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The study examined insulin responses in pancreatic islets from deceased human donors with and without type 2 diabetes, as well as stem cell-derived pancreatic islets.
Pancreatic islets are small clusters of pancreatic cells, including beta cells, crucial in regulating blood sugar levels by producing hormones like insulin and glucagon in response to nutrient intake.
It has long been understood that carbohydrates significantly contribute to blood sugar levels, prompting insulin release, while proteins have a moderate effect, and fats have minimal immediate impact.
However, this study suggests that insulin secretion in response to nutrients may actually be more complex and individualized than previously believed.
For the first time, researchers identified subsets of human pancreatic islets exhibiting larger insulin responses to proteins or fats than carbohydrates.
Although lab studies on pancreatic islets might not directly translate to living humans, the findings could greatly influence future personalized nutrition strategies for better blood sugar management, ultimately improving overall health outcomes.
Plastics were introduced in Kenya in the 1960s as a simple solution for packaging. Their use gained momentum over the years as Kenyans adopted them as preferred means of packaging.
Shoppers were supplied with excess bags more than was necessary. Many consumers started requesting as many bags as they could carry so long as there was something to be packed.
Unfortunately, consumers did not know what to do with the excess plastic bags they were getting. There was little awareness on proper disposal of the bags. In addition, an appropriate mechanism of their disposal was lacking.
Plastic bags were favoured by industry, retailers and the public for the following reasons.
They are cost-effective, easy to use, and convenient to store
They are available in bulk purchases at very low cost as compared to alternative bags such as reusable cloth bags
Plastic bags are quicker to open, pack, and double up than other bags
Plastic bags are light and require less storage space than other bags.
Over the years, these bags continued to be dumped recklessly. With time, this turned into a rather costly undertaking. The plastic bags turned out to be the biggest challenge in solid waste management. The government had to move swiftly by banning the use of polythene bags.
Plastic ban
Despite a groundbreaking 2017 law banning single-use plastic bags for household and commercial use, Kenya has not quite won its battle with plastic pollution.
Its capital, Nairobi, for example, generates about 2,400 tonnes of solid waste every day, of which a fifth is plastic.But now, it is going one step further.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Transition to the use biodegradable garbage bags for organic waste collection pic.twitter.com/UQ2tyOlr07
Well its July so here is how you can atleast avoid this menace
While it’s practically impossible to eliminate plastic from modern life, there are a number of steps you can take right now to cut back.
Do: Drink tap water. Don’t: Rely on bottled water.
Water from plastic bottles has about double the microplastic level of tap water on average, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers in Chemistry. So unless your tap water is contaminated with unsafe elements, such as lead, it’s probably best to drink tap. Fill up a metal reusable bottle for when you go out. You can always filter your tap water. Depending on the filter, that may further reduce microplastic levels. (Check CR’s ratings of water filters.)
Do: Heat food in or on the stove, or by microwaving in glass. Don’t: Microwave in plastic.
Some heated plastics have long been known to leach chemicals into food. So if you’re warming up food, use a pan in the oven or on the stove, or if you’re microwaving, use a glass container. Also, avoid putting plastics in the dishwasher because of the high heat involved in cleaning.
Do: Buy and store food in glass, silicone, or foil. Don’t: Store food in plastic, especially plastic that may contain harmful chemicals.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has said that plastic food containers with the recycling codes 3, 6, and 7 may contain potentially harmful chemicals, unless they’re labeled “biobased” or “greenware.” Don’t store food in these types of containers. Instead, use containers made of glass or silicone, or wrap your food in aluminum foil.
If you’re storing food in or eating food out of plastic containers, know that plastics with recycling codes 1 and 2 are more likely to be recyclable—though they are usually recycled into lower-quality plastics. And there still may be harmful or unknown chemicals in any type of plastic.
Do: Eat fresh food as much as possible. Don’t: Rely on processed food wrapped in plastic.
The more processed or packaged a food is, the higher the risk that it contains worrisome chemicals. Food cans are often lined with bisphenol A (or similar compounds). Buy fresh food from the supermarket, and—as much as possible—try to use refillable containers if your market allows. (Of course, with shopping made difficult by the coronavirus pandemic, prioritize your health and shop however is most feasible and safest.)
Certain markets let you fill up cardboard or reusable containers with bulk items and weigh them, or you can use your own mesh bags for produce. Raw meat and fish need to be kept separate for safety reasons, but ask the store fishmonger or butcher to wrap these foods in wax paper instead of plastic. Take cloth—not plastic—reusable bags to the store to take your groceries home.
