Midterm 1 Flashcards
What is the crust composed of?
Igneous Rocks, Sedimentary Rocks and Metamorphic Rocks
Oxygen (O 46%) and Silicon (Si 28%) are the two most abundant elements in Earth’s crust.
What are the building blocks of minerals?
Naturally occuring
Solid crystalline substance
Inorganic
Specific chemical composition
What are minerals composed of?
Elements,such as carbon (C), oxygen (O), silicon (Si), magnesium (Mg)
What are elements?
Substances which cannot be separated or subdivided into simpler substances by chemical means
Minerals as nutrients
a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life.
What are the five major minerals in the human body?
Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
Trace elements
All of the remaining elements in a human
body are called trace elements. The
trace elements that have a specific
biochemical function in the human body
are sulfur, iron, chlorine, cobalt, copper,
zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine
and selenium.
Where is the Loess Plateau
Northwest China
What is the Loess Plateau
An area with dry powdery wind-blown soil.
What causes desertification?
- Overgrazing by sheep and goats, other livestock
- Cutting down trees or other vegetation
What are some methods that have been used at the loess plateau?
- Warping dams to create rich fertile fields in valleys
- Terrace side of ravines
- Fish scale terraces for single trees
- Introduce trees (fruit trees are good)
- Stabilize soil/dunes with grasses, bushes
- Feed livestock in pens rather than herding
Why is it important that the local people be involved in rehabilitating the land?
- Sense of shared responsibility, stewardship
- Get paid for rehabilitation work
- Personal achievement and pride
China has about ____% of the world’s population, but only about _____% of it’s arable land.
22% and 7%
Where does the loess come from
(1) alluvial fans in the central asia orogenic belt
(2) the alluvial fans in the north of the Qilian mountains in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau
(3)North China Craton
What are some of the Loess-forming processes and transport mechanisms?
Strong near surface winds are primarily responsible for transport as well as monsoons
Why is so much dust formed in the Loess plateau?
- Highest known uplift rates in the world in the Himalayas
- Rapid river incision and therefore sediment production
- Unstable slopes
- Glaciation
- Erosion from freeze-thaw fracturing
What is a micron?
1 *10^6 m
What minerals is the loess composed of?
quartz grains (60%), feldspar, mica, carbonate
How thick are the loess deposits?
Up to 500m
What are some physical characteristics of the loess?
low density, soft, high porosity, easily erodible, collapse when wet
Particles smaller than ___ are absorbed into the bloodstream
1um
Particles smaller than ___ will be trapped in the lungs
10um
The size of dust on the loess plateau is ____
5-15um
What is the Occupational Exposure Limit?
0.1mg/m^3
What is silicosis?
Chronic silicosis is slow to develop. Silicosis occurs when respiratory crystalline silica embeds into alveolar sacs, causing inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the lungs.
What are the symptoms of silicosis
Dyspnea (shortness of breath) exacerbated by exertion, Cough, often persistent and sometimes severe, Fatigue, Tachypnea (rapid breathing) which is often labored, Loss of appetite and weight loss, Chest pain, Fever, Gradual darkening of skin (blue skin)
What is Al Eskan disease?
A lung disorder thought to be caused by exposure to very fine sand dust, which was first diagnosed after the 1990 Gulf war. Studies have found that exposure by military personnel to the ubiquitous, fine sand of the Central and Eastern Saudi Arabian peninsula resulted in immunosuppression
that could be aggravated by opportunistic infections
What is valley fever?
A condition caused by the fungus C. immitis that lives in the desert soils of the southwestern. C. immitis is dormant during long dry spells, then develops as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when it rains. The spores are swept into the air by disruption of the soil, such as during construction, farming, or an earthquake. Windstorms may also cause epidemics.Infections usually occur due to inhalation of the spores after soil disruption. Symptoms include: profound feeling of tiredness, fever, cough, headaches, rash, muscle pain, joint pain
What gas suffocated villagers near Lake Nyos?
CO2
What was the original source of the gas near Lake Nyos?
Underground magma, gases travelled up cracks
What triggered the release of gas from lake Nyos?
A landslide, which caused CO2-rich water to rise
Why was the gas at lake Nyos white?
From water droplets formed on the surface of the gas
Was there any warning for the villagers near lake Nyos?
