Mother Nature’s Chemicals and Smells
This is one example of nature mimicking industry, and there are many more. Vinyl chloride, dioxins, volatile halogenated organic compounds, and bedrock have now been shown to be significant sources adding to the increasing amounts of nitrates observed. Mother Nature also makes perchlorates- the list grows on and on.
Here’s what has been said about perchlorate: “Perchlorate is a rocket fuel component and by-product of rocket and missile testing. It has spread from numerous manufacturing sites into drinking water systems; it also can accumulate in leafy food crops and fruit irrigated by perchlorate-contaminated water.”
Yet here’s what has been found in recent times. While assessing the blame for perchlorate on big, bad industry it also turns out that Mother Nature is also responsible for perchlorate since it has been found in precipitation, the oceans, and at locations as diverse as Greenland, Hawaii and Alaska.
There is a natural flux of atmospheric perchlorate to the earth and a natural perchlorate level So perchlorate is both a synthetic and natural chemical.
Jay Lehr asks the question, what do you get when you go into the North Woods, a great beautiful unspoiled area where there is no industry for miles? The answer is you inhale the pine odor. Guess what? Pine odor is made up of polycyclic aromatics, carcinogens, in the cleanest air we supposedly have in this country. (1)
Josh Bloom notes that it is impossible to be a beach dweller and not notice the unique and wonderful smell of the ocean. By all means, take a deep breath. But what you’re smelling is actually a fairly hideous chemical called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). It doesn’t much matter which ocean you’re near. The ‘ocean smell’ is universal. DMS is the largest source of sulfur in the atmosphere.
Scientists from the Leibnitz Institute for Tropospheric Research have estimated that marine algae produce 10 to 35 million metric tons of atmospheric sulfur, mostly DMS, which is thought to connect the ecosystems of the sea and air. DMS plays a part in the formation of clouds that block solar radiation from hitting the earth; sort of an anti-greenhouse gas. (2)
Did you ever wonder why soil gives off a unique odor when it starts raining? It’s because of a chemical called geosmin. Geosmin is produced in the soil by Streptomyces, a family of bacteria. The chemical stays in the soil until it gets wet or the earth is plowed, at which time minuscule amounts of it are released. People are capable of detecting very low concentrations of geosmin. (3)
There is a naturally occurring chemical called skatole. Its claim to fame is that it is named after, and smells like fecal matter. It’s ‘synthetic’ but also ‘man-made’ and there’s a revolting distinction in this case. Skatole is one of the 599 chemicals added to cigarettes (for flavor). And someone discovered that a little skatole makes strawberry ice cream taste better. (4)
And while on the topic of smelly stuff, here’s what Robert J. McGorrin of Oregon State University reports, “At high concentrations, 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone (catketone) has an off-odor associated with cat urine, but ion the context of Cabernet Sauvignon wine, it provides the typical flavor impressions of the Sauvignon grape.” (5)
Summary
No doubt we humans are responsible for many egregious environmental actions.
However, recent research has shown that some of the pollutants heretofore blamed on industrial activities can now also be laid at the doorstep of Mother Nature.
Instead of setting demands on man made contributions to the environment with the goal of eliminating or minimizing various chemicals, it would be advisable to distinguish natural background from anthropogenic pollution.
And with the passage of time and with improved analytical techniques this is a moving target.
References
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Dawn
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Salt water cures much, sulfur is precisely what we are lacking due to formaldehyde, the main ingredient in GMO manmade food being consumed on a vast scale, so I would recommend going to the ocean and taking in that aroma and dipping into the water, take a walk in the woods and be yourself in nature, also prayer heals more people than most realize, in Jesus Name
Sincerely,
Mother Nature
Eat more sulfuric foods for a healthy gut, because you are what you eat
Amen
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K Kaiser
| #
Hello Jack,
Yes, indeed, nature produces many organo-halogen (compounds with carbon-chlorine/bromine/iodine/[even]-fluorine bonds.
Our database of such comprises already over 2,400 of such. The majority of which is produced by various organisms (plants, etc.), primarily in the oceans.
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