#sharps container disposal

[biohazardwastedisposal]

[beebfreeb]

I can be trusted with the transgender flag.

[uncanny-tranny]

I've always found the argument against sharps containers being in accessible, public places (e.g. public restrooms) to be weird because... If people are going to use anyway (which, at some point, becomes necessary because withdraw can be, literally, deadly), I'd rather them being able to properly dispose of their equipment. Sharps can be vessels that contain disease regardless of if you use the sharp for medicine, drugs, or drawing blood. It's a matter of the safety of the person using the sharp and other people's safety if the sharps containers are in places where it is known that sharps are turning up.

[scientific-tricorder]

[Image description: A series of six images. The first shows a screenshot from The Original Series in which a man is wearing a full body protective suit in a frosted over room. One of his gloves is off, and the bare hand is circled and has text that reads: 'Gloves OFF? in HAZARDOUS ZONE?'

The second is another screenshot from The Original Series, showing McCoy and Chapel next to a biobed for surgery in sickbay. McCoy's head is circled and labelled with 'leaving hair strand in your patients innards as a little post surgery gift'. The open door is labelled with 'The DOOR is OPEN?' Chapel's bare hand is circled with the text 'GLOVES?', and text on the bottom reads 'Sterile field Where?'

The third is a screenshot from Strange New Worlds, showing M'Benga pouring a red liquid from a bottle into an Erlenmeyer flask. Text reading 'UNLABELLED' is on the bottle, and arrows point to M'Benga's bare hand with the text 'GLOVES?' Underneath the flask, text reads 'who the hell pours chemicals straight from the bottle into an erlenmeyer flask please use a graduated cylinder or a pipette'.

The fourth is a screenshot from Strange New Worlds showing M'Benga leaning on the lab bench, with many open vials of colored liquid scattered on it. His bare hand is circled with text reading 'GLOVES?' and an arrow points to his uniform with the text 'LAB COAT?' A food container on the bench is circled with text reading 'NO FOOD OR DRINKS ON THE LAB BENCH'. Text near the bottom reads 'ALL THESE UNLABELLED OPEN TO THE AIR CHEMICALS?'

The next image is another screenshot, a panning from the previous one showing further down the lab bench. An Erlenmeyer flask with red fluid and a pipette in it is circled and labelled 'leaving your pipette IN the liquid?' A lab tube rack with open lab tubes containing various colored liquids is circled with text reading 'What the fuck dude'. Large text along the bottom reads 'UNLABELLED!'

The final image shows a picture of a black lab bench with various unlabelled spray bottles and bottles full of various colored liquids and an empty Erlenmeyer flask. Text near the bottom reads 'no comment'. /end description]

I love Star Trek with all my heart, but good god, whenever I see them do "Science" it makes me laugh so hard because PPE and Safety Protocols are literally nonexistent

Not to mention WHERE is the fume hood......

And not a single Electronic balance to be seen

[princessnijireiki]

I need you all to understand that this is also why medical history & development (worldwide!) is a horror show, because going "it's free real estate" and shoving bloody razor blades into the wall + terrifyingly massive amounts of recapping injuries predates DISPOSABLE sharps containers by A LOT.

I stipulate "disposable" because otherwise you've just added a middleman to the "biomedical waste & sharps being dumped in a wall and/or (via shipping by MAIL!) loosey goosey in a landfill" problem.

But commercial disposable sharps bins weren't patented or widely available on the US market until LITERALLY 1984. And that's in HOSPITALS.

This country is & remains a beacon of chaos, but things like, "the knife hole. in the wall, the hole for dirty bloody hairy knives" is a SYMPTOM behind which a bigger creature lurks (which can be summed up as "'progress' looking an awful lot like a runaway Roman candle, that is also full of knives & radiation & lead"), not a standalone phenomenon by itself, and EVERYTHING is a lot weirder than at first glance once you get behind the drywall.

