Summary:
On industrial-scale farms, beef cows are given a steroid called trenbolone. Although steroids can decrease greenhouse gases and provide
other beneficial factors for farmers, this specific steroid, on the other hand, causes quite the opposite. Trenbolone was approved for use by
the U.S Food Department and the FDA for use on cattle, but it was not approved for use by humans. What scientists' believed that trenbolone
was able to dissolve in streams and rivers, was a false conclusion. Because when cattle excrete feces, traces of the drug ends up in the environment,
and scientists' believed that through the process of phototransformation, the drug would dissolve on its own. But what they did not anticipate was
that when the sun goes down, and the pH levels in the bodies of water are just right, the drug can reassemble. There are high degrees of uncertainties
of how much of the steroid is present in the waters; but they expect it to be much higher than previously believed. One way they believe to find this
mystery amount, would be to constantly check water levels for a total of 48 hours.
On industrial-scale farms, beef cows are given a steroid called trenbolone. Although steroids can decrease greenhouse gases and provide
other beneficial factors for farmers, this specific steroid, on the other hand, causes quite the opposite. Trenbolone was approved for use by
the U.S Food Department and the FDA for use on cattle, but it was not approved for use by humans. What scientists' believed that trenbolone
was able to dissolve in streams and rivers, was a false conclusion. Because when cattle excrete feces, traces of the drug ends up in the environment,
and scientists' believed that through the process of phototransformation, the drug would dissolve on its own. But what they did not anticipate was
that when the sun goes down, and the pH levels in the bodies of water are just right, the drug can reassemble. There are high degrees of uncertainties
of how much of the steroid is present in the waters; but they expect it to be much higher than previously believed. One way they believe to find this
mystery amount, would be to constantly check water levels for a total of 48 hours.
Reflection:
I find that the idea of a reassembling steroid is very interesting. It is weird to think that a steroid undergoing the perfect conditions can reform after it
has broken down. To me, it seems very similar to the movie molecules, where the molecule has a mind on its own. I think the idea of scientists' studying
how much of the steroid is in water sources is good, because despite the trenbolone being safe for cows, it was denied to be safe for humans. If this steroid
contaminates even a little of our water source, that would cause lots of issues for society and lots of money from the government. Like mentioned in the article,
I think having pharmaceuticals and people in that field search for a better steroid to give to cows may be very beneficial. Because not only are steroids good for
the environment, but they also have positive affects for the cattle.
I find that the idea of a reassembling steroid is very interesting. It is weird to think that a steroid undergoing the perfect conditions can reform after it
has broken down. To me, it seems very similar to the movie molecules, where the molecule has a mind on its own. I think the idea of scientists' studying
how much of the steroid is in water sources is good, because despite the trenbolone being safe for cows, it was denied to be safe for humans. If this steroid
contaminates even a little of our water source, that would cause lots of issues for society and lots of money from the government. Like mentioned in the article,
I think having pharmaceuticals and people in that field search for a better steroid to give to cows may be very beneficial. Because not only are steroids good for
the environment, but they also have positive affects for the cattle.