Tekmar Talk Blog

Community gardens have grown in popularity in cities and towns across the country. For some, the gardens are gathering places to reconnect with nature or to beautify communities by replacing abandoned vacant lots with thriving vegetation. For others, these gardens provide a place to meet neighbors and spend time with friends, as well as a source for food and flowers for whoever is willing to care for the plants. Despite their many benefits, may also increase the opportunity for exposure to common urban soil contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons” or PAHs.

Researchers have found garden soils with elevated levels of PAHs in New York City’s community gardens. The researchers published their findings in an article in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a new rule to the Safe Drinking Water Act that would require public water systems to collect data for up to 30 new types of contaminants in tap water. The rule, which is revised every five years, includes new contaminants that are not subject to EPA standards. The EPA is only allowed by Congress to monitor up to 30 potential contaminants every five years.

The EPA currently monitors 114 contaminants that fall under six categories, including microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic and organic chemicals and radionuclides. The new rule will provide EPA and others parties with scientifically valid data about the national occurrence of selected contaminants such as cyanotoxins associated with harmful algal blooms. The data, which includes exposure occurrence, levels of exposure and population exposure, is used to help develop regulatory decisions for emerging contaminants.

A recent headline in The New York Times called the changing eating habits of American consumers a “Seismic Shift.” Soda sales are down 25 percent since 1998, orange juice consumption is down 45 percent and sales of prepackaged foods such as cereal and frozen dinners are down 25 percent and 12 percent respectively. While sales of these grocery store staples are down, sales of fresh prepared food, as well as raw fruits and vegetables are on the rise.

The article cites a lack of trust in packaged goods for their lack of nutrition and high sugar and salt. “According to one recent survey, 42 percent of millennial consumers, ages 20 to 37, don’t trust large food companies, compared with 18 percent of non-millennial consumers who feel that way.” As consumers move to more fresh, raw and natural products, food manufacturers are making changes to their business strategies.

Now that the Holidays are passed, it’s time to box the lights and put away the decorations. But before you store the fake Christmas tree for the next 11 months, consider whether the tree is making you sick. Men’s Health recently questioned whether fake trees are harming our health because most of them are made from a synthetic plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Depending on whom you ask, PVC could be safe or dangerous.

Dr. Glenn Harnett, the Chief Medical Officer of American Family Care, the nation’s leading urgent care provider told Men’s Health that PVC is harmful “in part because PVC is a fire-resistant compound that can use metals like lead, tin or barium as stabilizers,” adding “PVC also releases gases known as volatile organic compounds, which are gases that can irritate the eyes, nose, and lungs.”

Eat your vegetables… something we’ve all heard since we were little kids. Parents across the country can share a different version of the same story where little Jane or Johnny sat for hours at the dinner table refusing to eat their green beans and wishing that they had a dog to eat them. The World Health Organization recommends that we eat roughly five servings of fruits and vegetables every day to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Did you know that the petunia releases its fragrant compounds at night when pollinators are more likely to be out and about? Or that the rotting animal scent of the corpse flower comes from the same stuff that you smell in skunk beer and Limburger cheese? Scientists have also discovered the enzyme that gives roses its signature fragrance. Knowing this, rose breeders can use this knowledge to create even more potent smelling flower of love.

Teledyne Tekmar recently conducted a webinar about food and beverage flavor testing using Teledyne’s automated headspace solutions. In the webinar, analysis of several food and beverage applications was provided. The headspace analysis was completed using the HT3 Automated Static and Dynamic Headspace Vial Sampler, which includes a 60-position Autosampler and a 10-position Sample Platen for Overlapping; and the Versa Automated Headspace Vial Sampler, which is only one-foot wide and includes a 20-position Autosampler and a single vial platen. Here are several key takeaways from the webinar: 

A search across the Internet, and it’s clear that the answer to whether the statement, “Organic foods are safer for you,” is fact and fiction depends on whom you ask.  Nearly 95% of people surveyed by the Soil Foundation said the top reason they buy organic food is to avoid pesticides, but unfortunately, organic farmers still use pesticides and fungicides to protect their crops.

Scientists in Edmonton, Alberta Canada wanted to find out where the air is better, inside or outside the home. The objective according to the study published in the August issue of Building and Environment “was to get a better understanding of emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their contributions to indoor and outdoor concentrations in residences in Edmonton.”[1] With all the concerns about air quality, one might think that the obvious answer is inside with the filtered air conditioning.

Do Smartwatches Have a Place in the Lab?

According to analyst firm IDC, smartwatch sales will jump 500% in 2015[i] led in large part to the interest of Apple Watch. Now, Apple Watch was not the first smartwatch on the market. Companies such as Pebble and Samsung had products on the market years ago. The hype behind Apple Watch however, has had a dramatic impact on the attention for the wrist-wear market. The success of the market ultimately will come down to applications and use cases. People who purchase smartwatches are looking for more than something that can keep time. If they are going to spend $200 to $10,000 on a digital smartphone companion, it better have a positive impact on their lives.