4 The Daily Collegian Officials call for stricter food label regulations By BETH HARMEN Collegian Staff Writer Until the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis tration passes new regulations, some state officials fear that manufacturers can mislead consumers with words like “light,” “low,” and “free.” “ Let’s take a product traditionally high in fat,” said Leroy Corbin, director of the state’s Bureau of Foods and Chemistry. “One packer could reduce the fat by 5 percent and label it ‘light.’ The next could reduce the fat by 50 percent and also label the prod uct ‘light.’ But nowhere on the package will PSU researchers to study clouds, greenhouse effect By BETH HARMEN Collegian Staff Writer In order to better understand the effects of global warming, Uni versity researchers have designed a collection of ground-based instruments to study clouds. Clouds can either warm or cool the earth. They reflect away 20 per cent of the energy from incoming sunlight, but also act similarly to greenhouse gases by absorbing thermal energy emitted from the ground, said Thomas Ackerman, associate pro fessor of meteorology. “If we want to improve global climate models, we have to devel op an understanding of cloud for mation,” Ackerman said. “That is the purpose of the (Cloud Observing System.)” The greenhouse effect occurs as more gases such as carbon dioxide and methane enter the earth’s atmosphere. “The gases act as a blanket and trap the heat that would normally escape,” said Ken Reeves, a mete orologist for Accu-Weather. “Therefore the atmosphere is warmed.” The amount of global warming due to carbon dioxide depends on cloud increase or decrease, said Bruce Albrecht, professor of meteorolo gy- “There is no problem if the cloud cover increases as the gases increase," Ackerman agreed. “Then you could reflect the solar radiation and there wouldn’t be any greenhouse warming.” “On the other hand, if there is an increase of gases and a decrease in PSU device to ride Argentinean satellite Device to measure release of X-ray radiation from sky By SUSAN FLANIGAN Collegian Science Writer The University will join Argen tina in launching a satellite that will scan for the origins of X-rays in space. The United States became involved with Argentina’s space mission after Terence A. Todman, U.S. Ambas sador to Argentina, and Raul F. Matera, the Argentinean Secretary of State for Science and Technology, signed an agreement in August to coop erate in launching Argentina’s first satellite. Soon after, the University was contracted by NASA to build an X ray cosmic background instrument that will be launched as part of the Argentinean satellite, said France Cordova, head of the University’s department of astromony and astrophysics. The instrument detects X-rays and measures the amount of X-ray radiation the sky is giving off, said Gordon Garmire, Evan Pugh Pro fessor of astronomy, who is also Common causes of allergies may lurk in beds ; rugs and stuffed animals By ORLANA M. DARKINS Collegian Staff Writer For many students the hot, hazy days of summer may not be a season of comfort. According to the American Academy of Allergy and Immunolo gy one out of six Americans has an allergy or asthma. But what many students may not realize is that common causes of allergies, like the mold and dust mites, can be found in their own rooms. “Mold and dust mites can be found in mat tresses, pillows, and blankets if they are stored in basements or attics over the summer,” said Sarah Kaluzny, director of communications for the American Academy of Allergy and Immu nology. “They can also be found in stuffed animals, indoor plants, carpets and books.” But Donald Arndt, director of Housing Serv ices, said these causes called allergens do you see the nutritional information. This misleads the consumer.” The FDA is currently deciding on “food labeling descriptors such as ‘free,’ ‘low,’ and Tight’ ” state Agriculture Secretary Boyd E. Wolff said. “These words need to be defined so that consumers know what they are getting,” Wolff said. Both Corbin and Wolff agreed that the new regulations will protect the consumers. The new regulations will not only man date a uniform definition and standard for food descriptors, they “will also prevent tricky wording like ‘lower’ ” Corbin said. “Man- clouding in the atmosphere, this increases the greenhouse effect,” he added. Ackerman and Albrecht would eventually like to predict the atmospheric structure of clouds if there is a continued increase in greenhouse gases. “During the past hundred years, there has been an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” Ackerman said. “We’re burning more oil and gas. Any combustion process will yield car bon dioxide.” The COS will help to simulate the world’s atmosphere when there is a higher level of carbon dioxide, Ackerman said. It is important to predict if the atmosphere will warm as a result of increased carbon dioxide, Albrecht said. “We must understand if the temperature increases, will clouds increase or decrease?” Albrecht added “Obviously the more clouds, the more energy