Specific odours that represent food or indicate danger trigger a small number of highly specialised sensory neurons that can alter an animal's lifespan and physiological profile, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, University of Houston, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Recent research in model organisms and in humans has shown that sensory experiences can impact a wide range of health-related characteristics including athletic performance, type II diabetes, and aging.
Nematode worms and fruit flies that were robbed of their ability to smell or taste, for example, lived substantially longer.
However, the specific odours and sensory receptors that control this effect on aging were unknown.
The researchers used molecular genetics in combination with behavioural and environmental manipulations, and successfully identified carbon dioxide (CO2) as the first well-defined odorant capable of altering physiology and affecting aging.
Flies incapable of smelling CO2 live longer than flies with normal olfactory capabilities.
They are also resistant to stress and have increased body fat. To many insects, including fruit flies, CO2 represents an ecologically important odour cue that indicates the presence of food (eg rotting fruit or animal blood) or neighbours in distress (it has been implicated as a stress pheromone).
The researchers previously showed that merely sensing one's normal food source is capable of reversing the health and longevity benefits that are associated with a low calorie diet.
They now establish that CO2 is responsible for this effect.
"We are working hard to understand how sensory perception affects health, and our new result really narrows the playing field. Somehow these 50 or so neurons, whose primary job it is to sense CO2, are capable of instigating changes that accelerate aging throughout the organism," said Scott Pletcher.
Sensory perception has been shown to impact aging in species that are separated by millions of years of evolution, suggesting that similar effects may be seen in humans.
"For us, it may not be the smell of yeast, for example, or the sensing of CO2 that affects how long we live, but it may be the perception of food or danger," said Pletcher.
If so, a clever program of controlled perceptual experience might form the basis of a simple yet powerful program of disease prevention and healthy aging.
The study has been published in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Plan for composting plant may not pass the aroma test
Surrey is looking at a proposal to build a composting plant on land zoned for agricultural use, as municipalities strive to divert tonnes of organic waste from landfills.
But the plan, proposed by Private Grove Developments for 25 acres at 176th Street and 12th Avenue in south Surrey, has residents raising a stink about the potential odour problem.
Critics also say that if the plant goes ahead, Metro Vancouver will lose more valuable land for food production, but advocates insist composting should be considered an agricultural process rather than an industrial one because it creates organic soil for food production and is essential for sustainable waste management.
The plant would produce thousands of times more soil for food production than the land it displaces, says Richard Shatto of Point Nexus Consulting, a firm hired by Pilot Grove.
He said that up until now there have been no standards for compost plants so, "big smelly piles of manure and rotting organics is what most people think of."
The company argues industrial land, which is ten times the price of agricultural land, is too expensive for composts, which rely on tipping fees that typically run around $70 a tonne.
Cost for industrial land in Metro Vancouver is around $1 million per acre compared to $100,000 per acre for agricultural-zoned land, said Shatto.
As for the smell, the company said it will install high-tech biofilters that will eliminate the nauseous odour. Biofiltration is a pollution-control technique using trillions of microscopic bacteria to capture pollutants.
Ron Koukal, who lives nearby on 176th Street, said the plant would stink up the neighbourhood and thinks it should be developed on industrial land instead, away from residents' noses.
He doesn't believe the company when it says there will be virtually no smell.
"I don't trust them. If that's what they do they are turning that land into a dump. They can buy the land a lot cheaper. And I don't think that once they get the land they are going to spend the money to get rid of the smell."
Koukal said he and his neighbours are also concerned about the value of their houses going down.
"And what about tourism? There's a new tourism centre nearby. The sign says 'Welcome to Surrey the City of the Future,' but if there is odour ... tourists will think Surrey smells bad."
John Paul, owner of Transform Compost Systems, which designed the biofilters, said they will place filters in the receiving area, which will be enclosed in a building, and another one in the building where the composting process will take place.
He said residents should not be concerned about the smell because the process has already been tested in Agassiz. There are also biofilters at the UBC compost and at the one in Whistler.
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt, who is in favour of the proposal, said he is not concerned about the odour either, arguing that it would smell far less than a chicken or hog farm, which are considered for use on the ALR.
"The smelly part is inside a building and the air will be sucked out and goes through a biofilter. So that's not an issue."
But the plan, proposed by Private Grove Developments for 25 acres at 176th Street and 12th Avenue in south Surrey, has residents raising a stink about the potential odour problem.
Critics also say that if the plant goes ahead, Metro Vancouver will lose more valuable land for food production, but advocates insist composting should be considered an agricultural process rather than an industrial one because it creates organic soil for food production and is essential for sustainable waste management.
The plant would produce thousands of times more soil for food production than the land it displaces, says Richard Shatto of Point Nexus Consulting, a firm hired by Pilot Grove.
He said that up until now there have been no standards for compost plants so, "big smelly piles of manure and rotting organics is what most people think of."
The company argues industrial land, which is ten times the price of agricultural land, is too expensive for composts, which rely on tipping fees that typically run around $70 a tonne.
Cost for industrial land in Metro Vancouver is around $1 million per acre compared to $100,000 per acre for agricultural-zoned land, said Shatto.
As for the smell, the company said it will install high-tech biofilters that will eliminate the nauseous odour. Biofiltration is a pollution-control technique using trillions of microscopic bacteria to capture pollutants.
Ron Koukal, who lives nearby on 176th Street, said the plant would stink up the neighbourhood and thinks it should be developed on industrial land instead, away from residents' noses.
He doesn't believe the company when it says there will be virtually no smell.
