#metal fragment ingestion

[recallsdirect]

Product Recall: IKEA 365+ VÄRDEFULL Garlic Presses:

[dakusan]

Hi daku!

I’ve been reading your vampire series and have become kinda addicted to it (what have you done to me 😭)

I forget if you’ve already discussed this but does blood go bad in this universe? I know you’ve talked about blood disorders and how they affect the universe but I was wondering if there was any blood that vampires, whether normal or abnormal, can’t drink or get ill from drinking.

Can’t wait for the next installment of this series 🤍

P.S. if it hasn’t already been taken, can I be ❄️ anon please (if it is, feel free to assign one to me). Thanks! Have a good weekend!

HELLOOO ❄️ ANON MY LOVELY GLACIAL BLOODLING 💙 You are now officially frost-marked in the blood court. Welcome. Your seat is sculpted from enchanted ice, your aura smells like sterile snow and midnight, and your file is marked “DO NOT CROSS UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH.”

Now… let’s talk BLOOD GONE BAD. Because YEAH. In this universe? Blood absolutely can go bad. And it is not pretty.

· · ──────༺♱༻────── · ·· · ──────༺♱༻────── · ·· · ──────

🧬 SCIENCE + LORE:

There are three main categories of blood rejection in the vampire!SKZ world:

🩸 I. BIOCHEMICAL BLOOD ROT – aka “Dead Blood”

“Blood must carry life, or it invites death.” – Chan, Nocte Labs

This happens when blood is exposed to air too long, improperly stored, or drained from someone who’s recently deceased.

To a vampire, it tastes bitter, metallic, and stagnant. Think spoiled milk meets battery acid.

Normal vampires get violently ill from this—think nausea, seizures, necrotic fever.

Abnormals? Their bodies might auto-purge it, but it burns on the way out. Like drinking holy water laced with bleach. It can also trigger rage-state glitches.

🧊 Note: Luxe Health invented cryo-enchantment systems to preserve blood properly, but street-market blood bags? Sketchy. Risky. Prone to rot. Vampires with no contracts or vault access are at high risk of ingesting it.

🩸 II. GENETIC BLOOD REJECTION – aka “Incompatible Threading”

Vampires, especially Abnormals, are sensitive to the blood lineage of their source.

People with certain genetic mutations, severe autoimmune diseases, or bloodborne magical infections can trigger full system rejection.

Also includes:

Hemophilia with damaged clotting factors

Late-stage leukemia

Rare genetic conditions like Caligo Vein Syndrome (a fictional bloodborne mutation that emits “disorientation” magic)

Symptoms: blacked-out vision, pulse reversal, auditory hallucinations, phantom bonding (where a vampire temporarily imprints on the wrong person), and sometimes… seizure-induced bloodlust.

🧬 Nocte Labs has full documentation on every known rejection type. Chan has personally blacklisted 14 bloodlines from empire circulation due to inherited toxicity risk.

🩸 III. SOUL-BURNED BLOOD – aka “Null Blood”

The rarest and most dangerous. Blood that carries no psychic thread. No tether. No memory. No desire. It should not exist.

Usually results from:

Magical trauma (soul fragmentation)

Severe curse or hex

Experimental blood-binding gone wrong

The body being used in ritual possession

Vampires describe the taste as hollow, echoing, cold, and wrong.

Drinking it can lead to temporary memory loss, disconnection from bonds, and in rare cases, rage-state spiral.

Even Abnormals hesitate with Null Blood. It’s considered unclean on a spiritual level. Felix once described it as “drinking static and forgetting why I exist.”

❌ BONUS: CAN BLOOD BE USED TO POISON A VAMPIRE?

Yes. And it has been. There are documented cases of blood being intentionally laced with:

powdered silver flakes

hemlock resin

rage spores

venomous enchantments

false scent signatures (to impersonate a mate)

One attempt on Chan’s life involved a blood doll who’d been cursed to carry psionic parasites—he bit, sensed it instantly, and ripped the assassin’s throat out before the blood could hit his tongue.

So yeah. Vampires take blood safety DEAD seriously.

· · ──────༺♱༻────── · ·· · ──────༺♱༻────── · ·· · ──────

Thank you for the glorious question, ❄️ anon—you’ve unlocked Level 3 Empire Clearance 😌. You’ll get a custom lab pass and an honorary vial in the Luxe cryo-vault.

🧊 Stay sharp. Stay cold. Stay deliciously curious.

[saltypepps]

on a fluffier note, i know in my heart that double would like good cheese. if he could eat i expect he wouldnt bother with food but hed like quality dairy if you talked him into it

Ah yes I like this! In fact, it’s brought to mind some of my au thoughts about reploids and food again so I’ll write them down under the cut. Just a warning, it could be a little gross lol

- In both Lament and Fragment, reploids can live off sunlight and the electricity produced in their power core, but I like to think that they can digest and get chemical energy from organic compounds (yes, food!) as well. They can very much taste what they’re eating, though their ability to do so ranges from data being fired off by chemoreceptors to tasting flavours humans could only dream of. Like the range between an earthworm perceiving sunlight and shrimp colours.

-They’re way better at digestion than organic organisms and any waste they produce is abiotic and either aqueous or gaseous if it’s light enough to be suspended in air. Basically, anything ingested is broken down and made into useable compounds by chemical reactions, synthetic enzymes, and cell-like microscopic robots. Organic molecules are used to form synthetic substances like hydrocarbons and polymers that can be used for autorepair for things like hair, skin, soft synth-tissues, and certain other components. Unfortunately, any metal components still need to be repaired manually through surgery.

Reploid waste is both very similar to and very different from human or animal waste. Exhaled waste consists of mostly carbon dioxide, water vapour, oxygen gas, and trace amounts of other substances. Liquid waste consists of other compounds in a water solution. It’s somewhat similar to urine but can be significantly more hazardous due to the presence of substances toxic to organic life.

A reploid’s stomach produces a mixture of highly/concentrated hydrochloric acid and certain enzymes, which can dissolve anything it touches in a shorter amount of time than organic stomach fluids. It can make vomiting extremely dangerous for the poor fella and everyone around them. In fact, if the neutralizing barriers in the stomach, esophagus, and mouth were to fail, a reploid would digest themself from the inside out. (Not a fun way to go.) Some specially-designed reploids are able to weaponize their stomach fluids, though designing a reploid to do so is VERY illegal for obvious reasons. The chyme is neutralized in the small intestine, and the waste leaves at a neutral pH.

Lmaoo sorry for the infodump, but if I don’t write all this down now I’m gonna forget it all so here it be! Here’s an Alberta highway sunset for compensation 🧡🩵

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Chemical cocktail from plastics: Pilot study describes degradation and leaching process of plastic consumer products

Plastic waste in rivers and oceans is constantly releasing chemicals into the water. Until now, it was unknown how large these quantities are and which substances are released particularly strongly. In the large-scale P-LEACH project, experts from four research institutes of the Helmholtz Association have now analyzed the composition and concentrations of many different substances. The main focus was on the question of how the sun's UV radiation increases the release of chemicals. Hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic waste are floating in rivers and oceans. The impact of waves, the sun's UV radiation and salty seawater cause the plastic to gradually break down into smaller and smaller fragments and ultimately float in the oceans as tiny microplastic particles. In numerous studies, researchers have investigated the extent to which marine animals ingest these particles and whether they become ill from them. Far less well researched to date is how the ingredients of various plastic products—including additives such as heavy metals, flame retardants, plasticizers, dyes and many other ingredients, that give plastic its versatile properties—affect marine life.

Read more.