No the gas was silent and odorless
How many people died in the lake Nyos diaster?
About 1800 people died of suffocation.
How are future disasters at Lake Nyos being prevented?
Several pipes vent the CO2 from the bottom of the lake to the surface
Where did most of the gases in earth early atmosphere come from?
Volcanoes
Where is lake Nyos?
In the oku volcanic field. Disagreement whether this is a hotspot or rift related
What gas killed trees north of horseshoe lake?
CO2
How much gas escapes near horseshoe lake each day?
100 tons
What is the usual CO2 concentration in air?
0.035%
What concentration of CO2 causes headaches and dizziness?
1%
What is the geology of mammoth mountain
Mammoth mountain is a lava dome complex made of silica-rich. The volcano is still active
with minor eruptions
What is mazuku?
A pocket of CO2 rich air that accumulates in pockets low to the ground
Describe the gas monitoring program at Mammoth Mountain
Real time monitoring of ground movements
What is the original source of gas at mammoth mountain?
Magma (molten rock) beneath the volcano
What is volcanic ash?
Finely ground volcanic rock, volcanic glass
What is the most widespread volcanic hazard?
Volcanic ash
What happens to ash in jet engines?
It melts, coats the turbine blades, and may shut down engines
What is one indicator that a dormant volcano might be “reawakening”?
Earthquakes
What happened to a KLM flight in 1989?
Flew into ash cloud over Mt. Redoubt, all 4 engines stalled, managed to restart and landed safely in Anchorage
What kind of plate boundary exists at the Aleutian Islands?
Subduction zone
What does an active subduction zone usually entail?
Volcanoes and earthquakes
What are the health impacts on citizens of Anchorage?
Ash fall causes air quality issues, ash clouds may reduce sunlight, heavy ash fall can clog watercourses, sewage plants, and various
machinery, can cause structural damage to
buildings, ash is extremely slippery, hampering both driving and walking
How do you protect yourself during ashfall?
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, Use goggles to protect your eyes, Wear eyeglasses instead of contact lenses, Use a dust mask or hold a damp cloth over your face to assist in breathing
What is a caldera? How are they formed?
A caldera is a large crater that forms as a result of a supervolcano eruption. They are formed from by collapse following draining of the magma chamber.
What is the diameter of Katla’s caldera?
10 km
When did Katla last erupt? How much bigger was this eruption than Eyjafjallajokull’s 2010 eruption?
1918, about 3x bigger. High potential for much larger eruptions
What is a potential sign of pressure building in Katla’s magma chamber? How is this being monitored?
Uplift on the surface, monitored by GPS
What is Vog?
A hazy mixture of SO2 gas and aerosols
When are aerosols created?
Aerosols are created when SO2 and other volcanic gases combine in the atmosphere and interact chemically with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight over periods of minutes to days. A health hazard without an eruption.
How big is vog?
Particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter but can grow by absorbing water vapor and other gases
Symptoms caused by vog
- eye, nose, throat, and/or skin irritation
- coughing and/or phlegm
- chest tightness and/or shortness of breath
- increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments
- some people also report fatigue and/or dizziness
What is the plate tectonic setting of iceland?
Mid-Atlantic ridge and a mantle plume
What element was found in the drinking water of Ancient Romans?
Lead
Who were the Byzantines?
Members of the Eastern Roman Empire
What was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire?
Constantinople
When did the Eastern Roman Empire fall?
1453
Who was responsible for the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire?
The Ottoman Empire (from Turkey)
What did they do at the mining site near Phaino
Major mining and smelting centers
of the Roman world. Phaino was an important supplier of copper to the middle east
Why did the Byzantines have an interest in
mining copper?
- to make coins – pay the military
- it is malleable – can be formed into tools or ornaments
- can be made into a sharp weapon
- Bronze = alloy of copper with arsenic or tin
What is the host rock for copper?
Sedimentary rock (sandstone and limestone)
What were the results of the Ancient Rome study?
1) Cu content of the bones ranged from 2x to 18x the normal concentration for vertebrate bone.
2) All the studied skeletons showed joint damage, possibly from working in hard labour jobs.
3) Males commonly had higher Cu contents in their bones. This may be related to occupation.
How does Cu get into the bones?