reflected back to space,” and consequently, decreased global warming. Creating clouds would probably be a solution to global warming. Researchers have tried to create clouds but, “the projects have been a dismal failure,” Ackerman said. The University researchers will study the properties of clouds for years before they compile the necessary data needed to predict cloud formation. “State College is a great place to observe because we certainly have our share of clouds,” Ackerman added. heading the team working on the project. "rije University received the contract to build the instrument after NASA let a few astronomy teams know what they needed and how fast they needed it, Cordova said. “We responded quickly and got it.” she said. The University will receive approximately $500,000 a year during the construction on the instrument, said Garmire. But the University will not make a profit from the construction, Cordova said. “They’re paying us just enough to build it,” she added. By launching the X-ray instru ment, astronomers are hoping to discover where all the X-rays that are bouncing around in space came from, Cordova said. Although there are many theories about the X-rays, no one really knows their origin, she added. The satellite should be launched sometime in 1994, Garmire said. Causes of allergies can be found in many household items. not have a very high chance in appearing in dorm students mattresses, pillows or sheets. “Our mattresses and pillows are not stored,” Ardnt said. “They are mostly used during summer conferences. Even though the number varies, we buy a specific number of mattresses each year. The mattresses and pillows are replaced when needed.” Even though Housing Services does not get many complaints about possible allergic symptoms to its bedding, when one is made it is investigated. But some students believe Housing Services should work harder “Sometimes the screens in the dorm rooms have Science ufacturers will only be able to use terms approved by FDA.” Though food descriptors may be mis leading, consumers are not in danger, said Madeline Sigman, assistant professor of food science. “There is probably more confusion than danger,” Sigman said. One manufacturer could label something “low-sodium” by “reduc ing the sodium by only 5 percent.” “Consumers are confused is some thing ‘light’ or ‘lighter?’ And what’s the difference?” Sigman said. But heart patients are not in danger, she added. Joining state efforts to recycle, the University now provides collection bins for cans, glass, metal and paper materials in all of its buildings. Summit explores recyclables in businesses By JEANNINE LUBY Collegian Staff Writer In order for the state’s recycling program to be successful, items made from recycled material must become more widely used. A demand must be created for the supply of recycled materials, said Phillip Melnick, University recy cling coordinator. The marketplace has not kept the same pace as the collection of recyclable materials. “You’re not really recycling until you use products made from recycled materials,” Melnick said. “It takes time for businesses to catch up,” said Gina Mcßean, administrative assistant for Lt. Gov. Mark Singel. Market development of recycled materials was discussed at a one-day summit held on Aug. 15 in Harrisburg, she said. “Nothing very concrete occurred at the sum mit, but the most positive thing that happened was the dialogue that was opened between munici palities’ officials, private recyclers and members of industry,” said Joanne Shafer, recycling coor dinator for Centre County. The meeting was attended by recycling haulers, holes or do not fit properly and if housing services could improve the screens it would help elimi nate the outdoor pollen from coming in,” Kimi Bush (senior-broadcast cable). Kim Amster (sophomore-division of under graduate studies) agreed, saying: “If the rooms were air-conditioned there wouldn’t be any pollen coming indoors. With the money we pay we should be able to have air-conditioning in our rooms. Even if students had to pay a monthly bill depending on how often they used it.” But the University only accommodates stu dents that have severe allergy conditions. “People who severely have a low tolerance to dust and pollen can work out arrangements where air conditioning can be used,” Ardnt said. “If the person is an early applicant Housing Services can make accommodations. Our ability to respond to those needs depend on vacancies and most importantly the legitmacy of the person’s allergy. “The person on a very specific diet has counseling from a physician,” she said. “Low sodium patients would look at actual grams not desciptors.” The most important result from the proposed label changes will be that consumers will have information about a product before they buy it, Sigman said. Manfred Kroger, professor of food sci ence, agreed that consumers need to be informed. “The new desciptors will probably not affect non-intelligent consumers who choose their food by weight and smell, but they will especially help intelligent consumers who use