scholarly journals Awareness on Calcium Carbide Ripened Fruits and Recommendations for Toxic Free Artificial Ripening of Fruits

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2779-2783
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Calcium Carbide ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Cold Store ◽  
Technical Details

Fruit ripening using calcium carbide became a bad practice by the fruits sellers. Unfortunately calcium carbide being a low priced alternative available to the fruit traders/cold store operators/farmers, other safe methods are not practiced by the fruit producers/sellers. In spite of ban on usage of calcium carbide for the purposes of fruit ripening, several farmers and traders use calcium carbide due to its easy availability and non-awareness of its toxicity on human health. Study is conducted on awareness of these factors among the fruit consumers. About 190 literates gave the feedback, based on which recommendations made for making safe and healthy fruits available in the market for consumers. Initiatives of government of India on these aspects are also discussed. Technical details on ethylene ripening chambers and its maintenance are also presented.

scholarly journals Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Tanu Altomare ◽  
Patrick M. Tarwater ◽  
Alesia C. Ferguson ◽  
Helena M. Solo-Gabriele ◽  
Kristina D. Mena
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Oral Exposure ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Risk Estimates ◽  
Exposure Routes ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

The human health impact from exposure to contaminated shorelines following an oil spill event has been investigated to some extent. However, the health risks to children have largely been characterized through the use of surveys and extrapolation from adult health outcomes. There is limited information on children’s behaviors during beach play requiring assumptions made based on observations from play activities in home settings. The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEACHES) quantified specific beach activities that can be used to inform human health risk assessments of children playing on beaches impacted by oil spills. The results of this study characterize children’s risk of cancer from exposure to oil spill chemicals by incorporating exposure-related information collected from the BEACHES study and by assuming oral, dermal, and inhalation exposure routes. Point risk estimates are compared with a previous, similar study that applied default exposure parameter values obtained from the published literature. The point risk estimates informed by BEACHES data are one order of magnitude lower compared with the previous risk assessment, with dermal exposures the overall risk driver in both. Additional Monte Carlo simulations evaluating the BEACHES data provide ranges of health risks with the highest estimates associated with dermal and oral exposure routes.

scholarly journals The Use of UVC Irradiation to Sterilize Filtering Facepiece Masks Limiting Airborne Cross-Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7396
Author(s):  
Wojciech Kierat ◽  
Weronika Augustyn ◽  
Piotr Koper ◽  
Miroslawa Pawlyta ◽  
Arkadiusz Chrusciel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
Small Fragment ◽  
Health It ◽  
Air Filter ◽  
Mechanical Filter ◽  
Technical Details ◽  
Effective Drugs

In addition to looking for effective drugs and a vaccine, which are necessary to save and protect human health, it is also important to limit, or at least to slow, the spread of coronavirus. One important element in this action is the use of individual protective devices such as filtering facepiece masks. Currently, masks that use a mechanical filter, such as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, are often used. In some countries that do not have a well-developed healthcare system or in exceptional situations, there is a real and pressing need to restore filters for reuse. This article presents technical details for a very simple device for sterilization, including of HEPA polymer filters. The results of biological and microscopic tests confirming the effectiveness of the sterilization performed in the device are presented. The compact and portable design of the device also allows its use to disinfect other small surfaces, for example a small fragment of a floor, table, or bed.

scholarly journals The Project Baseline Health Study: a step towards a broader mission to map human health

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Arges ◽  
Themistocles Assimes ◽  
Vikram Bajaj ◽  
Suresh Balu ◽  
Mustafa R. Bashir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Baseline Health

Calcium carbide as an artificial fruit-ripening agent and its physiological effects on Wistar rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eka Bassey Essien ◽  
Blessing Minaopunye Onyegeme-Okerenta ◽  
Jennifer Obiajulu Onyema
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Calcium Carbide ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Artificial Fruit

Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of calcium carbide and ethylene glycol in Wistar albino rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markose Bini ◽  
Bhargavan Rajesh ◽  
Thekkekara Devassy Babu
Keyword(s):  
Ethylene Glycol ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Calcium Carbide ◽  
Preclinical Study ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Synthetic Chemicals ◽  
Industrial Grade ◽  
Artificial Fruit

AbstractBackgroundNaturally ripened fruits play a vital role in human nutrition. Under certain conditions, synthetic chemicals like calcium carbide (CaC2) and ethylene glycol (EG) are being freely used illegally in India and other countries for fruit ripening without serious concern on its toxic effects. This preclinical study evaluated the toxicity on different organs after the exposure of industrial-grade CaC2 and EG to the rats.MethodsAcute toxicity was induced by the oral administration of a single dose of chemicals to the rats, and their morbidity and mortality were monitored. For subacute study, different organs of animals were analyzed biochemically and histologically after the exposure of low doses of chemicals for 30 days.ResultsAt an acute dose of 5 mg/kg body weight of CaC2, 85% of the animals were found dead within 14 days; however, no mortality was observed following EG administration. At subacute doses, RBC and hemoglobin levels were found to be declined (p < 0.01), whereas total WBC and platelet counts, especially lymphocytes, were elevated remarkably (p < 0.01). Total protein, albumin, and urea were also found to be increased (p < 0.01). Histopathological observations support the toxicity in rats at higher doses of CaC2 and EG.ConclusionsThe study revealed that the artificial fruit-ripening agents like CaC2 and EG cause toxic effects on the internal organs of rats. The subsequent inflammatory response might have weakened the immune system. This in turn suggests the requisite for urgent measures to regulate the use of harmful synthetic agents in fruit ripening.

