Have you ever heard of the box jellyfish? I am sure you have and this is what has brought you to this Buzzle article. Box jellyfish are known as the most venomous creatures in the world. They are frequently mentioned in Animal Planet documentaries as one of the ‘deadliest’ creatures lurking in open seas. Many times, vacationers in Hawaii are often warned not to step into the ocean as thousands of these lethal jellyfish swim towards the coast. These jellyfish arrive near the shore 7 to 11 days after a full moon. But, why all these warnings? Because the Box Jellyfish is also known as the Box of Death. These venomous creatures are very hard to spot and thus, it is better to stay away than get stung by their fatal stinging cells. But, why are box jellyfish dangerous? What makes their venom so dangerous? Let’s go through a few box jellyfish facts in the following paragraphs.

Information on Box Jellyfish ~ The Box of Death!
Box jellyfish belongs to the class Cubozoa and have a characteristic cube shaped medusae. Some of the species of box jellyfish includes Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi. These species as well as a few others from this class cause an extremely painful sting that sometimes proves to be fatal to humans. These venomous creatures of the sea are nearly invisible to the human eye. But, these creatures have fully developed true eyes to see. The eyes have a cornea, retina and lenses. They are located on all four sides in clusters. This means, though you can’t see them, they can see you.

They have an umbrella shape and on the underside of this umbrella body is a velarium (flap). This helps in concentrating and increasing the water flow that is expelled from the umbrella. Thus, they are able to move faster than other jellyfish. They can move as far as 6 meters a minute. They have a nerve ring at the base of the umbrella, that proves their nervous system is far more developed than other jellyfish. This nerve ring helps the jellyfish coordinate its pulsing moments. The box jellyfish habitat is largely restricted to the waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific oceans. Some species are found in the Atlantic and east Pacific oceans. They can also be found as far as California, the Mediterranean and Japan. Some are even found all the way in the south of South Africa and down under in the waters of Australia and New Zealand. But, why are box jellyfishes dangerous? Let us find out in the paragraph below.

What Makes Box Jellyfish Dangerous
A box jellyfish has about 60 tentacles that are 5 cm in length. These tentacles are arranged in 4 groups at the corners of the umbrella. They are covered with about 500,000 cnidocytes. These cnidocytes contain nematocystes, that are microscopic harpoon-shaped and can inject the venom into the victim. The highest potency venom is carried by the jellyfish Chironex fleckeri, found in Australia. Since 1883, the C. fleckeri have caused over 64 deaths in Australia. Most of their victims have been children. This is because they have a smaller body mass and strength to fight off the effects of the venom.

Coming to the venom, it contains several toxins that attack the heart, nervous system and skin cells. It is so powerful and painful, that the victim goes into shock. This causes them to drown or die of a heart attack, before they get the chance to reach the shore. The toxins include cardiotoxins that affect the heart, neurotoxins that damage the nerves and dermatoxins that destroys skin cells. The heart stops beating for a few minutes due to the effects of the cardiotoxins injected by three meters of tentacles. If it does not stop beating, the pain is unbearable and the victim will go into shock. Thus, if swimming alone, he/she is bound to drown. The tentacles wrap around the skin tightly and continue to inject the toxins. If one tries to remove them, they will continue to sting and worsen the injury. This will lead to necrosis of the skin tissue. Thus, survivors are often left with deep, scars to remind them of their horrific experience. This never-ending cycle of injecting toxins into the skin, pain and shock may lead to death in 5 minutes.

If a person does manage to reach the shore, s/he should be immediately treated. Most of the beaches where jellyfish are frequently seen, have vinegar in their first aid boxes. The victim, although in pain, should scream for help, if alone. Friends or people on the beach should pour the vinegar on the site of injury all over the nematocysts. This will disable the nematocysts that have not yet injected the venom into the system. Even if the jellyfish is dead or has been detached from the tentacles, they will continue to sting. So, make sure you drench the tentacles in vinegar as much as possible. Seek medical attention immediately, to help save the life of the victim.

Box jellyfish are very delicate creatures. Even a tiny little fish can tear through its body. They are aggressive hunters as opposed to other jellyfish that float. Thus, they need to develop a powerful venom that will kill their prey in an instant, before it causes any injury to them. Maybe this is why box jellyfish are dangerous. As box jellyfish have eyes and can see, they tend to avoid humans. However, if they come across humans, they will accidentally wrap themselves around a leg which will lead to a fatal sting. If you have been notified by the authorities, it is not safe to swim in the water on a particular day, please do so. Do not risk your life, especially when the invisible, Box of Death is lurking around.