[daughterofbearsandrivers]

Horror | 0.5

She couldn't breathe. It was the first thing her mind registered as she came to consciousness. Her body felt lethargic and stiff limbed from being an awkward positioning for who knows how long. She blinked away the crusty edges of her eyes, feeling grains of dirt shift down in her hair and grimy clothes uncomfortably rubbing against her damp skin.

'It's cold.' She thought.

Encasing in strong sap like chrysalis made from secreted goop those things produce after ingesting organic materials, more preferably human remains, stuck to her body and other harvested corpses hung from the ceiling like a meat packing plant. She could literally taste the metallic iron of the rotten old blood.

'So disgusting.'

The female gripped the edge of her confining hardened goop, muscles in her arms and back burned like summer's sunrays. After several attempts she broke out, peeling away her hair and clothes from the other corpses, strings of undried fluids dripped down to the semi slippery tiled floors. She didn't have much energy to dwell on the fact she was absolutely filthy and in dire need of several washes.

'Vacations are overrat- shoot my nail is broken.'

She fleeting noticed as she tiptoed around the area, tentatively using her hands to feel around the place that is nearly pitch black. A very faint breeze of a broken air conditioning until brushed over her skin, briefly making her heart and spine become filled with ice. Swallowing back her nerves and increasingly permanent fear of the dark, the female noticed a dimly flickering light in the room across the hallway and swinging set of double doors separating the kitchen and dining area of the restaurant.

Just as she took a step in the direction of the light, she sensed it before it could she herself processed the swift action of jumping over the long industrial sized preparation table and crouching so low behind it, she might've been on all fours.

The trilling hallow clicks followed up by a rumbling growl and nearly nonaudible footfalls made the tiniest cracking noises as it's weight weakened the secreted hard goop on the floors.

She didn't dare breathe in it's looming presence. Taking small mercies and a vague sense of comfort in the fact most of the equipment here was aluminum or having an alloy of that same material. Or she would've gone the second she jumped over the table.

It steadily moved to the back areas of the restaurant in a practiced cautious manner that showed it's restraint and discipline in that moment. If she wasn't too much concerned about living, she might've found his physique to be...appealing.

The female inched her way forward to her previous designation, the flickering yellowed light that emitted low buzzing hum. Testing to make sure the swinging double doors didn't squeak or whine, she slipped through the opening. Moving in a half crouch she reached the light and found the dining areas of the restaurant to be in complete disarray of carnage and flies swirling in the air. The urge to vomit came to mind though there was nothing to regurgitate.

The remaining working streetlights of the main street spilled in an orangish yellow. Ceiling high windows were broken and it's glass fragments littered the floor like tiny diamonds. Sticking to the walls of the establishment, she carefully maneuvered around the glass, stepping on carcasses, not chancing they wouldn't hear the smallest noise.

'If there was an Olympics for 'A Quiet Place', I'd be reigning champion.'

A slow process that made her cheeks burn out of supposed embarrassment of an invisible audience and being caught unawares for making her escape too long. She swallowed thickly, she couldn't make mistakes, not one. Once she reached the door, she gently shifted the lower half of broken glass off then placed it on the ground before she quickly crawled out onto the sidewalk.

She shivered, rubbing her hands and forearms though wincing at the amount of mud she felt crusting and sticking to her skin. Lines of cars were crashed or abandoned in the main streets of the town. Looking around she waited a moment before she went over to the many vehicles, doing a quick cursory inside to look for anything she can use. Some of the vehicles were still on, a few emitting the silent broadcast of radio stations.

Seconds went by as the time ticked on burrowed minutes that stretched on for hours. On her knees in the passenger seat, she leaned towards the back as she found some water bottles and day old groceries. Just as her fingertips touched the cap of the water bottle, she felt the thin hairs of her arms raise up. Her eyes flicked up to see them, a black mass that sneered out a hiss.

'Oh shit.'

She didn't move but she couldn't stay with the passenger door open and being in a position that served her demise rather her survival. An echoing thump on the sidewalk behind her and on the rooftop of the car she was in made her cheeks blush and her ears hot out of anxiety. Most importantly they were sniffing or letting out raspy chuffs while they stood perched on the vehicles.

'I'm so screwed-'

The sudden wail of a car alarm shattered the silence, making the creatures screech then give chase to something. The panicked footsteps and labored breathing of a person sprinted by, they didn't see her as they shoved pass the open passenger door, sending her tumbling towards the back and her leg ache from getting hit by the door.

Their screams drew several more creatures from the shadows, the sheer volume of it giving ample time for her to get into the back seat of the car to sit among the groceries. Their shadows passed over head, their movements carelessly bashing into the side of the vehicles as their excitement for prey overruled their situational awareness.

'This is a nice car.'

She opened up the backseat, pulling it forward as she slid through the narrow opening of the back and pulled herself into the trunk. It was warmer in there, giving her a moment of solace and reprieve to let her body rest so her mind wouldn't be affected by lack of sleep tomorrow.

[voraciousvore]

The Giant and the Princess (9/10)

Part 1 | Previous (8) | Next (10)

Content Warning: Vore mentions/ themes

Word Count: 2.1k words

------ Part 9 ------

Ajax’s mother finished cleaning and bandaging his injuries and placed a fresh cloth on his forehead. His body was slowly recovering, and the inflammation in his limbs from the poison was decreasing. Even his fever was starting to break. He had yet to wake up, but she knew he needed rest and quiet. She left him alone so he could recover in peace. 

When Ajax finally cracked his eye open, his skull was throbbing with abysmal, excruciating pain. He moaned and lifted his arm, which felt like it weighed a million pounds, up to his face, only to find a thick bandage covering the locus point of the pain. He let out a heavy sigh as his memory slowly returned, and he recalled the projectile stabbing his eye. He was probably half-blind now. 

As he slowly became aware of his surroundings, he recognized his own bedroom. He couldn’t remember how he got here; his last memory occurred in the woods. He vaguely recalled Iris standing on his face, dribbling water into his mouth. 

“Iris?” he rasped softly. No answer. She must’ve gone back to the castle. As he spoke, he felt a hard, spiky lump scratching the inside of his throat. He didn’t like the tickly feeling, which made him cough until the irritating object ascended his throat into his mouth. He reached in and pulled it out, swallowing in the process to clear his sore throat. 

He squinted at the tiny object pinched between his fingertips, confused. It was something pointy and shiny, like a lump of metal, slathered in saliva and bile. He could almost believe it was armor from a soldier he consumed, like a helmet, but it sparkled with gold and flecks of color rather than the metallic gray of iron. He brought it closer to his eye so he could see it better. His eye widened with shock.  

It was a crown. Somehow, he swallowed a crown. As the cogs in his brain chugged through his grogginess and pain, he realized with escalating horror that it was Iris’s crown. If he had unwittingly ingested her crown, did that mean...? He clutched his belly with his free hand, squishing the skin to see if he could detect any movement. Nothing. There was nothing alive in his gut. 

His stomach clenched and cramped with revulsion, and he felt like vomiting as the horrific reality sank in. His lone eye welled up with tears as he stared a hole through her precious crown. Iris was dead. He had eaten her. He couldn’t even remember swallowing her, as there was a large gap in his memory. Had he lost control, in the delirium of fever? Had she begged and pleaded for him to stop as he mercilessly bit down on her fragile form? Or did she fall into his mouth while bringing him refreshment, and he gulped her down as greedily as he drank the water?  

