Effect of Food, Agriculture, Soil, and Plastics on the Digestive System - Essay Sample

Introduction

The human digestive system is one of the most complex and essential parts of the human body. The sensitivity of the system and its purpose as the entry point of nutrients and minerals into the human body predisposes it to poisoning by pathogens and other external compounds. The contaminants are usually from the food taken and pollutants in the environment. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are common in contemporary society amid controversy that they are a threat to human health. Pesticides and herbicides are key aspects of agriculture with the potential of poisoning the digestive system. Bisphenol A (BPA) from common plastics also poisons the digestive system. GMOs, herbicides/pesticides and plastics adversely affect the digestive system and can be controlled by the legislation of laws and policies governing their manufacture and use.

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Food is at the heart of the human lifestyle since it is the source of energy for bodily functions as well as work in the daily activities of a person. However, a large population, especially in developing countries, struggle to achieve a balanced diet (Zhu et al., 2016). The numbers are distinct in different countries depending on lifestyle, agriculture and other factors. According to a report by IFIC Functional Foods/Foods for Health Survey, about 19% of Americans do not consume a balanced diet and thus face the risk of developing health disorders related to the digestive system (Huang, 2017). The figures are much lower in developing countries such as South Africa with more than half the country's population not observing dietary recommendations such as diet balancing.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are a key milestone in the advancement of genetics and biological engineering. GMOs are plants and animals that have been manufactured by human hands through alteration of their natural genetic sequences (Zhu et al., 2016). GMOs are most common in developed countries such as the United States, China, and Japan. They are least common in the less developed countries of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The United States is a common source of genetically engineered plants that have been altered to be more resistant to pests, drought, and be more productive to meet the national food requirements. Common plants include soybeans, corn, and wheat. The plants are greatly affected by pests and diseases; thus the incentive to engineer them and make them more resistant. Consuming genetically engineered plants leads to the introduction of the genes into the human body (Zhu et al., 2016). However, scarcity in research is the main shortcoming of exploring the subject since GMOs effect on the digestive system remains unclear.

Consumption of genetically engineered foods introduces bacteria that thrive and continuously reproduce in the human digestive system. The Institute of Responsible Technology reported that genetic engineering caused intense damage to human DNA since the engineered bacteria from GMO continue to thrive in human intestines long past the digestion of a genetically modified food substance (Zhu et al., 2016). Modified genes cause deletion and rearrangement of natural genes thus altering the functioning of the human digestive system. Proteins obtained from GMOs can be altered upon interaction with somatic cells and digestive juices triggering allergies and promoting the development of pathogens in the alimentary tract. Bt Toxins that are introduced into GMO crops to make them pest-resistant reach the bloodstream of 93% of pregnant women with a transfer rate of 80% to unborn babies (Huang, 2017). Consumption of GMOs thus has long-term effects on the digestive system.

The world shares a growing consensus in the need to control the development and use of genetically modified foodstuffs. In the United States, oversight on GMO is conducted by three organizations namely the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Huang, 2017). The FDA legislated a policy in 1992 that required all GMOs to be evaluated and whether they are safe for use. As a result, all GMOs present in the U.S. are regarded as "Generally Recognized as Safe" and controlled by the agency. In South Africa, the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997) controls all activities about the development and use of GMOs (Zhu et al., 2016). The act guides the import, export, use, and storage of GMOs to ensure abidance to the health care acts in the country. The digestive system is sensitive to GMOs, and the governments of both developed and developing countries should observe legislated laws regarding safe use of GMOs.

Agriculture is among the earliest economic activities that humans involved in. The industrial revolution and advancements in technology have enabled agricultural activities to seamlessly increase in the global front to meet the ever-increasing demand for food. Increase in agricultural activities leads to a rise in the use of machinery and chemicals that may contaminate food if poorly controlled (Kim et al., 2017). Chemical pollution of soil during agriculture is mostly caused by use the use of herbicides and pesticides in cultivation. Large scale agriculture presents the challenge of carrying out routine crop and livestock management practices. The practices have to be automated and replaced with chemicals where possible to conserve time, cost and sometimes the quality of crops. Arable soil contains minerals that are absorbed and stored in plants. The minerals may be helpful such as Magnesium, Copper, and Zinc or may be contaminants such as Lead and Arsenic (Mew et al., 2017). Ultimate consumption of crops from different soils leads to intake of soil minerals into the human digestive system causing both positive and adverse effects on the digestive system.

