Heads Up On Concussions
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particles capable of causing long-term lung and heart problems that could shorten their lives. The city’s 21 million residents were advised to stay at home until the alert was lifted on December 10. Then, a second red alert was declared on December 18 and lifted on December 22.
China’s Deadly Smog Dangerously dirty air is a daily reality in much of China. In fact, air pollution contributes to as many as 1.6 million premature deaths throughout the country every year, one recent study found. Another study concluded that breathing in Beijing for one day is like smoking an entire package of cigarettes. The reason? Some 60 percent of industries and homes in the city are still powered or heated by coal, a dirty fossil fuel that pollutes the atmosphere. Vehicle emissions and dust from construction sites contribute to the mess as well. Recent Beijing air quality was particularly bad because windless, humid weather helped keep the dark, soupy gunk in place. As well, mountains to the north and west trapped the smog created by polluting industries in the city’s south and east. At its worst, the particle content in the air was over ten times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers to be the maximum safe level.
During the alerts, factories and schools were shuttered, half of all cars had to remain parked and construction was halted. Still, citizens had difficulty breathing. Many wore masks to try to keep the toxins and carcinogens out of their systems. “Even when wearing the mask, I feel uncomfortable and don’t have any energy,” one Beijing resident reported. “It is a sharp warning to us that we may have too much development at the price of the environment and it is time for us to seriously deal with air pollution,” said another. Worse In India? In recent years China has been taking steps toward cleaning up its act. It is investing in renewable energy and is cutting back on coal consumption, particularly in cities. Around 58 percent of the increase in the country’s primary energy consumption in 2013‑14 came from non-fossil fuel sources. Yet China isn’t the only country struggling with air pollution. In 2014, a WHO survey found that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world were in India. Beijing didn’t even crack the top twenty. Meanwhile Delhi, the capital of India, was found to be the most polluted city in the world. In this metropolis of over 18 million, pollution is especially bad in winter when low temperatures force the city’s poor to burn garbage at night to stay warm. Farm waste is also set on fire across thousands of hectares around Delhi to clear cropland. These pollutants often burn for days on end. According to WHO, about 620,000 people die in India every year from pollution-related diseases. Levels of sulphur dioxide, which can trigger asthma, bronchitis and other lung conditions, were also found to be very high in many areas.
Air pollution takes a toll on developed nations, too. For example, in 2012, 84,000 Italians suffered pollution-related deaths – the most in Europe. In late December, two of the country’s largest cities – Rome and Milan – were forced to act against smog build-up. They restricted or banned vehicles from the roads for several hours over a period of days. Even some wood‑burning pizza parlors had to close. Experts said unusually calm and dry weather was to blame because these conditions kept the pollution in place.
As for our own country, where far less coal is used for heat or power, conditions are better but still worrisome. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that air pollution is responsible for 21,000 premature deaths, 92,000 emergency‑room visits and 620,000 visits to a doctor’s office a year. What’s more, the economic cost of air pollution-related illness and death in Canada tops $8 billion a year. The worst air is in Red Deer, Alberta, followed by Montreal, Calgary and Toronto. “We may never experience the kind of deadly pollution China is struggling with, but we can do a lot to make sure our air...is as clean as possible,” says environmentalist David Suzuki. Did You Know? The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that poisonous air contributes to a staggering seven million premature deaths globally every year. What Is Fouling The World’s Air? The eye-watering, thick air that is poisoning some of the world’s biggest cities often appears as a dense, clinging smog, visible to the naked eye. It is composed of a toxic soup of smoke, chemicals and other dangerous substances. The main ingredient of smog is particulate matter, categorized as either PM2.5 or PM10. PM2.5 is made up of fine particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter. By comparison, a human hair is between 50 and 70 microns in diameter. Some PM2.5 forms naturally in the atmosphere, as a result of dust storms or forest fires. The rest is created by emissions from any source of combustion, including cars, industry and wood burning. The second type of particulate matter, PM10, is made up of coarser particles with a diameter of up to 10 microns. It consists of such substances as dust, pollen and mould. PM2.5 particles are considered especially harmful because their small size means they can penetrate into the deepest parts of the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. A build-up of PM2.5 in the lungs has been linked to respiratory illnesses, lung damage and even cancer. The World Health Organization recommends that people should be exposed to no more than 25 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 – and to no more than 50 of PM10. Ozone is another culprit. In the upper atmosphere, ozone shields us by filtering the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. However, on the ground it is a pollutant formed by chemical reactions. In hot weather, emissions from cars, industry and other human sources can produce high ozone levels due to chemical reactions emitted by vegetation. This ground-level ozone, along with particulate matter and other human-caused or natural pollutants such as black carbon, sulfur and methane, are the main causes of air pollution.
