Integrated Human Practices

March 31st - Discussion with Professor Zhang Weiwen of the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University

Date: March 31, 2023

Participants: Chen Jiulin, Yu Le, Wang Yidong

Bio:

Professor Zhang Weiwen is a Chair Professor at Tianjin University, a specially-appointed professor at the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University, and the only Chinese member of the United Nations "Convention on Biological Diversity" International Synthetic Biology Technical Expert Group and the only Chinese member of the iGEM "Biosafety Committee".

Key insights:

Due to the project concept being indoors, from a biosafety perspective, we had a discussion with Professor Zhang Weiwen.

Reflections:

• Safety must be ensured, i.e., genetically edited organisms cannot be released into the environment, so consideration should be given to the clearance process after application.
• The initial idea of modifying algae is very difficult, and there is no successful precedent in the world. Consider switching to simpler prokaryotic algae.
• The idea of using Shewanella bacteria for energy supply is innovative, but Shewanella has low energy supply efficiency, and considering the indoor environment, electricity is a convenient energy source.
• Simply removing indoor air pollutants is too monotonous; adding fluorescent proteins to indicate pollutants can enhance aesthetics.

Next steps:

• Firstly, we decided to try using biological suicide switches to solve the problem of microbial clearance after gene editing.
• Then, we decided to switch to blue-green algae to establish an algal bacterial co-culture system to ensure the feasibility of the experiment.
• In addition, we have decided to abandon the idea of using Shewanella for power supply to ensure the efficiency of the system, and to increase the concentration of pollution gases indicated by fluorescent proteins to achieve visualization and enhance aesthetics.

April 22nd - Joint Stall with Teams from Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) at the Deep Blue Charity Sale

Date: April 22, 2023

Participants: Yang Jiayi, Yu Le, Chen Jiulin

Activity contents：

The Deep Blue Charity Sale is a large-scale charity sale and amusement park event jointly organized by the Zixin College of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), SUSTech Public Welfare, and Shenzhen University Xili Campus. It aims to raise funds for charity by allowing students to set up special stalls. In this event, the SUSTech Oceanography Department iGEM team collaborated with the Shenzhen University iGEM team and the China-Bayes iGEM team to set up a joint stall.

We distributed the iGEM series and carefully designed peripherals to the public, calling on everyone to understand the iGEM competition and explore the mysteries of synthetic biology, paying attention to the value and potential of synthetic biology in daily life.

• Promote to the public that genetic engineering can be used to solve various problems, ranging from small things in life to issues related to the health of people around the world.
• Enhance public awareness and attention to indoor air pollution.
• Explain to the public the limitations of existing indoor formaldehyde removal methods and the advantages of our designed formaldehyde removal system.

May 10th - Discussion with Associate Professor Wang Chen of the Environmental Science and Engineering School at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

May 10, 2023

Participants: Chen Jiulin

Bio:

Associate Professor Wang Chen holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Toronto, Canada. In June 2021, he joined the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and currently serves as an associate professor (researcher and Ph.D. supervisor). His research areas include atmospheric chemistry, indoor air pollution, the indoor-outdoor relationship of air pollutants, and their impacts.

Reflections:

• Identify the sources of indoor air pollutants, which are mainly wall paints and household items. Formaldehyde and ammonia are commonly present in indoor residential and office spaces, while hydrogen sulfide is mainly found in bathrooms. However, a field investigation is needed to determine the actual sources.
• Develop models for the concentration changes of pollutant gases and conduct experiments based on these models.
• The relationship between pollutant gas concentrations in the air and in aqueous solutions under the same air conditions can be calculated using Henry's law, allowing the calculation of formaldehyde and hydrogen sulfide concentrations in aqueous solutions.
• Use portable electronic measuring instruments with national standard certification for the general determination of formaldehyde in the air, ensuring high accuracy and portability.
• Pay attention to the detection limits of different measurement methods to ensure reliable detection and use multiple methods if necessary.

Next steps:

• Procure precise and portable measurement instruments.
• Conduct on-site measurements at offline furniture stores.
• Refer to literature on indoor air pollutants to understand the detection standards for indoor pollutants in different countries.