Hideous guilt consumed him as he pictured her last brutal, graphic moments. He could imagine her falling through the gap of his open lips and teeth, sliding down the slope of his tongue, and sinking into his gullet. A simple flex of his throat, and she’d be forced down, never to behold the light of day again. She’d land in his stomach, flailing desperately in a churning, burning, pitch-black purgatory, encompassed by slimy, pulsing stomach walls and surrounded by the half-digested corpses of armored men. The thought of her dying inside him, when he had no awareness or knowledge of her whereabouts, was too much for his heart to bear. 

Nausea overwhelmed him. He clumsily plunked the miniscule crown on his bedside table and rolled over on his side. Retching and gagging, he expelled the contents of his stomach over the bed onto the floor. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand as he stared down at the puddle on the ground. Bones and metal fragments floated in the filthy liquid. Was Iris’s skeleton mixed in there? Ajax turned away from the grotesque sight and wept. 

“Ajax? Are you awake in there?” his mother called as she walked into the room. She saw him crying, with the vomit on the floor. “Oh, you poor dear!” She stroked his clammy forehead, muttered soothing words to him, and cleaned up his mess.  

“Shhhh, it’s alright sweetie, I know it hurts,” she murmured. “But it’s okay… you’re alive, and you still have one good eye! You’re not completely blind.” She didn’t understand that Ajax was weeping over his lost love. He didn’t bother to tell her. What good would it do? She wouldn’t understand anyways. His parents ate humans as heartlessly as he did.  

His chest tightened at the thought. He’d done something so unforgivable, breaking her trust like that. Yet, he knew their love was destined to end in disaster and tragedy. He couldn’t deny his true nature. He was a giant; she was a human. She was his prey. Their relationship was never supposed to exist in the first place. He did exactly what he was biologically programmed to do. 

His sorrow was overtaken with rage as he sought subconsciously to shift the blame away from himself. If those humans hadn’t attacked him, he never would’ve eaten her. He believed, when in charge of his faculties, he would’ve stopped himself. He boiled over as he thought about soldiers, and guards, and bandits. They were disgusting, pesky, cruel little vermin. His lovely Iris should’ve been treated with love and respect by her own people. She shouldn’t have been forced to turn to a giant to find someone that cared about her. 

He poured all his emotions, his grief and regret and physical agony, into a newfound hatred for humans. He blamed them for everything that had gone wrong. His precious little princess, the only good human out there, was gone forever. All because of them, their dreadful mistreatment of her, and their violence. He stewed in his dark fury, plotting vengeance. 

His mental condition did not improve when his father failed to return home, and his mother discovered that humans had slaughtered him and displayed his severed head outside their city. Both Ajax and his mother were devastated by the loss. His hatred and despair deepened, tempered into a hardened edge like steel. As human leaders began to realize they possessed the means to take down the giants that preyed upon them, the violence escalated. More human kingdoms became involved, and started killing giants indiscriminately, even those who had been relatively peaceful. 

When the giants realized that they were being systematically hunted and exterminated, they were outraged. They responded with just as much brutality: destroying bridges and human infrastructure, devouring travelers, crushing any humans that crossed their path, menacing the cities. A targeted assault by several giants on the magical barriers around the human cities was enough to weaken and shatter them. The giants demolished many human settlements, razing them to the ground and smashing their inhabitants like insects. The death toll on both sides was catastrophic. Humans were better organized, with better weapons, magic, and ingenuity, but giants possessed the raw strength and size to wreak havoc. 

Ajax and his mother were forced to flee their home in the mountains with the escalating aggression. When Ajax healed, he was ready to fight back. Heartbroken and enraged, he shredded through human armies and trampled his enemies into dust. He hated humans with a vitriol that poisoned his soul and turned him bitter. He couldn’t face his terrible guilt for what he had done, lest he crumble, so he drowned it in bloodshed. He pined for his fallen princess and his father. No amount of destruction he caused could bring them back. 

He never allowed himself to feel any sympathy for his victims, even if they were small and innocent. He recognized that his error was in his own weakness, in allowing himself to love and be gentle in an inappropriate situation, when he wasn’t supposed to. He grew mean and cold, seeking to submerge his guilt with hatred instead. His heart was hardened. He found release from his spiraling despair and remorse by seeking revenge in barbaric outbursts. He became more ferocious and feral, like a mistreated dog brutalized for fighting. 

He tried not to dwell on Iris, and the unspeakable thing he had done to her. He struggled to block the memories of her out of his mind. One day, while attacking a human city with a few other giants, he almost fancied he smelled her distinctive scent mixed in with the crowd. He knew such a thing was impossible; she was dead. He drowned his grief in destruction, smashing and eating humans indiscriminately. As he ripped off the roof of a building, grabbed a handful of people, and shoveled them into his mouth, he imagined he could almost taste her. He pushed the thought out of his mind and continued to rampage.  

History ran its course. With both sides devastated, the humans finally called for a truce with a proposal. Humans and giants clearly were not compatible, since giants couldn’t control their hunger for human flesh, so the humans would use their magic to find the giants a new place to live. While many giants, including Ajax, rejected what would essentially be banishment, cooler and wiser heads prevailed. Most of the giants were weary of war, and believed the bloodshed against their smaller kin was excessive. They were aware that the retaliation from the humans, while brutal and excessive, was not entirely unjustified, since giants had eaten so many of their people. 

Human magic was powerful, and held promise for a new world, one with sufficient food to better support the giant population. The current realm that they inhabited alongside humans was not sized for them, and they struggled to survive off a diminishing population of prey. So, as a collective, the giants accepted the offer. The most powerful human wizards used their magic to open portals to other realms in order to find a suitable place for the giants to live. 

Like the others, Ajax settled in the new fertile lands. Time passed. He never forgot the princess, as hard as he tried, but he eventually moved on, married a giantess, and settled down. She bore him two sons: Chester and Jasper. Ajax didn’t want his boys to suffer the same heartbreak he did, or fall into similar pitfalls. He raised them in a way he saw fit, so they wouldn’t be soft and weak. He was very harsh on them, perhaps too harsh, in order to toughen them up. Even after hundreds of years, he still suffered temperamental fits of violent rage over the injustices in his life that he took out on his sons. 

Overall, his offspring disappointed him. Despite his best efforts, they didn’t turn out to be the ideal image of strong, stoic warriors that Ajax aspired to. They were small and scrawny for giants, taking after the more feminine traits of their mother, and soft and compassionate in character. Jasper, with his jovial nature, never took anything seriously, and Chester was more interested in activities like reading and writing than engaging in manual labor to build muscle. They were spineless, since they never had to fight in any wars or suffer real hardship, and Ajax resented that quality in his progeny. 

Ajax was at least satisfied that he succeeded in ensuring his sons only saw humans as food. Humans were rare in this land, the Land of Giants, but they occasionally appeared when magical lightning storms transported them from the human realm. He made sure to catch some humans and feed them to his sons as special treats. Jasper always slurped up his humans with glee. Chester seemed more sullen and sad when he ate his share, but he didn’t dare disobey his volatile father, lest he suffer a beating. 

His sons grew up and moved out, and he didn’t see them as often, since they sought to distance themselves from their strict father. Chester was more of a recluse, and moved into a modest cottage out in the woods, away from any major townships. He spent most of his days in seclusion, working from home on freelance writing gigs. His life wasn’t unpleasant by any means, peaceful and quiet, but he was a bit lonely. 

That would change when a magical lightning storm brought a human woman out to his neck of the woods… 

(Author's Note: This is where my story The Giant ties in, which tells Chester's tale. However, this story still has one chapter to go, so stay tuned!)

Part 10

[originemesis]

@cast-you-dxwn xxx

“Hng, you and your surfer-boy bullshit-“ Saltern quips as Abel lands at his side and the water flows into a shield over their position. Rounds pound into the holy water, their points mushrooming as they hit the unyielding wall, an ever-growing bouquet of copper-and-lead flowers suspended in the tiny, writhing tides.