- inhalation of Cu-rich desert dust
- inhalation of by-products during smelting operations
- Cu-rich dust on hands, then eat or drink
- eating plants and animals that had high Cu levels
What are the symptoms of copper poisoning?
Chills, fever, pain, metallic taste, decreased liver function, convulsions, ashes, weakness, no urine production, vomiting, nausea, anemia, shock, jaundice
The legacy of empires that is present in Jordan is
Significant bio-accumulation of Cu in plants and animals in this part of Jordan
Where were the trade routes for copper?
Kletsan, Coppermine river, lake superior
What was copper used for by native americans and trade partners?
Jewelry, tools and weapons.
Two food sources that could contain high copper for the indigenous people are?
Wild rice and fish
describe the possible effects of the elimination of excess Cu
Many of the substances that protect us from excess copper also perform important functions in our neurological and endocrine systems. When they are used to bind copper to sulfhydryl groups, to prevent it from being absorbed in the tissues, their own function may go unfulfilled. Such symptoms often include mood swings, irritability,
depression, fatigue, excitation, difficulty focusing, and feeling out of control. These are often misdiagnosed as psychiatric disorders
What mineral can conifer trees concentrate in their tissues
Up to 700 ppm of Cu
How much copper is in humans?
Adult humans contain 1.4-2.1mg Cu/Kg of body weight
What does the US EPA list copper as
A micronutrient and toxin
How is Cu excreted from the body?
- expulsion via cellular copper pumping
- binding Cu to sulfhydryl groups
What are the pathways for Cu entry into the body?
Cu toxicity can occur from eating acidic foods cooked in uncoated copper cookware, or from exposure to excess copper in drinking water or food sources.
What is Indian Childhoos Cirrhosis
Chronic cirrhosis of the liver in children (North American Indian childhood cirrhosis), has been
linked to boiling milk in copper cookware in Ontario-Quebec.
Why was uranium mined in the Navajo Nation?
The federal government purchased the ore to make atomic weapons. As the Cold War threat weakened, the companies left, abandoning 521 mines.
What are two health effects of uranium exposure
kidney failure and cancer
An ongoing health concern for the Navajo Nation is?
The Navajo mine workers and numerous families on the reservation have suffered high rates of lung cancers and other diseases, from environmental contamination.
What is the the accident at Church Rock uranium mill, New Mexico?
- largest radioactive accident in U.S. history
- more than 1,000 tons of radioactive mill waste
- 93 million gallons of acidic radioactive solutions
- flowed into the nearby Puerco River
- contaminated the drinking water supply on part of the Navajo nation
How do you think groundwater (underground) can be remediated?
The EPA estimates that 30% of all Navajo people currently lack access to uncontaminated drinking water.
Cleanup efforts of the Navajo land?
Prioritized 46 based on high radiation levels and close proximity to homes. So far, 9 of the mines have been cleaned up by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What was the state response to Church Rock Disaster?
- Limited amount of disaster relief
- English-only notification of the largely Navajo population affected by the spill.
- Local residents did not learn immediately of the toxic danger. The locals were accustomed to using the riverside for recreation.
- Residents who waded in the acidic water went to the hospital complaining of burning feet and were misdiagnosed with heat stroke
What are the main minerals in hard water?
calcium and magnesium
Where does hard water get the minerals from?
picks up minerals as it passes through rocks and soil
What are two reasons why soft water has a low mineral content?
either has not passed through rocks/soil yet (e.g. rainwater) or the rocks/soils it has passed through have little soluble minerals
What are the USGS CaCO3 guidelines for:
soft water < 61 mg/L
moderately hard water 61-120 mg/L
hard water 121-180 mg/L
very hard water > 181 mg/L
What percent of U.S. homes have at least mod. hard water?
75%
What is limescale, and what causes it?
deposits of calcium carbonate, occurs when hard water is heated or sits for too long and evaporates
Why You Need to Remove Limescale
- It causes dull or dry hair
- Irritates sensitive skin
- May cause the growth of bacteria in drinking water pipes
- Increased heating costs
- Loss of energy in hot water systems
- Low water pressure
- Dirty looking clothes even if you wash them twice with detergent
- Frequent replacement or repairs on appliances throughout the house
How to remove and prevent limescale?
