Free Essay

Environmental Toxicology Paper

In: Science

Submitted By bogiefan54
Words 1424
Pages 6
Environmental Toxicology Paper

ENV/410
Environmental Toxicology Paper I will first explain the difference between toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Toxicants interact with living organisms in a series of five time-dependent processes. The study of these processes is called toxicokinetics. These processes are absorption, distribution storage, biotransformation and elimination. There are unique cellular effects within the organism when they come in contact with the toxicant. Toxicodynamics is an examination of the way these effects happen. There are many similarities as well as important differences between the toxicokinetics and pharmacokinetics of most substances. The same applies to pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics (Olson, n.d.).
The approach for conducting toxicokinetics studies that is recommended by most scholars generally involves three steps. Goehl (1997), "Step 1 is a preliminary study, which uses a minimum number of animals to estimate the range of blood/tissue concentrations, the required quantitation limit for the analytical method, and the optimal sampling times for the definitive toxicokinetic studies. Step 2 is the definitive study and generates blood and/or tissue concentration data for calculating the toxicokinetic parameters. Step 3 is the toxicokinetic study conducted in conjunction with the toxicology study to determine the internal dose and the effects of age and continuous exposure on kinetic parameters” (Toxicokinetics in the National Toxicology Program).
There are four primary routes of exposure to chemical contaminants; injection, ingestion, topical and inhalation. Because of the chemical being directly introduced into the body, injection is the only method where the entire amount is absorbed regardless of how much is given. Chemicals may be injected intravenously directly into a vein or intramuscularly. The other methods of injection are subcutaneously, which is under the skin or intraperitoneally, directly into the membrane lining the organs of the stomach (Al-hamad, 2012).
Ingestion is the route of exposure most often used for toxic chemicals. The cell membrane diffuses chemicals in the non-ionized form, making the level of ionization important in whether a chemical is absorbed or not. Al-hamad (2012), "Organic acids are in their non- ionized form in an acidic environment (such as the stomach), and they thus tend to diffuse across a membrane, whereas organic bases are non-ionized and thus diffuse across a membrane in a basic environment (such as in the intestine)” (Different route of exposure of toxicant). Because the small intestine is larger than the stomach, its contents are passed to the intestine before the chemicals are absorbed (Al-hamad, 2012).
Topical exposure happens when the toxicant is absorbed through the skin. The absorption of the toxicant is directly proportional with the chemical’s lipid solubility. The thickness of the layer, the condition, the dryness and the state of the molecules are all factors that affect the rate of absorption through the skin (Al-hamad, 2012). Inhalation of toxic substances is the fourth way a toxic substance can enter the body. This can come in the form of gases or aerosols. Gas molecules tend to move into the blood through partitioning. The particle size and water solubility of aerosols will affect the rate of absorption through the lungs. (Al-hamad, 2012).
A chemical is absorbed into the interstitial fluid of an organ when it passes through the cell linings of the organ in question. Interstitial fluid makes up about 15% of our body weight. The intracellular fluid makes up about 40% of body weight with blood plasma accounting for about 8%. Instead of being isolated, these body fluids represent one large pool. Yuill (2010), "The interstitial and intracellular fluids remain in place with certain components moving slowly into and out of cells” (Distribution of toxicants in the body). While immersed in the interstitial fluid, a chemical is not mechanically transported as it is in blood. A toxicant can leave the interstitial fluid by various ways such as entering the lymphatic system, entering local tissue cells or entering blood capillaries and the blood circulatory system (Yuill, 2010).
There are four principal mechanisms in moving toxicants across the cell membrane. The first is called passive diffusion. There is a difference in concentration of the chemical between the outside of the cell and the inside. The more difference there is in this concentration, the greater chance there is of the chemical diffusing to the inside of the cell. Facilitated diffusion happens when carrier proteins transport water soluble chemicals across the membrane. The chemicals are, once again, moving from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. Active transport is when a chemical is moving against a concentration gradient. A membrane pump is such as the sodium/potassium ATPase pump is needed to transport potassium into the cell and sodium ions out. An active transport such as energy is required. Another mechanism is called endocytosis. The molecular weight of the chemical and the size of the pore determine whether diffusion takes place. The membrane engulfs the chemical, forming a vesicle, transporting it across the membrane (Zedeck, 2004).
One of the ways biotransformation is categorized is how they tend to react with a xenobiotic. These are called Phase I and Phase II reactions. Phase I works by adding a functional structure, thus modifying the chemical. The substance then fits into the Phase II enzyme, becoming joined together with another substance. Enzymatic reactions that join the modified xenobiotic with another substance are called a Phase II reaction. The molecules of the conjugated products are now larger than the substrate and water-soluble in nature (Monosson, 2012).
Monosson (2012), "Biotransformation is vital to survival in that it transforms absorbed nutrients (food, oxygen, etc.) into substances required for normal body functions” (Biotransformation). Biotransformation is vital to survival in that it transforms absorbed nutrients (food, oxygen, etc.) into substances required for normal body functions. For some pharmaceuticals, it is not the absorbed drug, but the metabolite that is therapeutic. Biotransformation is also an important defense mechanism, causing body wastes and toxic xenobiotics to be transformed into less harmful substances that can be excreted from the body (Monosson, 2012).
The environmental effect of toxicants is many and varied. Some of them can be a lower numbers of ovarian follicles in newborn eggs, the decay and death of sperm cells happening at an increased rate and females reaching puberty earlier. Other risks are cancer, impaired fetal brain development, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, nerve damage, birth defects, blocking the absorption of food nutrients, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.
One of the more toxic substances is mercury. According to "Jefferson Lab" (n.d.), "Mercury is not usually found free in nature and is primarily obtained from the mineral cinnabar (HgS)” (The Element Mercury). Mercury’s physical properties are: atomic mass average: 200.59, boiling point: 357oC / 675oF / 630K, electrical conductivity: 0.0104 X 106 / cm Ohm, thermal conductivity: 0.0834 W / cmK, density: 13.546 g / cm3 @ 300K, melting point: -38.72oC / -37.7oF / 234.28K, molar volume: 14.81 cm3 / mole, vapor pressure: 0.0002Pa @ -38.72oC and heat of vaporization: 59.229 kJ / mol. Mercury is poisonous and the respiratory tract, the digestive tract or directly through the skin are common entry ways into the body. One of the ways mercury crosses the cell wall or membrane mercury get into cells is with the help of the chemical sulfide. This is how it is thought to be able to cross the membrane of fish. Winner (2010), "Most forms of mercury can’t pass through a cell membrane because they are bound to large molecules or because they carry a charge” (How Does Toxic Mercury Get into Fish?). But when positively charged mercury ions meets negatively charged sulfide, the two bond. The resulting compound, HgS, is small and uncharged, which is able to pass into microbial cells (Winner, 2010).

