Results conducted on fruit flies have been positive. However, whether these results are applicable to long lived species such as humans is still under scrutiny. Let’s first have a better understanding of the fruit flies. It is specie, which has a tremendously short lifespan; from being an egg to become an adult takes only 7 days. The short lifespan of fruit flies have made them a standard prototype of longevity research both for physiology and genetics studies.

A dedicated research team from The University of California, Los Angeles and Salk Institute for Biological studies altered the genes of the intestinal stem cells of the fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster). These cells are called dPGC-1, a cell structure present in human’s DNA under the name of PGC-1. The change induced the fruit flies’ intestine with slower aging, and therefore, they enjoyed a 50 percent longer lifespan.

For both mammals and flies, PGC-1 gene cells are responsible for the control of various mitochondria presents in animal’s cells. The mitochondria is considered as being the power plant, as it is where fats and sugar from food are turned into energy used for cellular performance. Earlier studies had shown that calorie-restriction provided animals with more mitochondria. So the scientists made a test to understand what would happen if PGC-1 were given an even higher excess of mitochondria.

Genetic engineering methods were used to make the Fruit flies’ PGC-1 gene alike to organisms that were under calorie restriction diets. In other words, the volume of mitochondria and energy in cells were increased. The effect after increasing the speed of the stem and progenitor cells of the fruit flies’ intestine was that the intestinal tissues experienced a better response mechanism and therefore, cells became healthier as well as the fruit flies lived longer.

In correlation to the level of genetic engineering induced to the fruit flies, their lifespan was extended by 20 to 50 percent in comparison to a normal fruit fly.

The scientists suggest that the PGC-1 can act as a potential biological tool to delay aging, and it would be possible to develop drug and therapies targeting this age-brake. According to, the team, the theory is that when dPGC-1 was boosted with mitochondria, the stem cell was stimulated to energize intestinal tissues and therefore, ensuring healthier intestines for the fruit flies.

According to Leanne Jones who is an associate professor at Salk’s laboratory of Genetics as well as the lead researcher of the project, delaying aging of crucial single organ such as for the current experiment the intestine can have significant benefits on overall longevity and health. For example, in case of disease, it might be essential to emphasis on having particular organs healthy and in this case, PGC-1 might be the pathway.

The complete research is available in November’s Cell Metabolism and at University of California, Los Angles and Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Source: Gizmag, Salk Institute, Cell Metabolism and University of California.

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In the Time Magazine, in May 1933, the secret of why Li was able to live long was explained in an article entitled “Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog”. The key to longevity was defined by four behaviours:

1. Maintain a quiet heart
2. Be idle like a tortoise
3. Move actively like the pigeon
4. Rest like a Dog

It was believed that Mr. Li has some uncommon habits. He abstained drinking, smoking and had his meals only on particular times. In addition, he was a vegetarian and did often drink wolfberry tea.

In his lifestyle, he did also have a regulated sleeping pattern, sleeping early and waking up early. As when time permitted him, he sat straight with closed eyes and his hands on the lap, motionless for hours.

On free-time, he played cards and lost enough money for his counterpart to buy a meal for the day. He was loved by everyone thanks to his generous behaviour.

As education, Mr. Li devoted his time to scrutinize Chinese herbs to try to reveal the secrets of longevity. It involved travelling to various Provinces in China and going even as far as to Thailand to find herbs to cure illnesses.

Of course, it is still unknown whether Mr. Li really lived as long as claimed. But what we do know about him, is that his finding matches modern research done on herbs supporting longevity.

Modern Research

In 2009, the book “ The Blue Zones” were written by Dan Buettner. The subtitle of the book was: “Lessons for Living Longer from the People, Who’ve Lived The Longest” explored condition which promoted longevity across cultures, populations, geographic location and lifestyles from all over the world.

It included groups such as: Okinawans, Costa Ricans, Sardinians, and the Californian Adventists, who actually have the highest rate of people reaching their 100th birthday. In these areas which Dan Buettner named as “blue zones” people do on average live at least 12 years more than the average.