Soften Water – You can purchase water softeners online or at your local home repair store. Water softeners prevent hard water from appearing on
surfaces by replacing the Ca and Mg with Na or K.
Chemical Inhibitors – If you have a central heating system ask the plumber to add a specifically designed chemical inhibitor to prevent limescale.
Carbon Filters – Use carbon filters to soften water and provide clean drinking water. You can choose to use filters directly on the tap faucet or use jugs. You can purchase carbon filters at grocery stores and online.
Softener Tablets – If your clothes look dirty after washing them you can
improve the look of your clothes by using softener tablets.
Is hard water hazardous to human health?
- hard water has no known adverse health effect, according to the World Health Organization
- hard water could provide an important supplementary contribution to total calcium and magnesium intake
- in most large-scale studies, an inverse (protective) relationship between the hardness of drinking-water and cardiovascular disease has been reported
- some studies suggest there is a significant protective effect of magnesium intake from the drinking water on the risk of cerebrovascular disease
- epidemiological studies have shown that dietary calcium is inversely associated with the blood pressure
Where does Calgary drinking water come from?
The Bow River supplies the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant and the Elbow River flows into the Glenmore Reservoir, which is the source for the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant.
Where do the Bow and ELbow river feed into?
The South Saskatchewan River, which drains into Lake Winnipeg and eventually into Hudson’s Bay
What is the souce of water for the bow and elbow rivers?
snow melt (80%) rain, groundwater, glacier melt (20%)
What are the main uses of water from the Bow and Elbow Rivers?
Irrigation water use (76%), municipal water use (18%), other water use (6%)
When is the water hardness the lowest?
During spring snow melt
When is water hardness the highest?
December and february
What is the average hardness rating in north Calgary?
165 mg/L CaCO3
What is the average hardness rating in south Calgary?
217 mg/L CaCO3
What is the current recommended maximum BLL for children?
5 μg/dL
How have the BLL’s of U.S. children changed over the past 40 years?
dramatically decreased
What were two main sources of exposure for children to lead?
lead paint leaded gasoline
What are some of the health effects of lead poisoning in children and adults?
Children: damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems.
Adults: high blood pressure and brain, kidney and reproductive health issues in adults. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle/joint pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and loss of sex drive.
What is the current average BLL of U.S. adults?
1.09 μg/dL
Studies have found that __ % of adults who participate in indoor firing ranges have BLL’s over 25 μg/dL, and __ % have BLL’s
between 10-24 μg/dL.
34.0 and 20.8
Spending just two days per month at an outdoor firing range can
____ an adult’s BLL.
quadruple
What are some ways to reduce lead exposure at firing ranges, and afterwards
Lead free bullets, improved ventilation systems, using wet mopping
Showering and changing into clean clothes and using disposable ppe
Increased prevalence of gout (sudden, severe painful arthritis) has
been associated with BLL’s of _____ μg/dL.
1.2
More than 90% of the body’s lead content is in our ____.
bones
Gradual release of lead from our __ serves as a persistent source of toxicity
bones
The decrease in BLL since the late 1970’s, when lead started to be
phased out of gasoline, has been associated with a 4-5 point increase
in the average _____ of Americans
IQ
Why was Pb added to gasoline?
-in the 1920’s it was discovered that adding tetra-ethyl lead to gasoline led to reduced “engine knocking” due to pre-ignition, and therefore resulted in more powerful high compression engines
Problems with leaded gasoline
a) growing evidence of environmental and health damage from Pb
b) incompatibility of Pb with catalytic converters (since 1970’s)
Is there a correlation between lead exposure and violent crime?
Yes
is there a correlation between lead in petrol and lead in blood?
Yes
Where did the drinking water for Flint come from prior to 2014?
Lake Huron
Where did the new supply of drinking water come from?
Flint River
Where was the new supply of drinking water treated?
Flint Water Plant
Describe the main aspects of the treatment of drinking water at Flint.
sediment particles removed by adding a coagulant, particles sink to bottom on tanks, filtered through sand and then carbon, fluorine and chlorine added
What bacteria were found in Flint’s drinking water not long after the switch?
E. coli
How were the harmful bacteria killed?