May 21st - South China Exchange Meeting

May 21, 2023

Participants: Yang Jiayi, Yu Le, Chen Jiulin

Presenter: Wang Yidong

Activity contents:

The South China Exchange Conference aims to gather iGEM teams in the South China region, providing a good platform for interactive display, collaborative exchange, and mutual learning among teams, and forming a good atmosphere for co exploring synthetic biology. Sixteen teams from the South China region presented their respective projects at the meeting. At this exchange meeting, SUSTech OCE introduced the project objectives, basis, and design of our team to each team, and actively interacted with other teams to learn from each other.

Fig.3The seventh exchange conference of Southern China.

Reflections:

We had an exchange with Professor Wang Jiangxin from Shenzhen University at the South China Exchange Conference. Inspired by the hardware part of manufacturing, a filter can be installed on the outer wall of the cultivation system, so that under UV excitation, the luminescent Escherichia coli can be visually seen through the transparent filter.

Fig.4Our team's project presentation.

Next steps:

• Decide to install a filter on the outer wall of the hardware.
• Design and produce more meaningful cultural and creative products to help promote our project.
• Improve project framework.

Fig.5Our team's project exhibition area.

July 7-10th - CCiC Conference

Date: July 7-10, 2023

Organizers: Yang Jiayi, Chen Jiulin

Key insights:

The 10th China Regional iGEMer Conference (CCiC) was successfully held at Hainan University. The conference encompassed various activities such as academic lectures, team presentations, poster displays, workshops, and team discussions.

Figure: Project Poster of SUSTech-OCE

Reflection:

SUSTech-OCE team present the project on a sustainable and environmentally friendly indoor air pollution treatment system using microbial co-cultivation at the conference. After a comprehensive introduction to the project, we engaged in brief discussions with other teams through an interactive question-and-answer session.

Next-Step:

We had an in-depth exchange with the iGEM team from ShanghaiTech University. They gained insights into the progress and techniques related to gene editing in cyanobacteria within co-cultivation systems. This knowledge will greatly contribute to the development of their project's co-cultivation system.

Figure: Schematic Diagram of Algae-Fungus Co-cultivation

(from ShanghaiTech University)

September 4th - 2023 iGEM Intercollegiate Synthetic Biology Science Popularization Conference

Date: September 4, 2023

Organizers: Chen Jiulin, Yu Le

Key insights:

Ten teams from China participated in the event, sharing their knowledge on synthetic biology and present their respective project contents. The conference not only introduced fundamental concepts of synthetic biology but also showcased vivid applications through engaging case studies.

Reflection & Next-Step:

• In this conference, we presented our hardware design diagram for the first time and engaged in discussions with other teams. Through these exchanges, we finalized the dimensions and addressed several design details of our hardware, taking careful consideration of the potential risks of leakage once it is put into operation.


Figure: Hardware Design Diagram



• Additionally, we had meaningful discussions with other teams regarding science communication and educational activities related to our project. We have plans to collaborate with science museums in the future, aiming to extend our science outreach efforts and provide science education to a broader audience, particularly inspiring young individuals with a passion for science.


Figure: Educational Activities

Guangdong Science Center SynBio & SDG Science Popularization Exhibition

Date: September 30th, 2023

Responsibles: Yang Xin, Pan Jiayi, Jin Yuxuan, Yu Le, Yang Jiayi

Exhibition Date: September 30, 2023

Exhibition Venue: Guangdong Science Center

Key insights:

The SynBio & SDG Science Popularization Exhibition was held at the Guangdong Science Center on September 30, 2023, and was open to the public free of charge. Its aim was to convey the concept of "Synthetic Biology and Sustainable Development" to the public and promote a better understanding of synthetic biology and its applications in sustainable development.

Reflection:

• We conducted a survey to assess public awareness of indoor air pollutants and distributed our creative products. Our merchandise has been well received by numerous visitors, attracting a significant number of people to take an interest in our project.


Figure: Survey Questionnaire and Creative Products



• We prepared promotional brochures to introduce our project to the visitors. Through our presentations, some visitors have shown great concern regarding indoor air pollution issues.


Figure: Providing Project Explanations to Visitors



• We organized engaging experiments, such as using a small formaldehyde detector to measure the formaldehyde levels in everyday household items. This activity helped deepen people's understanding of indoor formaldehyde pollution.


Figure: Testing the Formaldehyde Emission from Nail Polish

SUSTech-OCE Daily Plog column - "Daily Snapshot"

Date: July 15, 2023 - September 16, 2023

Responsible Person: Yang Jiayi

Key insights:

Starting from July 14, 2023, we established the SUSTech-OCE Daily Plog column, where we share a "Daily Snapshot" to document our team's experimental progress, daily activities, science communication content, innovative ideas, and more. Through this column, we aim to provide insights into our team's daily work and share relevant science communication knowledge, allowing everyone to witness our team's continuous growth!