Do: Vacuum regularly. Don’t: Allow household surfaces to get dusty.
The dust in your house could be loaded with microplastics and chemicals that are found in plastic, such as phthalates. Cleaning up dust may help reduce the amount of plastics you inhale, especially if you are stuck inside for long periods of time during a period of social distancing. CR recommends vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter, which is best for trapping dust. (Check CR’s ratings of vacuums.)
Do: Work with your community. Don’t: Assume your impact is limited to what you do in your personal life.
Legislation to limit the use of single-use plastics and plastic production may pull the biggest levers, but joining forces with community-level recycling groups can truly make a difference. Look for so-called zero-waste groups, which can offer guidelines for how to recycle or compost all your garbage—and which lobby for local rules that can restrict throwaway items. Also let your company align with the governments green agenda
Well-groomed hair is a symbol of beauty for many black African women. Natural hair requires special care and attention, though, which can be time consuming. Wigs (human or synthetic hair), weave-ons and other artificial hair extensions offer women an alternative to their natural hair.
In Nigeria, these alternatives are very popular with women, both young and old. The synthetic hair value chain is a big business worth millions of dollars and run by both local and foreign industries. Hairdressing salons flourish, providing styling and grooming services for women.
But we’ve found that there are contaminants hiding in synthetic hair. Man-made fibres go through various chemical processes to make them look and feel more like human hair. The raw materials used to make some of the products are toxic. And the hair products are mainly made from plastics which are not biodegradable, which is harmful to the environment.
In our study in Nigeria, we investigated 10 synthetic hair brands commonly worn by women. Some were made in Nigeria, others in China, Ghana and the USA. We found that all of them had different levels of contaminants such as silver, cadmium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and lead, including several pesticides which are hazardous to human health.
Synthetic hair is usually worn close to the scalp. Women who wear it should be aware of the potential harm.
Regulators should ensure that manufacturers of synthetic hair stop using plastic-based synthetic products and use natural plant fibres and protein blends instead. These hair fibres are biodegradable and free from harmful chemicals.
Our study
We bought 10 popular synthetic hair brands of various colours (Catherine, Eye Candy, Gold, Calypso, LVH, Dazzler, Mini Bob, Nectar, Diana and X-pression) from the Ariaria International market in Aba, in south-eastern Abia State.
We found heavy metals in significant amounts. One of them, lead, is used in stabilising the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that the synthetic hair is made of. Lead compounds (such as basic lead carbonate, lead stearate and lead phthalate) prevent heat, light or wear and tear from breaking down the PVC, and make it easier to form into shapes.
Lead is dangerous to humans, however. It affects the membranes, DNA, and antioxidant defence systems of cells. Lead also interferes with the normal development of a child’s brain and nervous system.
The metals that are used to stabilise the polymer are not bound to it. They can leach out over time or when exposed to light. So, when women wear synthetic hair, whether as attachments, weave-ons or wigs, on their heads or as fake eyelashes, they risk exposure to lead and other heavy metals. This is the case for all synthetic hair brands made from plastics.
In humans, exposure to heavy metals is associated with various biological risks such as damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, reproductive system and nervous system. It has also been associated with cancer, skin irritations, asthma and cardiovascular diseases.
We found also that the synthetic hair samples were contaminated with 11 chemical compounds which are pesticides. The levels of these chemicals found in the hair exceeded permissible limits, making them dangerous to health.
Since they were present in significant amounts, we suspect they were used as a form of preservative by the manufacturers.
We also found high levels of nitrate in the hair samples we studied. This has not been reported in previous studies on synthetic hair. Exposure to high levels of nitrate can lead to diseases such as cancer, enlargement of the thyroid gland and methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder).
Why this matters
Exposure to the toxic chemicals that we found in synthetic hair can have serious health consequences. Apart from damage to vital organs, they can cause infertility, birth defects, asthma, bronchitis and cancers. They also lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, endocrine system disruption and respiratory diseases, among others.
People who wear synthetic hair should consider these risks, especially as chemical substances and heavy metals can be harmful even at low levels.
Since Nigeria has large synthetic hair manufacturers in Lagos, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control should constantly review and evaluate the safety of the chemical ingredients used in making these products.
Synthetic hair manufacturers do have other options. They can use high quality synthetic fibres such as hiperlon instead of plastic fibres. They should use fibres that are free from PVC and toxic materials, and opt for environmentally friendly ones.