The wound is bad, a mangled mess of flesh, intestines, and bullet fragments. Not immediately fatal, but without surgery or some quickly-applied healing magic, Saltern would surely die, if not of blood loss then by succumbing to infection.

The man laughs at Abel’s comment, though it is cut short by a wheeze and a pained groan. “You’re mixed up, man, I was shitting my guts out for weeks after that.”

The initial stab of pain as the tendril of water breaches the wound is indescribable, leaving the heavy gunner unable to do much as draw breath, much less cry out, but God, does he want to. The tendrils work through the wound swiftly as they are guided by Abel’s practiced hand, catching the main body of the projectile and all of its fragments, the metallic pieces tinkling against the floor of the emplacement.

The water seems to do its job well, slowly beginning to knit together torn flesh and organs, the pain beginning to dull, and the bleeding beginning to slow even as Abel hops up onto the gun to take Albert’s position.

Rounds continue to smack into the shield, a few of them finding the narrow sliver the medic keeps open, whizzing past his body as he begins to put rounds down range.

The exorcists who are advancing towards the barricade are caught out in the open, and their light armor offers no protection against the large-caliber projectiles being hurtled down range. One woman is cut clean in half as they stitch across her midsection, unable to even scream as she falls to the ground. Another is caught in the shoulder, the entirety of her arm flying from her body in a spurt of bright gold arterial blood.

The platform shakes as another exorcist from above lands on it alongside Abel, her blade raised and ready to strike. Before the blow can fall, her body jerks once, twice, thrice, before the three neat holes in her side explode outward, showering Abel’s armor in blood and bits of bone.

Albert lay where he’d fallen, his sidearm now in his hand even as Abel’s holy water continues to root around in his guts, the barrel smoking as the Exorcists corpse falls from the platform.

"You should try it sometime. I've been told it helps with anger management. Possibly cholesterol-" Both of which Albert could do with- well, once his guts were all sewn back up anyway. If it weren't for that, he imagines his insinuation would have been met with a headlock and a subsequent grinding of knuckles into a shorn nape because Albert would claim that helped manage his anger more. Perhaps later. There would be a later...

As bullets blasted the shield overhead- an amplified champagne burst and pop for each entry into the blistering body of water, the medic is quick to retrieve and discard the stray and it's fragments from Saltern's, leaving the water in its place to meticulously sew damaged ends of guts and reconnect them with bouts of roiling pain that likely did mimic the results of ingesting chili oil infused wasabi by the pound. "It was voluntary..." The reminder is the last thing he shares with the other before he's scrambling to get the station secured for when Albert could find his feet again.

There's no denying the other is a repelling force with his aim, because it doesn't take long for some exorcists to find their way beneath the shield and through the stream of outgoing return fire, and once the bodies of a few block the final entry point as living shields for the last infiltrator to rattle the platform with her landing. The gust of her wings too close for comfort upsets his balance to the side, and the gauntlet on his arm prepares to catch the blow while he grabs for the handle of the field dressing dagger sheathed at his side. The resounding whizz of a shot from behind renders the padding of his armor freshly painted with splatter of gold, and he blinks as the exorcist topples over mid attack.

Swinging his gaze back to confirm Saltern was still on the mend, he nods and offers the man a camaraderie chorus of "get some!" over a jerked thumb. They had done the whole storm the base drill countless times, and the defensive position was really a matter of hunkering down and diverting the onslaught's patience to take a preferred route. That route, from what he understands will have their back up from the embassy...they just have to last that long.

Thumbing past the dagger, he yanks free the shepherd's cane from its holster on his back, the glint of angelic steel evident in the slope of its handle. If another makes it through, he's going to hit them right back out into the bullet spray. Flock around and find out.

[female-malice]

For two decades, researchers worked to solve a mystery in West Coast streams. Why, when it rained, were large numbers of spawning coho salmon dying? As part of an effort to find out, scientists placed fish in water that contained particles of new and old tires. The salmon died, and the researchers then began testing the hundreds of chemicals that had leached into the water.

A 2020 paper revealed the cause of mortality: a chemical called 6PPD that is added to tires to prevent their cracking and degradation. When 6PPD, which occurs in tire dust, is exposed to ground-level ozone, it’s transformed into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone, or 6PPD-q. The compound is acutely toxic to four of 11 tested fish species, including coho salmon.

Mystery solved, but not the problem, for the chemical continues to be used by all major tire manufacturers and is found on roads and in waterways around the world. Though no one has studied the impact of 6PPD-q on human health, it’s also been detected in the urine of children, adults, and pregnant women in South China. The pathways and significance of that contamination are, so far, unknown.

Still, there are now calls for regulatory action. Last month, the legal nonprofit Earthjustice, on behalf of the fishing industry, filed a notice of intent to sue tire manufacturers for violating the Endangered Species Act by using 6PPD. And a coalition of Indian tribes recently called on the EPA to ban use of the chemical. “We have witnessed firsthand the devastation to the salmon species we have always relied upon to nourish our people,” the Puyallup Tribal Council said in a statement. “We have watched as the species have declined to the point of almost certain extinction if nothing is done to protect them.”

The painstaking parsing of 6PPD and 6PPD-q was just the beginning of a global campaign to understand the toxic cocktail of organic chemicals, tiny particles, and heavy metals hiding in tires and, to a lesser extent, brakes. While the acute toxicity of 6PPD-q and its source have strong scientific consensus, tire rubber contains more than 400 chemicals and compounds, many of them carcinogenic, and research is only beginning to show how widespread the problems from tire dust may be.

While the rubber rings beneath your car may seem benign — one advertising campaign used to feature babies cradled in tires — they are, experts say, a significant source of air, soil, and water pollution that may affect humans as well as fish, wildlife, and other organisms. That’s a problem because some 2 billion tires globally are sold each year — enough to reach the moon if stacked on their sides — with the market expected to reach 3.4 billion a year by 2030.

(Researchers weigh a salmon that died after four hours in a tank filled with road runoff.)

Tires are made from about 20 percent natural rubber and 24 percent synthetic rubber, which requires five gallons of petroleum per tire. Hundreds of other ingredients, including steel, fillers, and heavy metals — including copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc — make up the rest, many of them added to enhance performance, improve durability, and reduce the possibility of fires.

Both natural and synthetic rubber break down in the environment, but synthetic fragments last a lot longer. Seventy-eight percent of ocean microplastics are synthetic tire rubber, according to a report by the Pew Charitable Trust. These fragments are ingested by marine animals — particles have been found in gills and stomachs — and can cause a range of effects, from neurotoxicity to growth retardation and behavioral abnormalities.

“We found extremely high levels of microplastics in our stormwater,” said Rebecca Sutton, an environmental scientist with the San Francisco Estuary Institute who studied runoff. “Our estimated annual discharge of microplastics into San Francisco Bay from stormwater was 7 trillion particles, and half of that was suspected tire particles.”

Tire wear particles, or TWP as they are sometimes known, are emitted continually as vehicles travel. They range in size from visible pieces of rubber or plastic to microparticles, and they comprise one of the products’ most significant environmental impacts, according to the British firm Emissions Analytics, which has spent three years studying tire emissions. The company found that a car’s four tires collectively emit 1 trillion ultrafine particles — of less than 100 nanometers — per kilometer driven. These particles, a growing number of experts say, pose a unique health risk: They are so small they can pass through lung tissue into the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier or be breathed in and travel directly to the brain, causing a range of problems.

