Environment, Well ness Monthly Newsletters

Quiz

4 Pages Vol 50 Issue 56 December - 2013

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Burhani Foundation (India)Amatullah Manzil, 2nd floor,65 Bazar Gate Street, Fort, Mumbai -400 001.

Tel; 22678480 Fax 22678480Websites; www.burhanifoundationindia.org,

Email: admin@burhanifoundationindia.org, bfi52@yahoo.co.in

Ozone Layer Depletion: Effects and Causes of Ozone DepletionThe ozone layer is responsible for absorbing harmful ultraviolet rays, and preventing them from entering the Earth's atmosphere. Ultraviolet radiations (UVR), are high energy electromagnetic waves emitted from the Sun. UV radiation includes UV-A, the least dangerous form of UV radiation, UV-B, and UV-C, which is the most dangerous. UV-C is unable to reach the Earth's surface due to stratospheric ozone's ability to absorb it. The real threat comes from UV-B, which can enter the Earth's atmosphere, and has adverse effects. However, various factors have led to the depletion and damage of the ozone layer.

Ozone layer depletion first captured the attention of the whole world in the latter half of 1970, and since then, a lot of research has been done to find its possible effects and causes. Various studies have also been undertaken to find out a possible solution.

Other ozone-depleting substances (ODS), include hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),

and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are often found in vehicle emissions,

byproducts of industrial processes, refrigerants, and aerosols. ODS are relatively stable

in the lower atmosphere of the Earth, but in the stratosphere, they are exposed to

ultraviolet radiation and thus, they break down to release a free chlorine atom.

This free chlorine atom reacts with an ozone molecule (O3), and forms chlorine monoxide (ClO), and a molecule of oxygen.

Now, ClO reacts with an ozone molecule to form a chlorine atom, and two molecules of oxygen. The free chlorine molecule

again reacts with ozone to form chlorine monoxide. The process continues, and this results in the depletion of the ozone layer.

Possible Effects of Ozone Depletion

As ozone depletes in the stratosphere, it forms a 'hole' in the layer. This hole enables harmful ultraviolet rays to enter the Earth's atmosphere. Ultraviolet rays of the Sun are associated with a number of health-related, and environmental issues.

Impact on HumansSkin cancer: Exposure to ultraviolet rays poses an increased risk of developing several types of skin cancers, including

malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma.Eye damage: Direct exposure to UV radiations can result in

photokeratitis (snow blindness), and cataracts.Immune system damage: Effects of UV rays include impairment of the

immune system. Increased exposure to UV rays weakens the response of the immune system. Accelerated aging of skin:

Constant exposure to UV radiation can cause photo allergy, which results in the outbreak of rash in fair-skinned people.

Other effects: Ozone chemicals can cause difficulty in breathing, chest pain, throat irritation, and hamper lung functioning.

Effects on Amphibians

Ozone depletion is listed as one of the causes for the declining numbers of amphibian species. Ozone depletion affects

many species of amphibians at every stage of their life cycle. Some of the effects are mentioned below.

Some useful tips to control obesity Exercise is more useful to burn fat as it speeds up metabolism. Exercise in any form like walking , swimming, cycling, playing football ,workout with machines or yoga just for 30-35 minutes per day.

Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products in daily diet.

Drink lots of water Whenever hungry in between main meal prefer to have fruits especially juicy fruits or fruit juice preferably

lemon, orange, carrot etc. Green salad is also healthier and makes filling of fullness to stomach.

Avoid or minimize sugar intake, avoid sweets, chocolates, pudding, cakes as all these leads to extra calorie to body. In spite of

this sugar low calorie sweetener can be used. Honey can be used in juice or water which will help in speed up metabolism.

Avoid high fat milk products like cheese.

Always prefer to have white meat like fish, instead of red meat as they are low in fat content. Some herbs available at home

kitchen are also useful in controlling weights like fennel, fenugreek, mint, black pepper, ginger. These herbs help in

digestion as well as raising metabolism.

Last but not the least always try to be happy,be strong mentally and continue positive efforts which will give positive results

and good health.

