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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Epigenetics
Hello, I am back again with another blog topic. The topic of this blog is epigenetics. Before doing any research I would have not been able to tell you about epigenetics. I have a little background information on genetics because I took a lower level biology class my freshman year. Anyway let’s talk more about “epigenetics”. Epigenetics comes from the biological field and the definition of it is… “The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself”. Simply put, epigenetics is additional information layered on top of the sequence of letters. (ACGT). Epigenetics is a relatively new branch of genetics that has been heralded as the most important biological discovery since DNA. Until recently, it was believed you were stuck with the genes you were born with. But now it’s known that your genes have the ability to get turned on and off and are expressed to greater or lesser degrees depending on how you live your life. Think of it like this. If genetics is like an instruction manual, then epigenetics is like taking different colored highlighters and using those highlighters to mark up and highlight different parts of the text. There are different types of epigenetic marks, and each one tells the proteins in the cell to process those parts of the DNA in certain ways. Nearly all cellular processes can also be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic mechanisms can be just as important to biological events as genetic mechanisms, and can also result in stable and heritable changes. However, the big difference between genetic and epigenetic regulation is that epigenetic mechanisms do not involve a change to the DNA sequence, whereas genetic mechanisms involve the primary DNA sequence and changes or mutations to this sequence. Epigenetic regulation involves the modification of DNA and the proteins associated with DNA, which results in changes to the conformation of DNA and accessibility of other factors to DNA, without a change to the sequence of the DNA. There have been some groundbreaking early studies on how epigenetics effect inheritance, but most of the strongest evidence so far comes from research done on animals mice. There have been hints that some of these findings also apply to human inheritance, but we’ve only just started to dive in to this very mysterious phenomenon and science. You may be asking me why epigenetics matters. Epigenetics will play a key role in the prevention and cure of diseases. There are many different diseases thought to have an epigenetic components including asthma, Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, kidney disease, glaucoma, muscular dystrophy, and pediatric syndromes as well. Also, many psychiatric disorders including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. In the year 2008, the U.S. National Institutes of Health committed to investing $190 million into epegenetics research to hopefully find new and better ways to treat these diseases. Epigenetics plays a big role in biology. The study of epigenetics has been around for a while but scientists and researchers has started to get more serious approximately 50 years ago. I think this is the case because technology has skyrocketed over the last 50 years. Leading to developments and breakthroughs in the study.
To learn more about epigenetics. Click on these links below…
To learn more about epigenetics. Click on these links below…
Have a wonderful day!
Sunday, September 18, 2016
I chose this picture because fluoride is a severe health hazard in water. It is effecting people worldwide. #blog
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Fluoride
Hello, I am back
again for my 3rd blog of this toxicology class. Today I am going to
be talking about fluoride. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the
word fluoride is the chemical element fluorine because I am in chemistry as
well. Fluorine is the most electronegative element which means, tending to
acquire electrons and form negative ions in chemical reactions. That really has
nothing to do with fluoride so let’s start talking about it. Fluoride is an inorganic, monatomic
anion
of fluorine. Fluoride is the
simplest anion of fluorine. Its salts and minerals are important chemical
reagents and industrial chemicals, mainly used in the production of hydrogen
fluoride for fluorocarbons. Fluoride occur on earth in many
different minerals, fluorite mostly, but are only present in very small dosages in
water. Fluoride can cause a distinctive bitter taste. Fluoride salts and
hydrofluoric acid are two of the the main uses of fluoride.To learn more basic
background information about Fluoride, click here…http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1068-FLUORIDE.aspx?activeIngredientId=1068&activeIngredientName=FLUORIDE
Compounds with fluoridic bonds fall into the
realm of “organofluorine chemistry”. The main uses
of fluoride are in the production of cryolite, (Na3AlF6).
And are in t the form of hydrogen fluoride because that produces hydrofluoric
acid, which is used in aluminium smelting. Aluminum smelting is an
electrolytic process of taking aluminum from its oxide compound. A long time ago, it was mined, but now it
comes from hydrogen fluoride. Fluorite is a commodity chemical used in
steel-making. By helping separate the steel slag. Steel slag, is a by-product
of steel making, it is produced during the separation of the molten steel from
its inpurities in steel-making furnaces. The slag occurs as a molten liquid
melt and is a complex solution of silicates and oxides that solidifies upon
cooling. Hydrofluoric acid and its other form, hydrogen
fluoride, is also used in the production of Hydrofluoric acid has a variety of specialized
applications, including its ability to dissolve glass. Fluoride containing
compounds, such as sodium fluoride are used in topical and
systemic “fluoride therapy” for preventing tooth decay.
They are used for water fluoridation and in many products
associated with oral hygiene. To learn more about the uses of
fluoride, click here…http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
Fluoride can have
many dangerous effects on the human body…
1) Brain, High levels of fluoride exposure can lead to
high effects of neurodevelopment in children.
2) Bones, Toxic levels of fluoride have been associated with
an increase of weaker bone structures and an increase in hip and wrist
fractures. Long exposures to Fluoride can lead to heavy concentrations of
arthritis.
3) Kidney. One of the main effects fluoride has on the kidney
is induced nephrotoxicity. The fluoride disables the bodies system of urination
leading to polyuria. Increased levels of fluoride can also lead to dehydration.
Which is terrible for the kidneys.
