Critical Thinking Paper

Sample Critical Thinking Paper 2 Note to students: This is an example of a critical thinking paper written by a student that received an A. While it is not perfect, it is an excellent place to start when you’re thinking about your paper’s organization, style, and format. NAME: ID#: Word Count: 549

“Natural” Fibers; A Work in Progress Introduction (70 words) “Natural” fiber alternatives to the traditional cotton like hemp, flax, and bamboo have emerged among other textile sources as a more sustainable option. Although these materials do not require pesticides, harsh chemicals that can pollute water resources and pose a health risk to communities are used in processing. More research is needed to explore the use of enzymes to replace these chemicals to reduce air and water pollution and negative health effects. Analysis (402 words) Cotton is one of the largest materials used for textiles currently. It became this way because it’s a rapidly renewable resource, sources are available locally, it’s used in its least processed state, and it’s reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable (INSTYLE: p. 1). However, cotton requires large amounts of insecticides, fertilizers, and water, imposing a high environmental cost (INSTYLE: p. 1). While “natural” fibers such as hemp, flax, and bamboo may offer more sustainable alternatives without the use of pesticides, harsh chemicals are still used in the processing stage (Soares et al. 2011: p. 223). The production of natural fibers, such as bamboo or hemp, uses hazardous chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. The water retting process of these materials releases highly polluted wastewater (INSTYLE: page 2). As one example, toxic carbon disulfide is used to break down bamboo fibers into cellulose fibers for clothing, essentially turning the bamboo into rayon (Chua; 2009: n.p.). In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission charged several companies with falsely advertising their bamboo clothing as “sustainable” because the production process uses chemicals that release pollutants into the air and the resulting clothing is not biodegradable as advertised (Federal Trade Commission; 2009, n.p.). Additionally, the use of these chemicals can pose a risk to human health. In fact, research by Schell et al. shows that people exposed to these toxins have seen negative effects in both pre- and post-natal development (2009; p. 473). The US EPA cautions that carbon disulfide can cause negative long-term neurological and reproductive effects. Although

workers manufacturing these materials are most at risk, individuals can also be exposed through the release of these chemicals into the air (US EPA; 2000, n.p.). Not only do the use of these chemicals threaten the health of the environment, but they can also endanger the health of local communities. The use of enzymes within the meta-genome offers an alternative solution to harmful chemicals and reduces overall water, chemical, and energy consumption (Soares et al 2011:page 223). However, it takes time to match a specific enzyme to complete a certain task, mass produce it, have it sustain such harsh conditions, and quickly be able to remobilize for a continued process. Therefore, these improvements within the processing stage are still being developed and have a long way to go (Fu et al 2012:page 152). It’s a valid solution, but more research and development needs to be done in this area. Evaluation (41 words) Most authors are textile engineers around the world. This shows the breadth of the issue, as well as the authors intimate knowledge of the subject. I have researched this topic with Tebo, and know it’s possible (Tebo et al 2010:page 306). Conclusion (36 words) Although the current processing of “natural” fibers raises concerns, there are strategies to mitigate these effects. More research and development of enzymes for the textile industry is needed to continue the use of more sustainable alternatives. Bibliography Chua, Jasmin Malik. (2009). “Bamboozled? Bamboo Fabric Far From Eco-Friendly, Says

FTC.” Treehugger. Available online < http://www.treehugger.com/style/bamboozled-bamboo-fabric-far-from-eco- friendly-says-ftc.html >. Accessed 10 December 2015.

Federal Trade Commission (2009). “FTC Charges Companies with 'Bamboo-zling' Consumers with False Product Claims.” Federal Trade Commission. Available online < https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2009/08/ftc-charges- companies-bamboo-zling-consumers-false-product-claims >. Accessed 9 December 2015.

Fu, J., Li, X., Gao, W., Wang, H., Cavaco-Paulo, A., & Silva, C. (2012). Bio-processing of bamboo fibres for textile applications: a mini review. Biocatalysis & Biotransformation, 30(1), 141-153. doi:10.3109/10242422.2012.650450

INSTYLE. Textiles, Leathers and the Environment." INSTYLE. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.

SCHELL, L. M., GALLO, M. V., & RAVENSCROFT, J. (2009). Environmental influences on human growth and development: Historical review and case study of contemporary influences. Annals Of Human Biology, 36(5), 459-477. doi:10.1080/03014460903067159

Soares, J. C., Moreira, P. R., Queiroga, A., Morgado, J., Malcata, F., & Pintado, M. E. (2011). Application of immobilized enzyme technologies for the textile industry: a review. Biocatalysis & Biotransformation, 29(6), 223-237. doi:10.3109/10242422.2011.635301

Tebo, B. M., Geszvain, K., & Lee, S. W. (2010). The molecular geomicrobiology of bacterial manganese (II) oxidation. In Geomicrobiology: Molecular and Environmental Perspective (pp. 285-308). Springer Netherlands.

US Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). Carbon disulfide. US EPA. Available online < https://www3.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/carbondi.html >. Accessed 8 December 2015.