Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Essay on Social Class In The Us And Britain - 1569 Words

Social Class in the US and Britain Although the United States was a British Colony in the early 1700s, the differences between the two were definitely noticeable, especially in the socioeconomic fields, mostly due to the fact that slavery played a much larger role in the United States. At least from the moment in 1620 when the Mayflower anchored off Cape Cod, there has been an American Dream. Though hard to define, it usually entails the concept of freedom, justice and equality. Despite variations in the content of the dream there is one constant, the American Dream is a dream of the future and as such implies the idea of progress, change and equality. Our dreams may differ from those of the men who wrote the Mayflower Compact†¦show more content†¦(1727: Colonial America) This class provided leading statesmen and great generals, many of whom had a vital role in the American Revolution. (Population and Social Rank) The following class, which was by far the largest, was the middle class. (Population and Social Rank) This included owners of small stores and businesses, small farmers, and craftsmen. (1727: Colonial America) They were mostly educated, and lived successful lives. They also had very high moral standards and some were deeply religious. (Population and Social Rank) Most middle class men could vote, but few held public office, as the gentry used their wealth and influence for political control. Middle class women ran self-sufficient households, and made their own clothes, candles, cheese and soap. Few were educated. (1727: Colonial America) Finally, there was the Lower Class, which consisted of day laborers, apprentices, sailors, servants, and slaves. (1727: Colonial America) Out of all of these, the lowest level was that of slaves, who at the time existed in all 13 colonies. However, more than 4/5 of them were in the South, due to the fact that the large plantations in the area required a greater number of slaves. Overall, slaves had hardly any rights, but more specifically, their quality of life varied on which of region of the country they lived in. In New England and the Middle Colonies,Show MoreRelatedSociology1681 Words   |  7 Pagesdivisions into class are meaningless. We are all working people now.†(Margaret Thatcher in 1988) The discussion that if Britain is becoming a classless society last for a long time. Britain was a typical manufacturing country because of industrial revolution in 18 century. Then the class structure of Britain was changed due to the globalization and economic system which chan ged from industrial to service during 19th and 20th century. In this easy, we focus on the change of social class in Britain. It willRead MoreSociology, Social Closure Essay (Higher)1585 Words   |  7 PagesAnalyse the extent to which social closure exists in UK society. Use two contrasting theories and relevant studies in your answer. 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Understanding that ec onomic development alone cannot sufficiently explain why some countries developed into full welfare states while others did not prevail until the emergence of social democratic theory and its further expansions. BasedRead MoreBritain : The Glorious Revolution865 Words   |  4 PagesBritain: Overview 1688 – 1918 From 1688 to 1918, the British Empire was formed. At its peak, it was the largest empire in history. With 59 territories ranging from Egypt to Canada, it held sway over 14 million people. It was â€Å"the empire on which the sun never sets,† for the sun was always shining on at least one of its many territories. Britain was known as the â€Å"workshop of the world,† with a rise in population, wealth, inventions, and much more. In 1688, Britain was invaded by the Dutch PrinceRead MoreThe concept of social identity, social class,gender and ethnicity.1635 Words   |  7 PagesSocial Identity is the understanding of who we are, and reciprocally, other peoples understanding of themselves. Richard Jenkins believed that this social identity is achieved through socialization within social groups. He argued that by placing themselves in the role of others, people, particularly children, gain a greater understanding of the role that they should play. For example, a six-year-old girl playing mommy with her dolls will, as she gets into the role, begin to understand what a mother

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

BHP Billiton Brazil Mine Disaster for OECD and GRI- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBHP Billiton Brazil Mine Disaster for OECD and GRI. Answer: In the recent decades, there has been an increasing trend for multinational companies to be environmentally friendly. The reasons behind this trend have been due to social demands as well as world environmental sustainability requirements. Through these two players combined, the management of major companies in the world has been left out to decide whether to fill the gap that exists between the corporations disclosure and the publics interest to verify information provided by the company. The trend has led to increased pressure among major companies to adhere to sustainability reports and frameworks such as those developed by OECD and GRI. The problem with these guidelines is that the company's management have been left out to decide what information to report and hence what can be publicly disclosed or not. This has therefore created a room where some companies can conduct inaccurate sustainability reports by selecting on certain parts of environmental performance and leaving out o thers, therefore, concealing