scholarly journals “Nuove” biotecnologie e questioni bioetiche emergenti

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenza Mele ◽  
Viviana Daloiso ◽  
Antonio G. Spagnolo
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Engineering Science ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Living Organisms

Le biotecnologie sono scienze destinate ad incidere in maniera profonda nella società. La portata dei cambiamenti che attraverso di esse sarà possibile realizzare è notevole, ma soprattutto spazia dalle scienze ingegneristiche, a quelle alimentari, a quelle mediche. La bioetica è decisamente chiamata ad accogliere la sfida rappresentata dalle biotecnologie. Il presente contributo parte proprio da qui: cogliere gli aspetti caratteristici e peculiari di alcune delle possibili applicazioni biotecnologie per inquadrare la singolarità delle problematiche bioetiche che da queste applicazioni possono derivare al fine di leggere tali contributi alla luce del valore cui si riferiscono e per il quale sono pensate: la persona. Nello specifico gli Autori si soffermano su tre specifiche applicazioni biotecnologiche che rappresentano settori le cui potenzialità preannunciano grandi promesse e per certi aspetti delle sfide davvero accattivanti; in particolare: gli OGM, le nanotecnologie e la farmacogenetica, temi variamente considerati nella rivista nel corso degli anni. ---------- Biotechnologies, the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment, are flourishing very rapidly. They cover many fields: from engineering science, to food, to medicine. Bioethics is therefore called to face the challenge given by biotechnologies. The present contribution takes advantage from this: it catches all the scientific peculiarities showed by these technologies and their applications to outline the peculiarities of their ethical issues and to read them in the light of their end: the human person. In fact, thanks to them, it will be possible to realize many transformations within the society. In particular, the Authors evaluate three main aspects of biotechnologies that are: the OGM, Nanotechnologies and the pharmacogenetics, topics covered in the journal on several occasions over the years.

Thiol-mediated etching of gold nanorods as a neoteric strategy for room-temperature and multicolor detection of nitrite and nitrate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Sepahvand ◽  
Forough Ghasemi ◽  
Hossein Mirseyed Hosseini
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Gold Nanorods ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Scientific Communities ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Living Organisms

The excessive presence of nitrite and nitrate in the environmental matrixes has raised concerns among the scientific communities due to their negative impacts on human health and living organisms. Considering...

scholarly journals Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation (RRI)

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gregorowius ◽  
Anna Deplazes-Zemp
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Responsible Research

Synthetic biology is an emerging field at the interface between biology and engineering, which has generated many expectations for beneficial biomedical and biotechnological applications. At the same time, however, it has also raised concerns about risks or the aim of producing new forms of living organisms. Researchers from different disciplines as well as policymakers and the general public have expressed the need for a form of technology assessment that not only deals with technical aspects, but also includes societal and ethical issues. A recent and very influential model of technology assessment that tries to implement these aims is known as RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation). In this paper, we introduce this model and its historical precursor strategies. Based on the societal and ethical issues which are presented in the current literature, we discuss challenges and opportunities of applying the RRI model for the assessment of synthetic biology.

scholarly journals Use of biophysical methods to improve yields and quality of agricultural products

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branko Marinkovic ◽  
Miroslav Grujic ◽  
Dusko Marinkovic ◽  
Jovan Crnobarac ◽  
Jelena Marinkovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Electromagnetic Stimulation ◽  
Stimulation Method ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
The University

Until as recently as a century ago, the exposure of biological systems to radiation was limited only to the natural sources. Today, however, a broad range of radiation types and doses have found a wide variety of uses and applications, so much so that it would be difficult to make a list of all the areas of human activity in which radiation is used for one purpose or another. The study of radiation effects on individuals and populations as a whole has become important only with the development of methods and sources of man-made radiation. Given that what is present in this case are physical effects on biological systems (living organisms), all these methods can be placed under the heading of biophysical influences. In the last 50 years, the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been studied with great diligence. These fields are the ones most commonly found in the human environment and they have been used in our studies in this field. The present paper provides a brief review of the literature data and our findings on the effects of ELF-EMF on various crop species using the RIES (Resonant Impulse Electromagnetic Stimulation) method, developed at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad.

