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Toxic Moss in Portland Forests

June 9, 2016 By Jason Leathers Leave a Comment

moss

Moss captures pollutants from the atmosphere.

Forest Service released a new study on air quality that involves the monitoring of toxic moss. The study covers data from Portland.

The researchers created an interactive map with the results of their investigation, showing the levels of toxicity all around the state.

The biologists examined moss samples taken from 300 different places in Portland. They focused on 22 elements which may be contained in moss, including six metals that are highly toxic to humans.

As moss can accumulate pollutants from the air, scientists used it as a guide to air quality.  The final objective of the study was to create a map with pollution hotspots and to identify the toxic moss.

The researchers used histograms, dot maps and summary statistics to explain the importance of their data findings. More than fifteen metals were found to have high concentrations, and their presence in the moss composition was considered to be a pollution indicator.

The list of chemicals included cadmium, nickel, lead and arsenic, all metals that are considered to be high priority toxic substances.

Even though the study reveals pollution spots, its result cannot be interpreted in terms of air pollution. The authors say there is no clear evidence that toxic moss and toxic air are being connected. The study tries to suggest a correlation, even if a causality relation wasn’t proved yet.

The forest researchers used data coming from a monitoring operation in 2013, and they are now interested in gathering more recent information in order to have more accurate predictions.

One of the most relevant topics raised by the study was the analysis of cadmium concentration, a chemical element that is listed as a hazardous substance. Cadmium is released into the environment by fossil fuel combustion, industrial production, waste incineration, or by the use of phosphate fertilizers. Cadmium can produce renal abnormalities, osteoporosis, and cancer.

The study on moss components showed the presence of four metals that had a significantly higher concentration: cobalt, iron, aluminum and chromium.

For example, cobalt, that can cause lung problems, had been found in maximum concentrations in the moss samples from Cully. Thus, the forest researchers decided to start an air monitoring study in that area because the presence of elevated levels of metals in the moss could indicate higher air pollution.

Although two of the six metals that were found are not a hazard for health, their presence could also be taken as a pollution indicator. The toxic moss was found near an industrialized area, and scientists believe that it was contaminated by elements resulting from air pollution.

Image Source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Tech & Science Tagged With: air pollution, arsenic, cadmium, Forest Service, lead, moss, nickel, pollution, Portland, Toxic Moss in Portland Forests

Study Shows That 7,500 People Die Daily Due To Cancer In China

February 1, 2016 By Chen Lai Leave a Comment

         China is currently fighting against lung cancer.

 

As sad as it is, a recent study shows that there are 7,500 people dying in China due to lung cancer.

China is known for being a country with good economy and strong military capabilities. However, as per this new report, 2.8 million people died in China last year due to cancer. This terrifying number accounts for one-fifth of the global population death rate.

The above mentioned research was published in the U.S. medical journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The researchers were able to gather relevant data from hospitals, health centers and the Civil Administration Bureau.

Also, according to the study’s authors, “cancer is the leading cause” of death in the country and it’s “a major public health problem,” as the China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

Another statement, regarding the study is that “almost 22 percent of global new cancer cases and close to 27 percent of global cancer deaths occur in China” and, more importantly, that ” the cancer profile in China is markedly different from those of developed countries.

The only difference between the cancer profiles of China and those from other developed countries all over the world is that the most common cancer cases in China are lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer and esophageal cancer.

Some other research proves that during the year of 2015, 4,3 million new cancer cases were found in China. The highest number of these cases corresponds to lung cancer. This reasearch was conducted by Dr. Wanqing Chen of the National Cancer Center in Beijing.

Now, what causes the lung cancer and what makes it spread among the population in such a very large number?

The answer is: air pollution and smoking. As the researchers noted, the air pollution in China is one of the worst all over the world. Smoking is, nonetheless, a very bad habit among Chinese citizens, which numbered well over a billion in 2013.

Apart from pollution and smoking, the lifestyle factors, such as alimentation, also account for many cancer cases.

Which brings us to our next point. Happily, there are some tips people can follow in order to avoid getting lung cancer. According to Mayo Clinic, some of these tips are: not smoking, avoiding second-hand smoke, diet, regular exercise, testing your home for radon levels, avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals, eating healthy.

The health crisis that is currently bringing down Chna’s natural developmental course depends merely on reducing these cases of cancer. This would be a great way to solve the crisis and prevent further tragedies among the population.

Image Source: ste.india.com

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: 2015, air pollution, Cancer, china, health crisis, Lung Cancer, population in danger, research, Smoking, studies

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