Author: Batul Nafisa Baxamusa

Falling Objects

All manner of tools and heavy equipment can come falling from above and a hard hat is not always enough protection. If a construction area has not been correctly fenced off, or something falls from a crane that reaches beyond the scope of the site passers-by can also be hit by falling objects.

Falls

Falls from heights make up 1/3 of fatalities on construction sites. Incorrectly erected scaffolding, open sides and floor holes, unsecured ladders and unguarded steel bars (resulting in impaling) are all common risks. By law scaffold erection must be overseen and checked by a ‘competent’ person. It is amazing how often this is not done though.

Excavation and Trenching Accidents

Cave-ins can and do occur. If material is mounded up too close to the edge it can also fall back in causing serious injury. The risk of death to construction workers in trenching and excavation sites is considered to be 112% higher than in any other area.

Electrocution

Exposed high voltage overhead or underground power lines can easily result in death. Faulty power tools or leads are also responsible for electrocution injuries as are exposed wires that have been left live.

Chemical injuries

Construction sites are often full of dangerous chemicals. Over exposure to some of these can lead to injury as can inhalation and sometimes explosions or fires.

Heavy Equipment

Many injuries can be caused by heavy equipment in all manner of ways. Machinery may be faulty or topple over. Carelessness with cranes results in many injuries. Forklifts and skid steers are other common accident causers.

Exertion injuries

Back injuries from heavy and incorrect lifting are among the most frequent. All manner of RSI injuries from repetitive work are also common.

Fire and Explosions

While less common there is always the risk of fires and explosions, mainly from faulty equipment or chemicals.

Injuries can range from bumps and bruises, broken bones, back injury, spinal cord injury, cuts, amputations, burns, poisoning and death. Minor accidents usually heal up quickly. More severe injuries may mean days, weeks, months or more off work, with mounting medical bills. Some workers may never be able to return to the same job again.

Workers compensation may be a help but very often a good personal injury lawyer can work aggressively to get the full level of compensation a worker deserves. Negligence may well be found to be the fault of employers, property owners, machinery manufacturers, or other third parties. It is critical that anyone injured on a construction site seeks medical help immediately. They should then seek legal advice to see if they may have a case.

Author: Frank Smith

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
One of the most common food additive, food enhancer and flavoring agent, Monosodium Glutamate or MSG, is commonly found in Chinese cuisine. It is found in a variety of packaged and processed sauces, salad dressing, gravy, soy sauce; fish, chicken and sausage products. Monosodium Glutamate side effects include headache, nausea, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, abdominal inflammation, and sudden cardiac death.

Aspartame
If you are a regular user of Nutra-sweet and Equal, think twice! It contains aspartame which is also one of the most dangerous food additives today. Apart from these products, it is also found in diet sodas, and products that claim ‘no sugar’. Aspartame is linked to several cancer types like leukemia, lymphoma, etc. It is specially advised not to be used during pregnancy. Dangers of aspartame also include weight loss, hair loss, memory loss, confusion, etc.

Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate is banned in most of parts of the world but, not in the United States. This product is specially added to flour while making biscuits and rolls to increase their volume. It was found to be a cause of cancer, when tested on animals. In some parts, one may come across food product packages, containing potassium bromate, warning of cancer.

Olestra
Olestra is fat substitute, used as a food additive, widely popular under the brand name Olean. This additive is harmful to the human body as it does not get absorbed in the body. Consumption of this product leads to abdominal discomfort, stomach cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, etc. On the other hand, regular consumption of this product also decreases the body’s ability to absorb natural and beneficial fats.

Sodium Nitrate
Most of the preserved meats contains a dangerous food additive that is sodium nitrate. Foods like hotdogs, bacon, ham, smoked fish, breakfast sausages, luncheon meats, corned beef, etc, contain this food additive which is believed to turn carcinogenic when exposed to the acid in the stomach. Regular consumption of cured meats is also believed to be one of the reasons for causing cancer in people.

Author: Madhura Pandit

Everyone eventually crosses paths with a reckless driver! Many of us survive these encounters, but some do not. Dangerous drivers kill people and destroy property everyday. As a result, Insurance companies cite dangerous drivers as one of the main reasons for the skyrocketing cost of automobile insurance.

There are drivers from all age groups that have dangerous driving habits. Younger drivers can be dangerous drivers simply because they lack experience driving in various environments, such as driving at night, or driving on interstate highways. Older drivers are sometimes dangerous because their senses and reflexes are not as sharp as they once were.

