Month: January 2007

The controversy surrounding HPV vaccine

HPV is nothing but the human papilloma virus. There is a vaccine that protects the individuals from the genital wart and cervical cancer, which is called HPV vaccine. This vaccine is very effective and have given relief to those female who were living with the fear that the genital wart present in them may one day become cervical cancer. But there is some kind of controversy that is going round about the vaccine. In this article let us discuss about the HPV vaccine and the controversy surrounding it.

The name of the new vaccine developed against the genital wart problem is gardasil. As per the advisory committee on the immunization practice, this vaccine can be given to the people around 11 to 12 years of age. This committee is the sub division of center for disease control.

This vaccine was developed keeping in mind curbing the possible development genital wart in to cervical cancer. This vaccine is considered as boon to the suffering females in the developed countries such as United States of America, united kingdom etc, where the genital wart is more prevalent.

This doesn t mean that this vaccine free from any kind of disadvantages. A group of people disagree and argue that making this vaccine compulsory is not at all a good practice. This vaccine administration will encourage the youngsters to in indulge in free unprotected sex. It is better to advise the youngsters to keep away from unprotected and unsafe sex, those people argue like this. But the people who are of this opinion fall in to minority category [in number]. Hence their voice is less loud.

The vaccine was not made compulsory in all states of United States of America. Each state can have separate policy regarding this vaccine. Before administering this vaccine to a person who is below 18 years, the doctor requires the permission from the parent or the care taker of the person. The girls who belong to conservative family here the sex before the marriage is a taboo], will find it difficult to get this vaccine.

But the fact of the matter is that this vaccine efficacy is beyond doubt and the side effects and the harmful effects are nil. Whether it should be administered [compulsorily] or not, is the problem. Since the population that is suffering because of genital warts is nearly six millions in United States of America alone, making this vaccine compulsory is not a bad thing. Though these genital warts are harmless in males, they can become dangerous cervical cancer in females. Hence protecting the subject, when there is way to protect is the duty of the government.

Though the people who want to keep away from this vaccine are less in number, the government must consider their view too. This is because those people are also the part of democracy. It is the responsibility of the parent to protect the children against a disease that is prevalent. The children too must be mature enough to understand the seriousness of the problem and indulge in safe sex.

Ethanol vs. Gasoline: How Each Impacts the Environment and Politics

One of the greatest debates concerning the future of energy use surrounds the differences between ethanol vs. gasoline. Each of these fuel substances is riddled with pros and cons, yet two of the most powerful issues surrounding these fuels are environmental concerns and politics. Regardless of how powerful the environmental argument for ethanol, gasoline wins out when it comes to politics in the ethanol vs. gasoline debate.

If you watch the gas prices fluctuate from holiday to holiday and season to season, it s easy to see that gasoline is big business. Nations have fought wars over the precious supply of oil that is difficult to find, drill, and refine. Still, there are concerns from environmentalists of the effects of reckless farming methods that may take advantage of land and labor in third world nations. In conclusion, when it come to ethanol vs. gasoline, it is important for consumers to know the way energy use is changing. Be watchful for cars that will run on mixed fuels or ethanol only.

Environmental Concerns

When it comes to environmental concerns, there are many differences between ethanol vs. gasoline. There is no question that the combustion of fossil fuels has lead way to many environmental concerns. In fact, it is proposed that transportation fuels are America s largest polluters. The burning of petroleum-based fuels produces the majority of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, reactive organic gases, and nitrogen oxides that American cities suffer with. For this reason, many fuel oxygenates have been created to counteract these emissions. While ethanol is one such oxygenate, MTBE or methyl tertiary butyl ether is another. MTBE is proven to be a water pollutant and is considered to possibly be a human carcinogen.

When comparing ethanol vs. gasoline, it is important to understand that ethanol can either be used as an additive to gasoline or on its own. The use of ethanol either mixed within gasoline or on used its own can have a powerful impact on the amount of pollutants produced. The use of ethanol can reduce the carbon monoxide emitted from the tailpipe by 30 percent. In addition, VOC exhaust emissions can be reduced by 12 percent. Ethanol use has also been used to reduce toxic emissions by 30 percent and PM emissions by more than 25 percent. Ethanol is slowly replacing the use of MTBE mentioned above. Unlike MTBE, ethanol is significantly less harmful as it is non-toxic, biodegradable and water soluble.