The importance of iron in the human body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The importance of iron in the human body - Essay Example Deficiency of iron is found to affect the normal functioning of the human body in several ways indicating the importance of iron to the human body. This requirement varies based on age and gender. (1). Iron is an important element for the normal functioning of the human body The Importance of Iron to the Human Body Among the many metals found in the earth’s crust iron is the second most abundant metal. During the course of evolution of living organisms iron became a key metal for the existence of living organisms and this is reflected in the importance of iron to the human body. Many of the functions in the human body at the cell level find iron playing a significant. In the human body normally about 50mg per kilogram of body weight is the quantum of iron present. On an average this works out to between 3-4gms in a human adult. Of this amount of iron in the human body approximately 60% is present in the form of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes. Nearly ten percent of iron present in the human body is found in myoglobin in the muscle. Iron containing proteins like cytochromes, iron-sulphide enzymes and iron storage and transporting proteins is where the remaining 30% of the iron on the human body can be found. This shows that iron is not present in the body as free ions in the body fluids or tissues. (2). Taken at glance the main functions of iron in the human body consists of DNA synthesis and cell formation; sensing of oxygen and cellular uptake of oxygen, transportation and storage of oxygen within the blood and muscles; electron transfer and conversion of oxygen to adenosine triphosphate (ATP); antioxidant as well as pro-oxidant functions; and regulation of inter-cellular iron. The many functions of iron in the human is the reason that iron is present in the human body in its functional forms rather than as free ions in the body fluids and tissues. (3). Hemoglobin Iron is essential as a cofactor in the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin and it i s a part of the structure of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin makes up most of the cytoplasm of erythrocytes. Each molecule is made up of four protein or globin chains, which is attached to prosthetic heme group. The heme group has an iron molecule that is complexed at the centre of a porphyrin ring. Hemoglobin is very efficient at binding and carrying oxygen. This efficiency is reflected in its ability to causer blood to carry almost hundred times the oxygen in comparison to plasma alone. An added factor in this ability of hemoglobin to act as the transporter of oxygen in the human body is the capability of hemoglobin to modulate oxygen binding under different conditions. This feature of hemoglobin permits adaptation to a wide variety of environments and demands within the human body. When there is a deficiency of iron normal erythrocyte and hemoglobin production in the human body is affected. The lack of iron causes a reduction in the synthesis of the heme group, which gets translated into effects on the globin production. The reduced presence of the heme group in the red blood cells make the cells smaller and gives them a paler appearance than red blood cells produced that are produced when adequate levels of iron are present. In the presence of adequate levels of iron the maturing red blood cells continue dividing as per their development program till such time as the hemoglobin gas attained appropriate levels. When iron is not present in adequate levels the

Combining risk assessment and value engineering (this is project risk Essay

Combining risk assessment and value engineering (this is project risk management class) - Essay Example ng is an important technique that helps in the identification and elimination of unnecessary costs in construction, product design, manufacturing, operations, practices and processes. For over sixty years of existence and use, value engineering is referred to by different names. While some people refer to it as value engineering, others call it value analysis, value methodology or value management. However, the reference to value engineering in different terminologies does not change its concept. The concept of value engineering as a systematic process can be used to improve a projects value through a critical analysis of its functions by a multidisciplinary team. Value refers to the equivalent in goods, money, services or a fair return for something exchanged. It is most often represented in the relationship indicated below: The function is measured by the customer performance requirements while the resources are measured in labour, materials, time, price and many other elements that are essential for the accomplishment of the function. In a value methodology, the focus is primarily on how to improve value through the identification of alternative ways of reliably accomplishing a function that meets the customers performance expectations. A job plan in the systematic process of value engineering outlines the specific steps used to evaluate an issue and attain the maximum feasible alternatives that address the issue in consideration. The issue being considered could be a particular event risk(s) that potentially can be dealt with through value engineering in the context of risk assessment (Cretu, Stewart and Berends, 2011). The analysis of functions, as done by a multidisciplinary team through the application of value engineering, helps to improve the value of a project. The multidisciplinary team is a value engineering team that comprises the project stakeholders and experienced professionals. The team members are chosen based on their experience and expertise