In the research carried-out by Buettner, there were herbal similarities to all the blue-zone groups, meaning that all blue zones had a diet emphasized on legumes. For example, the Adventists in Loma Linda, California ate a high amount of greens & legumes, as stated in the Bible. The Sardinians ate whole-grain bread, special wine, and cheese produced from fresh grass-fed animals.

As a conclusion, the research suggested that low-calorie diets extend the lifespan of people in these regions. The okinawans, they do strictly follow Confucian rule of only eating until the stomach is 80 percent full.

For Mr Li, the wolfberry tea must have helped him to live to an advanced age. Specialists from France and Britain were extremely fascinated by Li’s longevity and decided to conduct elaborate research on wolfberry. Surprisingly, a new vitamin named “vitamin X” or so called “beauty vitamin” was found. Their study concluded that wolfberry stops the accumulation of fat as well as encourage the development of new liver cells, lower cholesterol and blood glucose… and the list goes on.

Wolfberry has a rejuvenation role: it boosts up endocrine glands and brain cells; improves the production of hormones; eliminate toxins that are formed in the blood, this assures that the body sustains its typical function of tissues and organs.

Meditation

In addition, to consuming tea, an exercise that usually follows is meditation. From the University of Massachusetts Medical School, neuroscientists carried out an experiment on highly stressed technology-related employees. The employees were split into two groups; one of the groups was said to meditate for eight weeks while the second group continued to work in their stress.

In the research published in Psychology 2003 “showed a pronounced shift in activity to the left frontal lobe.” Such change in mental focus reduces the bad effects of stress, anxiety and mild depression. It was also noted that there was a lower activity level in the amygdale, a region where the brain deals with fear.

Apart from only being a stress relief, mediation improves mood and inhibits the speed at which the brain shrinks while aging.

From Buettner’s Blue Zone research, it was found that relaxation time does significantly reduce inflammation, a product of stress. As for the Adventists in California who preserved their 24-hour Sabbath day had a time to pray, reflect and to have fun within their social circles.

Longevity & Society

According to Buettner’s research, the society in which you live in does influence how long you live. For instance, Okinawans have many friends and with whom they like to share everything with. The Sardinian show great respect to elders and the Adventists are highly family oritented.

The study suggests that sense of belonging with family and healthy friends encouraging people to live healthy, actually support longevity.

The so Rosetans, which is an Italian group of people who has migrated to Bangor, Pennsylvania, has a low risk of heart diseases. This was found in a study carried out by Malcolm. Apparently, it was neither their diet nor gene that supported their remarkable healthy survival rate.

The secret of the Rosetans potential to live longer was the social structure that isolates them from the stress of the modern world. The environment and surrounding that they had created supported their health.

Buettner’s study also found that across the blue-zone, people weren’t interested in retirement. Their emphasis was on continuing to do what they were already doing.

For the Sardinians as well as Okinwans the sunset years represent the symbol of purpose of life. In these areas, centenarians were seen climbing hills and climbing. Contrary, to the western civilisation who exercise for a purpose, these centenarians simply have an active life.

Source: The Epoch Times.

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Doctors use scans to understand whether cancer has spread beyond the prostate in men who have reliably high-risk cancer.

CTs expose patients to small amounts of radiation that itself is linked to future cancer risks. In addition, the scans cost the healthcare system quite some dollars. Especially, as the scans they don’t provide information for the target audience.

Research suggests that men with high-risk of cancer do usually not get the scan. So, some people might get treatment for only local cancer which is limited to the prostate while the cancer has already spread beyond.

Dr. David Samadi, who is a prostate cancer surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York, was personally involved in the study. According to him, there is a very low risk of finding a positive bone scan or CT scan for people with low risk for the diseases.

Doctors need to use other methods like Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing for examining a man’s risk of advanced cancer and then scan high-risk disease to know the best treatment. This is what The Guidelines from the American Urological Association says.

Dr. Jim Hu of Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston, who is a led researcher, would like to see the effect of those recommendations.

A database of U.S. men was diagnosed with prostate cancer by Medicare in 2004 and 2005; There was a total of 30,000 cases found by the researchers.

According to Hu and colleagues calculation, the cost of unnecessary scans in men with low and medium-risk cancer billed to Medicare during those two years was about $3.6 million for their study group.

