Scientists study toxicity
THE BATTALION Pago 5
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. 1976
Aggie game donations
Arsenic may be essential support student loans
. n i r i s everywhere in our en- cerned with arsenic in natural sys- Years later, investigators found Our goal is the positive identifi- f ~ Jf T
Arsenic is everywhere in our en
vironment; even algae and other
marine organisms, that will one day
become sources of human food, ab
sorb arsenic.
Texas A&M University scientists
say arsenic and its compounds have
acquired a reputation of being ex
tremely poisonous, cancer causing
and generally detrimental to life.
Dr. Kurt Irgolic heads an inter
disciplinary team of investigators
which is attempting to clarify the
chemical conversions undergone by
arsenic compounds in living or
ganisms.
“There is no doubt that some ar
senic compounds at certain concen
trations are toxic,” said Dr. Irgolic.
“However, their toxicity seems to
be overrated, not only by the pub
lic, but also in scientific circles.”
“History has shown that some
elements, which have been consid
ered to have only toxic properties,
have recently been found to be es
sential for life,” he said.
So far, most investigations con
cerned with arsenic in natural sys
tems have made no distinction be
tween inorganic and organic arsenic
compounds (this conversion is im
portant to effects on life). Also, very
little work has been directed toward
the isolation and characterization of
arsenic compounds occurring in liv
ing organisms, in the water or the
soil.
“We are growing algae in a sea
water medium containing sodium
arsenate,” said Dr. Eleanor Cox of
the department of biology. “The
algae incorporate arsenic and con
vert the inorganic arsenic into what
we believe to be an organic arsenic
compound.”
“We know that various molds and
bacteria convert inorganic arsenic
into organic arsenic compounds
which are released as gases, said
Dr. Ralph Zingaro of the depart
ment of chemistry. “A classic exam
ple occurred in the 1890 s when a
number of people, who either slept
on a green couch or spent a consid
erable amount of time in a room
with green wallpaper, became ill.
University regulates
campus concessions
By MICHAEL GIBSON
Any solicitation on campus must
have the approval of the University
Concessions Committee, according
to the Texas A&M University Con
cessions Committee.
The committee, chaired by 34-
year-old Ron Blatchley, associate
director of student affairs, is respon
sible for the regulation of sales, do
nations, collections and taking or
ders on campus. Students at A&M,
ecognized University organizations
and businesses supplying a distinct
service to the students are eligible
for concession permits.
Much of the committee’s business
is with individual students.
There’s everything from bake
sales to the sale of mums,” Blatchley
said Monday, “Anything to make a
dime.”
The committee itself is made up
of both University staff and stu
dents. Staff members are appointed
to the committee by Dr. John Kol-
dus, vice-president of student af
fairs. Student members are recom
mended by the student body presi
dent and are subject to Koldus’ ap
proval.
Open weekly meetings are held
on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the
YMCA Building 103. Applications
for permits are reviewed at these
meetings. Although requests usu
ally must be submitted by 5 p.m.
Tuesday, emergency requests be
tween regular meetings may occa
sionally be approved.
Full information on application
for permits is available at the Office
of the Director of Student Affairs,
Room 103, YMCA Building.
Briscoe gives priority
to dam, not wildlife
Associated Press
AUSTIN — Drop the wildlife
habitat issue and get on with issuing
a permit for the Limestone Reser
voir, Gov. Dolph Briscoe has urged
tneU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The reservoir project is on the
upper Navasota River, approxi
mately 25 miles north of College
Station.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service have recom
mended that the Corps withhold a
Permit until arrangements have
been made to buy more than 15,000
acres of land to compensate for
[vildlife habitat the lake would
Hood.
In a letter to the Corps’ district
engineer in Fort Worth, Col. Joe
Sheard, the governor said it was the
state’s position that the project be
completed at the earliest possible
time. He said the Corps should
issue the permit “immediately
without any delay for further mitiga
tion discussions and/or evalua
tions.
“This important water resource
development project has the full
approval of the state of Texas. It is
urgently needed as an element of
the Brazos River Authority’s
basin-wide system of water conser
vation and water supply lakes.
FRESHMEN
AND
SOPHOMORES!
A-D
E-H
l-L
M-S
T-Z
makeups
WE WANT
YOU —
TO HAVE
YOUR PHOTO
TAKEN NOW
FOR THE
7 977 Aggie land
Sept. 14-17
Sept. 20-24
Sept. 27 — Oct. 1
Oct. 4-8
Oct. 11-15
Oct. 18 — Nov. 5
DRESS:
Civilians — Coat and Tie
Coeds — Optional
Corps (Fish and Soph.) — Class A Winter
Corps (Juniors and Seniors) — Midnights
ALL STUOENTS SHOULD BRING THEIR FALL SEMESTER FEE SLIPS
hotos are taken on a drop-in basis, 8-5 weekdays and 8-12 Sat.
... university studio
11s College Main 846-8019
‘Years later, investigators found
that a copper-arsenic compound
used in the green pigment was re
sponsible for the maladies,” he said.
“The pigment did no harm until it
got old and mildewed. Mi
croorganisms then transformed the
inorganic arsenic into gaseous
mathylarsines, which started mak
ing the people sick, tired and weak.