I think an easy way to sum up american domestic architecture is that if you are remodeling and older bathroom you have to watch for razor blades in the walls

[biowastefl]

How To Ensure Biowaste Removal in Winter Garden and Alafaya, FL?

Removing sharp, piercing objects is not easy as they pose a risk of injury and contamination. Health facilities and laboratories use such objects in huge quantities, and many items are ready to be disposed of regularly. Throwing them in the trash bag or adding them to the garbage is a strict no-no. Instead, it is essential to check the standards of the Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA) and the FDA and comply with them perfectly. Sourcing special color-coded storage containers is also necessary to hold the discarded sharps. The��sharps container disposal in Winter Garden and Alafaya, FL, is also an additional responsibility for the users. One can engage a reputed service provider to do the needful without violating the norms ​ Apart from needles and scissors, the following used for diagnostic or treatment procedures are also regarded as sharps and must go in the sharps container:

· Empty or broken ampoules · Broken, rigid plastic · Trocars · Butterflies · Suture needles · Broken glass · Culture slides and dishes

Sharps Disposal Containers

It is most important to source the right disposal container for storing discarded sharps that have been used before and are capable of piercing or lacerating the skin. FDA and OSHA advise using red bags or containers that must be labeled clearly.

Such containers are created out of rigid plastic with a line indicating the items' limit. The container will be considered full when the assorted items inside reach the line. The full containers need to be removed from the home, school, lab, or healthcare facility at the earliest

The FDA also approves the usage of other containers when the designated containers are in short supply. The alternative containers must meet the following criteria:

· Must be made of heavy-duty plastic · Must have a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid that does not allow sharps to be visible · Must remain upright and stable during use · Must be leak-resistant · Must be appropriately labeled to warn uninformed people Emptying the Sharps Container

The containers must be emptied when they are three-fourths full. The line marking the capacity is present in specified containers. The alternative containers must be emptied before it is filled to the brim. It is vital to have skilled and knowledgeable individuals handle this task. Such individuals should be well-versed in OSHA guidelines as well as state regulations. Proper placement of the sharps container inside the facility and the vehicle must be done as regulated, too. Moreover, they must follow the sharps container removal and disposal procedures guidelines.

Thus, facilities, organizations, and institutions must contact a licensed company for proper disposal of sharps containers as and when needed.

The facilities must also ensure a fool-proof process of biowaste removal in Winter Garden and Alafaya, FL, by using affordable services of a company that will ensure compliance with the safety standards.

[biohazardwastedisposal]

Save yourself from sharps.

[uncanny-tranny]

To trans people who are taking injectable hormones and don't have an actual sharps container:

Save your laundry detergent bottles, or any container that is thick. Label it clearly with something like "SHARPS CONTAINER" on all sides, and use that as your container. You want something that won't be penetrable by a sharp, especially considering that your sharps are a biohazard. When it is full, make sure to secure the lid well.

Please don't use glass as glass can be very fragile. If you are disposing of a sharps container, please look up local laws about biohazard disposal. Your pharmacy or hospital might be able to dispose of it, or you may have to go to your local garbage collector. This is a very important part of hormones that people don't always talk about, so I don't blame anybody who wasn't aware of this!

[flock-of-cassowaries]

My ex would deride me for eating a pop tart, but inject himself with a substance he bought on the internet that had only ever been tested on rats and which, he conceded, might increase the risk of cancer.

But I was being unforgivably irresponsible. For eating a fucking pop tart.

The fact that I convinced myself this man was an exemplar of rare intellectual genius is a fucking testament to my ability to suspend disbelief.

[dynamicfirstaid1]

Dynamic First Aid, a leading online Health & Safety product store, offers an essential solution for medical environments with its Sharps Disposal Container. Designed meticulously to ensure safe and hygienic disposal of used needles, syringes, and other sharp medical instruments, this container epitomizes the store's commitment to fostering a secure healthcare ecosystem. Buy Now.