The authors wrote in the journal Cancer that significantly increasing of Medicare expenditure without improving quality of care rendered for men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer recommended by guidelines.

Samadi said that each extra CT scan exposes men to a small amount of radiation. This provides doctors with information of potential incidental that may or may not cause a threat. In other words, it leads to additional procedures and testing.

Coaching and feedback from with friends can significantly reduce the amount of volume of unnecessary scans. It is simply important to provide people with appropriate information. According to Samedi, most doctors are offering scans for the sake of being on the safe-side.

Contradictory, approximately 40 % of men having high-risk cancer aren’t even getting a scan. This is equally worrisome, noted by the Researchers.

Sources: Reuters

Anti Aging

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The use of management tools can help farmers in diminishing the environmental impact. These tools allow the optimum source, timing and placement of fertilizers – nitrogen and other proteins, vitamins and minerals – in order to improve the quality of the products.

The nutritional value of nitrogen fertilizers used on corn and wheat has scientifically been proven, but the process needs some work. Nitrogen is a major component of proteins; cereals such as corn and wheat register higher amounts of protein produced after being treated with fertilizers. IPNI stated that corn and wheat nutritional value should be limited to lowering lysine – an essential amino acid. Another advantage of using nitrogen fertilizers is the increased concentrations of carotenoids; hence, increased health-potential and market values of fruits and vegetables.

IPNI also states that colour, texture, sweetness, folic acid, beta-carotene and vitamin C contents of watermelons and cantaloupes muskmelons is enhanced after potassium and sulphur use. In the same time, soybeans isoflavone, as well as tomatoes and grapefruits lycopene content increases are evident.

According to IPNI, third world countries such as Nigeria and Bangladesh – with a high rate of malnutrition – need to improve crops quality by nutrient supplements. They also need to become aware of the positive impact that plant nutrition has on human health, as the only way to upgrade their agricultural systems.

Upgrading crops can help people in developing countries to live longer.

Source: Farm Chemical International

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The Chef had prepared her favourite dish (chicken Alfredo). The CEO of the hospital Zeff Ross was also present to congratulate Dorrie Aber-Noyek, but at 1 o’clock the party ended as Dorrie had to start working.

Currently, at the age of 104, she does volunteer distribute mails throughout the big memorial hospital. This is something that she has been doing for the last 37 years.

Abey-Noyek says to Jerry Simonson, a CNN photojournalist, that she can ‘slow down’ if she wants’ as she rolls her mail cart along the corridor.

This woman who turned 104 years in February 2011 is in perfect health. She does only have some minor arthritis and imperfection in hearing and vision.

What is her Secret for Long-Life?

Aber-Noyek was questioned about her secret for longevity, as a response, she shrugged her shoulders.

Apparently, it is neither her diet nor her physical activity. As the Alfredo sauce is high in fats and consuming pieces of cakes during the day isn’t considered to be part of a healthy diet. In addition, she has never been a member of any particular gym, but she likes walking.

In the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, a study entitled ‘super agers’ investigated people who had lived to an age of above 95 years and their healthy lifestyle in comparison to those who had already deceased.

The study was led by Dr. Nir Barzilai, who is the director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The study involved 477 healthy Ashkenazi Jews, aged from 95 to 112 years. The research focused on identifying the health habits that these people undertook in their 70s. The findings revealed that 40 percent of the group was overweight or obese, while 35 percent smoked and were seldom engaged in exercise activities. In other words, most of them were comparable to the general population.

In conclusion, the finding suggests that gene is the main indicator for the long-life of the centenarians.

Studies conducted by Dr. Barzilai and other researchers have found that most centenarians have a gene, which has a link with an increased level of HDL (HDL is good cholesterol). In addition, these people also tend to have genes that safeguard them from Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases.

Yet, the study doesn’t say that people should have a poor lifestyle and afterward look forward to a long-life.

Most centenarians have these longevity genes that safeguard them from most of the age-related illnesses. However, most of us do not possess these magical genes so, we better be attentive and listen to what the doctor have to say.

In addition, related studies have shown that centenarians have strong ties and are involved in the community, so they are equally less prone to depression.

For Aber-Noyek, both the nurture and Nature theories seem to apply. She has a good relationship with people in her surrounding, and her mother had lived to the age of 99 years.