Technology has also added to dangerous driving habits. Cell phones are now more popular than ever, many drivers have cell phones. While driving in town or on the highway, it is rare not to see someone driving while talking on his or her cell phone. Another dangerous driving habit is applying makeup while driving. Applying make-up while driving is thought to be a leading cause of accidents, and is completely irresponsible. One of the most common dangerous driving habits is eating while driving. Many drivers leave the drive thru lane of their favorite restaurant and immediately pull onto a road while trying to eat and drink the food they just purchased. All of those bad habits can distract a driver from paying attention to other drivers on the road and being aware of road conditions.

There are many kinds of driving habits that are considered risky. Speeding is a very common driving habit that can lead to a disaster. Drivers that speed are engaging in reckless and impulsive behavior. It is especially dangerous to speed in residential neighborhoods where children and pets may be playing. Speeding drivers can also be dangerous in neighborhoods where homeowners in their vehicles are entering and exiting their driveways.

Another category of dangerous driving habits is failing to use turn signals. Proper use of turn signals can help prevent most accidents. Failing to use turn signals properly can increase the rate of accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians. Turn signals are simple devices that can give advance notice to other drivers about your driving intentions. It is unfortunate that failing to use such a simple device can cause so many tragedies in terms of lives and property damage. Road rage is a one of the consequences of failing to use turn signals. Many drivers become enraged when they barely escape an accident due to another driver failing to use a turn signal to notify them before changing lanes or making a turn.

Many dangerous driving habits are a result of over confidence. Drivers with years of experience sometimes become dangerous drivers because they are over confident with driving their particular vehicle, or a particular route between home and work. They are not prepared when something out of the ordinary occurs.

There is an old saying, “Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits.” If you have dangerous driving habits you can change them by applying good driving skills for a few weeks, after a few weeks many of these good driving techniques will become your new habits. You should practice watching for speed limit signs, and adjust your speed if necessary. If you practice using turns signals every time you make a turn or change lanes it will quickly become a habit. Developing good, safe driving habits may one day save your life or the life of someone close to you.

Sometimes accidents can be caused by the road itself.

Dangerous roadways accidents refer to accidents that are caused by defects on the road.

In Los Angeles, where there are a lot of freeways filled with cars running at about 60 mph, a small pot hole or a fallen nail on the road can lead to an accident.

Here are some road hazards that may lead to dangerous roadways accidents:

Insufficient / Misplaced Traffic Signs

This refers to traffic signs that are misplaced, not properly visible or even missing. This also includes broken signals and signs.

Warning signs should be present especially for sudden changes on the road like narrowing roads, intersections, pedestrian crosswalks, merging traffic, etc.

The purpose of traffic signs is to warn motorists of impending changes on the road so that the drivers can adjust their speed appropriately for the situation.

Misplaced or non-visible signs defeat the purpose.

Inadequate Lighting

Inadequate lighting leads to poor visibility.

Poor visibility on the road is one of the most common causes of road accidents.

This causes motorists to not fully see incoming traffic or the other vehicles around him/her.

Poor visibility is known to cause multiple vehicle collisions on highways and freeways.

Damaged Roads

Road accidents can be caused by various damages like potholes, bumps, wear and tear, etc.

Dangerous roads can also be a result of bad road designs like wrong width of lanes, angles/curves that causes a driver to make a sharp turn, and unequal pavement.

Black Ice

This refers to transparent strips of ice that forms on the road. Because it is transparent, it usually takes the color of the road which is black, thus its name “black ice.”

Black ice usually forms during cold and rainy weathers. It forms when fog or mist falls on the road and the moisture merges together to form a strip that freezes on the ground.

Because it is camouflaged on the road, most vehicles miss it until it is too late. It is so slippery that a motorist that passes it almost always loses control of the vehicle.

Road Debris

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that there are about 25,000 road accidents and 90 fatalities that can be associated with road debris.

Road debris refers to anything on the road that does not belong there and may be dangerous to motorists.

Some road debris can be sharp objects that can puncture tires like screws, nails and sharp stones.

Some road debris, on the other hand, causes a skidding effect on the vehicle.

Examples of road debris that causes skidding are sand and small pebbles.

Improper / Missing Guardrails

Guardrails are safety railings that protect and prevent vehicles from veering off the road in case of an accident.

Guardrails are most important in elevated locations like mountains or on bridges over bodies of waters where vehicles may fall off its sides.