[davidrian123]

Sharps waste, which includes items such as needles, syringes and lancets, poses a significant risk if not disposed of properly. However, advances in technology and design have led to innovative solutions that improve sharps waste disposal practices. These innovations provide safer and more efficient ways to handle and dispose of sharps waste, reducing the potential for needle-stick injuries, the spread of infection, and environmental contamination. This infographic explores some of the latest advances in sharps waste disposal, including needle destruction equipment and new container designs.

[dollniu]

lets talk abt kinks ! — JJK MEN

SYNOPSIS — kinks i think jjk men secretly have…

PAIRINGS — toji x f!reader, sukuna x f!reader, gojo x f!reader, ino x f!reader, higuruma x f!reader

CONTENT — biting and hickeys, blood play, teasing, humiliation, overstimulation, 69, begging, orgasm control, masochism

OTHER — MNDI 🔞

TOJI — biting and marks

toji shows ZERO mercy when it comes to marking you as his own. while he’s fucking u, he loves biting on your neck and leaving trails of bite marks across your skin that don’t go away for at least a week. whether he’s fucking you from the back or the front, he’s sucking on some part of your body. he loves hearing the the soft moans you make when he bites you which only makes him bite harder, it’s like music to his ears. just using his mouth all over you while he’s throbbing inside you, licking and sucking and kissing, etc. he knows ALL of ur sensitive parts and loves sucking on your sweet spot while ur riding him and the reactions you make when he bites you only makes him go rougher. also the fact that literally everyone can see the work of art he’s made on your neck, bite marks and hickeys (even in places only you two can see 💋) “you’re fucking mine.”

SUKUNA — blood play

sukuna is a mf sadist. he absolutely loves it when you’re at his complete disposal and a little toy he can inflict his cruel desires onto. and there’s nothing he loves more than leaving cuts on your body that leak with sweet crimson liquid. scratching at ur thighs or stomach, anywhere he desires with his sharp nails and watching the blood drip from your tits to your stomach only for him to lick it all up, savoring the taste of you. and the way you arch your back in pain and pleasure drives him crazy, watching you bleed as he fucks you harder and rougher. and the thing he loves most is biting into your neck with his sharp fangs, drinking the blood while he’s pounding inside you. drinking the blood and hearing you squeal in pain from the sudden impact only makes him bite deeper. “your sweet blood is mine, doll. let me taste every last drop of you on my tongue.”

GOJO — teasing/humilation

no matter where you guys are, gojo always finds a way to tease you. whether it’s whispering in your ear how much he wants to be inside you or touching you in the places you’re most sensitive, he just loves seeing you squirm as your face turns beat red. especially at the worst times— at meetings he’ll playfully put his hand in ur inner thigh, inching towards your core just to see that delicious flushed look on your face. he can’t contain himself when he sees you like that, a horny squirming mess. and during sex it’s even better, he’d make you strip down in front of him with his eyes glued onto your body, licking his lips while staring at the flustered mess he created. gojo is the type of guy to make direct eye contact while he’s fucking you. you’ll turn away in embarrassment but he’ll just grab your humiliated face and force you to stare into his eyes while he’s pounding you. it drives him crazy when he sees you squirming underneath him, letting out loud moans that you try to hold in, covering your mouth. but in return, he fucks you harder, rougher, just to hear those sweet noises come out. “come on, you like being like this.. don’t you? my little slut.”

INO — overstimulation

whether it’s you or him, ino loves overstimulation. feeling everything at once, it’s too much to handle but it feels so good. he loves seeing you squirm as he fingers you, making your legs shake after coming for the third time. you tell him to stop, pushing ino away but he knows damn well you want more and he fucking loves it. but whether you’re riding him, giving him a blowjob, or a handjob, he’s gonna be begging for you to keep going. tears flow from his wet eyes, staring up at you bounce on his dick, begging to let him cum. orgasm after orgasm, he wants to come again and again. “p-please! oh fuck- please keep going baby- please l-let me cum!”

