Articles

Affichage des articles du décembre, 2019

Essential Oil Poisoning Is on The Rise. Here's What You Need to Know

Original source: https://www.sciencealert.com/essential-oil-poisoning-is-on-the-rise-this-is-the-science-you-need-to-know/amp Essential oils are a popular choice for people keen to remedy a wide variety of ailments, from minor infections to stress. But new data indicate that people are increasingly putting their health at risk when they turn to these fragrant, volatile plant extracts. A new analysis from Australia, based on records from a poisons centre in the state of New South Wales, has revealed an increase in the number of essential oil poisonings in recent years, with more than half of calls to the centre regarding children. University of Sydney researchers identified 4,412 cases of essential oil exposure dating between July 2014 and June 2018, and broke them down into times, type of oil, changes over time, and the characteristics of the affected individual. They found that from 2014 to 2015, 1,011 calls were made to the centre by individuals or parents represen...

Cadmium and Phosphorous Fertilizers: The Issues and the Science

Introduction Non-nutritive metals, such as cadmium (Cd), occur naturally in all agricultural soils, in soil amendments (e.g. biosolids), and to varying degrees in phosphorous (P) fertilizers. Its persistence in the environment and its uptake and accumulation in the food chain make Cd a public health concern. The main effect of Cd on human health is kidney disease, and although other adverse effects have been reported (e.g. pulmonary, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems), controversy exists regarding their effects. The only known case of Cd toxicity (i.e. itai-itai disease) occurred with subsistence farmers in Japan growing rice on soils contaminated with industrial wastes. Cadmium behaviour in soil and its accumulation by crops is complicated. Numerous factors (e.g. soil pH, organic matter content, salinity, macro and micronutrient fertilizers, crops species and cultivar, and tillage) influence the bioavailability and uptake of Cd by crops. Because fertilization increases the...