Now at the age of 104 years, she is as amazed as everyone else that she has reached such an advance age. But with a good spirit and strong community bounds, she says that “I’m enjoying life,,” “I love people” and “I’m very interested in them. I love to talk to them and ask them questions about themselves.”

Source: CNN

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Health And Aging, Longevity

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The human body’s response to medicinal treatment is deteriorating due to the growth of drug-resistant bacteria caused by the severely increased use of important antibiotics in British Agricultural Industry.

Cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and macrolides are ranked by World Health Organization (WHO) as vital antimicrobials in human medicine. However, despite their importance, the usage of these three classes of antibiotics in food production animals has gone up by eight times in a decade.

Livestock statistics also suffer a percentage drop during these years. There is a 27 percent decrease in the number of the swine family, whereas cattle and poultry numbers have reduced by 10 percent and 11 percent respectively. Major grocery chains are dubbed by professionals as the main culprit – monopolizing the agriculture economy, and thus forcing farmers to resolve to intensive farming.

The overcrowded and unhygienic environment food animals are being confined in help speed the spread of diseases, which then leads to the dire need for antimicrobial agents. The increased rate of antibiotic resistance is caused mainly by extensive use of antibiotics in food animals. Scientists in Britain discovered in the previous month that milk contains a new strain of MRSA superbug – the first discovery of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in UK livestock. Concerns remain that the resistant organism could be transmitted from cattle to humans even though it will be killed by pasteurization.

Escherichia coli (E. coli), together with its antibiotic resistance genes, can spread from animals to people. An extremely infectious E. coli strain hit Germany in May, causing the death toll to reach 39 and leaving 3,300 others in hospitals. Antibiotic abuse in animal husbandry is said to have triggered the crisis.

The growth of lethal antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is recognized as a health threat worldwide, with WHO estimating annual deaths of 25,000 people in European Union countries. All these deaths are expected to be associated with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria infections.

Recent statistics by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed an upsurge in organisms resistant to carbapenems, a new class of highly effective bacteria. HPA listed the threat as a global health issue. In 2003, the first type of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria was discovered, but the infections remained less than five cases annually until the year 2007. This year, however, by May, 657 cases have already been recognized, exceeding two times the sum for 2010. In certain cases, patients were diagnosed with severe sepsis.

Alongside the European Medicines Agency and independent scientists, HPA alerted the public about the connection concerning the new cephalasporins usage and MRSA. It is believed that the antibiotics have also provoked the appearance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella in livestock. Conducting the research on new MRSA strain, Mark Holmes, Cambridge University lecturer in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, claimed cephalosporins as “some of the most effective, most modern antibiotics” with its usage being abused in farming. He suggested to reduce such usage of the antibiotics and to reserve them for “human use” instead.

The case is better in countries such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden, which apply stringent controls on the use of antimicrobials in food production animals. Britain does not necessitate lab tests to determine the required antimicrobials. Drugs are being heavily used in cattle, to prevent, mastitis, an udder disease, from emerging or spreading. Exhaustively milked dairy cows will receive intensified treatment.

Dr Holmes declared Britain as the sole country in the whole EU that gives a permit to pharmaceuticals to sell drugs directly to farmers. He accused the authorities for being “unreasonable” as they should not assume that the farmers will limit the drug usage. There is an estimation of 18,000 dairy farmers, each struggling to make enough to cater for their daily needs. Holmes encouraged the authorities to be more involved instead of just demanding the farmers to cease all use of antibiotics, which as Holmes said, is “ridiculous”. In fact, the authorities should figure out a way to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Dairy farms have received instructions from the Soil Association to stop regular use of antibiotic. Comprehensive tests are also introduced by the Association to test farm animals, farmers, milk and meat for MRSA.

The Association’s policy adviser, Richard Young, affirmed that the unusual need for intensive farming fuelled the rise in antibiotic usage. He stated that due to the supermarkets’ extremely tight profit margins, farm animals are treated as essential tools in a large-scale manufacturing plan and the problems can actually be prevented by supporting fewer intensive farming to produce livestock that is healthier in a natural way.