HIGURUMA — 69 (duh)

higuruma LOVES EATING PUSSY. this is a known fact, he loves tasting all of you and licking up your sweet juices. and of course, riding his nose is also a factor. you mentioned it once and he absolutely lit up to the idea, looking up and seeing you use him for your personal pleasure made him hard just thinking about it. so when you brought up the idea of 69, you do it every night. sucking his dick while pleasuring his girl was absolute heaven for him, eating you out to perfection while getting a blowjob was just what this overworked man needs after a long day at work! just eating your pussy is enough, but feeling you swallow his dick while he plays with ur clit with his tongue felt heavenly. “god.. you taste so fucking good.. please.. mphm.. keep going.”

[gilverrwrites]

Meet Cute Uglies [Bruce]

AN: Shout out to @luckyarchaeologist whose comments inspired me to go a completely different direction to what I had envisioned.🩷 And everyone else who reblogged/comments/voted for a part 2! I hope it lives up 🩷

GN!Reader/Bruce Wayne, 1.6K Words [2/?]

Part One >[Here]<

CWs: Mild/nonexplicit threats of violence, teasing

His hands are soft, and warm, soothing the tension from your body as he uses them to cup your face and hold you steady as he pushes closer, pressing your body deeper into the wall with his broad chest. Up close you can see a smattering of his five o’clock stubble coming through, even under the dim slivers of moonlight breaking through the gloomy alley. You note a hint of coffee on his breath before his lips brush against-

Loud banging at your apartment door startles you awake. Tired eyes sluggishly take in the time on the nearest clock, you’re barely able to process the numbers before the knocks come again. It’s too early. It’s your day of for goodness’ sake and it sounds like someone is trying to break down your door with their fists. When you answer it’s an equally disgruntled delivery driver. They ask your name before bombarding you with a large box and snapping a proof of delivery photo. You ponder your unkempt morning appearance and pray the sender of this parcel doesn’t ever check that photo.

It was almost certainly not from you because you hadn’t ordered anything, especially not anything this big. You don’t recognise the logo, but it, the matte black tape, and the distinct florally smell permeating from the smooth white container tells you that whatever is inside is expensive. That or it’s a trap, designed to lure you in with its unsuspecting exterior, then BAM Ivy toxin or Joker gas. You’re not dumb, you’ve seen the PSAs.

30 minutes, one morning brew, one disposable mask, one sharp knife, 2 gloves, and a whole lot of nerve later you gently remove the contents from its packaging. It’s wrapped in a layer of security card and glittery tissue paper but it’s pretty evident what it is. It’s a very nice bouquet of flowers. A mix of carnations, hyacinths, and baby’s-breath, already sitting in a pretty crystal vase that probably cost more than your rent.  A gold envelope stands out amongst the colourful petals, and you fork it out to read despite being certain you already know who it's from. Nobody else in your life would spend this much money on flowers for you, even if it were a special occasion. The repercussions of telling your name to a stranger, even a famous stranger, who you’d known of all your life, but never known hadn’t occurred to you until you see it printed in foil against the high-quality textured card.

“As you understandably didn’t allow me the chance to apologise last night, please accept these as a token of my penitence. Regards, B.W.”

You’re not sure which irks you most, him cornering you in a dark alley in the first place, his seeking you out to apologise in an unsettlingly short amount of time, the absurd display of wealth, his pretentiously unironic use of the word ‘Penitence’, or the fact that you kinda liked it. The fact that you’d spend the night dreaming about slivers of moonlight and soft hands that didn’t exist. In actual fact, the remainder of the scene had been clumsy and anticlimactic.