References
Olson, K. R. (n.d.). Access pharmacy. Retrieved from http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=388&sectionid=45764285&jumpsectionID=45774383
Goehl, T.J. (1997). PubMed.gov. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9260193
Al-hamad, A. (2012). Slideshare. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/AngelAlhamad/different-route-of-exposure-of-toxica
Yuill, T. (2010). The encyclopedia of earth. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151754/
Zedeck, M. (2004). Visionlearning. Retrieved from http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Biology/2/Absorption-Distribution-and-Storage-of-Chemicals/106
Monosson, E. (2012). The encyclopedia of earth. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150674/
Jefferson lab. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele080.html
Winner, C. (2010). Oceanus magazine. Retrieved from https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/how-does-toxic-mercury-get-into-fish

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Bills

...Environmental Toxicology Paper Joshua Brechtel ENV/410 September 14, 2014 Jennifer Ott Environmental Toxicology Paper Environmental toxicology deals with the toxicology of environmental chemicals. This can relate to toxic chemicals found naturally but usually man-made chemicals are predominately studied. The effect of these chemicals on the environment and subsequent ecosystems are of great importance in understanding human impact on our planet. Ecotoxicology is a type of environmental toxicology that deals with the effects of environmental toxins on ecosystems, habitats and the organisms that live in those ecosystems. The wide range of organisms and environmental factors requires detailed analysis from multiple scientific disciplines. Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics Toxicokinetics is a branch of toxicology that can be viewed as the study of how the body deals with toxicants at different stages after exposure. These stages are absorption, distribution, and elimination. Toxicokinetics studies the ever changing processes that occur within the body during and after absorption of a toxicant. This includes where and how absorption takes place, how the body distributes the toxicant, the effects of metabolism, the toxic effects rendered and the excretion of the toxicant. “In other words, toxicokinetics is a reflection of how the body handles toxicants as indicated by the plasma concentration of that xenobiotic at various time points.” (Michael A. Trush, 2008, p...