Reflection:

As of September 16, 2023, a total of 57 educational and science communication articles have been published, contributing to the increased visibility, fan base, and views of the official account. This consistent publication has formed a comprehensive section, delivering educational value to the public!

September 12th - Literature Review 1

Date: September 12, 2023

Responsible Person: Jin Yuxuan, Yang Jiayi

Bio:

Firstly, SUSTech-OCE team conducted a literature review on formaldehyde pollution.

Results:

We found that the indoor formaldehyde concentration in some cities in China was significantly higher than the indoor formaldehyde concentration limit given by the World Health Organization ^[1]. Although indoor temperature, relative humidity, air circulation, and loading capacity of decoration materials can all affect the release of formaldehyde to a certain extent ^[2], it takes at least 16 years for formaldehyde to be released in a moderately decorated room of about 15 square meters【3】.

Conclusion:

The release of formaldehyde has a long-term nature.

Reflection:

Therefore, we believe a sustainable development approach is needed to control indoor formaldehyde concentration.

Fig. 1:Indoor Formaldehyde Concentration Statistics in Some Cities Worldwide^[1]

September 13th - Literature Review 2

Date: September 13, 2023

Responsible Person: Zhou Zhiyue

Bio:

Afterward, our team explored the significance and value of controlling formaldehyde concentration. We conducted literature research on the relationship between formaldehyde and diseases.

Results:

The United States National Toxicology Project team listed formaldehyde as a "known human carcinogen". And, excessive formaldehyde can damage lung function and lead to nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. In addition, in 2020, formaldehyde pollution in indoor decoration in China directly caused disability-adjusted life years to reach 21,656 person-years and economic losses to reach 25.888 billion yuan, accounting for 0.026% of the national GDP ^[4].

Conclusion:

Excessive indoor formaldehyde not only causes harm to health but also causes serious economic losses.

Reflection:

We hope that our experimental results can effectively absorb formaldehyde while indicating whether the formaldehyde concentration in the environment is below safety standards.

Table.1 Health Effect and Economic Impact of Formaldehyde Pollution in Indoor Decoration in 2020^[4].

September 14th - Literature Review 3

Date: September 14, 2023

Responsible Person: Pan Jiayi

Bio:

In order to understand whether our project has practical significance, we conducted literature research on existing indoor air purification solutions.

Results:

At present, indoor air purification schemes mainly include the following.

Firstly, the most commonly employed method is natural ventilation through window openings. However, in heavily polluted cities, window openings for ventilation may introduce additional pollutants, thereby adversely impacting indoor air quality.

Secondly, activated carbon filters are widely utilized for air purification; however, several studies have indicated that their purification efficacy is almost negligible. This is primarily due to the restricted airflow velocity through the activated carbon filters in environments with poor indoor ventilation, which limits their purification capabilities.

To address this issue, some individuals opt for activated carbon filters equipped with fans, which enhance indoor air quality. These filters effectively eliminate certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors, thereby improving the indoor air environment.

In addition, many people believe that indoor plants have the ability to purify air. However, in actual living and working environments, there may be sources of continuous production of formaldehyde and other VOCs, and the purification effect of plants is very limited, making it difficult to detect a significant decrease in the concentration of polluting gases.

Conclusion:

At present, the existing solutions for indoor air purification have limitations, making it difficult to continuously and effectively absorb the continuously released formaldehyde.

Reflection:

Based on the above research, we believe that our experimental product should be equipped with a device similar to an air pump to increase the contact between indoor gas and the device, thereby enhancing its purification ability. At the same time, due to the long-term release of formaldehyde, we hope to introduce a co-culture system of algae and bacteria to achieve sustainable development.

Table.2 The current main methods of formaldehyde removal and their drawbacks

July 31st - Furniture City Survey

Date: July 31, 2023

Responsible Persons: Yang Jiayi, Yu Le

Bio:

In previous activities, teachers such as Wang Chen suggested to us to measure the source of formaldehyde on-site and understand its real proportion within households. Therefore, our team members went to the Furniture City for on-site research, purchasing precision formaldehyde concentration measuring instruments, and conducting on-site investigations on various types of furniture.