According to a recent report issued by researchers at Imperial College London, “There is emerging evidence that tyre wear particles and other particulate matter may contribute to a range of negative health impacts including heart, lung, developmental, reproductive, and cancer outcomes.”

The report says that tires generate 6 million tons of particles a year, globally, of which 200,000 tons end up in oceans. According to Emissions Analytics, cars in the U.S. emit, on average, 5 pounds of tire particles a year, while cars in Europe, where fewer miles are driven, shed 2.5 pounds per year. Moreover, tire emissions from electric vehicles are 20 percent higher than those from fossil-fuel vehicles. EVs weigh more and have greater torque, which wears out tires faster.

Unlike tailpipe exhaust, which has long been studied and regulated, emissions from tires and brakes — which emit significant amounts of metallic particles in addition to organic chemicals — are far harder to measure and control and have therefore escaped regulation. It’s only in the last several years, with the development of new technologies capable of measuring tire emissions and the alarming discovery of 6PPD-q, that the subject is receiving much needed scrutiny.

Recent studies show that the mass of PM 2.5 and PM 10 emissions — which are, along with ozone and ultrafine particles, the world’s primary air pollutants — from tires and brakes far exceeds the mass of emissions from tailpipes, at least in places that have significantly reduced those emissions.

The problem isn’t just rubber in its synthetic and natural form. Government and academic researchers are investigating the transformations produced by tires’ many other ingredients, which could — like 6PPD — form substances more toxic than their parent chemicals as they break down with exposure to sunlight and rain.

“You’ve got a chemical cocktail in these tires that no one really understands and is kept highly confidential by the tire manufacturers,” said Nick Molden, the CEO of Emissions Analytics. “We struggle to think of another consumer product that is so prevalent in the world, and used by virtually everyone, where there is so little known of what is in them.”

“We have known that tires contribute significantly to environmental pollution, but only recently have we begun to uncover the extent of that,” said Cassandra Johannessen, a researcher at Montreal’s Concordia University who is quantifying levels of tire chemicals in urban watersheds and studying how they transform in the environment. The discovery of 6PPD-q has surprised a lot of researchers, she said, because they have learned that “it’s one of the most toxic substances known, and it seems to be everywhere in the world.”

Regulators are playing catch up. In Europe, a standard to be implemented in 2025, known as Euro 7, will regulate not only tailpipe emissions but also emissions from tires and brakes. The California Environmental Protection Agency has passed a rule requiring tire makers to declare an alternative to 6PPD-q by 2024.

(A worker takes apart a tire at a recycling shop in Mit al-Harun, Egypt.)

Tire companies are conducting their own studies of 6PPD, which they have long considered critical for tire safety, and seeking alternatives. In response to new regulations and the emerging research on tire emissions, 10 of the world’s large tire manufacturers have formed the Tire Industry Project to “develop a holistic approach to better understand and promote action on the mitigation” of tire pollution, according to a statement by the project. The group has committed to search for ways to redesign tires to reduce or eliminate emissions.

One critical area of research is how long tire waste, and its breakdown products, persist in the environment. “A five-micron piece of rubber shears off the tire and settles on the soil and sits there a while,” said Molden. “What, over time, is the release of those chemicals, how quickly do they make their way into the water, and are they diluted? At the system level, how big of a problem is this? It is the single biggest knowledge gap.”

Another area of research centers on the impacts of aromatic hydrocarbons — including benzene and naphthalene — off-gassed by synthetic rubber or emitted when discarded tires are burned in incinerators for energy recovery. Even at low concentrations, these compounds are toxic to humans. They also react with sunlight to form ozone, or ground-level smog, which causes respiratory harm. “We have shown that the amount of off-gassing volatile organic compounds is 100 times greater than that coming out of a modern tailpipe,” said Molden. “This is from the tire just sitting there.”

When tires reach their end of life, they’re either sent to landfills, incinerated, burned in an energy-intensive process called pyrolysis, or shredded and repurposed for use in artificial turf or in playgrounds or for other surfaces. But as concern about tire pollutants grows, so do concerns about these recycled products and the hydrocarbons they may off-gas. There is ongoing debate over whether crumb rubber, made from tire scraps, poses a health threat when used to fill gaps in artificial turf. Based on several peer-reviewed studies, the European Union is instituting stricter limits on the use of this material. Other studies, however, have shown no health impact.

Besides California’s requirement to study alternatives to 6PPD, there are a number of efforts worldwide to redesign tires to counter the problems they pose. More than a decade ago, tire makers hoped that dandelions, which produce a form of rubber, and soy oil could provide a steady and sustainable supply of rubber. But tires made from those alternatives didn’t live up to expectations: they still required additives. The Continental Tire Company, based in Hanover, Germany, markets a bicycle tire made of dandelion roots. Tested by Emission Analytics, it emitted 25 percent fewer carcinogenic aromatics than conventionally made bike tires, but the plant-powered tire still contained ingredients of concern.

(Rubber made from dandelions.)

Other companies are searching for ways to address the problem of tire emissions. The Tyre Collective, a clean-tech startup based in the U.K., has developed an electrostatic plate that affixes to each of a car’s tires: The plates remove up to 60 percent of particles emitted by both tires and brakes, storing them in a cartridge attached to the device. The particles can be reused in numerous other applications, including in new tires.

In San Francisco, scientists studying the pollutants in storm runoff found a potential solution: Rain gardens, installed in yards to capture stormwater, were also trapping 96 percent of street litter and 100 percent of black rubbery fragments. In Vancouver, B.C. researchers found that rain gardens could prevent more than 90 percent of 6PPD-q from running off roads and entering salmon-bearing streams.

Tire waste particles, says Molden, of Emissions Analytics, are finally getting the attention they deserve, thanks in part to California’s rule requiring a search for alternatives to 6PPD. The legislation “is groundbreaking,” he says, “because it puts the chemical composition [of tires] on the regulatory agenda.” For the first time, he adds, “Tire manufacturers are being exposed to the same regulatory scrutiny that car manufacturers have been for 50 years.”

[sronti]

"Both natural and synthetic rubber break down in the environment, but synthetic fragments last a lot longer. Seventy-eight percent of ocean microplastics are synthetic tire rubber, according to a report by the Pew Charitable Trust. These fragments are ingested by marine animals — particles have been found in gills and stomachs — and can cause a range of effects, from neurotoxicity to growth retardation and behavioral abnormalities.

Tire emissions from electric vehicles are 20 percent higher than those from fossil-fuel vehicles."

[rensynaes]

[<< previous (ch.13)]

Chapter 14

“A rather extreme mutation, for a common vampire, but it’s consistent with the elements collected on site,” Cairn commented.

“Let me guess: that’s when you left the room, and bumped into Damjan.”

“Right. He was looking for Thel.” From hoarse, his voice turned weary. “You know the rest, Ilham: the panic, the disjointed fragments of explanation… the crowd of onlookers which had gathered around us, Lénore included. The hearsay.”

“Hearsay?”

“I can’t really blame them given the circumstances, but I was completely sober – and have been so for years, contrary to what some people may think. Anyway, never mind the guests; what matters is that you believe me. Thel’s condition doesn’t lie.”

I couldn’t assess the veracity of his clearness of mind at the time, though I remembered at least one thing: alarmed by the shouting coming from the hallway, Louise and I had gone outside to find the cause, coming across Nathaniel, white as a sheet, clinging to the lapels of Damjan’s blazer – expert drummer and part-time viking warrior, by the look of him – while rambling about supernatural visions and one unforeseen disappearance. If he wasn’t drunk, his confabulations must have been a cover for my fiancé’s last-minute qualms, although I had my doubts; concocting such a nonsensical scenario was oddly excessive, even for them. I had refrained from searching his pockets for the flask I was almost certain to find inside as not to humiliate him any further – he didn’t need my help to do so – and stormed into the room he had just came from.

