treatments should

be regulated | PennLive.com. (2010, February 20). Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports &

Weather - PennLive.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013, from http://www.pennlive.com/ editorialdex.ssf/2010/02/

post_25.htm

Ramdass, A. (2013, May 7). Million Dollar Ba

bies. trinidad express. Retrieved July 2, 2013, from, http:// www.trinidadexpress.com/news/MILLION--

DOLLAR--BABIES-206522191.html

COMIC RELIEF

5

An egg sinks to the bottom if you drop it into a glass

of ordinary drinking water, but what happens if you

add salt? The results are very interesting and can

teach you some fun facts about density.

What you'll need:

One Egg

Water

Salt

A tall drinking glass

Instructions:

1. Pour water into the glass until it is about

half full

2. Stir in lots of salt . (about 6 table spoons)

3. Carefully pour in plain water until the glass is

nearly full (be careful to not disturb or mix the

salty water with the plain water)

4. Gently lower the egg into the water and

watch what happens

What's happening?

Salt water is denser than ordinary tap water, the

denser the liquid the easier it is for an object to float

in it. When you lower the egg into the liquid it drops

through the normal tap water until it reaches the

salty water, at this point the water is dense enough

for the egg to float. If you were careful when you

added the tap water to the salt water, they will not

have mixed, enabling the egg to amazingly float in

the middle of the glass.

Reference

Science Kids Fun Science and Technology for

Kids. (n.d). Retrieved 2 July 2013, from

http://ww.sciencekids.co.nz/amazing.html

ACTIVITY CORNER

Make an Egg Float in Salt Water

If you’re experiencing signs of toxicity and want to start feeling better now, as well as ensure a longer, hap-

pier life, then start by helping your body detoxify. You might be surprised to hear that one of the easiest

and healthiest ways to do this is simply through food!

Nature has provided us with plenty of fruits to make this happen here are a few recipes to get you going

again.

CLEANSING VEGGIE BROTH

Boil

3 carrots

2 kale leaves

2 celery

2 beets

1 turnip

1/2 bunch spinach

1/2 head cabbage

1/4 bunch parsley

1/2 onion

2 garlic

7

HEALTHY RECIPIES

HOME MADE V8 JUICE

6-8 tomatoes

3-4 green onions

1/2 green pepper

2 carrots

2 stalk celery

1/2 bunch spinach

1/2 bunch parsley

2 lime( juices)

References

Institute of Medicine. Dietary Refer-

ence Intakes for Water, Potassium, So-

dium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Washing-

ton, D.C.: National Academy Press,

2004. Accessed on March 28, 2009.

HAVE HEALTHY EATING AND REGULAR EXERCISE BEEN SUP-

PLANTED BY MODERN QUICK FIXES?

Written By; Collis Edwards, 2nd July 2013.

Science and technology is an integral part of modern life. They bring substantial benefits as well as extremely negative consequences. It is our responsibility to determine its impact on us with regards to the management of our body weight.

Weight Loss Clinics are mushrooming all over Trinidad and Tobago. Names like Nirvana, Romano and Sureway quickly come to mind. They promise weight loss without regular exercise or healthy eating choices. In fact, one of Sureway’s advertisement carries the catchy phrase, “Exercise is Optional.”

This addiction to quick fixes has paved the way for diet pills, crash diets, liposuction and gastric bypass surger-ies among others. While there has been successful weight loss, it comes at a hefty price to ones overall health.

Diet pills like Phentermine, Orlistat, Bontril and hoodia come with the side effects of increased heart rate, ele-vated blood pressure, insomnia, heart palpitations, diarrhoea, gas, faecal incontinence, tremors, anxiety, fatigue, depression and even liver damage. Additionally, crash diets, by their very nature, can rob you of vital calories, leave you fatigued, listless and exposed to malnutrition.

Surgical interventions like Liposuction can result in “numbness, bumpy or wavy skin, and scarring” (Driver, 2012); while with Gastric Bypass ‘Stapled stomachs can leak and cause infection’ (Driver, 2012).

Ultimately, we choose how science impacts the management of our weight and overall health and while eating right and regular exercise would take effort and time, I can assure you that, in the long run, it is well worth it.

Reference

Driver, D. (n.d.). Extreme Weight Loss Techniques -

AskMen. AskMen - Men's Online Magazine - Ask Men. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from http://

www.askmen.com/sports/health_150/154b_mens_health.html

TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE?

Written By; Erica Wilson, 2nd July 2013

What Are The Effects of Global Warming on Earth?

The phrase 'global warming' has been thrown about so much, over dangers of man-made climate

change, that it seems more like a dark shadow on the horizon, than an imminent threat. So what exactly do

we know about the effects on our planet? And how will our futures be affected, as the global thermometer

continues to rise?