To learn more about
the effects of fluoride on the body click here…http://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/
I just gave you many
benefits and harms of fluoride. Fluoride is very controversial because it helps
us as a society in many ways. But like one of the main points of toxicology, it’s
all about the dosage. Have a great day!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
This is a dose response curve. This shows how potency and efficiency react with one another. #blog
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Dose Response
Hello, this is my second
blog of this toxicology class. Tis blog is about Dose Response and all things
that go with it. The dose–response
relationship, or exposure–response
relationship, describes the change in effect on an organism caused by
different levels of exposure (or doses) to an organism (usually a chemical )
after a certain exposure time. This may apply to individuals (e.g.: a small
amount has no significant effect, a large amount is fatal), or to populations
(e.g.: how many people or organisms are affected at different levels of
exposure). Dose–response relationships generally depend on the exposure time
and exposure route (e.g., inhalation, dietary intake); quantifying the response
after a different exposure time or for a different route leads to a different
relationship and possibly different conclusions on the effects of the stressor
under consideration. This limitation is caused by the complexity of biological
systems and the often unknown biological processes operating between the
external exposure and the adverse cellular or tissue response. Dose Response can
be a very complex matter to deal with but is easy to comprehend. When it all
boils down to it. The same dose of a substance effects everybody differently. That
is why toxicology is so important. Humans and living organisms are all
different. We all react to things differently. But if we can find a good medium
to base all of our test off of. We can at least have a little bit of an idea on
how to keep people safe when dealing with dosages of substances. If you want to
have a little more background research on Dose/ Response before reading the
rest of this blog, click here….http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/dose%E2%80%93response
The next thing I am going
to talk about is threshold dose. Threshold dose is the minimum dose that will produce a detectable
specified effect. To learn more about threshold dose click here…..http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/threshold-dose.html
The next
thing I am going to talk about is toxicity ratings. Toxicity Ratings refers to a classification system that has been created by a national or
international government-related or -sponsored organization. It addresses the
acute toxicity of
agents such as soil fumigants, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, miticides, molluscicides, nematicides, orrodenticides. This toxicity rating scale is a very good tool to
have, This tool can help prevent death if used correctly. When talking about
Dose Response, another thing you should probably mention is the reference dose.
A reference dose is
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency's maximum acceptable oral dose of
a toxic substance. Reference doses are most
commonly used for pesticides.
The EPA defines an oral reference dose (RfD)
as an estimate, with uncertainty order of magnitude, of a daily oral exposure to
the human population is likely to be without a terrible risk of harmful effects
during a lifetime. A reference dose is also a very good tool to have in your arsenal
when dealing with toxic substances. To learn more about reference dose click
here…https://www.epa.gov/iris/reference-dose-rfd-description-and-use-health-risk-assessments
The final thing I am going to talk about is the
relationship between a certain amount of dosage to the time that goes along
with it, When you are dealing with Dose Response. Not every single substance
reacts in your body the same. Time is a very big factor in that. If you take to
big of a dosage at one time it can be deadly. But if you take the same amount in
a longer extended period of time, it might not have the same effect. Time plays
a big factor.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Monday, September 5, 2016
AQI
This is my first blog for
my toxicology class. I am very excited because I am interested in this subject.
I enjoy coming to class and learning about new things every day. This first
blog is about the state of Ohio’s implementation plans. I am going to be
answering a few questions in my blog. These questions are…
1) What
is state implementation plan?
2) Nam
the 6 criteria pollutants and their standards.
3) List
and discuss the current Air quality index in my area.
4) Describe
the air quality index chart.
1) What
is the state implementation plan?
A State Implementation Plan (SIP) is a state
plan for complying with the federal Clean Air Act, administered by
the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). The State implementation plan consists of discussions
and agreements that a specific state will use to clean up polluted areas. The state
implementation plan also discusses rules, and technical documentation.
To say that in a simpler version it is a set of basically rules, discussions,
and narratives that are supposed to help us keep our air clean. There are
different implementation plans for different things that effect air quality
because not all pollutants are the same and they affect our air differently.
2) Name
the 6 criteria pollutants and their standards.
First pollutant is “Ozone”. a maximum allowed measurement for ozone
(O3) to be present in outdoor air. Limiting ozone
pollution in the air protects human health and the environment.
The
next pollution is “ Particulate Matter” ….
A maximum amount of Particulate Matter to be present in
outdoor air. There are different standards for particulate matter based on
particle type. Limiting Particulate Matter pollution in the air protects
human health and the environment.
The next
Pollution is “Carbon Monoxide” …. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set national
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for carbon monoxide.
The fourth criteria pollution is “Lead”….. EPA publishes
a detailed plan. The review plan describes all the scientific assessments and
other documents that help EPA decide whether or not the current air quality
standards for lead are still protecting human health and the environment from
harmful exposure. Based on this, EPA either changes the standards or keeps them
the same.
The fifth criteria pollution is “Sulfur Dioxide”
…. maximum amounts of sulfur dioxide to be present in outdoor air.
Limiting SO2 in the air protects human health and the
environment.
The sixth criteria pollution is “Nitrogen
Dioxide” …. EPA has
decided to examine nitrogen oxide (NO) and sulfur oxide (SO) compounds
together. EPA recognizes that Nitrogen and sulfur dioxide are linked from
both an atmospheric chemistry and environmental effects perspectives.
3) Describe
the Air Quality Index chart
The Air
Quality Index is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how
clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a
concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a
few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
I am from Centerville Ohio so the Air
quality index is 42.
To learn more about Air quality follow this link…http://www.epa.state.oh.us/
This is a picture of the air quality index each color represents a different level of severity for the air we breathe,
This is the picture of the Air Quality Index the green and yellow represent the colors that correspond to severity of our air.
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