Kolon+Bah

Kolon Bah Professor Schmidt Environmental Geography **(Stage 2)** October 20, 2011 **__Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel__** **__What is an Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel?__** An anti-bacterial hand gel is a very convenient hand sanitizer that does not necessitate water, but still kills bacteria. **__What are the many ingredients present in one anti-bacterial hand gel?__** There are both active and inactive ingredients in an antibacterial gel. The __active__ ingredients mainly found in a gel are ethyl alcohol, Triclosan, and Chloroxylenol.
 * __Ethyl Alcohol-__ This is the most active ingredient in the gel. It is a colorless liquid. It is very effective at killing bacteria. It is present in very high concentrate which destroys the cell membrane in bacteria.
 * __Triclosan-__ is an anti-microbial agent. It has the ability to kill bacteria. Triclosan is usually used as a pesticide.

The __inactive__ ingredients are water, Glycerin, Aloe Vera gel, and fragrance. **__What are these ingredients made from?__** These ingredients are made from diverse materials. Ethyl Alcohol is made from a combination of water, sugar, corn, and yeast. Triclosan is made from the partial oxidization of benzoic acid. Water is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Aloe Vera gel is made from the Aloe Vera leaf. Glycerin is made from animal or vegetable fat.
 * __Water-__ liquid agent that balance the presence of alcohol.
 * __Glycerin-__ is a moisturizing agent, which keeps hands still soft and not dry after use.
 * __Aloe Vera Gel-__ is also a non-drying agent, that helps lock moisture.
 * __Fragrance-__ gives the gel a pleasant scent.

**--**  ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Kolon Bah Professor Schmidt Environmental Geography **(Stage 3)** November 3, 2011   __** ‍‍‍‍‍Where are the Ingredients from? ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍**__  **__Ethyl Alcohol-__**
 * Ethyl Alcohol (ethanol) is manufactured in Brazil and the US. However, both countires use different ingredients and manufacturing procedures to make ethanol. In Brazil sugarcane harvesting machines are used to reduce pollution caused from burning fields before harvesting to protect workers.Ethanol production has also raised concerns regarding water overuse and pollution, soil erosion and possible contamination by excessive use of fertilizers. Sugarcane and corn production is causing potential for deforestation of rainforests for sugarcane plantations. The manual harvesting of sugarcane has been associated with hardship and poor working conditions. Sugarcane and corn fields has had an important social contribution to the some of the poorest people in Brazil by providing income usually above the minimum wage. Unhealthy working conditions and even cases of slavery and deaths from overwork (cane cutting/ corn harvesting) have been reported.**

** __Triclosan-__ ** ** __Aloe Vera Gel-__ ** ** Aloe Vera plants can be found throughout the world. However, Aloe vera is native to South Africa and Northern African countries for example Morrocco. The plant can be found in various Asian, European and Middle Eastern countries such as China and Pakistan. Presently, The main areas of cultivation are the Dutch Antilles, the coastal areas of Venezuela and the subtropical regions of the US and Mexico where it is nurtured on massive plantations. The leading supplier of aloe vera gel is the USA. In 2001 their cultivation area for aloe vera in Mexico alone was 525 hectare. The species is relatively resistant to most insect pests. In cold environments, Aloe Vera becomes dormant, requiring little moisture for the plant.** **Renowned growers, who work in accordance with organic growing methods, will carefully watch the growing process and intensively guide every stage of the plant's development. The growers will often work under pharmaceutical license with strict rules and regulations and regular tests and surveys in all stages of the growing and production process. The Aloe Vera distribution has been dramatically reduced in the Sahara area due to desertification.** **-** Kolon Bah Professor Schmidt Environmental Geography **(Stage 4)** December 8, 2011 **__The Journey to: My Antibacterial Hand Gel__**  Production Journey (Phase 1): Production Journey (Phase 2): Production Journey (Phase 3): Production Journey (Phase 4):
 * Triclosan is mostly manufactured in India and China. There is a wide variety of manufacturers. Different work regulations apply to each individual company. China and India are the two most populated countries in the world. Due to the large population, workers are abundant; therefore workers are willing to be employed for low wages under harsh conditions. There is health risks associated with this occupation. Workers may be potentially exposed to triclosan by skin and eye contact when accidental spills or leaks occur, where personal protective equipment is not used. As well as a potential inhalation toxicity of triclosan powder when local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is not used.**

 **__Production Journey (Phase 5):__**   **__Production Journey (Phase 5):__**