Buenas,
I am currently involved in a research project proposal involving heavy metals and contamination in the Dominican Republic. Currently my group and I are trying to focus on ailments resulting from heavy metal poisoning.
As you can see from the link below, according to a 2009 WHO study, the Dominican Republic has a high rate of cases of prostate cancer and a not so great rate of Alzheimer/Dementia. Though we are at the initial stages of this project, we are focusing on cadmium and aluminum poisoning and we would later be looking at the effects these metals have on said diseases. Our initial reasons for focusing on one of these metals is below.
To be able to get this project off the ground I would like to find someone who has experience working with poisoning by these metals in the DR or someone who has published or knows of articles, specifically DR. The issue is that little research and publication has been done in this country regarding heavy metals that it is proving somewhat difficult and we are not in a position to focus on original research at this time.
If you know anyone (or are someone) who is qualified* to serve as a quick adviser, if only to point us in the right direction, we would be much obliged.
__________________________________________________________
*Due to academic requirements we are officially looking for anyone with these degrees: Doctorates, Masters, Engineers or Bachelors. Though unofficially, anyone with an idea is welcome.
__________________________________________________________
Interesting compilation of the health profile in the DR (WHO, UNESCO, ...): http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/dominican-rep
If interested on why cadmium or aluminum:
Cadmium is highly suspected currently of contributing to prostate cancer, especially in individuals of African descent, while aluminum has it's own baggage regarding Alzheimer and lead-retention/absorption rates.
I find aluminum very interesting and DR-centric considering that just about everywhere you go, food or coffee is being cooked in utensils crafted of aluminum.
I'll stop right there before I turn this into our actual project but I figured there are plenty of NGO's/ health missions in the DR and some of them turn up in DR1 every now and then, so taking a shot in the dark! Thanks for reading.
I am currently involved in a research project proposal involving heavy metals and contamination in the Dominican Republic. Currently my group and I are trying to focus on ailments resulting from heavy metal poisoning.
As you can see from the link below, according to a 2009 WHO study, the Dominican Republic has a high rate of cases of prostate cancer and a not so great rate of Alzheimer/Dementia. Though we are at the initial stages of this project, we are focusing on cadmium and aluminum poisoning and we would later be looking at the effects these metals have on said diseases. Our initial reasons for focusing on one of these metals is below.
To be able to get this project off the ground I would like to find someone who has experience working with poisoning by these metals in the DR or someone who has published or knows of articles, specifically DR. The issue is that little research and publication has been done in this country regarding heavy metals that it is proving somewhat difficult and we are not in a position to focus on original research at this time.
If you know anyone (or are someone) who is qualified* to serve as a quick adviser, if only to point us in the right direction, we would be much obliged.
__________________________________________________________
*Due to academic requirements we are officially looking for anyone with these degrees: Doctorates, Masters, Engineers or Bachelors. Though unofficially, anyone with an idea is welcome.
__________________________________________________________
Interesting compilation of the health profile in the DR (WHO, UNESCO, ...): http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/dominican-rep
If interested on why cadmium or aluminum:
Cadmium is highly suspected currently of contributing to prostate cancer, especially in individuals of African descent, while aluminum has it's own baggage regarding Alzheimer and lead-retention/absorption rates.
I find aluminum very interesting and DR-centric considering that just about everywhere you go, food or coffee is being cooked in utensils crafted of aluminum.
I'll stop right there before I turn this into our actual project but I figured there are plenty of NGO's/ health missions in the DR and some of them turn up in DR1 every now and then, so taking a shot in the dark! Thanks for reading.