scholarly journals Accelerated Ripening Agents and Their Effect on the Quality of Avocado (Persia americana M.) and Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Fruits

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
C. A. Orisa ◽  
C. I. Usoroh ◽  
A. E. Ujong
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Calcium Carbide ◽  
Carbide Powder ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Avocado Fruit ◽  
Accelerated Ripening

The natural process of fruit ripening is a combination of physiological, biochemical and molecular processes which can be activated or accelerated artificially by using different chemical agents. This study was carried out to examine the effects of three ripening process on the quality of avocado and mango fruits. Freshly unripe mango and avocado fruits were treated with calcium carbide powder, kerosene fumes and ripening in woven polypropylene bags. Calcium carbide treated fruits were stored for 48 hrs and all the samples were fully ripened except avocado fruit. The kerosene fumed fruits were stored for 24 hrs and then exposed to open air for another 24 hrs. Fruits ripened in empty plastic rice got ripened within 4 and 5 days for mango and avocado, respectively. The fruits were then analyzed for their physicochemical properties and sulphide and sulphate distributions using standard methods. The result revealed a decrease in TTA, pH, carbohydrate and vitamin C contents on ripening. On the other hand, moisture and TSS was observed to increase. However, accelerated ripening had no significant (p<0.05) effect on the moisture and vitamin C content of the fruits. Mango samples treated with calcium carbide recorded higher acidity (0.92%) and low pH (3.08) than those treated with kerosene (0.29% and 3.71%, respectively). Sulphide and sulphate distribution of avocado was found to increase after accelerated ripening with kerosene fumes. A decrease for sulphate (outer distribution) and increase for sulphate (inner) and sulphide (outer) was observed for mango fruits. The results also showed that ripening in woven polypropylene had no significant (p<0.05) effect on the TTA of the fruits while pH, moisture and TSS varied significantly (p<0.05) with fruit type. The use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening is not advisable.

scholarly journals Artisanal ceramic factories using wood combustion: A nanoparticles and human health study

2021 ◽  
pp. 101151
Author(s):  
Kátia Martinello ◽  
James C. Hower ◽  
Diana Pinto ◽  
Carlos E. Schnorr ◽  
Guilherme L. Dotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Wood Combustion

scholarly journals Artificial Ripening: What We are Eating

1970 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Ur-Rahman ◽  
Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury ◽  
Md Billal Alam
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Calcium Carbide ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Tropical Fruits ◽  
Ripening Process ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
The World ◽  
Unripe Fruits

 In recent times there is much concern about artificial ripening of fruits in many parts of the world including Bangladesh. Large amount of tropical fruits are produced in Bangladesh. Though fruits like mango naturally ripen in trees; some chemicals are used to ripen them artificially which hasten the ripening process. Ripe fruits are not suitable to carry & distribute as they get rotten. So fruit traders pick unripe fruits & use certain methods to increase the shelf life of them. For many years Ethylene had been used as a fruit ripening agent. But nowa- days Calcium carbide is getting popular in this regard as it has a faster ripening property. But inappropriate use of Carbide to ripen fruits is associated with many health hazards. In this topic we have tried to reveal the essentials of this burning issue & looked for solutions.     DOI = 10.3329/jom.v9i1.1425 J MEDICINE 2008; 9 : 42-44

scholarly journals Benefits of dietary fibre to human health: study from a multi-country platform

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 688-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Guiné ◽  
João Duarte ◽  
Manuela Ferreira ◽  
Paula Correia ◽  
Marcela Leal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Dietary Fibre ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Average Score ◽  
General Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Purpose Because dietary fibre has been recognized as a major ally to the maintenance of a healthy body as well as to help against the development of some chronic diseases, this paper aims to study the level of knowledge of a relatively wide range of people about the health effects related to the ingestion of dietary fibre in appropriate dosages. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on a non-probabilistic sample of 6,010 participants. The data were collected from 10 countries in three different continents (Europe, Africa and America) and measured the level of knowledge regarding different health benefits from dietary fibre. The questionnaires were applied by direct interview after verbal informed consent. Findings The results obtained considering the general level of knowledge revealed a considerable degree of information about the benefits of fibre (average score of 3.54 ± 0.5, on a scale from 1 to 5). There were significant differences between genders (p < 0.001), with higher average score for women, and also for level of education (p < 0.001), with higher score for university level. The living environment also showed significant differences (p < 0.001), with people living in urban areas showing a higher degree of knowledge. Also for countries the differences were significant (p < 0.001), with the highest score obtained for Portugal (3.7), and the lowest for Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia and Romania (3.5). However, despite these differences, the results showed that for all the countries the degree of knowledge was good (above 3.5), corresponding to a minimum level of knowledge of 70 per cent. Originality/value This work is considered important due to the wide coverage, including so many countries inclusive with different social and cultural settings. The study allowed concluding that, in general, the participants in the study were quite well informed about the benefits of dietary fibre for the improvement of human health, regardless of gender, level of education, living environment or country. This finding is very relevant considering the diversity of people that composed the sample and reinforces the necessity of continuing with educational policies aimed at providing the general population with the knowledge that might help them make appropriate food choices.

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