Empty, window wide open.

Alone despite Louise and Damjan’s insistence on accompanying me, and Nathaniel’s on dissuading me to even go, I had set about looking for Thel. If he felt the slightest remorse at the thought of marrying me, as absurd as it seemed, the resolution of this conflict fell to me – and no one else.

But the detail of what might have ensued still eluded me.

“Hmm. There are still a few grey areas to clear up, if you can,” Cairn intervened. “Notably this woman’s identity, Ombeline. Who is she? How does she know the suspect? Did he tell you anything about it?”

As soon as his eyes met mine, Nathaniel turned away.

“No really,” he replied, “His actions evade me. Had he been involved with her prior to this, he wasn’t during his engagement, not anymore – and had conveniently forgot to bring it up.”

Too succinct. I growled, threatening, and he instantly pulled himself together following a dazed pause. “However…”

“Yes?” Behind a phlegmatic demeanor, Cairn was growing impatient.

“He mentioned the Catafalque.”

“What catafalque?”

“It’s and underground nightclub,” Ilham explained. “He used to work there part-time before handing in his resignation, following his s… personal troubles.” She chewed on her piercing, contemplative. “Ha.”

“Go on?”

“The place is favored by alternative folks,” she added. “A vampire clan would have no problem blending in with the crowd; it’s the ideal hunting ground for them. I play there sometimes, during metal nights.”

“What does it have to do with his “personal troubles”, whatever they may be?” Cairn asked.

“Well… a little over a year ago, Lénore threw him out on the street and Thel found himself crashing at Damjan’s place for a while. I thought he’d fall on his feet eventually, but he only got worse after their breakup: he was struggling with addiction, refused to listen to anyone’s advice, and I think he’d given up on his day job, too; Millie told me he was this close to getting fired from the tattoo parlor. Then one night, he… hum.”

Nathaniel gave her a silent nod.

“He attempted suicide,” she murmured. “That’s when he’s left the Catafalque to go into rehab.”

“Do you remember the symptoms of his addiction?” Nathaniel asked.

“Yes. It’s obvious, in retrospect. I should have seen it coming.”

Cairn didn’t seem surprised; bored, rather.

“Are we talking leech or familiar?” He inquired, flat-toned.

“Leech?”

“A mortal enslaved by the repeated ingestion of vampiric blood; human cattle,” Ilham replied. “It rarely ends well for them, that is if their organism doesn’t turn them into feral vampires beforehand; but in most cases, the clan kill them off long before they reach that stage.”

“Familiars are different,” Cairn went on, “even though they start out in a similar way. These are devoted servants, panderers, and might eventually become descendants of the lineage exploiting them. They don’t need to be asked twice: being turned into a vampire is the holy grail of familiars. And they’ve already got plenty of blood on their hands. Hence my question: to which category did Thel belong? Your account portrays him as reluctant, however, vampires do not sire the first imbecile that comes their way.”

I recalled Thel’s pleas, back at the manor. He did use that word, “familiar”; was he aware, at the time, that he was betraying his voluntary devotion to Ombeline’s clan, the admission that he contributed knowingly to walking innocent people into these monsters’ den?

After a brief silence, Nathaniel admitted begrudgingly: “You already know the answer.”

“Ass-kisser to the parasite in chief, then. Great,” Ilham mumbled. “Let’s say he had a moment of clarity and really did choose to distance himself from his clan: Nathaniel, why would you protect him? Invite him into your own home?! He’s still a vampire, just like Ombeline; you saw what she’s capable of, what she did to him, and what happened to Lénore! At no point did you think this was a bad idea? No? I’m siding with Cairn of that one, you know, because blood clearly isn’t flowing to your brain.”

“I knew full well what I was getting into,” he retorted coldly.

“Then why –”

“Thel is a victim.”

I lifted up my head briskly, ready to bite; a belligerent spark which I had never seen before flashed in his eyes.

“Ombeline’s sole reason for going after him was punishment. He’s fled from the Swarm, refused to submit to the horrors she was preaching; but rather than sanctioning his insubordination, she waited, and made him suffer infinitely more than if she had merely killed him. She lead him to believe that he’d made it out, that she’d ended up forgetting about the familiar who’d defected her, and that he was free to reclaim his life without fear… then, she struck. Destroyed everything he held dear and his future, when he least expected it. Sure, he’s made some mistakes, undeniably, and he’s got painfully poor judgment, but Thel’s vampirism doesn’t dictates his morals any more than your incubus ancestry does yours, Max. Condemning him on the basis of his nature amounts to stooping to the level of the Order; you’re no better than inquisitors.”

“It’s Cairn, for you,” the agent replied. “Your perceptions are impressive, although I have never assaulted anyone, unlike your protégé. He didn’t go easy on you. Say, how is your remission coming along? That’s quite a nasty scar you’ve got there.”

“An accident, nothing more. He didn’t mean me any harm.”

“Well. Much good may it do you, then. Would you have acted differently, had you known the circumstances of Lénore Velten’s murder before my team intervened? The explicit evidence against Thel Baier?”

“I…” The answer died on his lips when he caught sight of me, and he hesitated for a second, as if inwardly debating what he was about to say. It didn’t take him long to reach a decision: “No. Probably not.”

“Why is that?”

“I trust in him.”

“Still? So you don’t think he may be guilty?”

“Of course I do,” Nathaniel snapped back, exasperated, “except… what do you have to prove it? One superficial bite mark? Find some tangible proof first, then maybe I’ll change my mind. He’s not beyond reproach, far from it, but who can pride themselves on being so? I certainly can’t, and chances are you can’t either. Thel’s oblivious, impulsive, but he’s no murderer. Lénore’s far more dangerous than him. Get your priorities straight.”

Neither Cairn nor Ilham got the opportunity to retaliate. The thought that Nathaniel could deliberately disregard my well-justified anger in favor of my potential killer was a complete betrayal. Despite knowing deep-down that I would only be proving his point, a guttural growl rose from within my rib-cage, muffled yet threatening. He flinched, on edge ever since the possession which had confined him to this hospital bed; but as I pounced on him with murder in mind, all fangs out, the tension of the harness being pulled back stopped me in my tracks; my paw slipped on the edge of the mattress, got tangled up in a corner of the sheets, and I fell down gracelessly over the puke-colored linoleum with a strangled yap.

Ilham was holding me back with all the strength that her straw-like arms could muster, but could not keep me from pouring all my hostility over Nathaniel through a flow of continuous, deafening barks. She dragged me back alongside Cairn, away from the spirit medium, away from the room, followed by the reproving looks of the rare hospital staff standing in the hallway.

And the grudge kept throbbing in my shoulder, searing beneath the glowing seal.

[next (ch.15) >>]

[recallsdirect]

Food Recall: Paneriso Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins:

[testing-services]

Why Sensory Toys for Children with Autism Require Specialized Testing?

Sensory toys are more than just playthings—they’re essential tools that support the development, comfort, and engagement of children with autism. As their popularity grows, so does the need for rigorous and specialized testing. A Toy Testing Lab plays a pivotal role in ensuring that these toys are not only safe but also therapeutically effective for children on the autism spectrum.

Understanding Sensory Toys and Their Purpose

Sensory toys are designed to stimulate one or more of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), these toys help manage sensory sensitivities, improve focus, encourage communication, and foster emotional regulation.