the truth. This paper seeks to critically examine the information in the sustainability reports for BHP and Vale and determine if the disclosures in the sustainability reports released were just tools for greenwashing''. The Brazil dam disaster is one of the most known incidences that caused the environmental catastrophe in Samarco Brazil. BHP Billiton together with Vale one of the leading mining companies in the world jointly owned iron ore mine dam that led to the disaster has been accused of having to be aware of the potential threat of the project but took no action before the incident occurred. The companies must have failed to live up to the acceptable levels of due diligence in their responsibilities as outlined in the OECD requirements for multinational companies (Szoke, 2018). A further critical analysis into the scandal has shown that most of the mining companies in the world are surrounded by a lot of controversies which in one way or another contradicts their core values, visions and alleged management strategies outlined in the reports. The reports given by BHP Billitons in the year 2016 and 2017 first shows a picture that the company was working so hard to improve their environmental p erformance ("BHP Billiton Sustainability Report 2016", 2018; "BHP Sustainability Report 2017", 2018). It is however ironical that the statement so hard never gained significance in 2015 when the incident happened. A number of critics of the mine disaster have argued that the two mining companies never executed their roles with any diligence at a little extra effort. Since BHP Billiton and Vale never stated in their sustainability reports that they had perfect environmental performance, I think we can categorize them as two among the greenwashing firms. The Balance Between Security and Transparency Since the incident occurred, it appears to me that the companies have done a little as a way of reacting to the disaster ("How BHP and Vale react next to Brazilian dam failure will be critical", 2018). For BHP, the management moved swiftly by making a site visit to express sympathy for the communities and workers who were affected by the incident ("BHP Billiton | News releases", 2018). The management of Samarco mine just placed a plain announcement in its website giving an outline to the society of their commitment to emergency and transparency issues and that plans were underway ("Samarco announces a change in CEO and reaffirms focus on resuming operations - Samarco", 2018). Vale also gave a small notice on its website to recognize the incident and that they were initiating emergency plans with Samarco to come up with a long lasting remedy ("Statement regarding Samarcos accident", 2018). To me, all these reactions appears plain since the full details that led to the disaster were ne ver stated In contrast with what Samarco, Vale and BHP never mentioned, the Minas Gerais environmental state prosecutor shed more light into the matter. The prosecutor argued that the disaster was not just an accident but a mistake in the operations of the concerned mining companies and negligence for Samarco in their monitoring of the project (Phillips, 2018). The court further provided details of an assessment that was done in 2013 by an independent Brazilian organization- Instituto Pristino which revealed that there was a lot of concerns about the integrity of the project and provided a recommendation that the operating license should not have been renewed a call which was ignored by the relevant authorities ("Brazil | Page 3 of 201 | World news | The Guardian", 2018). All these revelations were never made by the individual companies a fact which shows that they were attempting to strike a balance between the security of their reputations and transparency. Corporate Social Responsibility and Legitimacy Theory There have been increasing concerns about the need for Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) in social accounting and reporting. This need has tremendously permeated into the socioeconomic landscape where a number of legislative and regulatory authorities all over the world have debated about the changes needed to be factored in reporting. The triple bottom line for this has been the necessitation for the mandate of CSR and sustainability reporting among multinational organizations (Maniruzzaman, 2011). Despite the fact that CSR disclosures have been gaining popularity over time, there are a number of criticisms that have come forth as postulated by the legitimacy theory. Given the importance of CSR reporting by the mining companies in Brazil, the equivocal results of the mine disaster show the factors that might have led the management of BHP, Vale and Sarmaco to conceal some facts about the mining scandal. The legitimacy theory has been cited mostly in the area of environmental and social accounting. The theory offers a deeper scepticism into the real insights surrounding the issue of voluntary disclosures by a number of multination corporations (Hummel Schlick, 2016). For the case of BHP, the legitimacy theory addresses a range of issues that arise from the mine disaster in 2015. By looking at a number of opinions from a diverse array of sources and the recent developments surrounding the Brazil dam disaster, there is a lot of knowledge that can be borrowed concerning the management and the ethical legitimacy of the concerned corporations when it comes to accounting issues (Bhattacharyya, 2015). The prepositions offered by the legitimacy theory provides a powerful platform for understanding the surroundings of environmental and voluntary disclosures made by corporations. The understanding further gives