HUMIC ACID FOUND IN SOIL REDUCES ANIMAL DEATHS An acid found rich in hummus soil breaks down the misfolded proteins called prions that cause chronic wasting diseases. Prions are misfolded proteins which characterize several fatal neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. These malformed versions of proteins affect the nearby normal proteins to take on its complex shape and is harmful to the nerve cells. Infected animals become disoriented, and are unable to chew food or drink water months before death. Chronic wasting disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. It has killed large populations of deer, elk and moose. This has been spread across several countries such as South Korea, Sweden and Norway. Deers are prone to be infected when they graze in prion contaminated areas. The discovery of how humic acid affects prions makes it easier to curb this disease. Humic acid is a substance that is found naturally in soil. It binds to a plant'
The Seveso Disaster was an industrial accident that took place on the 10th of July, 1976. The accident took place in a small chemical manufacturing plant which is approximately 20 kilometres north of Milan in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is called the Seveso Disaster because Seveso, a community populated with 17,000 residents in 1976, were the most affected by this catastrophe. Neighbouring communities that were also affected are located in Meda, Desio, Cesano Maderno, Barlassina and Bovisio Masciago. The industrial plant was located in Meda and was owned by the company Industrie Chimiche Meda Societa Azionaria or otherwise recognized as ICMESA. Residents did not perceive the factory to be a source of danger since the factory had been there for many years. In 1969, the factory produced 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP), a by-product used mainly in the preparation of an acid. The derivatives which are used as herbicides and the preparation of an antibacterial subs