Author: Mark Dacanay

With a guard dog there is assurance that the property is kept secure from strangers but there is also a risk of mistaken identity by the dog. Every dog owner would not want this t happen but there are certain risks that one would need to take with a guard dog. There are many ways in which this can be prevented but not totally eliminated. One of the most important ways to keep the dog from attacking someone is to place a fence around the property. This will keep it from getting out of the property in an attempt to chase or attack someone. The fence should also have the proper signs warning whoever would attempt to get near the property that there is a guard dog present which can cause harm to whoever violates the warning. For some people this is enough to keep them at a safe distance from your property.

Training a guard dog to distinguish from a threat or not would help in keeping it from attacking other people for no good reason. With the proper training, a dog owner would be able to command their dog on what is the right thing to do for the situation. This would ensure that the dog would not attack someone whom you know but whom the dog encountered for the first time. There are many situations wherein the dog would try to attack someone of whom the owner knew.

There are times when the dog would also attack other animals that have strayed into the property. This situation you cannot control but with the proper fenceFeature Articles, you can prevent other animals from getting into the property as well.

Author: John Uy

According to experts, the planet’s future stands on a knife’s edge. A number of human-caused threats to our environment could cause untold damage to the planet’s environment and biosphere, leading to widespread loss of plant, animal and human life. This article sets out to explain four of the most pressing threats to the environment; the increasing human population, fracking, water pollution and the emission of deadly carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

1.Fracking

It might sound like a term from a sci-fi film, but hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a dangerous type of oil and gas extraction that causes air pollution, contaminates groundwater – sometimes with radioactive material, introduces dangerous chemicals into the local environment and can cause seismic activity.

We’re so dependent on rapidly dwindling sources of fuel, that people are now prepared to resort to drilling methods that can render areas unliveable and even cause minor earthquakes. And the only way to solve this issue is to use less oil.

That means embracing alternative energy sources, which will also have another benefit, as seen below.

2.CO2 Emissions

Everything people in the Western World do creates carbon emissions. Driving, heating buildings, even purchasing food that’s been shipped hundreds or thousands of miles all creates carbon emissions. And that leads to climate change and problems for everyone.

Make sure that your business is doing as much as it can to save the world’s environment by becoming a low-carbon business. Reduce your emissions with clever use of energy-saving techniques and low-carbon fuels, and then offset as much as you can through ethically-sourced carbon offsetting credits.

3.Water Pollution

Fracking, farming and the fact that we dump everything into the sea are all polluting the Earth’s saltwater and fresh water supplies. And if we learned one thing from the film Soylent Green, it’s that killing off sea-life won’t end well for humanity.

The far more pressing concern is the pollution of the planet’s precious fresh water supplies, which we need in order to drink water, grow crops and even generate electricity. By pumping rivers and streams full of chemicals, dyes, pesticides and nuclear material, we’re bringing about slow starvation for millions of people.

4.Increasing Population

Population The Earth has ballooned to over 7 billion people. And that figure could expand even further, with predictions as high as 15 billion people by the 2100s. And, unfortunately for billions around the world, the earth can’t currently sustain populations that high.

That’s because our farming methods, dependence on fresh water, and tendencies to live in flood-prone coastal areas can all be unduly affected by climate change. And more people means more pollution, more intensive, environmentally damaging farming, and more mouths to feed.

Diet and farming methods need to be changed, if the increasing human population is not to prove disasterous to the planet’s environment.

Author: Andrew Nattan

There is another magnesium stearate side effect. Various health websites claim that magnesium stearate’s regular usage may suppress the immune system. A large dosage of it may have a negative effect on T-cell functioning, thus adversely affecting the immunity of the body. T-cells are a type of lymphocytes which differentiate in the thymus. They possess highly specific cell-surface antigen receptors. Therefore, frequent or continuous consumption of magnesium stearate may badly hinder the functions of the immune system of the body.

Again, the large dosage of magnesium stearate may cause a decrease in the level of absorption of the nutrients. Many doctors believe that the drugs or nutritional supplements without magnesium stearate have a very high absorption rate, almost 90 per cent. The presence of magnesium stearate drops the absorption level to 25-35 per cent. Over consumption of magnesium stearate may inflame the membrane lining of the stomach and the intestines. The condition of inflamed stomach and intestine lining is medically termed as gastroenteritis. It produces some characteristic symptoms. They include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Magnesium stearate affects the respiratory system as well. When someone inhales the powder or fumes of magnesium stearate side effect, he may get some of the structures of the respiratory system inflamed. He is most likely to develop asphyxia, which is physiological condition wherein there is either no or insufficient oxygen and carbon dioxide available to the body. It may result in unconsciousness or even death. There is one more magnesium stearate danger possible. It may trigger allergic reaction in people. Such people mostly include those who are sensitive to food additives.