By adding chlorine
Lead tricks the body into thinking it is _____, which is a mineral that is essential for ___
Calcium, neurons to communicate
Most volume loss in the brain from lead poisoning is in the frontal lobe, which controls ___.
decision-making, focus, planning, judgement
What parts of the drinking water supply system in Flint were potential sources of lead?
- service lines made of Pb
- within a house: lead in brass (faucets and valves), lead in galvenized iron, lead solder in household pipes
What type of chemicals did Flint fail to add to their drinking water?
Corrosion control.
This led to corrosion of the iron water mains, and breakdown of the protective scale on the lead service lines.
Describe how the outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease in Flint was related to drinking water supply.
because there was no corrosion control, iron leached into the water in the water mains and reacted with the chlorine. Therefore there was not enough chlorine left to kill the Legionnaire bacteria.
How long did the citizens of Flint drink lead-contaminated water for?
18 months
Where could Pb be found in the drinking water system in Calgary
Lead solder in household pipes: Homes built prior to 1989 may have lead solder. Corrosion or break down could cause lead to leach into the water. A licensed plumber can determine if a home contains lead solder, lead pipes or pipe fittings.
Why was why arsenic was used throughout history as a poison.
*a small amount (<1 g) can cause death in a matter of hours
*ancient and medieval times: favoured by assassins
*relatively easy to obtain
*lacks odour or taste when mixed in food or drink
*overdose causes abdominal cramping and vomiting –hard to distinguish from unintentional food poisoning
Mining and Production
*As is a component of insecticides, weedkillers, and wood preservatives
*used in pigments for wallpapers, paints, ceramics
*as a component in electronics, semiconductors
Arsenic occurs in association with minerals containing Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Ag, Sn, and has been produced as a by-product of mining these metals.
Arsenic concentrations in soil and rocks near mining/smelting activities are 100-1000 times higher than average
State the current World Health Organization guideline for As in drinking water.
max As = 10 μg/L = 10 ppb
Describe the arsenic-related health epidemic in SE Asia.
What happened (and is happening): rural populations in West Bengal and Bangladesh changed their water supply from rivers/streams
to groundwater (wells).
Reason: to avoid pathogens.
Consequence: much higher levels of As in groundwater, unexpected
Effects of prolonged exposure to high As levels
Skin lesions, skin – bladder – kidney – lung cancers, heart disease
What does the video mean by “social entrepreneurs”?
a person who establishes an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or affecting social change
How is Drinkwell helping the people of rural Bangladesh?
built 30 water treatment facilities, remove As and bacteria, does not need electricity to run. Many more need to be built.
Why so much As in the Bangladesh groundwaters?
-not from mining. Scientific consensus is that the As occurs naturally in the host rocks of the aquifers.
Why is As being mobilized?
1) oxidation of As-rich minerals from drawdown
of water at well sites
2) input of phosphate from irrigated fields +
competitive adsorption
3) microbial dissolution of As-rich minerals
Why can’t Kettleman City use water from the California aqueduct?
the town does not have a water treatment plant
What is the source of the arsenic in Kettleman City’s drinking water?
Unknown
What determines the direction of groundwater flow?
Hydraulic head
hydraulic head is a measurement of the height of a static water column above an arbitrary elevation, usually expressed in meters
groundwater flows from areas of high hydraulic head to low hydraulic head
How to calculate hydraulic gradient
slope of the hydraulic head between those points
(HA-HB)/l
It is expressed as decimal
What influence do pumping wells have on the direction and rate of groundwater flow?
Pumping wells draw groundwater towards themselves by creating a pressure gradient. The rate of groundwater flow will increase, particularly in the area adjacent to the well.
Groundwater flow velocity depends on:
a) hydraulic gradient
b) permeability of the rock or sediment
Pumping wells create a lowering of water levels in an unconfined aquifer called a ______
cone of depression.
What is the difference between porosity and
permeability?
Porosity is the proportion of open space (space that can be filled with water), within a rock or unconsolidated sediment. Permeability is an expression of the ease with which water will flow through that material.
What is a flow net?
a representation of the groundwater flow within an area, either in plan view (map) or cross-section
What are equipotential lines?
Lines of constant head
T/F Most states now have cancer registries that provide an important means of monitoring cancer rates.