OlympicsThe modern Olympic Games are the leading international sporting event in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered to be the world's foremost sports competition .These Games are held every four years, with the summer and Winter Games alternating. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. The evolution of the Modern Olympic has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games including, the creation of the Winter Games for ice and winter sports, the Paralympics Games for athletes with a disability, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes.

The Olympic motto is , Citius, Altius, Fortius, a Latin expression meaning "Faster, Higher, Stronger".

The Olympic Creed is:-

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

Amazing Facts

1) Up until 1994 the Olympics were held every four years. Since then, the winter and summer games have alternated

every two years.

2) Three continents – Africa, South America, and Antarctica – have never hosted any Olympics.

3) A record 202 countries participated in the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens.

4) Olympic medals are designed by the organizing committee of each Olympic Games. The silver medal must be made of

92.5% silver while the gold medal must be covered in 6 grams of gold.

5) In 1912 the last gold medal made entirely of gold was awarded.

6) It wasn't until 1900 that women were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.

7) In ancient times females were forbidden to watch the games and the penalty for doing so was death. Only free males

were allowed to participate in the games.

8) The first ever Opening & Closing ceremonies were held in London Olympics in 1908.

9) Spyros Samaras composed the famous Olympic Hymn which is played when the Olympic Flag is raised.

10) The Berlin Games in 1936 were the first games to be televised.

Ozone is a triatomic form of oxygen (O3), found in the Earth's atmosphere. A

combination of low temperatures, elevated chlorine and bromine concentrations

in the upper stratosphere are responsible for the destruction of ozone. The production

and emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), is the leading cause of ozone layer

depletion. CFC's accounts for almost 80% of the total depletion of ozone.

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Effects on Marine Ecosystems

In particular, plankton (phytoplankton and bacterioplankton) are threatened by increased UV radiation. Marine phytoplankton

play a fundamental role in both the food chain as well as the oceanic carbon cycle. Plankton play an important role in converting

atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen. Ultraviolet rays can influence the survival rates of these microscopic organisms, by

affecting their orientation and mobility. This eventually disturbs and affects the entire ecosystem.

Impact on PlantsIn some species of plants, UV radiation can alter the time of flowering, as well as the number of flowers.Plant growth can be

directly affected by UV-B radiation. Despite mechanisms to reduce or repair these effects, physiological and developmental

processes of plants are affected.

Another observation is an increase in the ozone present in the lower atmosphere due to the decrease in the ozone in the

stratosphere. Ozone present in the lower atmosphere is mainly regarded as a pollutant and a greenhouse gas, that can contribute

to global warming and climate change. However, studies have pointed out that the lifespan of lower atmospheric ozone is quite

less, compared to stratospheric ozone. At the same time, increase in the level of ozone in the lower atmosphere can enhance the

ability of sunlight to synthesize vitamin D, which can be regarded as an important beneficial effect of ozone layer depletion.Growing concern for ozone depletion led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, in order to reduce and control

industrial emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Such international agreements have succeeded to a great extent in reducing

the emission of these compounds. However, more cooperation and understanding among all the countries of the world is required

to mitigate the problem. You too can do your bit to save the ozone. Use/buy more recycled products, save energy,take public

transport, and, most importantly, spread awareness. Our individual efforts can go a long way in saving the Earth's blanket.

Reasons to eat an orange a day!Sweet and juicy to taste, orange is one of the most popular fruits in India as well as the world. Belonging to a group of citrus fruits called hesperedium, oranges have more health benefits. Here are the top health benefits of the fruit.

1. Boosts your immunity

A single orange can meet more than 100% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. This vital nutrient helps to improve your immunity, keeping you free from diseases and infections.

2. Good for your skin

As we grow older, our skin along with other body parts suffers from free radical damage. This process is similar to how metals rust after exposure to air. Even though it is inevitable, oranges are packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C which slows down the process and makes you look younger than your age!

3. Great for your eyes

Along with our skin, our eyes too suffers from damage as we grow older. Oranges are rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium which are great for your eyes. So, if you want your vision to be just as good as it is now, eat an orange every day!