carcinogen: a substance that can cause cancer combustion: the act of burning fossil fuel: fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals microgram: one millionth of a gram micron: one millionth of a metre particle: a very small piece of something premature: happening too soon or earlier than usual smog: a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc. toxin: a poisonous substance World Health Organization (WHO): an agency of the United Nations concerned with international public health On The Lines Answer the following in complete sentences: 1. Explain what smog is. 2. What is PM2.5 is and how is it formed? Explain why it is so harmful. 3. How much damage to human health is caused by air pollution in China? 4. How many people live in Beijing? 5. Explain why the air is so poor in this city. 6. What warning did officials issue in Beijing on December 8? Why? 7. What did Beijing officials do to try to decrease the amount of air pollution in the city? 8. Which city has the worst air pollution in the world? 9. Explain why the pollution is so bad in this city. Between The Lines An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. A plausible inference is supported by evidence in the article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article. What inference(s) can you draw from the fact that poisonous air contributes to seven million premature deaths globally every year?
1. Coal is the dirtiest of all energy sources and the biggest contributor to global warming. It is responsible for at least 83 percent of global CO2 pollution since 1990. About 60 percent of its use happens in India and China, where half of the world’s energy consumption will come from by the year 2035. Coal use is expected to grow in order to ‘keep the lights on’ for citizens, but efforts – most notably the Paris Agreement – are underway to prevent that from happening. Pick one country, other than China or India, and learn about its past and future coal use. Is the situation getting better or worse? Why? 2. How does Beijing determine which cars get to drive and which must stay parked during a red alert? By license plate numbers. One day cars with odd numbers can be on the road, the next day, even numbers. In Rome, Italy, where cars are also restricted when pollution levels are high, traditional cars must stay parked but energy efficient cars can stay on the roads. Imagine that you are in charge of finding ways to get drivers off the roads. What rewards, penalties and innovations can you suggest for governments to try? Just Talk About It 1. What is the significance of this story? Explain. 2. As you see it, what are some benefits of China’s red alerts to the people? To the government? What are some drawbacks of the alerts for each of these groups? Explain.
Visit our student website at www.news4youth.com and click on the What in the World? tab to: 1. Hear some air quality opinions from Chinese citizens on the YouTube video “China smog: ‘Sky dark from air pollution’ - BBC News” (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S27ycsxUtRM). 2. Read a BBC article about December’s red alert and see how many Beijing days have been “unhealthy” or worse since 2008 (or visit http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35026363). 3 . Watch “Air pollution in China: Air quality is so bad, Canada sells China cans of fresh air - TomoNews” to see how some Canadian entrepreneurs are literally providing a breath of fresh air for Chinese citizens (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xhppHAI7C8).
