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THE REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY: PETROLEUM-BASED DYES AND THE CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIC

Background: The American food regulatory landscape has historically been influenced by industry interests, resulting in the widespread use of petroleum-derived synthetic food dyes banned in European countries. Chronic disease rates in American children have increased from 3% in the 1960s to approximately 60% currently, with annual healthcare costs reaching $1 trillion. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services marks a paradigmatic shift toward transparency and industry accountability in food safety regulation. Aim: This forum analysis examines Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary approach to food safety regulation, particularly his confrontational stance against petroleum-based food additives exemplified by his statement, "if they want to eat petroleum, they should add it themselves at home" and evaluates the broader implications for American public health policy and global regulatory standards. Methods: Critical analysis of Kennedy Jr.'s public policy statements, examination of epidemiological data trends, and evaluation of proposed regulatory frameworks through content analysis of official speeches and policy declarations from the Department of Health and Human Services. Results: Kennedy Jr.'s administration targets the systematic elimination of synthetic food dyes through industry partnerships, scientific transparency initiatives, and restoration of rigorous research standards. His confrontational rhetorical approach, compared to Mike Tyson's boxing style, has generated unprecedented industry cooperation with food companies "calling almost daily" seeking compliance guidance. The strategy combines voluntary industry agreements with open-source information databases and enhanced FOIA access. Discussion: This confrontational rhetoric represents unprecedented directness in health policy communication, challenging decades of established regulatory practices. The approach prioritizes scientific transparency over diplomatic language, generating both media attention and voluntary industry engagement that traditional regulatory pressure failed to achieve. Conclusions: Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary stance may establish new global standards for food additive oversight, prioritizing public health over commercial interests through evidence-based policymaking and industry accountability measures. This paradigm shift from reactive to preventive regulatory models could influence international food safety governance and restore American leadership in global health policy.
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DETECTION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS (EBV) IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER IN IRAQ USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES

Background: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has recently been identified in human breast cancer globally, potentially contributing to the initiation and progression of this malignancy, as well as gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and bladder cancer. It has been newly associated with breast cancer. Globally, breast cancer affects more women than any other type of cancer. In Iraq, the prevalence of breast cancer is comparable. Aims: The study examined Iraqi women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) to detect Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and encoded RNA (EBER). Methods: A total of 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (92%) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) (8%) biopsy samples constituted the case group, while 30 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from non-cancerous breast tissue served as the control group. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus protein (EBER) in breast tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) methods. Results: EBER RNA signals were found in 31 (62%). EBER RNA signals were seen in 3 (10%) control group participants. Significant differences (P<0.04) were seen in EBV EBER RNA positive signals among study groups. Immunohistochemistry showed nuclear brown staining in 34 (68%) breast cancer patients. Control group: 3 (10%). Discussion: The research identified a statistically significant correlation between EBV positivity and breast cancer among Iraqi women, especially concerning invasive ductal carcinoma. The results corroborate previous reports of elevated EBV levels in malignant breast tissues relative to controls. Although detection approaches such as CISH and IHC provide complementary insights, additional studies are needed. Conclusions: The study concludes that EBNA-1 and EBV EBER RNA were overexpressed in our population group.
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INQUIRY FOR SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR A DRILLING REGIME AT AN UPSLOPE ROCKY KNOLL OF LAWU ESTATE, WESTERN BYPASS, MINNA, NIGERIA

Background: A client requested that the study group help determine locations that would be suitable for a drilling regime at his lot, located at an upslope rocky knoll of Lawu Estate, Minna, Nigeria. Aim: The aim of this study is to carry out a purpose-specific survey to pinpoint the best locations in a built-up property at the upmarket Lawu Estate that would be suitable for a drilling regime targeted for household consumption. Methods: The study area was reconnoitered by the survey crew in order to georeference the locations that would be occupied for the vertical electrical sounding survey in the 30 m x 20 m lot. Owing to the extensive build-up at this lot, only a four-point traverse along the 30-metric dimension traverse of the frontage of the building was demarcated in the northeasterly direction, thereby limiting the desire of the survey crew to define an appropriate survey grid. The data-acquisition pattern at the 4 x 1 survey stations of the frontage-traverse of the lot followed the “traditional” sequence of Schlumberger array layout measurements, whence the survey crew progressed with current-electrode spacing either end of a survey point located at this frontage-traverse targeting a maximum survey depth of 100 m. Result: The acquired vertical electrical-sounding data set for this study was recorded on purpose-specific data sheets. Discussion: Based on empirical rules-of-thumb procedures for interpreting vertical electrical sounding data at the Nigerian Basement Complex geological province, “assured” groundwater location and “strongly aquiferous” location, deductive inferences were drawn with regards to only vertical electrical sounding Station 4. Conclusion: Thus, it is recommended that VES Station 4 be exploited in the planned drilling program of the client, especially since this survey point checks off 100 percent of the constraints imposed by the rules-of-thumb interpretation procedures.
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General information

SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

    General information about this journal
  • Title: SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
  • Short Title: South. J. Sci.
  • ISSN: 2764-5959 (Online); ISSN: 2764-5967 (Print)
  • Universal Decimal Classification (UDC): 001
  • Review Process: Double-Blind Peer-Review
  • Accessibility: Platinum Open Access, NO-APCs.
  • Digital preservation: Portico
  • Frequency of Publication: biannual [2 issues per year]. Journal publication schedule
  • DOI: 10.48141/2764-5959
  • Website: https://www.sjofsciences.com/
  • Country: BRAZIL
  • Publisher: Araucária - Scientific Association.
  • Language of Publication: ENGLISH / PORTUGUESE*
  • *Year that the Journal started accepting manuscripts in Portuguese: 2020
  • First issue year: 1993
  • Free full text: Yes
  • Indexed in: Index Copernicus; Latindex, and I2OR.
  • Formerly known as the Southern Brazilian Journal of Chemistry (1993 to 2021).
  • Former ISSN: 2674-6891 (Online); Former ISSN: 0104-5431 (Print).
  • Website last update: 06/07/2025.

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SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES ANNUAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT

ATR 2023. SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES ANNUAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT.
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ADSORPTION STUDIES OF ZINC, COPPER, AND LEAD IONS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER ONTO SILVER-MODIFIED CLAY ADSORBENT

Background: Industrial wastewater contains pollutants that are detrimental to human health in varied proportions. Among the pollutants are heavy metals, including Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ found in a characterized pharmaceutical wastewater. Several techniques have been proposed for the heavy metal sequester. However, they are with attendant challenges. The adsorption techniques using clay-metal oxide modified adsorbent/composite such as silver-clay adsorbent is considered suitable for an effective sequestering process. Aims: To develop and characterize Ag/clay adsorbent for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Methods: The Ag nanoparticles were synthesized using Parkia biglobossa aqueous leaves extract in an optimization study. The raw clay was beneficiated and doped with silver nanoparticles via the wet impregnation method. The silver-clay adsorbent was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS characterization tools. The developed adsorbent was used for the batch adsorption process of the heavy metal ion removal from the wastewater. Results and Discussion: The phytochemical analysis and FTIR results of the P. biglobosa showed that the leaf contains phenol, tannin, and flavonoids which acts as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent required for synthesizing the silver nanoparticles. The prepared silver nanoparticles modified clay adsorbent Ag/clay, have evenly distributed stacks of pseudo-hexagonal plates, are rich in silica, possess silver nanoparticles in the frameworks, and contain functional groups suitable for binding heavy metals. The adsorptions of Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ from pharmaceutical wastewater onto the silver-modified clay were studied as a function of adsorbent dosage and contact time. The percentage removal results obtained showed that the adsorbent had up to 99.96%, 99.5%, and 99.44% removal efficiency for Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+, respectively, which are better compared with previous studies. The adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic, with Langmuir and Pseudo-second-order models as best fits for the process. Conclusions: The adsorption of selected heavy metal ions onto the green synthesized silver-modified clay adsorbent (Ag/clay) was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in the order Zn2+>Pb2+>Cu2+ with Langmuir and Pseudo-second-order model best fitted for the process. These show that the synthesized silver oxide nanoparticles supported on local clay can be used as a potentially low-cost adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater.
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EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CURCUMIN FROM TURMERIC RHIZOMES GROWN IN MÉRIDA, VENEZUELA

The extraction of naturally occurring compounds is one of the fastest-growing industries because of its benefits against its synthetic analogs. Environmental protection must require the use of natural products instead of chemicals to minimize pollution. Thus, this investigation studies the use of some natural product, as curcumin, as naturally occurring acid‐base indicators. Curcumin can be used as acid-base indicators since it was found that it possesses pH-dependent solubility. Curcumin, the major active component of turmeric, Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae), is used as a spice in curry and as a coloring agent in yellow mustards, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and hair dyes. In this research, the main compound colored rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa) cultivated in Mérida, Venezuela, is extracted: Curcumin (C21H20O6) (1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, in a yield of 3.42% after 8 hours of extraction using soxhlet extractor system with organic solvents (hexane and ethanol). The thin-layer chromatography and column performed separation and purification using a mobile phase, a mixture of chloroform-hexane 3:2. The dye was characterized by spectroscopic analysis of visible ultraviolet (UV-Vis) and infrared (IR), in addition to his studio in steering sensitivity as an acid-base indicator. This dye is useful as an acid-base indicator in strong acid-strong base volumes and did not require large amounts of it as it has high sensitivity. The results indicate that curcumin as an acid-base indicator allows the development of new standards in different chemistry fields that require this type of analysis.
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SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

The SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES publishes articles in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Agriculture, and related interdisciplinary areas and is intended to fill a gap in terms of scientific information worldwide. All manuscripts can be published either in English or Portuguese, with tile, abstracts, and keywords in English. At present, there are NO PUBLICATION FEES. Editors will cover web hosting, open access, DOI number, and other service costs.

We have set high standards for the articles to be published by ensuring strong but fair refereeing by at least two reviewers. We hope that this Journal will provide a forum for disseminating high-quality research in chemistry and related areas and are open to any questions and suggestions. Starting in 2020, the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES will have two issues per year (June and December).

Thank you very much for choosing the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES to publish your paper!
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