Results:

In this field survey, we investigated dozens of furniture types, representing around a dozen categories. Formaldehyde is present in the adhesives used in the manufacturing process of panels. Currently, almost all panel furniture or customized furniture on the market contains formaldehyde. The difference between them lies in the amount of formaldehyde content.

For the on-site research data, our team has integrated and created a concise and clear data graph, as shown in Figure. The maximum allowable concentration of formaldehyde in indoor air is known to be 0.08 milligrams per cubic meter (Reference: GBT 16127-1995 Hygienic Standard for Formaldehyde in Indoor Air).

Conclusion:

It can be seen that most furniture items produce formaldehyde levels close to the maximum concentration, still posing certain risks. Additionally, it can be observed that the release of formaldehyde is more prominent in rest areas, which is closely related to people's daily sleep and other aspects of their lifestyle and health.

It can be seen that our SUSTech OCE iGEM team's research on indoor formaldehyde removal is necessary and closely related to human health development!

September 9th - Hospital Investigation

Date: September 9, 2023

Responsible Persons: Feng Shuran

Bio:

We came to Shandong Provincial Hospital to conduct research on polluting gases. Shandong Provincial Hospital is the largest comprehensive tertiary first-class hospital in Shandong Province, China, with multiple specialized departments and central laboratories including the International Medical Department, Pharmacy Department, and Nuclear Medicine Department.

Results:

According to data obtained from Shandong Provincial Hospital, air pollution causes approximately 7 million deaths yearly, of which 4 million die from indoor air pollution.

• The data shows that formaldehyde exposure increases the risk of leukemia by 1.53-2.47 times.
• Benzenes can cause a series of oxidative stress damage to the body, causing adverse effects such as hematological diseases, chromosomal aberrations, and damage to the nervous system.
• Rare gases represented by radon are important factors in inducing lung cancer.
• In hospitals, excessive use of disinfectant can produce irritating gases that can cause iatrogenic ground glass shadows in the lungs.

Conclusion:

At present, indoor pollutants pose a significant threat to human health and are a common cause of various malignant diseases. We need to strengthen the management and concentration control of indoor pollutants.

Figure. The Logo of Shandong Provincial Hospital.

Figure. Partial Communication Records with Dr. Li Li.

Questionnaire Survey

Date: July 31, 2023 - October 10, 2023

Responsible Persons: Yu Le, Yang Jiayi

Bio:

To support the feasibility of our project, we conducted a survey to understand the public's awareness of indoor air pollutants and their understanding of using synthetic biology to address real-world problems. We conducted two rounds of questionnaires targeting different demographics, and the results varied accordingly:

Results:

First Round: The first round of questionnaires primarily targeted teenagers and university students to gauge their understanding of the severity of indoor air pollution and their knowledge of methods to mitigate indoor air pollution. Based on the data collected in the first round, we found that most teenagers were well aware of the hazards of formaldehyde but had limited knowledge about the dangers of hydrogen sulfide gas. Additionally, they showed great imagination and interest in synthetic biology methods, such as genetically modified plants used to absorb indoor pollutants.

Second Round:

The second round of questionnaires primarily targeted adults. Based on the data collectd in the second round, we found that most adults were well aware of the hazards of formaldehyde but had even lower awareness of the dangers of hydrogen sulfide gas. Additionally, their understanding of synthetic biology methods was limited, with the majority having no knowledge of the definition and concept of synthetic biology.

Conclusion:

At present, most people have a good understanding of the harm of formaldehyde, but they lack awareness of hydrogen sulfide. The younger generation has some understanding of synthetic biology, while the middle-aged and young population have little knowledge of this field.

Reflection:

It is of great significance to introduce the hazards and treatment methods of hydrogen sulfide and other polluting gases to the public. At the same time, we should also popularize the value of synthetic biology to everyone, such as using synthetic biology to help control indoor pollution gas concentrations

Figure: Geographic Distribution of the Survey Respondents

https://static.igem.wiki/teams/4809/wiki/1.jpg

Reference

[1] Zhang, Luoping, et al. "Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: a new meta-analysis and potential mechanisms." Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research 681.2 (2009): 150-168.

[2] https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/58347664

[3] 庄晓虹. 室内空气污染分析及典型污染物的释放规律研究[D]. 东北大学, 2012.

[4] Qiong W, Kang X. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations and the influencing factors in urban china [J]. Progress in Chemistry, 2021,