“Who are you?” He demands. “And why are you following me?” You squint to read his expressions, barely able to make him out under the faint light of apartment windows high above your figures. There's a disconnect between the upper and lower halves of his face that adds to your already heightened nerves. His jaw and lips remain in an ever-present scowl, but steely blue eyes seem to soften as you tell him your name. “I'm not following you.” Your voice is stunted, weak due to the unrelenting pressure actual billionaire Bruce Wayne is applying to it. “I swear! It’s a coincidence.” He seems to believe you, or at least, he doesn’t consider you much of a threat because his grip loosens enough for you to find your footing again. Before he can change his mind, you scramble out of there, almost tripping on your accidentally discarded bag on the way. Whatever is up with him is not your problem. “I-“ “Save it.” Creep. You’re not interested in his apologies or excuses. You’re just an average person trying to make their way in the crime capital of the world, probably. It’s a miracle he didn’t put you in an early grave due to a heart attack. You could see the headlines now: ‘Playboy Billionaire Charged with Manslaughter: Officials unsure why he corned innocent Gothamite’ which is to presume a man with as much wealth as Bruce Wayne would ever be charged with a crime. Rich, ill-mannered, paranoid, handsome, creep. “Just stay away from me.”

As you stand motionless, relaying the events of the previous night in your head, it occurs to you that there's still something in the envelope, something slightly smaller and thicker than the apology card. You slip it out and flip it between your fingers, a gift card to the coffee shop you’d first seen him in, with a pre-paid value high enough to keep you and all your colleagues caffeinated for the rest of the year, if not longer.

The remainder of your day is spent relocating the two gifts between errands and relaxation time. The gift card is inserted and removed from the card section of your wallet so many times you’ve probably incidentally rubbed off its magnetic strip. Accepting it, and using it wasn’t bad, not really. He wasn’t buying you or your forgiveness it's just a show good intent, not to mention it was basically pocket change to a man with that much money.

But it did feel a little bit like being bought.

And the flowers reminded you of that conflict every time you looked at them, so they made their way onto every feasible surface and counter until you found a spot with enough light to keep them alive that wasn’t in plain sight 90% of the time. Maybe you could sell or donate the vase once the flowers are dead. It really did make the rest of your living space look shabby-er in comparison.  Or maybe you could paint it to match the rest of its new home, cover it in acrylic paint and use it to hold anything else. If you ever see Bruce again you could show him a photo, see if he really did give it in good faith to be used however you pleased, or if it makes him uncomfortable.

In fact, on your next day back at work you’re scrolling through Pinterest for design inspiration as you queue up for the first of many Wayne-funded drinks when you sense it. Him. The enticing scent of his cologne clueing you into his presence. You cast a look over your shoulder and there he is, smiling at you with perfect white teeth. He seems more casual today, his hair still perfectly styled but appearing free of any products, his suit traded in for just the slacks and button-up. Once again, you’re reminded of his player image, it’s not hard to tell why so many people swoon all over him.

“Oh, hello.” He greets, raising his hand as though to wave at you. His fingers don’t look nearly as soft as you’d imagined. They look sturdy and calloused, strange for a man who guzzles champagne and stands behind a podium, smiling for photographers more days than not. Paperwork does not account for skin that thick. “I was hoping to run into you here.”

“Really?” Internally you’re suspicious, but your voice comes out an octave higher than usual, your skin growing warm under his gaze. It’s stupid to think that he’s pursuing you, flirting with you. He’s probably just looking for closure on his apology, ensuring you don’t slander his image by selling the story to the papers. He really is buying you. Your silence. “Why?”

“I was hoping I could buy you a drink.” And without your confirmation he sides steps around you, joining you in your spot amongst everybody else waiting to be served.

“You’re already buying me coffee.” You flash him the gift card he’d paid for. “Or did you forget casually dropping this much cash?”

He laughs at that, like you’ve made a joke. He’s deflecting? Maybe. But he sounds so genuine, so hearty it’s contagious. Your laugh isn’t as cheery as his, but it slips past your lips regardless.