a direction for a critical debate into sustainability reports released by BHP afte r the Brazil mine disaster. Legitimacy has been defined as the generalized perception that can be created by outsiders from the actions undertaken by an organization in regard to how they may be proper, desirable or appropriate within a socially constructed system of values, norms, definitions or beliefs. Looking at the case for BHP Billiton legitimacy could have called upon the management of the company to exercise due diligence by playing a critical role in the mine project is one of the investors even beyond their interest in shareholder dividends. It is true to believe that Samarco might have been the sole mine operator in the project but, Vale and BHP being owners should have been responsible for the environmental and social impacts that can be caused by their supply of resources and other business materials required as per the relationship. As the legitimacy theory propounds that corporations need to act in conformity with the society's norms and values in order to continue in existence, BHP and Vale shou ld have ensured that they provide adequate compensation and seek justice to those who were affected by the disaster. Since this has not been done adequately, I think the legitimacy of the concerned corporations has been eroded. Lack of Legitimacy and Loss of Trust The biggest setback for BHP Billiton has been the loss of trust from both the community and the workers ("The harsh cost of BHP Billiton's Brazil crisis", 2018). Since legitimacy is an issue that requires an empathetic and ethical approach that goes beyond risk management and profit making, BHP should have sought at looking for measures that would reflect their concern for both the people surrounding the dam and the environment itself. This shows that the managers for multinational companies in the mining industry are yet to translate what is propounded by legitimacy theory into the daily business activities of the organizations they manage (Nakayachi, 2014). The future of the mining industry is therefore dependent on a shift in the thinking of the leaders to voluntary disclosure of environmental and social information in both the corporations annual report and in the sustainability environmental reports. Conclusion From a detailed evaluation of the BHP Billiton corporate disclosures and sustainability report, it is evident that a lot needs to be done by mining industries in regard to transparency, disclosure and social accounting. As discussed above, it is no doubt that BHP together with Vale and Semarco actually failed to execute their mandates- a fact which led to the occurrence of the mine disaster in 2015. Nevertheless, legitimacy concerns should have compelled the company to investigate into the security of the project through close monitoring, putting in place proper warning systems and listening to independent reports. Moreover, BHP should have also carried out its own assessment of the dam to determine its integrity before giving Semarco a go ahead. Since this was not done, I think BHP has lost its legitimacy and trust among the workers and the community a situation which can only be done through re-assurance of commitment to transparency and mitigation for social and environmental risk s in future. References Bhattacharyya, A. (2015). Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility in an Emerging Economy: Through the Lens of Legitimacy Theory.Australasian Accounting, Business And Finance Journal,9(2), 79-92. https://dx.doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v9i2.6 BHP Billiton | News releases. (2018).BHP Billiton. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases BHP Billiton Sustainability Report 2016. (2018).Globalreporting.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.globalreporting.org/Pages/FR-BHPBilliton-2016.aspx BHP Sustainability Report 2017. (2018).Globalreporting.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.globalreporting.org/Pages/FR-BHPBilliton-2017.aspx Brazil | Page 3 of 201 | World news | The Guardian. (2018).the Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/brazil?page=3 Hummel, K., Schlick, C. (2016). The relationship between sustainability performance and sustainability disclosure Reconciling voluntary disclosure theory and legitimacy theory.Journal Of Accounting And Public Policy,35(5), 455-476. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2016.06.001 How BHP and Vale react next to Brazilian dam failure will be critical. (2018).The Conversation. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://theconversation.com/how-bhp-and-vale-react-next-to-brazilian-dam-failure-will-be-critical-50405 Maniruzzaman, A. (2011). Creeping legitimacy of corporate social responsibility.Amicus Curiae,2011(85). https://dx.doi.org/10.14296/ac.v2011i85.1236 Nakayachi, K. (2014). Examining Public Trust in Risk-Managing Organizations After a Major Disaster.Risk Analysis,35(1), 57-67. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/risa.12243 Phillips, D. (2018).Brazil dam disaster: firm knew of potential impact months in advance.the Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/28/brazil-dam-collapse-samarco-fundao-mining Samarco announces change in CEO and reaffirms focus on resuming operations - Samarco. (2018).Samarco. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.samarco.com/en/noticia/samarco-anuncia-mudanca-na-presidencia-e-reafirma-foco-na-retomada-das-operacoes/ Statement regarding Samarcos accident. (2018).Vale.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.vale.com/brasil/EN/aboutvale/news/Pages/nota-acidente-samarco.aspx Szoke, H. (2018).Brazil mine disaster exposes BHP's failures.The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/brazilian-dam-disaster-shows-bhp-falls-short-of-global-expectations-20151119-gl2i8c.html The harsh cost of BHP Billiton's Brazil crisis. (2018).Financial Review. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.afr.com/business/mining/the-harsh-cost-of-bhp-billitons-brazil-crisis-20151111-gkwojl

