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Risk & Safety
The system that we are proposing is hypothetical but through extensive literary research we are able to support the operation of our plastic composting system being dependent on live mushrooms, mealworms, and wax worms. Since we did have a limited amount of resources which is mainly due to our inability to have access to a proper and sterilized lab, we have a long way to go in making our design a tangible reality. There are still many questions that we need to evaluate in greater detail such as evaluating the waste product produced by these organisms after consuming plastic, and the interaction of these organisms with the materials and design of our system.
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Additional to promoting sustainable living we value is the safety of the user, the live organisms themselves, and the environment. A factor that we need to evaluate further is the composition of the safety of interacting with the waste product of these organisms. For example, wax worms produced a byproduct called ethylene glycol after consuming plastic and this compound is known to be a derivative of anti-freeze. Keeping in mind the potential danger of antifreeze, we still need to evaluate the level of ethylene glycol that is produced by the wax worms safe for humans to interact with and at what level. Therefore, future experiments include analyzing the amount of ethylene glycol in the waste of the waxworms and finding a method in disposing of the wax worm's waste if the waste product is shown to be harmful to the environment. In addition, if the waste product of waxworms is shown to be a potential risk to users, then the next step we need to evaluate are possible safety procedures that the user needs to take to ensure safe handling. Another potential risk is the dual use of the system, specifically the potential of using the waste product of the organism to produce other harmful products. However, since we are unclear about the complete chemical composition of the organism's waste product after eating plastic, we need to do further research about the waste product produced by the organism. If a high concentration of the organisms' waste product is shown to be a potential risk to the user or has the potential to be used for ill intent we will research on methods to process the worm waste to make it less harmful or research materials that can neutralize the harmful compound or other organisms such as bacteria that can utilize the worm waste and produce a less harmful byproduct.
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Another concern that needs to be considered is the malfunctioning of our system that leads to the organism escaping. If the organisms were to get out of the system they will most likely not have a significant impact on the environment around them since both the worms and fungi are not genetically modified in a way that their escape can lead to a change in the environment that escape to. However, a large number of either wax worms or mealworms are seen as a pest and if they escape in large numbers may affect the plant life or bee community in that area. To reduce the organism's chance of escaping, our container contained high smooths walls that are difficult for the organisms to climb, and fine mesh tops that prevent the insects from escaping. For the mushroom system, spore production is seen as a concern for the user since some individuals who are exposed to an excessive amount of fungal spores may have an allergic reaction and thus it is advised that the user has the mushroom system outside.
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