Pesticides and herbicides are used on crops and animals to eradicate parasitic organisms that survive on the crop or animal. Uncontrolled use of pesticides and herbicides leads to a chain of pollution since the chemical compounds in the pesticides can be carried by agents of pollution. Research by Mew et al. (2017) explored the use of the organochlorine group of pesticides and their associated effects on the endocrine and digestive system in the body. The main chemical compound in the organochlorine chemicals is Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). DDT and other organometallic compounds were banned from use in the United States in the early 1970s by the U.S. Environmental protection agency (Mew et al., 2017). In South Africa and other developing countries, harmful herbicides and pesticides continue to be used despite knowledge on the adverse consequences that the compounds have on soil, agriculture and the human digestive system (Cohn et al., 2015). For example, the consumption of food that contains organometallic groups and heavy metals causes the growth of malignant tumors in the digestive system. Continued exposure to poor agricultural practices and soil pollution thus predisposes a person to cancer of the gastrointestinal tract such as colon cancer and stomach cancer.

Plastic has evolved to become the most common form of packaging material in the modern world. Advances in the chemistry of polymers allow scientists to manufacture virtually any type, color, and shape of plastic materials (Yin et al., 2015). Plastics have the profound flaw that they are not biodegradable. They do not naturally break down under the influence of soil microorganisms leading to pollution. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a primary structural material in the building of plastics. It is usually used alongside polycarbonates and niche materials as starting inputs for the synthesis of plastics (Yin et al., 2015). BPA leaches from epoxy resins in plastic containers into food stored in them. BPA mimics the activity of Estrogen, a female reproductive hormone. Research by Aris (2014) showed that 91% of Canadians had BPA in their digestive system. Exposure to BPA leads to build up of toxic elements in the digestive system leading to conditions such as cancers and malignant growths in the digestive system (Yin et al., 2015). The United States, South Africa, and virtually all developed and developing countries have banned the use of BPA in making plastics specifically baby bottles.

GMOs, herbicides/pesticides and plastics are crucial aspects of everyday life. The three are essential in life and cannot be scrapped altogether. However, their usage can be monitored to ensure they abide by health and safety requirements and prevent their harmful effects on the digestive system. The human digestive system is unable to completely breakdown synthetic compounds leading to a buildup of toxins that cause diseases and conditions such as cancers in the alimentary canal. The United States and other developed nations have made great strides in controlling the three pollutants above. Developing countries need to work on their strategies on controlling food, agriculture, soil, and plastics to protect human health. The legislation is the sure way to protect human health from the influence of the pollutants.

References

Aris, A. (2014). Estimation of bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations in pregnant women, fetuses and nonpregnant women in Eastern Townships of Canada. Reproductive Toxicology, 45, 8-13.

Cohn, B. A., La Merrill, M., Krigbaum, N. Y., Yeh, G., Park, J. S., Zimmermann, L., & Cirillo, P. M. (2015). DDT exposure in utero and breast cancer. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 100(8), 2865-2872.

Huang, K. (2017). Overviews of Food Allergy and Evaluating Methods Used in Allergenic Assessment of GMOs with Application Examples Conducted in Our Laboratory. In Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods (pp. 63-117). Springer, Singapore.

Kim, K. H., Kabir, E., & Jahan, S. A. (2017). Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Science of the Total Environment, 575, 525-535.

Mew, E. J., Padmanathan, P., Konradsen, F., Eddleston, M., Chang, S. S., Phillips, M. R., & Gunnell, D. (2017). The global burden of fatal self-poisoning with pesticides 2006-15: systematic review. Journal of affective disorders, 219, 93-104.

Yin, N., Yao, X., Qin, Z., Wang, Y. L., & Faiola, F. (2015). Assessment of Bisphenol A (BPA) neurotoxicity in vitro with mouse embryonic stem cells. Journal of environmental sciences, 36, 181-187.

Zhu, P., Wang, C., Huang, K., Luo, Y., & Xu, W. (2016). A novel pretreatment-free duplex chamber digital PCR detection system for the absolute quantitation of GMO samples. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(3), 402.