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Type of air pollution, formed when oxides of sulfu Essay Example For Students

Type of air pollution, formed when oxides of sulfu Essay r and nitrogen combine with atmospheric moisture to yield sulfuric and nitric acids, which may then be carried long distances from a source before they are deposited by rain, is called acid rain This pollution may also take the form of snow, fog, or a dry form of precipitation. Acid rain is currently a subject of great controversy because of widespread environmental damage for which it has been blamed, including eroding structures, injuring crops and forests, and threatening or depleting life in freshwater lakes. One of the main causes of acid rain is sulfur dioxide. Natural sources which emit this gas are volcanoes, sea spray , rotting vegetation and plankton. However, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are largely to be blamed for approximately half of the emissions of this gas in the world. When sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then becomes sulfuric acid as it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth. Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and especially in heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid. However, not all of the sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfuric acid. In fact, a substantial amount can float up into the atmosphere, move over to another area and return to earth unconverted. The following are the stoichiometric equations for the formation of sulfuric acid: S (in coal) + O2? SO2 2 SO2 + O2? 2 SO3 SO3 + H2O? H2SO4 Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from power stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulfur dioxide, these nitrogen oxides rise into the atmosphere and are oxidized in clouds to form nitric acid. These reactions are also catalyzed in heavily polluted clouds where iron, manganese, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are present. One of the direct effects of acid rain is on lakes and its aquatic ecosystems. There are several routes through which acidic chemicals can enter the lakes. Some chemical substances exist as dry particles in the air while others enter the lakes as wet particles such as rain, snow, sleet, hail, dew or fog. In addition, lakes can almost be thought of as the sinks of the earth, where rain that falls on land is drained through the sewage systems eventually make their way into the lakes. Acid rain that falls onto the earth washes off the nutrients out of the soil and carries toxic metals that hav e been released from the soil into the lakes. Another harmful way in which acids can enter the lakes is spring acid shock. When snow melts in spring rapidly due to a sudden temperature change, the acids and chemicals in the snow are released into the soils. The melted snow then runs off to streams and rivers, and gradually make their way into the lakes. The introduction of these acids and chemicals into the lakes causes a sudden drastic change in the pH of the lakes hence the term spring acid shock. The aquatic ecosystem has no time to adjust to the sudden change. In addition, springtime is an especially vulnerable time for many aquatic species since this is the time for reproduction for amphibians, fish and insects. Many of these species lay their eggs in the water to hatch. The sudden pH change is dangerous because the acids can cause serious deformities in their young or even annihilate the whole species since the young of many of such species spend a significant part of their l ife cycle in the water. Subsequently, sulfuric acid in water can affect the fish in the lakes in two ways: directly and indirectly. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) directly interferes with the fishs ability to take in oxygen, salt and nutrients needed to stay alive. For freshwater fish, maintaining osmoregulation is key in their survival. Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining the delicate balance of salts and minerals in their tissues. Acid molecules in the water cause mucus to form in their gills and this prevents the fish to absorb oxygen as well. If the buildup of mucus increases, the fish would suffocate. In addition, a low pH will throw off the balance of salts in the fish tissue. Salts levels such as the calcium (Ca+2) levels of some fish cannot be maintained due to pH change. This results in poor reproduction their eggs produced would be damaged; they are either too brittle or too weak. Decreased Ca+2 levels also result in weak spines and deformities. For example, crayfish need Ca+2 to maintain a healthy exoskeleton; low Ca+2 levels would mean a weak exoskeleton. Another type of salt N+ also influences the well being of the fish. As nitrogen-containing fertilizers are washed off into the lakes, the nitrogen stimulates the growth of algae, which logically would mean an increase in oxygen production, thus benefiting the fish. However, because of increased deaths in the fish population due to acid rain, the decomposition process uses up a lot of the oxygen, which leaves less for the surviving fish to take in. Indirectly, sulfuric acid releases heavy metals present in soils to be dissociated and released. For example, aluminum (Al+2) is harmless as part of a compound, but because acid rain causes Al+2 to be released into the soils and gradually into the lakes, it becomes lethal to the health of the fish in the lakes. Al+2 burns the gills of the fish and accumulates in their organs, causing much damage. So, although many fish may be able to tolerate a pH of ap proximately 5.9, this acid level is high enough to release Al+2 from the soils to kill the fish. This effect is further augmented by spring acid shock. The effect of acid rain can be dynamically illustrated in a study done on Lake 223, which started in 1976. Scientists monitored the pH and aquatic ecosystem of Lake 223. They observed that as the pH of the lake decrease over the years, a number of crustaceans died out because of problems in reproduction due to the acidity of the lake caused by acid precipitation. At a pH of 5.6, algae growth in the lake was hindered and some types of small died out. Eventually, it was followed by larger fish dying out with the same problem in reproduction; there were more adult fish in the lake than there were young fish. Finally, in 1983, the lake reached a pH of 5 and the surviving fish in the lake were thin and deformed and unable to reproduce. This case study obviously illustrates the significant effect of acid rain on lakes and its aquatic ecosy stem. One of the most serious impacts of acid precipitation is on forests and soils. Great damage is done when sulfuric acid falls onto the earth as rain. Nutrients present in the soils are washed away. Aluminum also present in the soil is freed and this toxic element can be absorbed by the roots of trees. Thus, the trees are starved to death as they are deprived of their vital nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Not all of the sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfuric acid. In fact, a substantial amount can float into the atmosphere, move over to another area and return to the soils unconverted. As this gas returns back to earth, it clogs up the stomata in the leaves, thus hindering photosynthesis. Research has been made where red spruce seedlings were sprayed with different combinations of sulfuric and nitric acid of pH ranging from 2.5 to 4.5. The needles of these seedlings were observed to develop brown lesions. Eventually, the needles fall off. It was also found that new nee dles grew more slowly at higher concentrations of acid used. Because the rate at which the needles were falling was greater than the rate at which they were replenished, photosynthesis was greatly affected; the actual way in which these needles were killed is still not yet known. However, studies have shown that calcium and magnesium nutrients are washed away from their binding sites when sulfuric acid enters the system. They are replaced by useless hydrogen atoms and this inhibits photosynthesis. In addition, severe frosts may also further aggravate this situation. With sulfur dioxide, ammonia and ozone present in the air, the frost-hardiness of trees are reduced. Ammonia oxidizes with sulfur dioxide to form ammonium sulfate. This product forms on the surface of the trees. When ammonium sulfate reaches the soils, it reacts to form both sulfuric and nitric acid. Such conditions also stimulate the growth of fungi and pests like the ambrosia beetle. When trees are under such stress, t hey release chemicals such as terpenes which attract the ambrosia beetle. Nitrogen oxide and nitric oxide, also components of acid rain, can force trees to grow even though they do not have the necessary nutrients. As well, the trees are sometimes forced to grow well into late autumn when it is actually time for them to prepare for severe frosts in the winter. Acid rain also damages materials such as fabrics. For example, flags that are put up are being eaten away by the acidic chemicals in the precipitation. Books and age-old art that are centuries old are also being affected; the ventilation systems of the libraries and museums that hold them do not prevent the acidic particles from entering the buildings and so, they get in and circulate within the building, affecting and deteriorating the materials. .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .postImageUrl , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:hover , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:visited , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:active { border:0!important; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:active , .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub85883d0da0c72f96334171917ac058c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Benefits Of Online Shoppings Essay We will write a custom essay on Type of air pollution, formed when oxides of sulfu specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Among one of the serious side effects of acid pollution on humans is respiratory problems. The SO2 and NO2 emissions give rise to respiratory problems such as asthma, dry coughs, headaches, eye, nose and throat irritations. An indirect effect of acid precipitation on humans is that the toxic metals dissolved in the water are absorbed in fruits, vegetables and in the tissues of animals. Although these toxic metals do not directly affect the animals, they have serious effects on humans when they are being consumed. For example, mercury that accumulates in the organs and tissues of the animals has been linked with brain damage in children as well as nerve disorders, brain damage and death. Similarly, another metal, Aluminum, present in the organs of the animals, has been associated with kidney problems and recently, was suspected to be related to Alzheimers disease.