Sulphur/Sulfur and health. E220.

Sulphur dioxide

E220

Preservative.

Sulphur dioxide reacts with a wide range of substances found in food, including various essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and essential fatty acids. Adverse reactions: bronchial problems particularly in those prone to asthma, hypotension (low blood pressure), flushing tingling sensations or anaphylactic shock. International Labour Organization says to avoid E220 if you suffer from conjunctivitis, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, or cardiovascular disease.

 

Grapes and sulfur, Smell before you eat...

  Health effects of Sulfur.

  Sulfur is mainly found in nature in the form of sulphide. In several processes  sulfur compounds are released to the environment, where they cause damage to both animals and humans. These harmful sulfur compounds are formed in nature during  all kinds of reactions. These reactions are undesirable because they producean  unpleasant odor and  are often highly toxic. Generally, sulfur compounds have the following effects on human health:

- Neurological effects and behavioral changes  

- Disturbance of blood circulation 

- Heart damage 

- Diseases of the eyes and sight problems

- Reproductive failure 

- Damage to immune systems 

- Stomach and digestive disorders 

- Damage to liver and kidney functions 

- Hearing defects 

- Disturbance of the hormonal metabolism 

- Dermatological effects 

- Suffocation , pulmonary embolism

- Internal nervous system.

Sulfur in the air can be found in various forms. When sulfur in gaseous state is absorbed by inhalation, it can cause eye -and throat irritation. Sulfur is extensively used in industry as pesticides,  in animals sulfur causes malfunction of the hypothalamus and particularly affects the nervous system and brains. Laboratory experiments with animals have shown that sulfur also seriously damages the blood vessels in the brains, heart and kidneys.These tests show that some sorts of sulfur cause fetal damage and birth defects. Sulfur Poisoning may occur to babies when mothers breastfed their children .

 Sulfur is widely used to fight mildew on vegetables and fruits. It was this week I smelled and tasted sulfur on my grapes, even after rinsing with water it was still there.

Use your nose....

Powdery mildew and milk to fight it...!

Until today that is, there has been no cure to powdery mildew.. 

Meeldauw, Mildew.. click  to enlarge.

Wagner Bettiol, a scientist in Brazil found that using milk will actually control this powdery mildew. Yes, normal milk will actually control powdery mildew and contains a natural foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant's immune system in the process. Bettiol found that a mixture of at least 10% milk mixed with 90% water will significantly reduce the severity of powdery mildew when sprayed weekly on the plant. Scientists are still baffled as to why this powdery mildew is actually cured from just using milk. Some believe it might just be to the fact that most milk contains natural salts and amino acids that acts like a natural germicide. New Zealand also found out about this new cure and has started to see changes on the grapes that are used for wine production.

It is amazing that this simple natural ingredient will cure powdery mildew when chemical sprays were not as effective. It is great to hear that there is a natural cure, especially since the produce is grown to eat and drink. Organic gardeners such as me are thrilled! Basically, any kind of milk can be used, even skim milk. It is a green cure and inexpensive, how could that be any better!
You will need to apply natural fungicides to plants infected with powdery mildew every five days or so to keep the mildew under control. Removing dead or infected leaves, and watering plants at the roots rather than from overhead, will help stop the mildew from spreading.You will need to apply natural fungicides to plants infected with powdery mildew every five days or so to keep the mildew under control. Removing dead or infected leaves, and watering plants at the roots rather than from overhead, will help stop the mildew from spreading.

In his experiments with zucchini plants, Bettiol found that a weekly spray of milk at a concentration of at least 10% (1 part milk to 9 parts water) significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew infection on the plants by 90%. While some gardeners may be tempted to increase the concentration of milk for more control, Bettiol found that once concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus began to grow on the plants. How does milk control powdery mildew?

Scientist aren't 100% sure how milk works to control this disease. It seems that milk is a natural germicide. In addition, it contains several naturally occurring salts and amino acids that are taken up by the plant. From previous experiments using sodium bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, and other salts, researchers have found that the disease is sensitive to these salts. It is possible then, that milk boosts the plant's immune system to prevent the disease.

Other ingredients to make y're own spray:  hot peppers, garlic, onions, soap.  
 

 Clean everything around the place, it easely spreads again.....!!!!

Host in program: 'Worst Driver of Holland' got hit by participant...!!

Ruben Nicolai, the Dutch host in the program 'The Very Worst Driver of The Netherlands' got hit by a car when the driver got confused and planked the gass instead of the brake... couldn't curve the corner and  rammed a parked car which catapulted against the reporters vehicle.

Ruben bit the dust and KO'd, had to spent the night in a hospital but was released the next morning. A soundman needed 1st aid as well... It's all on tape and will be braodcasted in july. The takes will continue, though everyone agrees the winner is known already....

All participants have a drivers licence already but were enrolled by friends or relatieves to join the program, due to their lousy behaviour on the road. Proved to be....!!!

No doubt this shot will be the highlight of the show.. ( crash at 30 sec. slowmo at 2.30 )

Ruben no longer KO but OK.

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How to keep healthy fish in your aquarium and pond.

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 The importance of KH

  I have dead fish in my pond. Cold winters with low temperatures are often blamed for it, but most of the time that's not the reason. There's several reasons why your fish get sick and/or die. With new aquaria and ponds it's often the filter system that hasn't built up enough  bacteria to get rid of the ammonia and nitrates. When there's a high population of fish it could be lack of oxygen so you need more bubbles.. But most of the time it's the sudden fall of of the pH levels in the water when temperature rises at spring. It starts around a water temp of 7 - 8 C  or 45F. (and up).  The pH scale measures how acidic or basic the water is and ranges from 0 to 14.  A neutral environment,  7, is appreciated by our fish, they can live at different readings though, but a sudden drop of the acidity could be disastrous. Below 4 you're in big trouble..

 My pond

Many aquarists overlook the need of Calcium and Magnesium and the effect of a proper KH (Carbonate Hardness) in their freshwater aquarium/pond.

  KH is basically the buffering capacity of your  water, a KH above 6  helps prevent sudden drops in  pH. (and is an important source of energy for nitrifying bacteria that eliminate ammonia and nitrite.)

It needs a test set to measure your water levels, you can get this at any petshop or garden center.

  To have the KH increased you need to use KH+, ( available up to 5 kg bins). This probably will solve most of the problems already. It highers ph levels as well.

 Another very important ingredient in a (Koi) pond is SALT.  Not your Jojo kitchen salt, but special pond salt from the petshop/center. You need as much as 1g/ltr, yes that's 1kg to every cubic meter...( there's a salt meter to read on the levels.). 

 Once your pond not only has Goldfish or Shubunkin in it, but  Koi and Sturgeons as well, it will change you, they become your friends for the rest of your life...

MORE ON CLEAR PONDS.