Words: 1332 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Human Health

...1 A Critical Evaluation of the Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Human Health Jess A. White School of Health, University of Northampton (2015). Insecticides are universally used, not just by farmers, but by household gardener’s as a way to prevent, mitigate or repel pests. Due to outbreaks of infectious disease in honey bees and amphibians, the use of systematic insecticides has significantly increased over the last 20 years (Mason et al., 2012). And is now thought to be the preferred choice; because of their toxicity and mechanistic action. One type, in particular, seen to show a usage increase is – neonicotinoids - a class of agrochemicals derived from nicotine (a substance found in cigarettes). It is thought this derivative form is solely based on the chemical similarity of the two (Calderon-Segura et al., 2012). First introduced within the 1990’s, neonicotinoids were principally used for their systematic nature. While most insecticides are placed on the surfaces of yielding crops, neonicotinoids are taken up by the roots and translocated to separate areas. This, therefore, makes the plant toxic to certain insect species (Pisa et al., 2014). It is this mechanism of action that has now simultaneously been linked to the adverse impacts on several other invertebrate and vertebrate species (Sluijs et al., 2014). There are currently, five authorised neonicotinoid insecticides available for use in the UK, including (1) acetamiprid, (2) clothianidin, (3)...

Words: 2957 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Toxicology

...Dioxin, Furans, & PCB Emission for Residential Trash Burning MOS 5425 Advanced Toxicology Dr. Brooks McPhail October 7, 2014 Dioxin, Furans, & PCB Emission for Residential Trash Burning In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated in 2006 Americans generated 300 million tons, 12.5 percent burned in incinerators. Countless of the hundreds of thousands of tons are burned in residential backyard burn barrels in rural areas, are never accounted for. To the residential homeowner burning trash has been for centuries the means of disposing refuse in areas that do not have organized garbage collection. As the modern industrial chemical production continues to increase, making products that make everyday life in the modern world more accessible, burning that waste stream at low temperatures products highly toxic compounds releasing not only in the air via smoke but also in ash runoff, and smoke fume condensation on possible food sources. Countless toxicological studies have been conducted on dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). That information will be leveraged here to compliment the toxicity and pollutant effects of these chemicals, yet the emphasis is not political, environmental, nor humanitarian. It is about highlighting the non-industrial emissions, choices in some cases, and for others the realization, that these toxic chemicals are a result of disposing product we receive from the modern industrialized world. Dioxins...

Words: 1525 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Compare and Contrast a Toxin That Affects the Nervous System

...Research Paper: Toxicant MOS 5425 – Advanced Toxicology 2/3/2015 Background This paper will compare and contrast a toxin that affects the nervous system, one that affects the endocrine system and another that affects the cardiovascular system. Identify the characteristics that are shared by these toxins and characteristics of these toxins make these toxins vulnerable to toxicity of these specific systems? Central Nervous System Environmental contamination has exposed humans to various metal agents, including mercury. This exposure is more common than expected, and the health consequences of such exposure remain unclear. Mercury in the past was used in a numerous different activities, and now, exposure to this metal from both natural and artificial sources is significantly increasing. According to Azevedo, et al (2012), numerous studies show that high exposure to mercury can induce the following changes to humans such as the central nervous system, potentially resulting in irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, tremors, headaches, hearing and cognitive loss, dysarthria, incoordination, hallucinations, and death. Endocrine System According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Endocrine disruptors are found in synthetic chemicals used in industrial solvents, lubricants, and their byproducts such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and dixons. Other examples of endocrine disruptors include bisphenol A (BPA)...

Words: 652 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Is Genetically Modified Foods Safe?

...Genetically Modified Foods According to the World Health Organization, Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOs) are "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in such a way that does not occur naturally."1 This technology is also referred to as "genetic engineering", "biotechnology" or "recombinant DNA technology" and consists of randomly inserting genetic fragments of DNA from one organism to another, usually from a different species. For example, an artificial combination of genes that includes a gene to produce the pesticide Cry1Ab protein (commonly known as Bt toxin), originally found in Bacillus thuringiensis, is inserted in to the DNA of corn randomly. Both the location of the transferred gene sequence in the corn DNA and the consequences of the insertion differ with each insertion. The plant cells that have taken up the inserted gene are then grown in a lab using tissue culture and/or nutrient medium that allows them to develop into plants that are used to grow GM food crops.2 Natural breeding processes have been safely utilized for the past several thousand years. In contrast, "GE crop technology abrogates natural reproductive processes, selection occurs at the single cell level, the procedure is highly mutagenic and routinely breeches genera barriers, and the technique has only been used commercially for 10 years."3 Despite these differences, safety assessment of GM foods has been based on the idea of "substantial equivalence" such that "if a...

Words: 1409 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Head

...North South University Department of Environmental Science and Management Fall 2012 Basic Course Information Course title: Introduction to Environmental Science Section &Venue : 9, SAC 209 Course Code: ENV 107 Class Hours: MW 2:40-4:10 Instructor: Humaira Noor (HNr) Office Hours and Number: MW 11:00- 12:30, SAC 716 Instructor Contact details * In person during office hours. * By prior appointment within working hours * Email: humaira_noor2002@hotmail.com * Like the official page for the course for regular updates and changes: www.facebook.com/env107 Course components 1. Basic issues and values in environmental science 2. Biogeochemical cycles 3. Ecosystems and Ecological Succession 4. Basic concepts of Biological diversity and Biogeography 5. Agriculture and the Environment 6. Waste Management 7. Water use and pollution 8. Climate change and Global Warming 9. Air pollution 10. Renewable and Non-renewable energy 11. Environment Health and Toxicology Detailed plan of the course will be handed out in class. Assessment details: Attendance 05% Class participation 05% Presentation 05% Quiz ...

Words: 343 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

God Is Real

...Chidiebere Egwu-Oti (son) 10. POSOTION AND SALARY SCALE: Professor / UASS 78 11. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: DURATION (i) Ngodo/Amachi Primary School Afikpo. 1970-1975 (ii) Government Secondary School Afikpo. 1975-1980 (iii) Alvan lkoku College of Education, Owerri. 1980-1983 (iv) University of Jos, Jos Nigeria. 1984-1987 (v) University of Jos, Jos. 1989-1990 (vi) Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. 1993-1999 (12) ACADEMIC/ PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS i) Ph.D 1999 (Fish Toxicology, Applied Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria. ii) M.Sc. 1990...

Words: 5183 - Pages: 21

Free Essay

The Impact of Occupational Health and Sftey

...Toxicology and Industrial Health http://tih.sagepub.com Mercury vapor inhalation and its effect on glutathione peroxidase in goldsmiths exposed occupationally K. Jayaprakash Toxicol Ind Health 2009; 25; 463 originally published online Jul 31, 2009; DOI: 10.1177/0748233709106769 The online version of this article can be found at: http://tih.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/25/7/463 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com Additional services and information for Toxicology and Industrial Health can be found at: Email Alerts: http://tih.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://tih.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav Citations http://tih.sagepub.com/cgi/content/refs/25/7/463 Downloaded from http://tih.sagepub.com at SAGE Publications on November 9, 2009 Mercury vapor inhalation and its effect on glutathione peroxidase in goldsmiths exposed occupationally K Jayaprakash Toxicology and Industrial Health 25(7) 463–465 ª The Author(s) 2009 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermission.nav DOI: 10.1177/0748233709106769 tih.sagepub.com Abstract In the gold ornaments manufacturing cottage industries, the gold metal grain dust waste particles are recovered from mercury (Hg) amalgam. The results on air samples from these industries during the recovery process have shown a high prevalence of Hg vapor (42.7 mg/m3). The blood concentration...

Words: 1916 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Environment

...Food Production In the modern word, there has been tremendous globalization that is characterized by high population and urbanization. This has created extremely high demand for food products. Consequently, there has been immersive use of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. While use of these chemicals has increased food production levels, this benefits have come at an extremely high cost. The use of these chemicals has had serious negative implication on human health. This paper takes an analysis on the effects of pesticides, herbicides and hazardous wastes on human health. The paper looks at the health effects of commercial chicken rearing and commercial apple production. Summary of findings More than eighty percent of the chicken products that are consumed to today are from commercialized chicken (Badgley et al, 2007). Commercial chicken farmers use additive feeds to produce oversized birds. Further, the chicken feeds contain an antibiotic that is used to protect the chickens against potential illness of infections. These chickens are reared in an enclosed environment. Organic chicken farming entails use of natural or organic materials when rearing chickens. Furthermore, these chickens are organic in nature and are raised in a free movement environment. Additionally these chickens take a longer time to mature as compared to exotic breeds (Badgley et al, 2007). Apples are sprayed with pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers for over 15-20 times every...

Words: 749 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Endocrine Disruptors

...A variety of chemicals have been shown to disrupt female reproductive function throughout the lifespan in laboratory animals and humans (e.g., diethylstilbestrol). These effects include the disruption of normal sexual differentiation, ovarian function (i.e., follicular growth, ovulation, corpus luteum formation and maintenance), fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy. Only a few agents are associated with direct interference with the endocrine reproductive axis. Examples are those with estrogenic activity or the potential to interact with the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. Exposure to toxicants during development is of particular concern because many feedback mechanisms functioning in the adult are absent and adverse effects may be noted at doses lower than those observed in the adult. Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunologic disease of women characterized by aberrant location of uterine endometrial cells. It affects approximately 5 million women in the United States from 15 to 45 years of age and often causes infertility. The etiology of this disease is unknown. In a single study with a small number of animals, research has suggested a link between dioxin exposure and the development of endometriosis in rhesus monkeys. The severity of this lesion was dependent on the dose administered. Recently, a small pilot study to test the hypothesis that serum dioxin concentrations have an association with human endometriosis has been reported. No statistically significant...

Words: 2561 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Mercury Toxicology

...Toxicology Report: Mercury Carmen Polat Centenary College BIO110 - Principles of Environmental Science Professor Debra DeAngelis April 7th, 2016 Every day in our lives we encounter numerous toxins. While some can be avoided, others cannot. Toxins are abundant in our environment, and there is no way to escape all of them. Some of them come from spills or accidents, some from permitted pollution, and others from everyday activities that build up toxins in the environment. This paper examines how mercury contamination, found here in New Jersey, affects the people, animals, and environment of New Jersey. Mercury is a highly toxic metal element, labeled with the atomic symbol Hg. It was known to humans thousands of years ago, and is the only metal that can be found in liquid form at room temperature (Live Science, 2016). While beautiful to look at, it is best to avoid touching it, since it is extremely toxic even in very small doses. Mercury damages the immune system, nervous system, reproductive system, and alters genetic and enzyme systems, as well as causing deformities and birth defects (USGS, 2009). It has also been found to cause autoimmune problems, and high exposures will lead to death through multi-organ failure (Azevedo, 2012). This occurs not only in humans, but also in fish and other animals that are exposed to the element. It can enter the body through wounds, inhalation, and ingestion (Live Science, 2016). One of the largest problems with mercury is that...

Words: 973 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Uv Light

...Article Applied Biosafety, 11(4) pp. 228-230 © ABSA 2006 Position Paper on the Use of Ultraviolet Lights in Biological Safety Cabinets Jyl Burgener Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review information available on the use, risks and benefits of using Ultraviolet (UV) lights in Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC) and set forth a position based on the risk and benefits. Background Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of nonionizing radiation and behaves in accordance with the laws and principles of geometric optics. Electromagnetic radiation can be described as a “wave” that consists of an electric field and a magnetic field. Electromagnetic radiation is usually characterized by wavelength and frequency or photon energy. The term wavelength refers to a distance in a line of advance of a wave from any point to a like point on the next wave; it corresponds to the distance traveled by the wave during one cycle. A wavelength is usually measured in angstroms or nanometers (nm). The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) has divided the UV spectrum into three wavelength bands, primarily due to biological effects. The 315-400 nm wavelength band is designated as UV-A. 280-315 nm is designated as UV-B, and 100-280 nm as UV-C. Wavelengths below 180 nm are of little practical biological significance since the atmosphere readily absorbs them. Sources of UV-A are used for dentistry and tanning, UVB is used for fade testing and photocuring...