The majority of effects will be devastating to humans, animal s and plants alike. Severe drought and flood-

ing will occur as weather patterns become more extreme. The sea levels will rise and lowland coastal ar-

eas will become flooded., and it will wipe out many species that are crucial to stabilizing the food chain that

we depend on.

So how does this affect Trinidad and Tobago? Believe it or not our lifestyles contribute towards this proc-

ess. Many people have more than one vehicle, and do not car pool; this results in greater emissions of

green house gases. Alternative energy sources are not yet common, and so, by utilizing archaic tech-

niques we continue to produce harmful by-products that quicken the process.

Without transforming the way we conduct our daily activities the Earth could be drastically altered, and the

harm to many species may be incalculable. While we struggle to figure it all out, the face of the Earth as we

know it—coasts, forests, farms, and snowcapped mountains—hangs in the balance.

Though we are a tiny island within our global community, we can effect change. Let’s be proactive and re-

solve this situation that many deem to hot handle!

References

National Geographic. (n.d). Global Warming. Retrieved 2, July 2013, from http://

environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/

Allanilla. M. ( 2013). Effects of Global Warming. Retrieved 2, July 2013, from http://

www.livescience.com/37057-global-warming-effects.html

Markham. D. (2009). Global Warming Effects and Causes; A top 10 list. Retrieved 2 July 2013, from http://

planetsave.com/2009/06/07/global-warming-effects-and-causes-a-top-10-list/

SCIENCE FACTS

People today believe that science is a difficult subject and that only certain persons can learn it . Well we are

here to tell you otherwise, by just taking two minutes a day you can expand your knowledge with these interesting

facts.

The most dangerous animal in the world is the common housefly because of their habit of visiting animal

waste, they transmit more disease than any other animal.

Most of the dust in your home is actually dead skin!

When Charles Darwin, the British naturalist, came up with the theory of evolution in 1859, he changed our

idea of how life on earth developed. Darwin argued that all organisms evolve, or change, very slowly over time.

These changes are adaptations that allow a species to survive in its environment. These adaptations happen

by chance. If a species doesn't adapt, it may become extinct. He called this process natural selection, but it is

often called the survival of the fittest.

Female Ulidiid flies (Euxesta bilimeki) expel and eat ejaculation because it allows them to decide who will be

the best father of their offspring

Although you may consider gold to be rare, there is enough gold in the Earth's crust to cover the land surface

of the planet knee-deep.

If you pour a handful of salt into a full glass of water,

the water level will actually go down rather than over-

flowing the glass.

Hot peppers get their heat from a molecule

called capsaicin. While the molecule acts as an irritant

to mammals, including humans, birds lack the receptor

responsible for the effect and are immune to the burn-

ing sensation from exposure

References

National Geographic. (n.d). Why Female Flies Eat Sperm.

Retrieved 2 July, 2013 from, http://

newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/17/

why-female-flies-eat-sperm/

Helmenstine. A. (n.d). Fun and Interesting Chemistry

Facts. Retrieved 2 July, 2013 from, http://

chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryforkids/a/ Fun

-And-Interesting-Chemistry-Facts.htm

References for cover page

How to Diet & Exercise with Obesity

http://www.ehow.com/how_5476817_diet-exercise-obesity.html

By TS Jordan, eHow Contributor

India’s Counterfeit Claims on Counterfeit Drugs

By Roger Bate Thursday, October 1, 2009

Filed under: World Watch, Health & Medicin http://www.american.com/archive/2009/

september/indias-counterfeit-claims-on-counterfeit-drugs

Digital Artist stop Global warming by Suyog jain http://www.digitalartistdaily.com/

image/6398/stop_global_warming

HERENorthern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke http://www.nichs.org.uk/22/health-

promotion

By Edited by Albert I. Wertheimer and Perry G. Wang - See more at: http://www.labmate-

online.com/book/edited_by_albert_i._wertheimer_and_perry_g._wang/

counterfeit_medicines_volume_i_policy_economics_and_countermeasures/3/

#sthash.MWTK9Gpv.dpuf Publication Date: Feb 01 2012

What is Gender Selection? By admin · January 11, 2013 http://

genderdreaming.com/2013/01/elective-ivf-for-gender-selection/

In Vitro Fertilization: IVF Last Updated: 05/2007 http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/

ivf.html

Time to Detox Posted at March 15, 2013 http://pikachakula.com/time-to-detox.html

Bible History Online 16420 SE McGillivray, Suite 103 #165 Vancouver, WA 98683 http://www.bible-history.com/biblehistoryonline_aboutbho.php

The Times health news Cost for mothers who work late into pregnancy: smaller babies Anushka Asthana Published at 12:01AM, July 28 2012 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3489801.ece

PHOTO: ANDY HYPOLITE Guardian Media May 19th , 2013 http://www.guardian.co.tt/gallery/photos-day-may-19th-2013/firepng

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