Write the letter that corresponds to the best answer on the line beside each question: ______ 1. PM2.5 particles are considered especially harmful because they can penetrate into:
______ 2. Which of the following does NOT contribute to poor air quality in Beijing? a) burning coal for heat or power b) vehicle emissions c) fires set to clear land for crops d) dust from construction sites e) surrounding mountains that trap the smog ______ 3. Which city has the worst air quality on the planet? a) Delhi b) Moscow c) Rome d) Beijing e) Tokyo ______ 4. True or False? According to the WHO, some 7 million people die each year due to air pollution. ______ 5. True or False? The most pollution-related deaths in Europe occur in Italy. 6. All countries should be very concerned about air pollution. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your response. Superfood or Frankenfish?– The Debate Over Genetically Modified Salmon 
Salmon on the menu? Delicious! But would you be as eager to dig in if you knew that the fish – which looks and tastes like a regular salmon – had partly been created in a lab? Presenting Supersalmon! AquaAdvantage salmon are Atlantic salmon that have had their genes altered so they grow faster and larger than normal. These fish are like their wild counterparts in every way, except that they reach maturity in about 18 months instead of three years. AquaBounty Technologies, an American company, has been trying for 20 years to get approval from the United States government to sell its supersalmon to U.S. consumers. In November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally gave the company the green light. “The FDA has thoroughly analyzed and evaluated the data and information submitted by AquaBounty Technologies regarding AquaAdvantage Salmon and determined that they have met the regulatory requirements for approval, including that food from the fish is safe to eat,” said an FDA official. A controversial topic Genetically-modified (GM) foods – sometimes dubbed ‘Frankenfoods’ – are nothing new. Farmers have been growing GM plant crops since the 1990s. Today, most processed foods contain GM ingredients. But this decision by the FDA marks the first time that a genetically modified animal has been approved for human consumption. It could open the door for other GM animal foods in the supermarket. The prospect has critics worried. The U.S. environmental group Friends of the Earth called the FDA’s decision “flawed and irresponsible.” According to Lisa Archer, the organization’s food and technology director, 1.8 million people sent letters to the FDA opposing the approval. More than 60 grocery chains have committed to keep it off their shelves. “It’s clear that there is no place in the U.S. market for genetically engineered salmon. People don’t want to eat it and grocery stores are refusing to sell it,” she said.
AquaAdvantage salmon eggs are produced in land-based, fresh water tanks at AquaBounty’s hatchery on Prince Edward Island. The eggs are exported to Panama where the fish are grown in onshore tanks. The tanks must be designed with physical barriers that prevent any escape of eggs or fish. The FDA approval is only for GM salmon raised at these two contained facilities. However, in the future, AquaBounty could apply to produce the fish at other facilities. Critics are concerned about this possibility. Although all of the fish are made to be female and sterile, scientists from Canada have found that some of the salmon can breed with a closely related species – the brown trout. What if some of the GM fish did escape and passed their genes on to wild fish populations? “If this fish goes into commercial production, at some point it’s going to happen,” says Mark Butler of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre. “Once that fish breeds with another wild salmon, you can never put that genie back in the box.”
GM salmon have not yet been approved for human consumption in Canada. Health Canada is still reviewing AquaBounty’s application. However, the federal government did approve the production of genetically-modified salmon eggs at the P.E.I. facility. The Ecology Action Centre is one of two organizations taking Environment Canada to court over that move. In a statement explaining its decision, Environment Canada wrote, “This risk assessment concluded that there were no concerns identified to the environment or to the indirect health of Canadians due to the production of these GM fish eggs.”
Meanwhile, supporters of GM salmon say that any risks from the fish would be offset by huge benefits. Salmon is one of the healthiest proteins for people to eat. And in a world where food shortages are becoming a big problem, being able to produce larger quantities of quality foods at a lower price is a huge advantage. “This is a potentially important way to get salmon to maturity quicker, increase the supply, decrease prices and make this high-quality source of protein at lower prices,” said Ronald Stotish, AquaBounty’s CEO. According to William Muir, an American professor of genetics, there is “no credible evidence” that these fish are a risk to human health or the environment. Rather than posing a threat to wild fish populations, Dr. Muir says, GM fish could actually ease pressure on these dwindling wild stocks. “The current practice of using wild-caught salmon as a food source is not sustainable. Our oceans are overfished,” he says.
How To Make A Supersalmon AquaBounty’s salmon were first conceived of by researchers at Memorial University in Newfoundland. The fish grow so big, so fast because genetic engineers added genetic material from two other fish: a growth hormone from Chinook salmon and another gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout. It acts like an ‘on’ switch that keeps the growth hormone active so that the fish never stop growing.
