Citarum River: What Happened?

By: Kate M. Serrano

Located forty miles east of Jakarta, Indonesia the river Citarum runs over 186 miles from the Wayang Mountain to the Java Sea. This river was once a tropical paradise but has now become notorious for possibly being the world’s most polluted river containing dangerously high levels of heavy metals, rubbish and sewage. The Citarum provides 80% of surface water to Jakarta’s water supply, irrigates farms that supply 5% of Indonesia’s rice, and is a source of water for around 2,000 factories. With the increasing urbanization in the 80s, both human and industrial wastes are common debris seen floating– plastic and packaging makes the river’s surface invisible beneath its carpet of junk. The main contributors to the river’s pollution are the textile factories in the Bandung and Cimahi area. The dyes and chemicals (read: lead, arsenic and mercury) used in the industrial process are churned into the water and at times turn the water color to red, green and yellow coupled with an acrid odor. Plus, the locals in nearby villages do not have a waste management system so trash is directly dumped into the river.

We all know what this means; we cannot underestimate its devastating effect on the local ecosystem. Yes, cancer rates as well as skin diseases, mental illness and slow development among local children are after effects. And instead of catching fish, local fishermen rummage the river for plastic, which they sell for recycling.

The Citarum River has been in desperate need of an effective solution to its pollution problem. What has the Indonesian government done? For a start, the Asian Development Bank approved a $500 million loan for cleaning up the river in December 2008. And to restore the Citarum, an effective and cost efficient waste management system for the locals would be the long term solution.  Currently, a “garbage barge” is used for a trash disposal service. The barge travels up and down the river collecting trash and waste will be transported to a landfill in the village of Sukaharja. If nothing is done to prevent waste from entering the water, the Citarum River will continue being one of the world’s most polluted rivers. Imagine the effect to millions of Indonesians who depend on the river for survival.

    

BPA Holds True Danger

By: Jessica Robertson

It’s in manufactured products everywhere, from the lining of metal food containers to dental composites, but suspicion continues to grow about the safety of biphenyl a, better known as BPA. Canada has already deemed it a toxic chemical, but the United States is taking its sweet time to address the dangerous compound. Some researchers attribute the dangerous characteristics of BPA to its chemical similarity to biological hormones, especially estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones. Since studies on rodents have already shown BPA to be linked to abnormalities like cancer and immune, reproductive, and brain function problems, the United States has extended the studies to include primates. In previous studies, BPA was shown to alter fetal development when rodent mothers were exposed daily to very low doses of BPA, which is cause for alarm and for further research.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, a recent study on rhesus monkeys was considered to be a very similar model to what likely happens within the human system when a pregnant mother is exposed to BPA. Though the rhesus monkeys in the study were exposed to a level considered to be far less than the levels humans are daily exposed to, tissue samples showed damage to the mammary glands, the ovaries, the brain, the uterus, the lungs, and the heart in rhesus monkey fetuses whose mothers were exposed to BPA. It is likely that, often, actual human exposure to BPA is underestimated in both measured levels and in estimated danger. Not only does the study provide evidence that BPA does pass from mother to fetus, but it also provides evidence that BPA causes serious dangers for developing fetuses.

Hopefully the dramatic findings of this study encourage stronger regulations against such a ubiquitous but harmful chemical. 

A cancer killer

By : Daniela Silva

Grape seed extract is a marvelous natural ingredient in the fact that it attacks cancer cells and leaves the healthy cells unharmed.

A common type of berry, the grape was introduced into America over 300 years ago; with 8,000 varieties of this berry the primary types of grapes originate from America and Europe. With only 100 calories within a cup grapes offers a considerable amount of vitamins K and C and packed full of antioxidants

Grape seed extract originates from the seed of the grape and gives benefits to those with cardiovascular conditions such as poor circulation and high cholesterol, it has been found to be useful with diabetes related eye disease, loss of vision, and swelling associated with injury. In current events grape seed extract is being examined for its potency in the treatment of leukemia and Alzheimer disease.  

Past research on the seed extract has shown that the grape seed extract  is a solution for a wide variety of cancers including colorectal cancer. Foods rich in flavanols; such as grapes apples and varieties of berries are proven to greatly reduce the risks of colon cancer.

Advanced cancers and grape seed extract

The compounds within the grape seed extract react and particularly aims for various cancer cells; with an increase of colorectal cancer, the study is very timely for a ample amount of people.

By the time this cancer is found, people are in the late stages of cancer, but with further study it is shown that less grape seed extract is required to kill cancer as compared to early stages of cancer. It is strongly believed that this process is done by oxidative stress on the cancer cells.

A cure for cancer? Perhaps.

Consumed around the world in food and beverages, ginger has potent medicinal properties that are increasingly studied  for its efficiency to eradicate cancer in many medical facilities. Ginger has proven to have such a impressive medicinal ability that its cancer-killing abilities even surpass the most advanced pharmaceutical prescriptions that are dedicated to eradicate cancer.

A Study based on the function of ginger essence revealed that when it is given to cancer-stricken mice; developed prostate cancer reduced by 56%. With no negative side effects gingers anti-cancer roles were also observed to further reduce inflammation, and provide the “patient” with a rich source of antioxidants as a bonus.

Ingesting this rhizome is not only good for its ability to reduce inflammation nor its antioxidants; but it also better improves your cardiovascular health and eliminate strains of Helicobacter pylori ( Primary causes of stomach ulcers) and if you're pregnant, it definitely helps with the nausea. If you plan on increasing your intake of ginger, try and stick to all organic, all the better for you!