Kelly+X

=Week 3: Do Cellphones Cause Cancer?= According to an article that was updated in June 1st this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that cellphones are "possibly carcinogenic to humans." The reason for this inconclusive statement is that the available research is looking into the past, rather than designing an experiment under a controlled setting. This means that scientists cannot control how much any individual used a cell phone, or regulate other environmental factors that might be detrimental to brain health, since the research consists of observing the past, which is not controlled by the scientists.

The Interphone study, the largest scientific study of the cell phone health question to date, is done through this kind of research which looks into the past. It is partly industry-funded, so several researchers who analyze the data receive money from the mobile phone industry (perhaps the study is not completely reliable then?). In May 2010, Interphone published results indicating no connection between cancer and phones. But it defined "highest" exposure levels as using a mobile phone half an hour a day over a 10-year period. Other flaws of the Interphone study include that participants self-reported how much they used their phones, and memory isn't always accurate. Also, Interphone does not include children and young adults, who could be at increased risk of brain disease from cell phone radiation. Interphone also fails to address cordless phone use.

In summary, while the study does not prove that cellphones cause cancer, the study is not done with absolute certainty, so peopl ﻿e should still think about their phone use. In February, a National Institutes of Health study found that cellphone use is associated with increased brain cell activity although researchers are not sure what that means for longterm health.

sources: [] []

Two different views: media type="youtube" key="4Zk64fuuej0" height="349" width="425" align="left" media type="custom" key="9671984"

=Week 2: Converting Waste to Energy=

A few weeks ago, my APES class went to visit a waste-to-energy plant, which was run by a company called Covanta Energy. While we were there, our tour guide showed parts of the process of creating energy in the form of electricity from incinerating municipal waste.

This video shows the process of turning municipal waste into energy: media type="youtube" key="D3WWjmDICn8" height="349" width="560"

A summary of the process: -garbage is burned to boil water -the boiled water produces steam -the steam powers generators -generators make electric energy

This table shows the input and output of a waste to energy facility:

 (source: [])

Using waste-to-energy plants has several advantages. Environmental advantages include reducing the volume of waste from burning it and taking up less space in landfills. Since there is garbage generated everyday, there is a large supply of municipal waste. Our fossil fuel dependency is reduced by generating energy from waste, which increases sustainability and decreases our reliance on the Middle East. As seen in the table above, waste-to-energy facilities also increases sustainability because the heat that is produced can be used to provide local heating needs.

Drawbacks of waste-to-energy include that it produces air pollution, which is expensive to control. Very often up to one half of the costs of a plant are due to air pollution control facilities. Referring to the table above again, air pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrates can be emitted. Some hazardous waste is produced from flue gas treatment must be sent to a hazardous waste landfill.

more about waste-to-energy: [] Covanta Energy's site: []

=Week 1: Relationship between Mood and Weather= = = = = The article I read examines the link between changes in weather and people's moods. It establishes that people tend to associate weather with certain types of emotions because of their metaphorical meaning (ei: rain stands for sadness, sunshine stands for happiness); therefore, people can //choose// to feel a certain way because of the weather. However, there is a scientific basis that shows that people's moods can really be affected by weather. When our eyes detect darkness, a small gland in the brain called the pineal releases melatonin, which establishes sleep cycles. When we detect light, melatonin production subsides and, serotonin levels increase to promote wakefulness as well as elevate mood.

What I found funny is that __s__easonal __a__ffective __d__isorder, a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year, is called SAD for short.

This is the article: []

Video on SAD: Evolutionary biologists say that feeling down during the winter had been useful for our ancestors in prehistoric times. Also, there are several ways to treat SAD.

media type="youtube" key="0CB_lEsP7Xc" height="349" width="425" more information about Seasonal Affective Disorder: [] According to this source, anyone can get SAD, but it is more common in people who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons. It is more typically found in women, people between the ages of 15 and 55, and people who have a close relative with SAD (maybe genetic?) Experts are not sure what causes the disorder, but they think it may be caused by a lack of sunlight. Lack of light may upset the sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms. It also may cause problembs with the brain chemical, serotonin, that affects mood. Symptoms of SAD include: losing interest in usual activities, eating and craving carbohydrates, gaining weight, and sleeping more and feeling drowsy during the daytime. Symptoms come and go at about the same time each year. For most people with SAD, symptoms start in September or October and end in April or May.