These are some of the magnesium stearate safety issues. A point worth mentioning here is that not many cases have been reported to have shown the signs of magnesium stearate toxicity. Research is still on to scientifically prove the given possible magnesium stearate dangers with sufficient evidence. Therefore, it is advisable not to believe any kind of claim about it. For the most accurate information about the effect of this salt on your health, you should visit a doctor. He is the best person who can relate your medical state with the possible negative effects of magnesium stearate. Hope, the present article helped you in getting some useful information on magnesium stearate.

Author:  Kalpana Kumari

Are you considering one of these dangerous weight loss methods?

1.Prescription diet pills

Amphetamines are available only by prescription, and most doctors are leery of handing them out these days. While they do suppress appetite, you learn nothing about healthy eating, you don’t change your eating habits, and you are likely to gain the weight back the moment you stop taking them. In addition, they can be habit forming. The side effects include high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, sleeplessness, hallucinations and delusions.

2.Phentermine Fenfluramine-phentermine (fen-phen)

Fen-phen was a popular weight loss supplement in the 90’s until it was implicated in deaths due to heart-valve damage. Phentermine alone is still sold in many weight loss aids. The side effects include headaches, dizziness, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure and insomnia.

3.Ephedra

This all natural Asian herb is found in many herbal remedies and weight loss powders. It has a powerful appetite suppressant effect, but has been implicated in over 70 deaths.

4.Laxatives

One of the popular home remedies, used for purging. Regular use and abuse of laxatives can result in low potassium, arrhythmia, and pancreatic damage.

5.Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame, the most commonly used artificial sweetener, has been implicated in multiple lawsuits alleging damages that include blindness, seizures and brain damage.

6.Purging

Like laxatives, purging by forcing oneself to vomit or taking emetics can have very damaging effects on health. Depletion of nutrients like potassium and vitamins, damage to the esophagus from stomach acids, and esophageal rupture are all possible side effects.

7.Smoking

Afraid you’ll gain weight if you quit smoking? The National Institute of Diabetes says that you’d have to gain 100-150 pounds to match the health risks you invoke by smoking. Instead, set up healthy strategies to help you deal with food cravings and put down the cigarettes.

8.Diuretics

Taking diuretics encourages your body to rid itself of fluids – including vital electrolytes. The depletion can lead to dehydration, and cause your body to start retaining water, starting a vicious cycle. Repeated or prolonged use of diuretics can lead to kidney damage and serious electrolyte imbalances, which may result in kidney or heart failure.

9.Herbal Remedies

We have a tendency to equate ‘herbal’ with ‘harmless’, but say nutritionists, this isn’t always the case. Remember that many medications are derived from herbs, and because of the lack of regulation, dosages of active ingredients can vary widely from one manufacturer to another. Below is a list of some of the most common ingredients found in herbal weight loss powders, along with cautions about their effects in certain conditions.

Passive Smoke
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 compounds, out of which 200 are toxic and 60 are known to have carcinogenic effects. Scientific studies conducted on environmental tobacco smoke confirm that it also consists of many carcinogens (cancer causing compounds) and toxins. ETS is the most common agent, responsible for causing indoor pollution.

Statistics
Even though the harmful effects of cigarette smoking are severe in active smoking, passive smoking is also not safe in terms of health issues. Considering the fact that an active smoker can affect many people around, the statistics of passive smoking is much more than that of active smoking, worldwide.

Effects on Children
Infants and children are more susceptible to the medical problems of passive smoking than adults. Due to passive smoking, approximately 300,000 cases of infants and toddlers with respiratory diseases are reported every year. Passive smoking is also one of the primary reasons for increased risk of infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infectious diseases. A child after being exposed to passive smoke for more than 1 ½ years is at a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, pneumonia and croup.

Awareness
The dangers of passive smoking are not less than that of active smoking. Hence, it is high time that we should take serious steps against smoking to benefit the public health as a whole. The impact of smoking on the health of other people is the main reason for smoking bans in workplaces, public places and other enclosed environment, including bars, dining halls, restaurants, etc. Heavy fines should be imposed on people who dare to smoke in such smoking banned areas.

Author: Ningthoujam Sandhyarani