Constant efforts of Scientists to warn the public about superbugs have gone mostly to waste seeing that the problem has worsened, attributable to the shortage of new drug supply. WHO flagged a warning at a meeting the previous month that antimicrobials abuse poses a threat that is capable of weakening the response of diseases to treatment, leading the humanity right back to the pre-antibiotic period?

Yesterday, a proposition was made in the US Senate to improve the antibiotics industry for the battle against this uprising superbug.

Source: Independent. Co. UK

Bioscience, Health And Aging

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Telomere is a stimulating finding of science regarding aging. These telomeres which are attached to chromosome at its end, saves our genes from getting worn-out after cell-division. But after some years the telomeres finally get worn-out thus inducing aging to our body. This is the basic reason behind old age; slow but accumulative damage to our cells. In this process of aging telomeres work with an enzyme called telomerase, which assist telomeres to remain healthy and long. The health and length of Telomeres has become as fascination as science fiction

A study conducted in ‘2010 on rats, using telomerase found the aging process of rats could be reversed’.

These exciting findings regarding telomeres and telomerase gave rise to complex versatile questions. One question was that a simple instrument such as a candle, which burns an inch per hour, could be compared to our telomeres. The telomeres do they work in the same way as the candle? Can they be used to predict our aging speed? Similarly can the telomere length warn us about diseases such as heart disease, stroke or cancer? Is it possible for us to increase the length of telomeres in our body while they are constantly becoming shorter?

The study is now publicized after the research work of Elizabeth Blackburn, and the questions have become the centre of attention for ordinary people. She said that now a test regarding the length of telomere will be brought to the market. ‘Her company is already giving its services to research through this test,’ and it’s now mentioned on the company’s website that in 2011 the test will be available for public on general basis.

The process of this test includes swab of blood sample taken from the human body, then the telomeres in white blood cells will be examined. As we know that white blood cells can configure our immune system and if any change happens in its quantity it warns us of serious disease.

For further research the length of the telomeres can be compared with the length of another person of the same age. Blackburn announced that the test will cost less than $200 and you can have it at doctors’ clinics. However, at the same time she says that we are yet unsure of the benefit we will get from this test, as it’s not clear if we would be able to use it to solve any health problem.

Research on telomeres has already provided some intriguing answers. It has been found that the length of telomeres is associated with the length of our lives. ‘A research explored people in the age group of 60 years. Interestingly, those with shorter telomeres tended to die within 17 years’, while those with longer telomeres outlived their peers.

Telomeres which are shorter in length can cause very serious diseases. There is a great risk of heart disease for people with short telomeres. Similarly, the research also found that the people with short telomeres had a three time higher risk of dying from heart disease and eight times higher risk of dying from infectious diseases in comparison to those with longer telomeres.

In addition, a few types of cancers are also related to short length telomeres.

No causal relationship has yet been established through these studies. This means that it is not confirmed that shorter telomeres are really associated with the emergence of health pathologies. There is only one certain conclusion established, which is that shortened telomeres is related to uncommon aging disorders such as Dyskeratosis Congenita.

Ongoing studies are, however, providing strong evidence suggesting that telomeres are not only a factor of aging but maybe the strongest biological benchmark of aging. This is why people are starting to question whether their telomeres are long or short.

Nevertheless, if our telomeres are short, the real concern is whether something can be done to lengthen them. Research has concluded that stress, diets, lifestyle and exercise can influence the length of telomeres. ‘In a rather small study, it was found that meditation, daily exercise, yoga and health diets increased the presence of telomerase, which is an enzyme promoting the length of telomeres’.

Telomeres is something new in biological science and research are thus only in an infant phase. Most studies are suggesting that:

1. Losing weight
2. Reducing Waist Circumference
3. Eating less red meat
4. Relaxing

Are good for our health and equally the length of these so called protective ends of our chromosomes; telomeres.

This personal genome test can further help researchers to analyze the importance of telomeres in aging. It is thus being released to the market at a good time, maybe with a dozen of unanswered questions but with promising hope for additional clues on how to live a healthier life.

Source: Discover Magazine

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In the study, it was noted that caffeine disturbs the glucose metabolism. This research was published in a journal named, Caffeine Research, it is an international journal on caffeine research. The article can be found online, and it’s free.