As a result, they slept more and
were further exposed to the gas,
making them even sicker.”
“So, we’ve known for a long time
that molds and bacteria can produce
products which are poisonous,” he
said. “It is also known that other or
ganisms, such as algae, interact with
arsenic but do not release arsenic
containing gases.”
“Nobody knows which arsenic
compound is present inside an algal
cell,” added Dr. Nestor R. Bottino
of the department of biochemistry
and biophysics. “Since algae serve
as food for many animals, these ar
senic compounds can be passed
along the food chain and accumulate
in certain organisms.”
“Our goal is the positive identifi
cation of arsenic compounds as they
occur in algal cells,” Dr. Irgolic
said. “After we have solved this
problem, we hope to identify arse
nic compounds in higher organisms
such as crayfish, fish and perhaps
mammals. Preliminary studies have
shown that arsenic is associated with
the fat of the algae.”
Arsenic compounds have also
been added to the environment via
insecticides and herbicides. Chemi
cal companies are also looking for
places to dump arsenic containing
manufacturing residues. Re
searchers feel that it is necessary to
know how arsenic reacts with and is
transformed by biological systems.
The project is funded by the De
partment of Health, Education and
Welfare’s National Institute of En
vironmental Health Sciences.
Other members of the team in
clude: Dr. Shigeru Maeda, post
doctoral research associate from Ja
pan; R. Stockton, R. Pyles and R.
Newman, graduate assistants, and
Mrs. P Tomme, technician.
When a college student with no
credit rating runs short of funds,
what does he do? At Texas A&M
one alternative is the Campus
Chest.
The Chest is a fund designed to
help Aggies in need. It is supported
entirely through donations, most of
which are received at Kyle Field
after home football games.
Loans from the Campus Chest
must be repaid within 180 days and
are interest free. However, if a loan
is not paid by the due date, an
interest rate of 114% per month
(18% per annum) is charged on the
unpaid balance.
If a student defaults cm a loan, the
Campus Chest cannot withhold
grades or transcripts, the usual pro
cedure used with a student who
owes the university money. Student
Government Vice-President for Fi
nance Scott Gregson said Tuesday
that Campus Chest can file suit
against the delinquent student, but
never does so. “The Campus Chest
is not a collection agency,” Gregson
said. He added that Campus Chest
is trying to obtain the right to with
hold grades and transcripts.
Gregson acknowledged that the
Chest has had a problem with de
fault. From Sept. 1, 1975 until Aug
31, 1976, Campus Chest made 78
loans. Of these, 64 were for less
than $100, of which 14 were de
faulted. Fourteen loans were for
more than $100, of which 7 were
defaulted. The largest loan was for
$250; it has not been repaid. The
Campus Chest currently has $2,891
in loans outstanding.
New rules have been created in
an attempt to tighten up, Gregson
said. Rules specify that no applicant
may be on conduct or scholastic
{ irobation; no applicant may have a
oan already outstanding with the
Campus Chest; funds should be
given only if the applicant cannot
obtain aid from any other source;
and all allocations be limited to a
maximum of $100 unless approved
by the Campus Chest Chairman and
three Executive Committee mem
bers of the Student Government.
One of the member must be either
the Vice-President for Finance or
the Student Body President.
Concerning the rule stating that
funds should be given only if the
student cannot obtain them
elsewhere, Gregson explained that
many students cannot borrow from
banks, not because of bad credit
rating, but because of no credit
rating.
A new rule stating that no
member of the Executive Commit
tee or the Campus Chest Chairman
may apply for a loan has also been
included. Gregson said there have
been problems with Executive
Committee members approving
their own loans and defaulting.
Yale lock invented in 1848
DES MOINES (AP) — The Yale
lock was invented by Linus Yale in
1848.
3 things that every
college student should know
You can SAVE $ 8 on this
slide-rule calculator
SALE
Regular
$22.99
a. An 8-digit slide rule calculator can make the difference
in the speed and accuracy with which you solve complex
problems. Work square roots, squares, reciprocals in
stantly. 4-key memory lets you work 2 problems at once.
Has percent key, floating decimal and large green digital
display. With case. Huns on batteries (included). Op
tional adapter available.
b. Reg. $29.99. Full slide-rule calculator with scientific nota
tion, 4-key memory. Runs on batteries (included). Op
tional adapter available 19.99
You can SAVE *40 on our
Electric 1 typewriter
SALE
Regular
$139,99
Term papers, lab reports, essays—it’s hard to reduce your
typing load, but you can make your job easier with Sears
Electric 1 portable. Has wide 12 inch carriage with pre-set
tab positions for fast column work. With 3 different re
peat keys, standard pica type. Typewriter cover included.
You can SAVE $ 4 on Sears
carry-pack shelving
099
Reeu
SALE
Regular
$13.99
Don’t limit yourself to dorm room furniture. Expand
your storage space with Sears 4-shelf steel shelving unit.
Walnut-color unit will accommodate stereo equipment,
records, books. Has adjustable shelves, decorative end
panels. Comes unassembled.
Sale prices in effect through October 2, 1976 Ask about Sears Credit Plans
SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. Available in larger Sears Retail Stores and Catalog
"
-,.n!
.. !!
■. * i
.•In
, ! <
m* ■
•:
rl!
.
u: