Review: Advancing Green Chemistry.org

With over 83,000 known chemicals used in industry, the concept and application of "green" chemistry should be a mandatory process to stop infiltrating the environment with toxins. The link I followed noted:

One area of growing concern is how to ensure that the next generation of chemicals does not have the potential to act as endocrine disrupting compounds.

By using various checkpoints along the way of testing, compounds can be tested for such markers. The idea is then if they don't pass each checkpoint with safe results, then testing begins anew.

These ideas seems like total common sense.  I just wonder how people will actually succeed getting industry to follow protective standards. And the issue of how we can deal with these thousands of chemicals that have already been introduced into our whole ecology--as with plastics and hormone disruptors in our water supply affecting plant and animal life.

Neptune's Medicine Chest

Bill Fenical's life's work seems to be contributing to significant and long-reaching influences in finding not only cures for cancer but also for the creation of medicines to help the body fight disease and heal. I also find it interesting that one of his discoveries led to isolating an anti-inflammatory compound that was sold to Estee Lauder for use in cosmetics.

He has also had far-reaching inspiration on hundreds, probably many more, researchers and scientists, who are using his work for the advancement of medicine.  And last but not least, he has been a pioneer across interdisciplinary fields of science drawing his research from the ocean, which has been a largely untapped resource for these purposes.

Reading this article made me want to hang out on the boat with all of them collecting samples and enjoying the splendor of ocean and the diversity of the marine ecology (in good weather, that is).

Transitional Metal: Zinc

Zinc, in commerce also spelter, is a metallic chemical element. It has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The largest mineable amounts are found in Australia, Asia, and the United States. 

Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes, and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system.

Sources of Zinc

A wide variety of foods contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Phytates—which are present in whole-grain breads, cereals, legumes, and other foods—bind zinc and inhibit its absorption. Thus, the bioavailability of zinc from grains and plant foods is lower than that from animal foods, although many grain- and plant-based foods are still good sources of zinc--especially if soaked and sprouted before cooked or eaten.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

thoughts on Week 2's discussion about the Elk River spill

I find it interesting, but not surprising, that legislation is outdated in regulating the use of chemicals in the environment and that not enough research is done on chemicals before using them in processes that have widespread effects on the environment and public health.  Also, I hope people continue to read more investigative journals and learn what is happening where they live, so they can become more involved with decision making processes affecting everyone's health and our collective environment.

Molecular modeling: Water Concepts

This link shows the bonding properties of hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules through moving images of water molecules in motion with their symmetry and hydrogen bonding.

The moving images help show the attraction and repulsion between molecules and how they interact with each other in greater detail than just a 2D image.

Element of the week: Iodine

Iodine is a chemical element with symbol I and atomic number 53 and is a non-metal. The name is from Greek ἰοειδής ioeidēs, meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor.

Iodine, a trace mineral, is required by the body for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 contains 4 iodine atoms. When one of the iodine atoms is stripped off of T4, it becomes T3, with 3 iodine atoms remaining.

In the universe and on Earth, iodine's high atomic number makes it a relatively rare element. Iodine's rarity in many soils, due to initial low abundance as a crust-element, and also leaching of soluble iodide by rainwater, has led to many deficiency problems in land animals and inland human populations. Iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disabilities.

Besides severe conditions of goiter and cretinism from iodine deficiency, more widespread is the chronic issue of hypothyroidism and even hyperthyroidism characterized by lack of dietary iodine.

Foods richest in iodine include sea vegetables, milk, yogurt, eggs and strawberries.  While it is unusual to overdose on iodine when getting it from whole food sources, one must be aware that excessive consumption can be toxic, and that those with autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto's or Grave's disease must pay particular attention to iodine consumption or supplementation.

sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=69

Periodic Table link impressions

I checked out chemicalelements.com and johnpratt.com.

I find it interesting that "chemical elements" started out as an 8th grade project and has turned into a more in depth and great resource for learning about and studying the periodic table.  It's interactive, colorful, and well organized by various topics.  I also respect that the author has fully disclosed what is going on with the advertisements and why he's chosen to have them.

John Pratt has created a great tool for memorizing the periodic table with memory "pegs" to help with name, abbreviation and atomic numbers. If I needed to memorize the elements and their properties, this would be a great site to use.

Bio

Hi everyone,  here's a summary of why I'm here and what I'm up to:

I recently (20 days ago) moved to the East Bay from Austin, TX after having lived there for 11 years. After studying Chinese medicine at AOMA, I stayed in Austin and had a successful acupuncture and nutrition practice of 8 years.  While I was quite established and doing well there in many areas of life, I craved closer connection with mountains, ocean, and a thriving dance community, and an escape from the oppressive summer heat as well as the overall political climate.

Although I'm nationally certified and have had my license to practice Chinese medicine in Texas for over 8 years, California doesn't recognize any other accreditation. In addition to needing to sit for CALE, I don't have several science prerequisites, which is why I'm taking Chemistry, as well as Physics currently.

My previous background includes being a massage therapist since 1999 and a yoga teacher under the teaching of Ana Forrest since 2007.  I also have several other focuses in my Chinese medicine practice including Japanese meridian therapy and using whole food based supplements with functional medicine and a system of muscle testing called Nutrition Response Testing. Rounding this out is my love for the subtle but powerful medicine of Flower Essences, which I use to help people bring their physical well-being in alignment with their emotional and mental bodies.

I'm not sure how I will eventually reconfigure my practice, but it's my hope to merge into the community and be able to share my gifts for the betterment of us all.