of state and municipal officials and non-profit organizations to discuss the second phase of recycling man dated by the state’s recycling law. The second phase will requite all communities in the state with 5,000 or more residents to recycle by September. The first phase began in 1988 when commu nities with 10,000 or more residents were required to recycle. State College began recycling in 1989 a year ahead of its deadline. Bellefonte and College Township are affected by the second phase but both communities started recycling ahead of time, Shafer said. A cabinet-level task force on recycling market development, chaired by Lt. Gov. Mark Singel, has also been developed. New uses for recycled items are now being researched. The Pennsylvania Department of Transporta tion is examining the possibility of using recycled vinyl for noise barriers, Singel wrote in a recent weekly column. One of many uses for old newspaper is animal bedding, but the state cannot tell all farmers to switch from hay to paper, Mcßean said. For allergy sufferers the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology recommends these tips: ■ To minimize exposure to pollen outdoors, stay indoors between 5 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., when pollen levels are at their highest. ■ Keep windows closed and use air-conditioning, which cleans the air. ■ Take over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines or other medications prescribed by an allergist. ■ Dust desks, dressers, stereo equipment, books and wall deco rations. ■ Vacuum after dusting the room to remove as much as possible. For more allergy and asthma information from the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology call the Physicians’ Referral and Information Line 1-800-822-2762. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1991 Collegian Photo/Charles Breiling Allergy tips read food labels,” he said. The new regulations shouldn’t hurt manufacturers or their business, Kroger said. “They have the information, now the manufacturers just need to print it,” he added. “I don’t think any manufacturers will lose business, only those that want to hide something from us.” “In the long run, we’re going to have a more educated and happy consumer,” Kroger said. “More information makes for a more intelligent lifestyle. The more you know, the more you are in control of your own des tiny; and that’s what everyone who eats should care about.” Volcano's eruption brightens sunsets By BETH HARMEN Collegian Staff Writer The recent eruptions of Mount Pinatubo are causing brilliant, blood red sunsets in the Philippines and may cause a colder winter. “We are seeing brilliant reddish sunsets that are related to the Pinatubo plumes,” said Barry Voight, pro fessor of geosciences. Mount Pinatubo spewed molten rock and a miles-high cloud of swirling ash in “a series of eruptions with plumes up to 100,000 feet,” Voight said. The plumes “threw ash into the atmosphere, which affected the transmission of light from the sun to the viewer.” “The reflection of sunlight off of the tiny dust particles results in brilliant glowing skies.” Voight added. After the Pinatubo eruption, there has been “selective attenuation,” said Craig Bohren, professor of meteo rology. “You’re looking through more particles, more dust. Particles act as a filter in which sunlight gets scattered.” The June 16 eruption caused volcanic ash to enter into the stratosphere, said Bob Larner, meteorologist for Accu-Weather. “Therefore rays of light got bent from the volcanic crystals in the atmosphere.” “Spectacular sunsets can also be caused by forest fires,” Bohren added. “Red suns also occur in industrial areas because pollution particles also act as a filter like cellophane, which filters out some of the light.” “If you want blood-red sunsets, you must put particles in the air,” Bohren said. “And in the case of Pinatubo, the more ash, the more particles, the more filtering,” therefore, the more brilliant the skies. The extraordinary sunsets after a volcanic eruption usually last from one month to a year and “there are varying degrees of brilliance,” Voight said. In some cases an eruption may cause gorgeous sunsets thousands of miles away, said Bohren. “Because the atmosphere is always in motion, prevailing winds can carry particles a great distance,” Bohren said. “However, there are no big reports about spectacular sunsets in this part of the world.” In addition to the awesome sun sets, “volcanic erruptions are believed to cause a temperature decrease in the climate for a year,” he said. This theory was introduced over 200 years ago. “In 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote an article saying volacanic erup tions might make winters colder,” he added. “It makes sense that the tem perature would drop after a vol canic eruption,” Lamer said. “Because there is very little movement of the air in the stratosphere, particles get trapped. Incoming solar radiation gets trapped by the dust,” preventing the rays from reaching the earth.
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