James Lane a PhD professor from Duke University says that many studies have shown the role of caffeine in increasing resistance of insulin among non diabetic individuals.

According to the old research type 2 Diabetes occurred after eating carbohydrates, which results in an increase in glucose level in our blood flow. But now after research on caffeine we cannot deny the fact that beverages having caffeine does equally increase the level of glucose in our body. And among such patients who take much caffeine the control of diabetes become difficult. Nowadays, 80 percent of the world’s population do consume caffeine on daily basis. The finding of this research is something extremely important.

Jack E. James a PhD professor from National university of Ireland says that more than 230 million people from the whole world have diabetes.

This journal on Caffeine research is a good source to give knowledge on caffeine science and effects of caffeine on health. Many clinical studies have also been reviewed in this journal. There are many articles on caffeine in this journal, describing ‘the effects of caffeine’ on our body.

In fact the journal has explored the various aspects of caffeine science like biochemistry of caffeine; and its effects on human body; caffeine addiction and benefits and contradictions and dangers of caffeine, across all stages of life till death.

Source: Star Global Tribune

Anti Aging, Lifestyle

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Interviewed at her apartment in Peter Cooper Village, Manhattan, she declared that because of her advanced age, she was not sure whether she would recover from her surgery. However, she felt the motivation to keep going somehow. Like Calvert, there is a rising trend of New Yorkers, who went past the age of 90 still going under the knife – a development the medical doctors claim that paved way for them to modify their approach on surgery.

Twenty years ago, local surgeons noted that it was rare for people over the age of 90 going through surgery in New York. Currently, there are about 5% of patients over 90 years old undergoing surgical procedures.

NYU Langone Medical Center Cardiothoracic surgery chairman Aubrey Galloway explained that long ago, people did not reach the 90s and get surgery since most of them died due to other illnesses. 91 year old Glendale, Queens resident Morris Greenberg expressed that putting off his hernia surgery would amount to deal with pain in his day-to-day life. He said the disease was already getting in the way. He didn’t want to be overcautious about his daily activities.

He made the decision to undergo surgery at Manhattan’s Beth Israel Medical Center in September. Only local anesthesia was used by Dr. Martin Karpeh to avoid bigger risks of contracting infection. If they have gotten to the age of 90 years in a relatively good health, they have a reasonable chance of surviving another decade, according to Karpeh.

Meanwhile, for New York Presbyterian’s oldest patients, doctors have opted to rely on less invasive measures – a catheter would be inserted through a small opening for valve replacement, instead of cutting open their chest.

Karl Krieger, department of cardiothoracic surgery vice chairman whose recent surgery involved a 98-year old patient, said that there’s an entire different medical approach for this population. He claimed that they already know a dozen of 100 year old patients who will be needing surgery within the next two years, and this may be one option available for them.

According to the Council of Senior Centers and Services director Bobbie Sackman, New York City’s population of over-85 years is on the rapid rise so surgery procedures are more likely to be prevalent in the years to come.

She predicted that in the medical system, more people requesting for surgery in their 90s will be more common, due to a longevity surge.

Source: New York Daily News

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The researchers already have forecasted further fatalities and diseases caused by natural tragedies, changes in environmental temperature and the spreading of tropical diseases like malaria.

However, there are other less apparent dangers that will, more or less, take place when a shift in temperature alters the ocean’s ecosystem and fresh water conditions in the future, as experts reported at a meeting for American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Washington, DC.

Oceans and Human Health Initiative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supported a number of the researchers whose mission was to determine and control the unseen health dangers that global warming may bring.

1. More Seafood May Be Contaminated by Toxic Algae

There may be more incidences of one kind of “red tide algae”, particularly in the Puget Sound region in North America, explained by Stephanie Moore of NOAA’s West Coast Center for Oceans and Human Health. This is the kind of blooms that cause dead zones in the ocean.

This type of algae specie is called Alexandrium catenella, which produces toxins that can build up in the seafood and when ingested may bring about a series of physiological reaction from vomiting to paralysis of the muscles, or in exceptional situations, even death of a person.

