How do we go about solving this question?
We researched various different questions to chart a course for arriving at a solution for the problem. Specifically we worked on-
1. Which fruits and vegetables we should test.
This research led us to the dirty dozen and the Clean 15 vegetable list published by Environmental Working Group. The vegetables and fruits listed in the dirty dozen are most venerable to insects, weeds, fungus rot and hence are treated with more pesticides. We chose to work with Spinach, Strawberries, Potatoes, Carrot and Green Peppers from the dirty dozen list.
2. How do we test for the "cleanliness" factor of the produce selected?
Many different pathogens may be present in water or soil that can contaminate the produce. The industry usually relies on monitoring for indicator organisms, or Coliform bacteria. These bacteria are found in the intestines of warm blooded animals and therefore are present in sewage, on and in soils, surface waters and vegetation. Coliform bacteria by itself is considered to cause no diseases in man or animals, but their occurrence indicates the potential presence of other harmful organisms.
3. How do we test for the "exposure" factor of the produce selected?
Our research led us to test pesticide and heavy metal exposure for the selected produce.
China is the largest producer and consumer of pesticides in the world. There are many reports of Chinese farmers misusing the pesticides or using banned pesticides to yield a better harvest.
Heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium and mercury are important environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high population pressure. Their presence in the atmosphere, soil and water, even in traces can cause serious problems. Heavy metals are very harmful because of their non-biodegradable nature, long biological half lives and their potential to accumulate in different body parts.
4. How do we compare the nutritional content of the produce selected?
We wanted to test the nutritional content such as Vitamins, Carbohydrate, Protein content of these produce to see if there is any difference between the produce. The researchers we talked to indicated that while the Vitamin content could be easily performed, determining the carbohydrate and the protein content was a procedure that required sophisticated instrumentation that we did not have access to. Our studies were focused on Vitamin A, C and E content.
5. What kind of equipment and instrumentation do we need to use?
We spent a considerable time to find instruments and techniques used in the industry to assay the various aspects of our project. Our team leader gave us a head start in this research by narrowing down the type of techniques. We researched HPLC, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. We learned about the principles based on which this instrumentation works and how it is used in the industry.
1. Which fruits and vegetables we should test.
This research led us to the dirty dozen and the Clean 15 vegetable list published by Environmental Working Group. The vegetables and fruits listed in the dirty dozen are most venerable to insects, weeds, fungus rot and hence are treated with more pesticides. We chose to work with Spinach, Strawberries, Potatoes, Carrot and Green Peppers from the dirty dozen list.
2. How do we test for the "cleanliness" factor of the produce selected?
Many different pathogens may be present in water or soil that can contaminate the produce. The industry usually relies on monitoring for indicator organisms, or Coliform bacteria. These bacteria are found in the intestines of warm blooded animals and therefore are present in sewage, on and in soils, surface waters and vegetation. Coliform bacteria by itself is considered to cause no diseases in man or animals, but their occurrence indicates the potential presence of other harmful organisms.
3. How do we test for the "exposure" factor of the produce selected?
Our research led us to test pesticide and heavy metal exposure for the selected produce.
China is the largest producer and consumer of pesticides in the world. There are many reports of Chinese farmers misusing the pesticides or using banned pesticides to yield a better harvest.
Heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium and mercury are important environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high population pressure. Their presence in the atmosphere, soil and water, even in traces can cause serious problems. Heavy metals are very harmful because of their non-biodegradable nature, long biological half lives and their potential to accumulate in different body parts.
4. How do we compare the nutritional content of the produce selected?
We wanted to test the nutritional content such as Vitamins, Carbohydrate, Protein content of these produce to see if there is any difference between the produce. The researchers we talked to indicated that while the Vitamin content could be easily performed, determining the carbohydrate and the protein content was a procedure that required sophisticated instrumentation that we did not have access to. Our studies were focused on Vitamin A, C and E content.
5. What kind of equipment and instrumentation do we need to use?
We spent a considerable time to find instruments and techniques used in the industry to assay the various aspects of our project. Our team leader gave us a head start in this research by narrowing down the type of techniques. We researched HPLC, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. We learned about the principles based on which this instrumentation works and how it is used in the industry.