Potential Ethical Concerns in Nanotechnology

2010 ◽  
pp. 261-271
Author(s):  
Chi Anyansi-Archibong ◽  
Silvanus J. Udoka
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Science Review ◽  
Atoms And Molecules ◽  
Size Scale ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
State Of The Science

Nanotechnology is science at the size of individual atoms and molecules. At that size scale, materials have different chemical and physical properties than those of the same materials in bulk. Research has shown that nanotechnology offers opportunities to create revolutionary advances in product development. It also has the potential to improve assessment, management, and prevention of environmental risks. There are however, unanswered questions about the impacts of nanomaterials and nanoproducts on human health and the environment. This chapter describes state-of the-science review, exposure assessment and mitigation, and potential macro ethical issues that must be considered to mitigate risk implications of emerging technologies such as nanotechnology.

scholarly journals Concise Review of Nickel Human Health Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Inorganics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Buxton ◽  
Emily Garman ◽  
Katherine E. Heim ◽  
Tara Lyons-Darden ◽  
Christian E. Schlekat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Metal Mixtures ◽  
Respiratory Cancer ◽  
Epigenetic Events ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Toxicity Effects

Nickel (Ni) metal and Ni compounds are widely used in applications like stainless steel, alloys, and batteries. Nickel is a naturally occurring element in water, soil, air, and living organisms, and is essential to microorganisms and plants. Thus, human and environmental nickel exposures are ubiquitous. Production and use of nickel and its compounds can, however, result in additional exposures to humans and the environment. Notable human health toxicity effects identified from human and/or animal studies include respiratory cancer, non-cancer toxicity effects following inhalation, dermatitis, and reproductive effects. These effects have thresholds, with indirect genotoxic and epigenetic events underlying the threshold mode of action for nickel carcinogenicity. Differences in human toxicity potencies/potentials of different nickel chemical forms are correlated with the bioavailability of the Ni2+ ion at target sites. Likewise, Ni2+ has been demonstrated to be the toxic chemical species in the environment, and models have been developed that account for the influence of abiotic factors on the bioavailability and toxicity of Ni2+ in different habitats. Emerging issues regarding the toxicity of nickel nanoforms and metal mixtures are briefly discussed. This review is unique in its covering of both human and environmental nickel toxicity data.

scholarly journals Impact of Kapotaksha river water pollution on human health and environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
MA Hanif ◽  
R Miah ◽  
MA Islam ◽  
S Marzia
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Human Health ◽  
River Water ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
River Bank ◽  
Sewage System ◽  
The People ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
River Water Pollution

This study was conducted to evaluate the Kapotaksha River water pollution status and its impacts on Human health and Environment. This study conducted a case study on four selected areas (Barakpur, Srirampur, Prbazar, and Gouranandapur) on the Kapotaksha river bank at Jhikargas Upazila. This river water pollution occurs by some natural process such as flood, storm, and natural biodegraded. But human activities are major reasons for the river water pollution. Industrialization, urbanization, domestic waste, sewage system, agrochemicals, etc are major causes for river water pollution. This more polluted water has an impact on human health and environment. This study was conducted to find out the polluted water due to various types of diseases such as scabies, asthma, dysentery and respiratory disease. Most of the people (49%) are affected by Scabies, 4% are affected by diarrhea, 5% are affected by dysentery, 25% of people are suffering from respiratory diseases and 4% are suffering from asthma and the polluted water pollutes soil by using the water in agriculture purpose answered by 20% respondents which is 100% of farmer respondents. If someone does not use this water can not affect soil answered by 80% of respondents. This river water becomes more polluted and harmful for human health and environment because this water hampered by the local colony, local trader, lack of proper management of sewage system, miss-use on the riverbank area for the dumping various solid waste on the river bank, chemical fertilizers, industries etc. At present now we cannot fulfill control this continuous river water pollution but we can minimize this problem and it would be positive for human health, others living organisms and Environment. Progressive Agriculture 31 (1): 1-9, 2020

scholarly journals Ethics guiding the action of the hospital manager

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Amélia Rego ◽  
Beatriz Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Hospital Management ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Equity And Access ◽  
Northern Zone ◽  
Institutional Vision ◽  
Personal Ethics