True
Massachusetts did have a cancer registry when the Woburn health concerns emerged in the late 1970’s
F
In the late 1970’s, it was not known if TCE ingestion was a potential cause of childhood leukemia
T
It was possible to test for the presence of TCE in
groundwater prior to the late 1970’s
T
A “cluster” of health-related concerns can be determined using Standard Incidence Ratios (SIR)
T
What is TCE?
A toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon
What is TCE used for?
It is an effective solvent for a variety of organic materials. Its major use was to extract vegetable oils from plant materials such as soy, coconut, and palm. Other uses in the food industry included coffee decaffeination and the preparation of flavoring extracts from hops and spices. It was also used as a dry cleaning solvent
What are the health effects of TCE on humans?
Carcinogenic
When inhaled, trichloroethylene depresses the central nervous system. Its symptoms are similar to those of alcohol intoxication, beginning with headache, dizziness, and confusion and progressing with increasing exposure to unconsciousness.
What industries were operating in Woburn in the vicinity of wells G and H?
The W.R. Grace Cryovac Division, Unifirst (a uniform dry cleaning company), and the Riley Tannery
What factors raised concern in Woburn regarding the quality of the drinking water?
Elevated concentrations of TCE and PCE in the wells
What did the jury misunderstand about groundwater flow?
They did not understand that groundwater could travel under the river.
Why do soybean plants turn yellow?
Lack of iron
To be available for uptake by a plant, a mineral must be ____
Soluble
Under high pH conditions, most iron is bound to ____
Soil particles
What are two tasks that proteins in the plant roots can do?
- produce H+ to lower soil pH
- help change Fe3+ to Fe2+
Name a species of vegetation in Alaska known to accumulate Cd
grayleaf willow
Explain the cause of “Moose Wasting Disease”.
Molybdenosis leading to Type II Diabetes
1) high levels of Mo and low levels of Cu in organ tissues
2) elevated glucose concentrations (hyperglycemia)
a link between elevated Mo in the environment and the development of diabetes in moose
What is a hyperaccumulator plant?
Plants that have the capacity to naturally accumulate exceptionally high concentrations of certain elements, including cobalt, nickel,
cadmium, lead and zinc, in their biomass.
List two metals that Alpine Pennycress is known to accumulate.
Cd and Zn
What is agromining
Farming these types of plants as metal crops and harvesting their metal-rich biomass
Name three organisms that can clean up toxic waste.
- Oyster mushrooms – oil, hydrocarbons
- Sunflowers – radioactive isotopes
- Bivalves – pharmaceuticals, anti-bacterials, weedkillers, triclocarban
- Bonfire moss – lead
- Alpine pennycress – Cd, Zn
- Tobacco – TNT, explosives
- Greater wax moth - plastic
Name three organisms that can clean up toxic waste.
- Oyster mushrooms – oil, hydrocarbons
- Sunflowers – radioactive isotopes
- Bivalves – pharmaceuticals, anti-bacterials, weedkillers, triclocarban
- Bonfire moss – lead
- Alpine pennycress – Cd, Zn
- Tobacco – TNT, explosives
- Greater wax moth - plastic
Explain the role of the thyroid gland in the body.
It plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body
List several groups of people that are at risk for iodine deficiency.
- pregnant women
- people in countries with little iodine in soil
- people who don’t use iodized salt
- vegans/vegetarians
List several symptoms of iodine deficiency.
- swelling in the neck
- weight gain
- fatigue and weakness
- hair loss
- dry flaky skin
- feeling cold
- slowing of heart rate
- trouble learning and remembering
- pregnancy complications
- heavy/irregular periods
List several foods that contain high amounts of iodine.
- Sea vegetable
- Cranberries
- Yogurt
- Navy beans
- Strawberries
- Himalayan crystal salt
- Potatoes
State the health effect of low iodine on fetuses, infants, and children
Cretinism, neurodevelopmental deficits such as somewhat lower-than-average intelligence as measured by IQ, an increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, developmental issues both mental and physical
Explain the geological distribution of iodine in soils.
Mountainous areas, such as the Himalayas, Alps, and Andes regions, and river valleys prone to flooding, especially in South and Southeast Asia, are among the most iodine deficient regions in the world.
What gland in the human body uses iodine?
The thyroid
What do thyroid hormones do?
help control growth, repair damaged cells, support healthy metabolism
How much iodine do adults need per day?