Some common examples of sensory toys include:

Fidget spinners and stress balls

Textured chew toys

Weighted blankets and lap pads

Light-up or musical toys

Tactile puzzles and sand play

Because these toys serve a therapeutic function, they must adhere to higher safety and performance standards—making Toy Testing Labs indispensable.

Why Sensory Toys Require Specialized Testing

1. Children with Autism May Use Toys Differently

Children on the spectrum may interact with toys in non-traditional ways—such as prolonged mouthing, squeezing, chewing, or fixating on specific stimuli. These behaviors demand that the materials used are:

Non-toxic

Durable under repetitive stress

Free from sharp or breakable parts

A Toy Testing Lab simulates real-world use through mechanical stress tests, chemical analyses, and performance evaluations tailored for sensory toys.

2. Higher Risk of Ingestion or Choking

Toys that encourage oral sensory input, like chewable necklaces or silicone teethers, require intensive small parts testing and bite-resistance evaluation. Labs must confirm these items meet international choking hazard standards and cannot break into ingestible fragments.

Testing labs evaluate:

Small part release under pressure

Detachment force of chewable components

Shape and size of removable pieces

Key Testing Procedures for Sensory Toys

A certified Toy Testing Lab conducts a variety of tests tailored specifically to the unique risks and therapeutic roles of sensory toys.

🔹 Mechanical & Physical Testing

These tests ensure that toys can withstand intense manipulation without breaking or posing injury risks. This includes:

Drop tests

Compression tests

Torque and tension on moving parts

Sharp edge and point evaluations

🔹 Chemical Safety Testing

Many sensory toys are made of plastics, silicone, or rubber-like materials. Testing labs check for:

Phthalates and BPA content

Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury

Allergenic substances in coatings, dyes, and materials

This is especially critical for toys meant for oral stimulation.

🔹 Flammability Testing

Soft sensory items like plush toys, weighted blankets, and compression vests must pass flammability tests, especially in regions like the U.S., Europe, and GCC countries. Labs ensure:

The product does not ignite easily

Flame spread rate is within permissible limits

🔹 Age Appropriateness and Labeling Review

Children with autism may be developmentally younger than their actual age. Labs help manufacturers determine safe age recommendations and proper warning labels to guide parents and therapists.

Why Manufacturers Must Partner with a Specialized Toy Testing Lab

✅ Expertise in Sensory-Specific Use Cases

General testing labs may miss usage scenarios specific to children with autism. A Toy Testing Lab experienced in sensory toy testing can simulate the unique ways these children interact with toys and catch potential risks before the product hits the market.

✅ Assistance with Therapeutic Validation

While not every lab certifies therapeutic claims, some collaborate with occupational therapists to validate the functionality and efficacy of sensory toys. This adds value and credibility to your product in competitive markets.

✅ Help with Regulatory Navigation

From CE Marking in Europe to G-Mark registration in the Middle East, a competent lab can help you:

Obtain certificates of conformity

Prepare safety technical files

Fulfill export/import documentation requirements

What Should You Ask Your Toy Testing Lab?

To ensure the lab is equipped to handle sensory toy testing, ask the following:

Are you accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards?

Have you tested sensory toys before?

Can you simulate real-use scenarios common with autism spectrum behaviors?

Do your chemical tests cover all oral-use safety concerns?

Can you provide documentation for multiple markets (e.g., EU, GCC, USA)?

Common Mistakes Manufacturers Should Avoid

Even well-intentioned manufacturers can face delays or product recalls. Here are mistakes a Toy Testing Lab helps you avoid:

Using unverified materials that may contain phthalates or lead

Skipping mechanical testing for oral and tactile toys

Underestimating label requirements such as age guidance or choking hazard warnings

Failing to meet import documentation for regulated markets

A specialized lab ensures that your toy meets every standard from factory to final shelf.

Conclusion: Safety, Trust, and Therapeutic Value Begin with Testing

Sensory toys hold transformative power for children with autism. However, this power must be backed by scientific validation, regulatory compliance, and consumer trust. A certified Toy Testing Lab is your partner in ensuring your sensory products are not only fun and functional—but most importantly, safe.

As the demand for sensory toys continues to grow across global markets, having the right lab partner can be the difference between market success and regulatory setbacks.

[qewwqqwewqerwqer]

What If You Eat Aluminum Foil?

Introduction

Aluminum foil is a kitchen staple used for cooking, food storage, and packaging. But what happens if you accidentally ingest a small piece? While most people assume it’s harmless, questions about safety and long-term risks linger. As a leading manufacturer of aluminum foil containers, we address these concerns scientifically, debunk myths, and clarify when to seek medical help.

Is Aluminum Foil Toxic?

Aluminum is a naturally occurring metal, but its toxicity depends on the dose and form. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that adults can safely consume up to 2 mg of aluminum per kilogram of body weight weekly. Aluminum foil is made of 92–99% pure aluminum, with the rest being iron and silicon. Ingesting a tiny piece (e.g., a fleck or crumb) typically passes through the digestive system without harm. However, large or sharp pieces pose risks.

What Happens When You Ingest Aluminum Foil?

1. Immediate Physical Reactions

Minor Ingestion (Tiny Pieces): If you accidentally swallow a small, smooth fragment (e.g., a shred from food wrapping), it will likely exit the body via stool within 24–48 hours. Aluminum isn’t absorbed well in the gut, so minimal amounts enter the bloodstream.

Sharp or Large Pieces: Jagged edges may scratch the throat, esophagus, or intestines, causing pain, bleeding, or (rarely) perforation. Seek emergency care if you experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or black stools.

2. Chemical Leaching Concerns

Aluminum foil can react with acidic or salty foods (e.g., tomatoes, citrus) during cooking, leading to aluminum leaching. While occasional exposure is harmless, frequent consumption of leached aluminum has been hypothetically linked to health issues (see Long-Term Risks below).

Long-Term Health Risks of Aluminum Exposure

1. Neurological Concerns

High aluminum levels in the body are associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. However, the WHO and FDA confirm no conclusive evidence linking dietary aluminum to Alzheimer’s. Most aluminum exposure comes from food additives, antacids, or cookware—not foil ingestion.

2. Bone and Kidney Damage

Chronic overexposure (e.g., industrial workers inhaling aluminum dust) may weaken bones or impair kidney function. For the average person, accidental foil ingestion poses negligible risk.

3. Heavy Metal Toxicity

Aluminum isn’t classified as a heavy metal like lead or mercury. The body efficiently excretes small amounts through urine.

When to Seek Medical Help

Contact a doctor immediately if:

You swallowed a large piece (e.g., a coin-sized fragment).

Symptoms like choking, persistent coughing, or abdominal pain occur.

You’re at risk of intestinal blockage (e.g., pre-existing digestive issues).

For minor cases, drink water and monitor symptoms.

Myths vs. Facts About Aluminum Foil

Myth: “Aluminum foil causes cancer.” Fact: No reputable study proves this. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) doesn’t classify aluminum as carcinogenic.

Myth: “Microwaving aluminum foil is dangerous.” Fact: Small, smooth foil pieces can safely microwave certain foods (e.g., shielding chicken wings). Avoid crumpled foil, which may spark.

How to Prevent Accidental Ingestion

Check Food Carefully: Remove foil wrappers fully before cooking/eating.

Avoid High-Risk Uses: Don’t wrap acidic foods in foil for long-term storage.

Childproofing: Keep foil away from toddlers, who may mouth it.

Aluminum Foil Safety in Food Packaging

As a food-grade aluminum container supplier, we adhere to FDA and EU standards. Our foil products are:

Coated to minimize leaching.

Non-toxic and heat-resistant (up to 660°C/1220°F).

Ideal for baking, freezing, and microwave use (with guidelines).