"I don't trust them. If that's what they do they are turning that land into a dump. They can buy the land a lot cheaper. And I don't think that once they get the land they are going to spend the money to get rid of the smell."
Koukal said he and his neighbours are also concerned about the value of their houses going down.
"And what about tourism? There's a new tourism centre nearby. The sign says 'Welcome to Surrey the City of the Future,' but if there is odour ... tourists will think Surrey smells bad."
John Paul, owner of Transform Compost Systems, which designed the biofilters, said they will place filters in the receiving area, which will be enclosed in a building, and another one in the building where the composting process will take place.
He said residents should not be concerned about the smell because the process has already been tested in Agassiz. There are also biofilters at the UBC compost and at the one in Whistler.
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt, who is in favour of the proposal, said he is not concerned about the odour either, arguing that it would smell far less than a chicken or hog farm, which are considered for use on the ALR.
"The smelly part is inside a building and the air will be sucked out and goes through a biofilter. So that's not an issue."
Friday, April 09, 2010
Green Chemistry books to look out for this week
 |  |  |
| Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Huma... by Elizabeth Grossman $17.79 | Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Pr... by Mark Schapiro $11.53 | Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice by Paul T. Anastas $27.90 |
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Residents Demand Answers About Odor From Rumpke Dump
Residents Demand Answers About Odor From Rumpke Dump
COLERAIN TWP., Ohio -- Dozens of residents lashed out Thursday at officials about the state of the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township.
"I feel we're being managed and dismissed," on resident said. While another tried to make sure their voices were heard saying, "How many hands do I have that we be allowed to speak and address to what you are doing. Nothing."
Residents said they were looking to have their questions about the smell coming from the dump answered, not a presentation.
"There's no flames, no smoke. It doesn't smell like something's burning," said Paul Ruesch of the EPA.
Neighbors have described the smell as a mixture of chemicals.
"It doesn't matter if it's a reaction or a fire," Ruesch said. "The dynamic is the same and we're going to deal with it and control it based on what it's giving off."
There have been rare temperature recordings 100 feet below the surface at 11-acres of the dump since August.
Neighbors of Mt. Rumpke said they're fed up with what they describe as that harsh odor, poor air quality, and possible long-term health effects.
"We don't know what's coming out," one neighbor said. "It smells really bad and it's hard to believe that something that smells that bad is ok to breathe."
"We understand the frustrations of the community the odors are a concern of ours as well," Jay Roberts, an engineer with Rumpke Engineer. "We do what we can to mitigate the odors and be invisible at the property line."
Rumpke has tossed an additional foot of clay soil in some areas plus an odor neutralizing agent.
COLERAIN TWP., Ohio -- Dozens of residents lashed out Thursday at officials about the state of the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township.
"I feel we're being managed and dismissed," on resident said. While another tried to make sure their voices were heard saying, "How many hands do I have that we be allowed to speak and address to what you are doing. Nothing."
Residents said they were looking to have their questions about the smell coming from the dump answered, not a presentation.
"There's no flames, no smoke. It doesn't smell like something's burning," said Paul Ruesch of the EPA.
Neighbors have described the smell as a mixture of chemicals.
"It doesn't matter if it's a reaction or a fire," Ruesch said. "The dynamic is the same and we're going to deal with it and control it based on what it's giving off."
There have been rare temperature recordings 100 feet below the surface at 11-acres of the dump since August.
Neighbors of Mt. Rumpke said they're fed up with what they describe as that harsh odor, poor air quality, and possible long-term health effects.
"We don't know what's coming out," one neighbor said. "It smells really bad and it's hard to believe that something that smells that bad is ok to breathe."
"We understand the frustrations of the community the odors are a concern of ours as well," Jay Roberts, an engineer with Rumpke Engineer. "We do what we can to mitigate the odors and be invisible at the property line."
Rumpke has tossed an additional foot of clay soil in some areas plus an odor neutralizing agent.
Plant installs new odour controls
Amaizeingly Green LP is trying out some new equipment in its ongoing battle with odour and noise problems.
"We have successfully met the requirements for the install, commissioning and making operational of our new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer to treat the Germ Dryer exhaust at AGP," general manager Martin Kazmir said in an email.
The oxidizer went into operation on March 26 and has "been working well," said Kazmir.
In an abatement plan presented in December, the company outlined treating the germ dryer exhaust stream with a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. The MOE issued a control order requiring the RTO -Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer-- to be installed by March 26.
"This was a next-to-impossible date to meet but we did the best we could and did meet the date of installation. The RTO is the latest in effective technology for treating odour stream," said Kazmir, noting the oxidizer will "reduce any odour stream with 98 per cent efficiency."
The Ministry of the Environment said it had received two complaints about odour in the last five days and was unable to corroborate either one.
"We have successfully met the requirements for the install, commissioning and making operational of our new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer to treat the Germ Dryer exhaust at AGP," general manager Martin Kazmir said in an email.
The oxidizer went into operation on March 26 and has "been working well," said Kazmir.
In an abatement plan presented in December, the company outlined treating the germ dryer exhaust stream with a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. The MOE issued a control order requiring the RTO -Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer-- to be installed by March 26.
"This was a next-to-impossible date to meet but we did the best we could and did meet the date of installation. The RTO is the latest in effective technology for treating odour stream," said Kazmir, noting the oxidizer will "reduce any odour stream with 98 per cent efficiency."
The Ministry of the Environment said it had received two complaints about odour in the last five days and was unable to corroborate either one.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
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