150 micrograms
Iodine deficiency can cause ______, a condition in which the body can’t make enough thyroid hormones.
hypothyroidism
What is one way to prevent iodine deficiency?
Iodized salt
What is Cretinism
Congenital Iodine Deficiency Syndrome
Chronic, severe iodine deficiency in utero causes cretinism, a condition characterized by mental retardation, deaf mutism, motor spasticity, stunted growth, delayed sexual maturation, and other physical and neurological abnormalities
Treatment of Cretinism
lifelong supplements of thyroid hormones (thyroxine)
What plant does not uptake iodine well?
Rice
Congenital Iodine Deficiency in Europe
common in areas of southern Europe around the Alps
these areas were referred to as “goiter belts“
in Switzerland, where soil does not contain a large amount of iodine, cases of congenital iodine deficiency syndrome were quite abundant
How is Iodine cycled?
- Rain contributes iodine (evaporated from oceans) to soil.
- Frequent flooding or snow melt leaches iodine from the soil.
What are the five soil-forming factors?
*Parent material
*Climate
*Topography
*Biological factors
*Time
Physiogeography of Maputaland
Relatively flat, sandy, coastal plain. Covered by Quaternary sands (2.5 Ma to present). Coastal dunes reach almost 200m high, but average elevation is only about 100m. No rivers, but some lakes.
Soil Type of Maputaland
Soils are mainly of the Fernwood type, which are sandy, yellow, inherently infertile, vary in pH from neutral to acidic, and have a low organic matter content
Staple Foods of Maputaland
- locally grown corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes and beans
- no fertilizer input except cattle manure
- area is extremely poor $ (not much meat in diet)
- very little food is store-bought
What is Mseleni Joint Disease (MJD)
Rare disease that begins with stiffness and pain in the joints (mainly hips).
Progresses to various degrees of disability, some requiring aid in walking and others completely immobile.
3% of adults are dwarfs (SIR is 0.0025%)
38% of women have MJD
11% of men have MJD
What causes MJD
- hematological?
- radiological?
- mycotoxicological?
- genetic?
Possible Zn deficiency as cause for dwarfism.
Possible P, Ca, and Mg deficiencies as cause for bone disorders.
Why are men less susceptible to MJD than women
it seems that by leaving they are less affected by the disease and are escaping some environmental cause
Socio-economic Impact Mseleni Joint Disease (MJD)
makes daily chores difficult
What were the overall findings of the study that looked at the Soil Nutrient Deficiencies in an Area of Endemic Osteoarthritis (Mseleni Joint Disease) and Dwarfism in Maputaland, South Africa
Cu and Zn deficiencies across the entire transect, pockets of multiple deficiencies throughout. This agrees with previous studies of the area. There was no relation between topographic features and soil deficiencies. Corn deficiencies reflected those of the soil.
food grown on soils in Maputaland is likely to be of ________.
inferior nutritional quality
What does the term “hidden hunger” refer to?
when the diet is lacking in micronutrients such
as Vitamin A, iodine, zinc, and iron
How many people in the world suffer from hidden hunger
2 billion
Most of the world’s undernourished people are found in?
southern and eastern Asia
sub-Sarahan Africa
Latin America and the Caribbean
What are the only elements that plants can get from the atmosphere?
carbon, oxygen, hydrogen
Five ways to boost soil fertility are:
- crop rotation and diversification
- increase soil organic matter content
- keep soil surface covered
- reduce erosion
- minimize tillage
About how long does it take to make 1 inch of topsoil?
500 years
What types of organisms live in soil?
earthworms, fungi,
bacteria, protozoa
arthropods, small mammals
How much faster is soil being degraded compared to being formed?
depleted 17x faster than being formed
What are some effects of tilling on the soil?
aerates the soil, can kill microorganisms, release CO2
Soil conservation techniques
Contour plowing
Terracing
No-till farming
Cover crops
What are some of the goals of selective breeding of crops?
higher yield, faster growth, bigger plants
What did investigators find when comparing the nutrient value of the weed goldenrod today vs. 100 years ago?
30% decrease in protein in the pollen of the plant today compared to 100 years ago
How does CO2 in the atmosphere influence plant growth?
increased CO2 means more plant growth. Not necessarily more nutritious.