4. Prevents heart diseaseOne of the reasons why people get heart disease is because their arteries are blocked due to unhealthy lifestyles and consumption of junk food. Oranges have flavonoids like hesperidin which reduces cholesterol and prevents your arteries from getting blocked. This, in turn protects you from heart attack and various other cardiovascular diseases

5. Helps in brain development

Folate and folic acid present in oranges promote brain development and keep the vital organ in mint condition. In fact, these nutrients also make orange a healthy fruit for pregnant woman as it prevents the baby from having neurological disorders later.

6. Prevents cancerHaving cancer can be a tough and harrowing experience for both the patient and the caregiver. Research has shown that a compound called D – limonene present in oranges can prevent various types of cancer like lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, etc. Additionally, the antioxidants and Vitamin C help promote the body's immunity which helps in fighting cancer cells.

7. Keeps you free from stomach ulcers

Oranges are a very good source of fibre which helps keep your stomach and intestines healthy. A diet rich in fibre will ensure that you are not affected with ailments like stomach ulcers and constipation.

8. Great for diabeticsPeople who have diabetes are unable to absorb glucose since the beta-cells present in their pancreas either fail to produce insulin or the body's cells are unable to respond to the insulin produced. Oranges are high in fibre and have a high glycaemic index which makes it a good food option for diabetics. Also worth mentioning is that good oranges have a sweet taste, and since diabetics aren't allowed to eat sweets or other sugary foods, they can eat oranges to tingle their taste buds.

ObesityWhat Is Obesity?Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index, or BMI.

What Causes Obesity?

Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. For many people, this boils down to eating too much and exercising too little. But there are other factors that also play a role in obesity. These may include:

· As you get older, your body's ability to metabolize food slows down and you do not require as many calories to Age.maintain your weight. This is why people note that they eat the same and do the same activities as they did when they were 20 years old, but at age 40, gain weight.

· Women tend to be more overweight than men. Men have a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn Gender.more energy at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain their body weight. Additionally, when women become postmenopausal, their metabolic rate decreases. That is partly why many women gain weight after menopause.

· Obesity (and thinness) tends to run in families. In a study of adults who were adopted as children, researchers Genetics. found that participating adult weights were closer to their biological parents' weights than their adoptive parents.' The environment provided by the adoptive family apparently had less influence on the development of obesity than the person's genetic makeup. In fact, if your biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is approximately a 75% chance that you will be heavy. If your biological mother is thin, there is also a 75% chance that you will be thin. Nevertheless, people who feel that their genes have doomed them to a lifetime of obesity should take heart. Many people genetically predisposed to obesity do not become obese or are able to lose weight and keep it off.

· Environmental factors. Although genes are an important factor in many cases of obesity, a person's environment also plays a significant role. Environmental factors include lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and how active he or she is.

· Active individuals require more calories than less active ones to maintain their weight. Additionally, Physical activity.physical activity tends to decrease appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body's ability to preferentially metabolize fat as an energy source. Much of the increase in obesity in the last 20 years is thought to have resulted from the decreased level of daily physical activity.

· Psychological factors also influence eating habits and obesity. Many people eat in response to Psychological factors.negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. People who have difficulty with weight management may be facing more emotional and psychological issues; about 30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating. During a binge-eating episode, people eat large amounts of food while feeling they can't control how much they are eating.

· Although not as common as many believe, there are some illnesses that can cause obesity. These include hormone Illness.problems such as hypothyroidism (poorly acting thyroid slows metabolism), depression, and some rare diseases of the brain that can lead to overeating.

· Certain drugs, such as steroids and some antidepressants, may cause excessive weight gain.Medication.

Emotional Aspects of Obesity

One of the most painful aspects of obesity may be the emotional suffering it causes. Obese people often face prejudice or

discrimination at work, at school, while looking for a job, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression

are common , this gradually sinks a person into isolation and depression. Some of the patients even grow a tendency of

committing suicide in them. Most of the times, they feel embarrassed to eat in front of others, to go out or even to talk to

people. Due to the strong affinity of the people of our society to attain the best possible physique, people suffering from

obesity also suffer from mental dissatisfaction.Tip: When you cut an orange, make sure you do it in a way that the inner peel doesn't come off

since it is very nutritious and has higher amounts of hesperidin than the flesh itself.