There’s nothing new about scientists trying to develop different and better versions of the plants and animals we grow for food. For years, they’ve been selectively breeding to transfer desirable traits from one variety to another – developing potatoes that are more resistant to pests, for example. However, selective breeding takes time. Several generations of the plant or animal have to grow to maturity and reproduce in order to select for beneficial genes. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, is more precise. It also works a lot faster. In simple terms, the process involves scientists cutting the genes of one organism and pasting them into another organism. GM crops are grown in more than 20 countries around the world. The U.S. is the leading producer of GM foods, but relatively large amounts of gene-altered crops are grown in Brazil, Argentina, India and Canada. In Canada, GM foods are regulated by Health Canada. This agency has approved more than 120 GM food products for sale since 1994. They range from insect-resistant corn and herbicide-resistant canola to genetically modified yeasts that reduce levels of unwanted compounds in wine. Supporters of GM foods say that genetic engineering can produce plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases, and require less use of pesticides. It can increase crop yields, and produce longer lasting and better tasting fruits and vegetables. According to numerous regulatory and scientific bodies including Health Canada, the U.S. FDA, the European Food Safety Authority and the National Academy of Sciences, there is no evidence that GM foods pose any health risks to people. Still, critics worry about the long-term health impacts and believe GM foods could give rise to allergies and antibiotic resistance. credible: able to be believed; convincing dwindling: diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength genes: hereditary units consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines a particular characteristic in an organism hormone: a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action organism: any living creature sterile: incapable of reproducing On The Lines Answer the following in complete sentences: 1. Explain what genetically modified food is. 2. Which country produces the most genetically modified food? 3. Why do supporters approve of genetically modified food? 4. Why are opponents worried about genetically modified food? 5. Which company wants to sell ‘supersalmon’ in the United States? 6. Explain why these fish grow so fast. 7. What did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently decide about ‘supersalmon’? 8. Why do some people object to this decision?
What inferences can you draw from the fact that it took 20 years for AquaBounty Technologies to get approval from the FDA for AquaAdvantage salmon? Beyond The Lines Supersalmon are not the only food product under consideration. Scientists at the University of Guelph have genetically engineered pigs that have been submitted for approval from Health Canada and the U.S. FDA. The pigs excrete up to 70 percent less phosphorus in manure than regular pigs, making them more environmentally friendly. (Phosphorus can pollute streams, rivers and lakes, killing off marine life.) What other GM animals are out there? Research and report on at least one of them. Just Talk About It 1. a) For what reasons are some people in favour of the new GM salmon? For what reasons are some people against this gene-altered species? b) What advice would you give to Health Canada regarding AquaBounty’s application to sell its GM salmon in Canada? Support your position with reasons. 2. In Europe there is considerable resistance to GM crops. For example, 19 countries have chosen to “opt out” of the European Commission’s decision to approve the cultivation of a genetically-modified maize crop. The European Union, in addition to other countries such as Japan, New Zealand and Australia, insists that food products containing GM ingredients be labeled so that consumers can make their own choices. Such labeling is not a requirement in Canada or the U.S. Should it be? Explain your decision. On-Line Visit our student website at www.news4youth.com and click on the What in the World? tab to: 1. Get an introduction to Genetically Modified Foods from Scientific American by watching the video “What Is a Genetically Modified Food? - Instant Egghead #45” (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMPE5wlB3Zk). 2. Watch the news report from CBC’s The National called “Genetically-modified salmon approved by FDA” (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQSArjT8j9o). 3. Watch a TED Talk by plant geneticist Pamela Ronald (or visit https://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_ronald_the_case_for_engineering_our_food?language=en#t-332212). 4. Listen to Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki state his case against GMOs on the video “Professor David Suzuki speaks out against GMOs” (or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl0-Ds6Cioc). 5. Read about the science behind the salmon (or visit http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/309/ge-fish/aquadvantage-salmon).
Write the letter that corresponds to the best answer on the line beside each question: ______ 1. U.S. _____ and Drug Administration
______ 2. Which country produces the most genetically modified foods? a) Canada b) China c) France d) United States e) Brazil ______ 3. Scientists modified which salmon species to produce a ‘supersalmon’? a) Atlantic b) Chinook c) Spring d) Coho e) Sockeye ______ 4. True or False? ‘Supersalmon’ were created at Memorial University in Newfoundland. ______ 5. True or False? In Canada, GM foods are regulated by Statistics Canada. 6. Genetically modified foods are a good idea. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain. 2015/2016 • Issue 5 What in the World? • Level 2 - - Download 0.58 Mb. Share with your friends:
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