GMO’s Threat

Any new science and technology have its two sides. Development of nuclear energy use in humans provides a large amount of nuclear energy and build on humans with great destructive nuclear weapons; GMO food had been helping us producing more food per unit soil and had been extremely effective in producing crops with gene-embedded pest control ability. However, there has always been some suspicion about the potential damage GMOs could bring to the environment and become a health hazard, the following research had shown some possible negative effect brought by GMO.

Scientists found that some genetically modified organisms may contain toxic substances and allergens, will adversely affect human health, serious and even cause cancer or cause some genetic diseases (Grove-White 19). Although so far no convincing research report shows that the improved varieties toxic, but some researchers believes that might be within the reach of some people want to achieve the effect, at the same time, also increased and the accumulation of food in trace amounts of toxins to refine and add artificial gene. The accumulation of this toxin is a rather long process, but it is indeed possible, so there is no guarantee that these improved varieties are not toxic. Puszta, a British scientist, said the study, which had been genetically engineered to cause damage to the liver, stomach and immune system in mice (Holst-Jensen 179). Although his experimental results need to be further confirmed, but can still suggest that people genetically modified foods may be detrimental to human health. Followed by an allergic reaction, people who have a food allergy sometimes have an allergy to food that has not previously been allergic to them. The reason is that it contains proteins that cause allergies. For example, scientists will be a part of the gene into the corn, wheat and shellfish genes in animals, and then, before eating corn allergies may be on the walnut, wheat and shellfish food allergies.

American is a nation that’s built on GMOs and the broader use of this technology could seriously harm the sustainability development thus should be treated seriously.

 

Works Cited

Grove-White, Robin, et al. “Uncertain world: Genetically modified organisms, food and public attitudes in Britain.” (1997).

Holst-Jensen, Arne, et al. “Detecting un-authorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and derived materials.” Biotechnology advances 30.6 (2012).

Do you live in a food desert?

By Linda from Chicago, USA (New crops) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Being a Public Health major, there is a big emphasis on food deserts. Currently, there food deserts right here in the Near West Side. Did you know that? However, the further South you go, the more food deserts exist. These locations are predominately home to the minority populations. The lack of access to fresh and nutritious foods can lead to many potential health problems. Therefore, most people in these communities experience chronic health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

What can we do? The best course of action would be to increase urban farming in areas living in food deserts. For example, there’s an urban farm in the community of Englewood. During the week, I ride the Metra Southwest Service line, which runs through Englewood. Whenever I am on the train, I notice the abundance of abandon and condemned homes. All this unused land while people in the community are living in a food desert. However, Englewood does have an urban farm called Growing Home. According to Growing Home (2015), 30,000 pounds of organic produce was harvested, and 618 neighbors attended their healthy eating workshops, cooking and garden demonstration event (2015). Thus, having this farm in the neighborhood offered resident reduce fresh, healthy foods for a reduction of price.

This plan would be beneficial because it would create more food secure areas. Also, there is an economic impact in food desserts. According to Brown and Jameton (2001) “Since economic factors are undeniably the single most powerful predictors of food security, successful urban entrepreneur gardens could be said to benefit the nutritional health of a community indirectly by providing income and employment opportunities for low- income households and thereby contributing to their ability to purchase a healthy diet” (Brown and Jameton, 2001). Therefore, not only are they encouraging healthy eating, but they are creating economic opportunities. The benefits of urban sustainability are methods of food cultivation are low on energy and transportation. Therefore, foods don’t require transportation from countries to states and saves cost. Urban farming could be a solution to the abundance of food deserts in Chicago.

 

References:

Brown, K. H., & Jameton, A. L.. (2000). Public Health Implications of Urban

Agriculture. Journal of Public Health Policy, 21(1), 20–39.

http://doi.org/10.2307/3343472

Gallagher Research & Consulting Group, M. (2006). EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF

 FOOD DESERTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH IN CHICAGO (Rep.). Chicago, IL: Lasalle

 Bank.

Growing Home Impact at a Glance. (2015). Retrieved February 18, 2016, from

Click to access GrowingHome12-13AnnualReport.pdf