Conclusion: Is Eating Aluminum Foil Dangerous?

Accidentally swallowing a tiny piece of aluminum foil is unlikely to cause harm. However, sharp fragments, large quantities, or chronic exposure to leached aluminum may pose health risks. By understanding safe handling practices, you can confidently use aluminum foil for cooking and packaging.

[greenmaxsd]

Use a polystyrene compactor instead of a landfill and several impractical recycling techniques

Dumpster diving The earth and environment will suffer greatly from polystyrene. A typical plastic used in building, packaging, and other consumer goods including foam sheets, throwaway cups, silverware, and food containers is polystyrene. However, the long-term detrimental effects of landfilled polystyrene on ecosystems and the environment are caused by its chemical makeup and tenacity. Specific damages to soil and the ecosystem that polystyrene landfills might bring about include the following:

Both non-degradability and persistence are long-lasting. Polystyrene is a substance that is difficult for microorganisms to break down naturally. It takes a long time for them to do so. For it to fully deteriorate, hundreds or even thousands of years may pass. This implies that polystyrene that ends up in a landfill will become a persistent contaminant and stay in the ecosystem for a very long period.

Chemical release causing soil contamination Chemical additions that are harmful: Products made with polystyrene frequently include chemicals like plasticizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, etc. Over time, these compounds might leak into the soil after being liberated from the material. Pollution from heavy metals: During the landfilling process, certain polystyrene products may include heavy metals that can progressively seep into the soil and degrade soil quality.

contamination from microplastics Microplastic formation: Polystyrene has the potential to fragment into smaller pieces and turn into microplastics as it goes through the landfill process. Because they can pass through the soil layer, these microplastics can spread further and have an impact on soil organisms. Bioaccumulation: Microplastics can build up in soil organisms as a result of inadvertent consumption. This can have an impact on the growth and reproduction of the species as well as the overall health of the ecosystem.

Effect on wildlife: choking and ingestion Risk of ingestion: Wildlife may mistakenly consume discarded or landfilled polystyrene for food. Unintentional ingestion can result in mortality, poor food absorption, and obstruction of the animal's digestive tract. Fish and birds in particular, as well as other marine creatures, frequently consume polystyrene pellets.

Choking and Injuries: The structure of polystyrene can ensnare small animals or insects, leading to asphyxia or injuries.

Ecological disparity

Impact on the food chain: Polystyrene's persistence and accumulation in the environment may lead it to move up the food chain and damage a variety of biological levels, from tiny species to giant predators, which will ultimately have an impact on biodiversity and ecological equilibrium.

In actuality, there are a lot of unknown risks, so we need to take proactive measures and recycle using tools like polystyrene compactors. To stop waste from entering the environment and to ensure prompt recycling, first compress the waste polystyrene. The most crucial thing is this. Compressing the expanded polystyrene's volume in order to reduce its volume is the primary purpose of the Polystyrene Compactor. The recycling of polystyrene will already be half successful once this issue is resolved.

[digitalverse2023]

The Silent Crisis: Threats Pushing Dolphins Toward Extinction

Dolphins, with their playful demeanor and high intelligence, have long captured human fascination and affection. Yet, behind their charismatic smiles lies a silent crisis. Numerous threats are pushing these marine marvels closer to extinction. Understanding these threats is the first step toward their conservation.

1. Habitat Loss and Degradation

Dolphins rely on diverse and specific marine environments, including coastal regions, estuaries, and rivers. Unfortunately, these habitats are under siege from human activities. Coastal development for housing, tourism, and industry is leading to habitat fragmentation and loss. Mangroves and seagrasses, vital for dolphin breeding and feeding, are being destroyed. Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban waste further degrades their habitats, making them uninhabitable.

2. Climate Change

The specter of climate change looms large over dolphins. Rising sea temperatures disrupt marine ecosystems, affecting the availability of prey species that dolphins rely on. Ocean acidification, another consequence of increased carbon dioxide levels, impacts the entire marine food web. Changes in sea levels and increasing frequency of extreme weather events further threaten dolphin habitats, especially for species dependent on specific coastal areas.

3. Bycatch and Fishing Practices

One of the most immediate threats to dolphins is bycatch—when dolphins are unintentionally caught in fishing gear. Dolphins often get entangled in nets, lines, and traps meant for other marine species, leading to injury or death. Certain fishing practices, such as purse seining and gillnetting, are particularly hazardous. The decline in fish populations due to overfishing also means less food for dolphins, adding stress to their survival.

4. Pollution

Pollution is a multifaceted threat that impacts dolphins in numerous ways. Chemical pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and PCBs accumulate in the marine food web, leading to toxic effects in dolphins. Plastic pollution, an escalating global issue, results in ingestion and entanglement, causing physical harm and sometimes death. Noise pollution from ships, industrial activities, and military sonar disrupts dolphin communication, navigation, and hunting behaviors, which are crucial for their survival.

5. Direct Hunting and Exploitation

In some regions, dolphins are directly hunted for their meat and blubber. This practice, though less common globally, still poses a significant threat in areas like Taiji, Japan, and the Faroe Islands. Live capture for entertainment industries, such as marine parks and aquariums, also contributes to population declines. The stress of capture and confinement has detrimental effects on their health and lifespan.

6. Diseases and Parasites

Dolphins, like all wildlife, are susceptible to diseases and parasites. However, their immune systems are increasingly compromised by the pollutants they accumulate. Pathogens can spread rapidly through dolphin populations, especially in confined areas. Morbillivirus and brucellosis are examples of diseases that have caused significant dolphin die-offs in recent years.

7. Boat Strikes

As human activity in marine environments increases, so does the risk of boat strikes. Dolphins, particularly those living in busy coastal areas, are at high risk of collisions with boats. These incidents can cause severe injuries or fatalities. Speed regulations and designated marine protected areas are essential to mitigate this threat.

Taking Action: What Can Be Done?

The plight of dolphins demands immediate and concerted action across multiple fronts. Here are some steps we can take:

Conservation Legislation: Enforcing and strengthening laws that protect marine habitats and regulate fishing practices is crucial.

Sustainable Fishing: Adopting sustainable fishing techniques and reducing bycatch through the use of dolphin-safe nets and other technologies.

Pollution Control: Implementing stricter regulations on pollutants and promoting clean-up initiatives to reduce plastic and chemical pollution in oceans.

Climate Action: Addressing climate change through global cooperation and reducing carbon emissions to protect marine ecosystems.

Public Awareness: Raising awareness about the threats dolphins face and promoting ecotourism that supports conservation efforts.

Research and Monitoring: Supporting scientific research to monitor dolphin populations and understand the impacts of various threats to devise effective conservation strategies.

The road to saving dolphins from extinction is challenging but necessary. By addressing these threats head-on, we can hope to ensure a future where dolphins continue to thrive in our oceans, bringing joy and wonder to generations to come.

[sarkos]

Astronomers have spotted a star with a dark metallic “scar” on its surface, thought to be the imprint of a doomed planetary fragment that came too close to its host. The white dwarf star, called WD 0816-310, is a dense, Earth-sized remnant of a star about 63 light years away that would have been similar to our sun in its lifetime. Observations revealed a concentrated patch of metals on its surface, which appear to be the remnants of an ingested chunk of planet or an asteroid. “It is well known that some white dwarves – slowly cooling embers of stars like our Sun – are cannibalising pieces of their planetary systems,” said Stefano Bagnulo, an astronomer at the Armagh observatory and planetarium in Northern Ireland, UK, and lead author of the study.

Astronomers spot white dwarf star with metallic ‘scar’ | Space | The Guardian