Objective: We believe there are ethical issues that emerge in the management of hospital health units, therefore in this article we discuss the interface between the areas of Bioethics and Management. This research aims to contribute to the operationalization of a profile of ethical competencies to manage hospitals with ethical weighing and linkage to values.Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive study with 421 hospital managers of 25 hospitals in the northern zone of Portugal, integrated in the National Health Service. To collect data, we used the Questionnaire of Ethicity in Hospital Management and analyzed the contents of the electronic pages of 36 hospitals about the mission, values and vision they advocate.Results: In addition to the philosophical perspective of each person, health professionals in hospital management respect the complex multidimensionality, recognizing the singularity and the personal, social and cultural individuality. Values and personal ethics can be a guide for action in the field of health. In the results of this study, we present a framework of ethical competencies for the management of the hospital, which aims to optimize management with ethical weighing with the following dimensions: Decision, Primacy of the human person, Responsibility, Integrity, Training and development, Equity and access, Organization and Social Responsibility.Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, we conclude that there is a need to implement a matrix of ethical competencies that guide health professionals to respect people and their rights – in the management of health care and services, in clinical practice or in scientific investigation. The managers of the hospitals integrate the guidelines in the code of ethics of their professional group and in the mission, values and institutional vision. Overall, they claim to have a framework of ethical competencies, acting with reference to the ethical paradigm of personalism.

scholarly journals Cadmium Pollution in the Tourism Environment: A Literature Review

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
Anna V. Mikhailenko ◽  
Dmitry A. Ruban ◽  
Vladimir A. Ermolaev ◽  
A.J. (Tom) van Loon
Keyword(s):  
Human Exposure ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Incomplete Knowledge ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Common ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Critical Regions ◽  
Insight Into

Cadmium is a highly-toxic metal, and, its environmental occurrence and human exposure consequently deserve close attention. The insight into the relationships between cadmium and tourism relations has deepened during the past three decades and the research into this relationship is reviewed. For this purpose, 83 relevant publications (mainly articles in international journals) were analyzed. It was found that investigation of Cd in the tourism environment took place in all continents (except Antarctica) and has intensified since the mid-2000s; Chinese researchers are the most active contributors. The Cd occurrence in air, living organisms, sediments, soil, suspended particular matter, water, and of the human environment has been studied. It has become clear that tourism contributes to Cd pollution (particularly, by hotel wastewater and increased traffic), and, vice versa, Cd pollution of beaches, coastal waters, food, urban parks, etc. creates risks for tourists and increases human exposure to this toxic metal. Both mechanisms have received equal attention. Examples concern many places worldwide, with the Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe as apparently critical regions. Our significantly incomplete knowledge of the relationships between cadmium and tourism must be ascribed to the common oversimplification of these relationships and to the scarcity or even absence of information supplied by the most important tourist destinations. The present review demonstrates that more studies of heavy metals and, particularly, Cd in the tourism environment are needed.

The Beginning of Life

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (27) ◽  
pp. 396-407
Author(s):  
Richard Harries
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Neutral Term ◽  
Full Protection

There are a number of ethical issues connecting with the beginning of life, most obviously abortion and most recently research on embryos. These issues have a number of aspects, particularly in relation to fertility treatment and genetic manipulation but they all assume answers to prior questions about what it is to be a human being and when it is that an entity, to use a neutral term, is accorded the full protection due to a human person. So it is that in this first lecture I will be concentrating on souls, persons and embryos.

Urban soils and human health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Bini ◽  
Mohammad Wahsha
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Soils ◽  
Environmental Geochemistry ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Potentially Harmful Elements ◽  
Local Topography ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Scientific Topic

<p>Since the dawn of civilization, the anthropic activity has lead to a legacy of increased land degradation/contamination. Potentially harmful elements (PHEs) are among the most effective environmental contaminants, and their release into the environment is rising since the last decades. Interest in trace elements has been increased as a major scientific topic over the last 50 years when it was realized that some elements were essential to human health (e.g., Fe, Cu, Zn). In contrast, some others were toxic (e.g., As, Hg, Pb), and likely responsible for serious human diseases and lethal consequences. Since that time, great progress in knowledge of links between environmental geochemistry and human health has been achieved. The urban environment (nowadays the main habitat for the human population) is a potential PHEs source, with high risk for residents’ health. Indeed, PHEs concentration and distribution are related to traffic intensity, distance from roads, local topography, and heating. Industrial emissions also contribute to the release of toxic elements. Understanding the extent, distribution and fate of PHEs in the urban environment is therefore imperative to address the sustainable management of urban soils and gardens in relation to human health.</p><p>Despite the extensive researches addressed to this topic, the effects of most trace metals on human health are not yet fully understood. Uncertainty is still prevailing, particularly with non-essential elements that are “suspected” to be harmful to humans, causing severe health problems as intoxication, neurological disturbances and also cancer. Some of them (e.g., As, Cd, Hg, Pb) have attracted most attention worldwide due to their toxicity towards living organisms. Other elements (Al, B, Be, Bi, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Sn, Tl, V, W) are likely harmful, but may play some beneficial functions not yet well known, and should be more investigated.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Urban soils; PHEs; Human health</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document