Paradox Essay Research Paper Paradox Scientists and

Paradox Essay, Research Paper

Paradox

Scientists and the rest of the human race is finally beginning to realize that it has a tendency to try to destroy itself. Scientists are discovering that many of it’s creations can and have caused the deaths of many individuals. Studies have shown that many mechanisms and improved materials, which make human chores easier, are now known to cause or could possibly cause mortality rates to increase. People should know about these potential dangers. The microwave, computers, tanning beds, and cellular phones are thought to be the cause of some of these untimely deaths. Also there are chemicals such as lead and asbestos that have and can lead to such casualties. But most of all, it is the use of nuclear reactors to generate power that has caused the destruction of lives.

First, although a microwave is a very useful machine, and it helps in speeding up the cooking of food, a microwave can have harmful effects on babies. Mother’s milk is sometimes stored in the refrigerator in order to feed a baby more easily. Since the milk is cold it must be heated so that the child will drink it. In laboratory tests bottles with breast milk that were microwaved had a 79% decrease in immunoglobulin-A antibodies, which fight against infection, and a 19% decrease in lysozymes, which help destroy bacteria. Destruction of these antibodies leaves the child at a greater risk of developing a deadly infection (Fraser 17). A smart decision should be made, people should not heat bottled milk in the microwave, and take time to warm the milk in hot water, a baby’s life could depend on it.

Computer monitors might be the cause of birth defects, miscarriages, and cancer. Computer monitors emit very-low-frequency (VLF) and electromagnetic fields (ELF). The emissions form a sphere around the terminal. A 1988 study indicated that there were twice as many women who worked around computers that miscarried than those who did not. Luckily some companies are now allowing pregnant women to transfer from using the computers. Many scientist think that ELF emissions can cause effect the growth and chemical structure of human cells. In March of 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency stated that the terminal could be carcinogenic. After many years of use a person can develop brain tumors or other deadly forms of cancer (Greiner 16-17).

There are many people who do not believe that the computer monitors could cause have such horrible consequences. If there is no risk in using these computers, then why are some companies changing their computers, and some businesses are changing the way their employees use them.. Sigma Design added a coil to it’s computer that would reduce the ELF emissions. Even IBM has created new displays that have reduced emissions. CBS has required that their employees remain three feet away from the computer unless the person is using the computer (Greiner 17). People should be aware that their computer could cause cancer and should limit their exposure to ELF emissions.

A person can also be putting themselves at risk by using tanning beds. Many teen-agers believe that it is very cool to be tan therefore they go to tanning salons to get them. Ultraviolet A (UVA), which are more intense, and ultraviolet B (UVB) are known to cause skin cancer which can be fatal. Tanning beds only use UVA rays. Also the person’s tan may remain, so he or she would have to get repeated treatments. Which in turn would expose a person to even more UVA rays. Even though there is not much evidence on these effects on teen-agers, a Dr. Sydney Hurwitz from Yale University School of Medicine has reported that he has seen five or six children with melanomas. He also stated that ten to twenty percent of those people with melanoma go on to die, and that there is a six to ten percent increase per year ( Greeley 31-33). Individuals should warn their children not to use tanning booths and encourage them that a tan may cool but dead is even colder.

Many of today’s chemicals are also a hazard to human health. For instance, lead can be very deadly if gets into the blood stream. Lead based house paint can be one of the major contributors to lead poisoning. Inhalation of dust containing lead or ingestion of lead is harmful to anyone but severely hazardous to children under six. One individual found that her house was very contaminated and decided to remove it. The paint from the windowsill contained 2.5% lead, the garage paint had 6.72% lead, the porch had .22% lead, the rocking chair contained 24.65% lead, and the radiator had 8.72% lead. The maximum safe level amount of lead is supposed to be .5%. Luckily the women was able to have the house repainted (Henderson 65-69). People should regularly have their house checked for lead.

Also lead can be in the bowls and plates that people eat from. A study revealed that some ceramics made outside of the US have extremely high lead contents. The FDA found bowls that released 8000 parts per million (PPM) of lead, when the allowed should be between 2.5 PPM and .5 PPM (American Journal of Nursing 36). This is a easy way for a person to get lead poisoning because they are not aware that the lead is in their food. A person that buys pottery from another country should always have it tested for lead so that they do not get lead poisoning which can be fatal.

Asbestos is another such chemical that