Words: 1694 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Cosmetic Animal Testing

...Ethics Issue: Back in 1933 there was a cosmetic product that was in the market called Lash Lure. This product was a mascara product that many women were using on their eyelashes to make the look longer and bolder. Lash Lure had contained p-phenylenediamine, which was an untested chemical that proved to be harmful to the customers using it. The p-phenylenediamine caused horrible blisters, abscesses, and ulcers on the face, eyelids, and eyes of the consumers who used Lash Lure, and it led to blindness for some. In one instance, the ulcers were so severe that a woman developed a bacterial infection and died. This incident and others like it led the United States Congress to pass the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act of 1938. This law gave the FDA regulatory authority over cosmetic products, and companies began to test products and ingredients on animals in an effort to assure safety for consumers. The FDA “urges cosmetic manufacturers to conduct whatever tests are appropriate to establish that their cosmetics are safe”, but “does not specifically mandate animal testing for cosmetic safety.” The issue that is being raised is it ethical to harm an animal for the sake of marketing a new cosmetic product. Facts: Every year, an estimated 70 million animals are maimed or killed for cosmetic testing in the US alone, and nearly $12 billion taxpayer dollars are spent yearly on the practice. Labs that use mice, rats, birds, reptiles and amphibians are exempted from the minimal protections...

Words: 2120 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

We Are What We Eat

...Are What We Eat: A Cause to Label Genetically Modified Foods Kelly Boysiewick ITT Technical Institute EN1420 – Composition II Professor Uddin August 21st, 2014 Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..4 What Are Genetically Modified Foods?.….....................................................................................4 Significant Differences Between Conventional and GM Foods...............................................…...5 Long-Term Studies………………………………………………………………………………..5 Creating a New Species…………...………………………………………………………………7 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..………….9 References……………………………….……………………………………………………….10 Abstract This paper examines the need for labeling of genetically-modified foods, of GM foods, by researching significant nutritional differences found in conventional and GM foods, long-term studies on the impact on human health, and compounding effects on the environment caused by creating a non-naturally occurring species. In finding no significant nutritional advantages, a lack of evidence to disprove studies on adverse effects on human health, and potentially detrimental effects on the environment, it is believed that the consumer has a right to be informed of the origin or alterations of food made available to them. We Are What We Eat: A Cause to Label Genetically-Modified Foods One of the most dangerous and least understood experiments with human...

Words: 1914 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Blah

...Government Research Paper What should the federal government do about an issue facing the United States of America today? You will be writing a research position paper that will receive grades in both your English and government classes. The paper will serve as an introduction to Model Congress. Project Objectives: • Prepare for Model Congress and complete a benchmark for English 12 POS ▪ Students will select a federal policy issue which interests them and research the policy (if it is a historical topic, think about the following: did Congress pass the legislation? Why did the policy succeed or fail? Did the president approve or veto the policy?) ▪ Each public policy topic from the list may only be selected by ONE student in each class period ▪ Students will make connections between their chosen public policy and topics studied in U.S. Government. Students must choose three of the topics below to address in their paper somehow: 1) Bipartisanship or lack thereof in Congress 2) Bureaucracies (agencies or heads of agencies) 3) Divided government or unified government 4) Federalism (lobbying efforts from states) 5) Interest groups (name specific) 6) Media (advertisements – describe) 7) Presidential leadership 8) Party discipline (or lack thereof) in Congress Requirements of the Combined Research Paper 1. Thesis Statement 2. Annotated Bibliography 3. Formal Outline 4. Final Paper (including parenthetical...

Words: 1358 - Pages: 6