“No, no. I didn’t forget. I couldn’t forget anything about you. Especially not after seeing you in that delivery photo.” He finishes with a wink. That was flirting, definitely flirting. Or maybe an insult. Either way, you’re feeling just as nervous, if not more than you had been that night in the alley. This is just a different kind of nerves, it’s the butterflies in your belly instead of the pit in your stomach kind. “What’s one more between new friends, huh?”

“Friends?” You raise your brows. He does not have the decency to look sheepish under your dubious stare, he just looks back at you calm and collected, just like he is on the TV. A few days ago, you might have bought it, but you’ve seen him lose his cool in person. Something feels off.

“I’d like to be friends, or I’d at least like to apologise in person. If you��ll let me.” For a man so bent on making amends with you, there isn’t a hint of sorrow in his tone or posture.

It’s almost your turn at the counter, you have seconds to make your decision.

The barista gestures for the next customer, as you answer. “Okay fine, let’s be friends.”

“Excellent. You just made my day.” And then his hand cups the small of your back as the two of you step up to order. He does it so casually that you almost don’t notice, you’re not sure if you’re just susceptible to his moves, or if he’s practised them to perfection. Maybe you’re reading too much into it, maybe all pretty boy billionaires act like this, maybe it’s all strategy to keep his image clean, or maybe there’s something shady about Bruce Wayne and his weirdly hard, slick hands. Maybe he's hiding something, and whatever it is, you intend to figure it out.

If you should enjoy the view along the way, well, who could blame you?

[genderqueerdykes]

I saw the thing about sharps containers and let me be the one to say: A lot of things we consume on a daily basis, when properly sealed and marked, can be a sharps container! I use jugs of water (need distilled water for my CPAP) that I've emptied, bc they're rather tough. You have to clearly mark that they are a sharps container, with sharpies, and tape the top lid closed. You can also use aluminum cans, soda bottles, and other jugs (think lemonade, Kool-Aid, Sunny-D, etc!) again you just have to tape the top shut with duct tape preferably and sharpie it to death with a warning!

hey thank you so much for sending this ask, you reminded me that i got a handout about this at my local library! thank you for your input, i'll add that info to complement yours. keep in mind, this is written from the perspective of helping homeless people dispose of sharps, but anyone can benefit from this:

[Image ID: A photograph of a small horizontally oriented card detailing how to safely dispose of needles. It reads:

DISPOSING OF NEEDLES

Use gloves or thick material to pick up needle.

Place needle inside an empty container (thicker plastic is better, but is not always an option)

Seal the container- with tape if possible as an extra precaution.

Write "biohazard" on the container with a market (I recommend carrying a sharpie along with your Naloxone kit).

dispose of the container in the trash, or call the fire dept or local needle exchange program, if you want someone else to dispose of it.

There are two graphics displaying what types of containers to use are preferable.

The graphic on the left shows a milk jug and a small handheld personal disposable water bottle with a thumbs down graphic. The graphic is attempting to convey that any plastic containers with very thin walls should be avoided.

The graphic on the right shows a thumbs up next to kitty litter, laundry detergent and shampoo bottles, attempting to convey that plastic containers with thicker more durable walls should be chosen if possible.

End image ID.]

this goes to anyone who uses needles for whatever reason, HRT, insulin, substance use, whatever it may be, having sharps containers is important. and i agree mark the container clearly that it is a biohazard and a sharps container. "SHARPS" does the trick. hope this can be of help to some people!

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: abalone

This is a Wet Beast Wednesday post, but it would also be applicable for Mollusk Monday and maybe even Flat Fuck Friday. Today I'll be introducing you to the abalone. The squat snails have some strange features that set them apart from their fellows in the shell squad. Unfortunately, over harvesting of abalone for their meat and shells have put many abalone species in danger.