At the University of Washington, Moore and her contemporaries have generated specific computer models to demonstrate future weather and ocean behaviour. The team was able to establish the conditions of the environment suitable for algae growth, with emphasis on the temperature of the ocean. By predicting the rise in the water temperature, for instance, the computer model was able to estimate how global warming would impact the growth patterns of algae in the later years.
According to Moore, aside from the increased prevalence of toxic bloom between the months of July and October, they also found out that the bloom season will also extend.

She continued to expound by saying that they could observe these algae blooms to start as early as two months in the year in comparison to what they observed in the past. There is also the possibility of continuing on for another month later in a year’s time.

As the temperature continues to climb, some algae species used to the warmer water may also flourish into what used to be the cooler ocean region. Some areas may become ideal for such algae since the warmer water temperature may be too much for these tiny plants.

Also, some toxic blooms may not even thrive in the peak of summertime, Moore stated. Instead of just one bloom season which starts later in the summer and ends in early fall, it is possible for these algae to create two bloom seasons: one in spring and the other in the late fall.

Because of this development, shellfish fisheries could temporarily be put on hold for health reasons and, in general, cause more issues for the ones responsible in maintaining safe food supply for human consumption.

Moore explained that if a particular contaminant is not being tested since there was no occurrence in that certain area or that period. Then there is a likelihood that contaminated seafood will pervasively spread to everyone.

She declared that this situation demands the public to be more cautious of what they will eat. The research aims at achieving better insights on the kind of blooms that may come about and affect our overall health.

2. There May be an Outbreak of Harmful Ocean Bacteria

Several models of global warming reveal that climate will intensify causing dry regions to get drier while wet regions to even become wetter.

Having this kind of change would trigger desertification and increase the concentration of dust being produced in the atmosphere from countries like western Africa.

The dust being produced would land in the ocean which scientists have found to encourage the flourishing of harmful bacteria, which may contaminate seafood.

To illustrate an example, Erin Lipp and Jason Westrich, a graduate student, both from the University of Georgia, discovered that the rapid increase of Vibrio, a type of ocean bacteria, was caused by Moroccan desert dust. If the microbe- infested water or seafood is ingested, gastrointestinal illness and other infectious diseases like cholera can occur.

In their experiment, the researchers collected Morocco desert dust and mixed it with the sea water obtained from Florida Keys. The bacteria Vibrio production multiplied from ten to thousands within a 24 hour timeframe.

Westrich claimed that the team found that the cause of the growth stimulation was the iron in the dust.

For many living creatures, iron is a necessary component for survival. However, this element is not exactly abundant in the ocean waters, which is why, as part of the global warming solution – although considered controversial, is to deposit iron into the sea to foster the proliferation of carbon-dioxide consuming plankton.

Seafood borne-illnesses, based from the statistics, likewise, revealed that poisoning from Vibrio in the US has increased to 85% starting 1996.

Both Lipp and Westrich would further investigate if the iron found coming from desert dust is responsible for these illnesses.

Lipp concluded that in the immediate future, efforts are being made to get more information on what transpires in the ocean when big dust events occur.

3. Drinking Water may be Contaminated by Sewage Overflow

Sandra McLellan, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has illustrated how increased rainfall due to climate change would affect her state and a number of already strained sewer systems located near Great lakes, with the use of modelling.

Wisconsin is already experiencing urban expansion and with its growth comes the consequence of several sewer systems going beyond its capacity. When severe rain storms strike, there is a high chance of sewer systems spilling over into the lakes which could contaminate the drinking-water supplies with disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

What would cause for the sewer to overflow is only 1.7 inches (4.3 centimeters) of rain within 24 hours, and this usually happens in Milwaukee for about three times each year but even more frequently in other cities in the Great Lakes region.

Climate models forecasted that there is a likelihood of spring rains to increase over the next half century in Wisconsin, thus raising the amount of stormwater over spilling into the lakes for about, worst-case, 20%, McLellan asserted. Although this analysis was localized only to Milwaukee, this model may provide as reference to other cities surrounding Great Lakes and even farther, she stated.

McLellan stated that climate change is not, per se, giving rise to a new predicament. They are already dealing with the issue of overflows from a combined sewage system. Although there are efforts to reduce this situation, development and climate change may be one step ahead of them.

Source: National Geographic

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