(Image: an abalone attached to a rock. It is a snail with a large, broad, and flat brown shell. A muscular foot attaches the animal to the rock. Around the body is a membrane covered in tentacles that reach out around the body. End ID)

Abalone are marine snails of the genus Haliotis (not to be confused with halitosis) that can range in shell diameter from 20 mm (0.8 in) to 300 mm (12 in). The number of species is a matter of some debate. There's a lot of variation in morphology within species which led to many species being incorrectly classified as multiple species. The most accepted number appears to be 56 species and 18 subspecies. Abalone shells are highly flattened and the spiral can be hard to see, making them look like large limpets. They have no operculum and cannot withdraw into their shells like other snails can. Instead, when threatened they suction as hard as possible to an object. The shells have holes in them on one side which are used for respiration, waste disposal, and release of gametes. As abalone grow, the number of holes will change with some being filled in and new ones forming. The interior of the shell is covered in nacre. This substance, also called mother-of-pearl is valuable for its polished, iridescent appearance. Abalone use the nacre to make claw-shaped pearls. The shell is composed of microscopic bricks of calcium carbonate glued together by a protein structure. When pressure is applied to the structure, the bricks slide against each other and the protein glue stretches. This helps absorb the energy of blows and makes the shells very resistant to cracking. The shell structure of abalone has been studied to make sturdier body armor and ceramics.

(Image: an empty and polished abalone shell, seen from below. The shell is lined with shiny and iridescent nacre. The nacre color varies with species, but in this case is blue-green. A line of holes are on one side of the shell. End ID)

The majority of the shell's interior is filled with the muscular foot, which the abalone uses for locomotion. The foot is attached to the shell in the center. Around the edge of the foot is a structure called the epipodium. This is a frilled membrane lined with sensory tentacles. When an abalone is relaxed, it will extend the tentacles to examine its surrounding. When threatened, the tentacles retract for safety. Along the edge of the shell is the mantle, which produced the material for the shell. Abalone will grow larger throughout their lives, with the mantle continuously making new shell. At the front is the head, which has sensory tentacles and a mouth that contains a pair of oral tentacles use for finding food and the radula. The radula is a tongue-like structure lines with sharp teeth. The teeth scrape algae off of rocks and into the mouth. The teeth are arranged in rows that move forward like a conveyor belt, allowing worn out teeth to fall out and be replaced by fresh ones. The head is near the newest-formed hole and the anus is next to the rearmost hole.

(Image: an abalone seen from below, with the foor removed and anatomy labeled. The organs circle around a central muscle that the foot attaches to. A small head is in the front while the epipodium rings the body. Source. End ID)

(Image: an abalone's radula, removed and next to a pencil for scale. It is a long, thin structure lined with rows of tiny teeth. The front end is stained brown with algae. End ID)

Abalone live on coasts worldwide, with the exception of the North American Atlantic coast, South American Pacific Coast, and the poles. Most species live in cold water, but tropical species are known. They spend their times feeding on algae. Abalone shells are usually covered with life, including algae and sessile animals like tunicates, sponges, and tube worms. The hitchhikers combined with the upper shell's dull appearances serves as effective camouflage. During mating season, males and females release gametes into the water. The number of eggs a female can produce increases with size and can be up to 11 million per season. The larvae start out in a swimming form before metamorphosing into non-swimming juveniles called spat. Abalone reach sexual maturity young and at a small size.

(Iamge: dozens of abalone spat in a tank. They are miniature versions of the adults, but have nacre on the outside of the shell as well, giving them a shiny turquoise color. End ID)

Abalone have been hunted by huamns for millennia, with the oldest evidence of use being a 100,000 year old "workshop" found in Blombos Cave, South Africa, where abalone shells were used as storage for ochre mixtures. Throughout their native ranges, abalone have been harvested for their meat, nacre, and pearls. The shells are often used for jewelry, as decorative inlay, and, in some cultures, as currency. The foot is edible and considered a delicacy in some cultures and a staple in others. The value of abalone has led to worldwide overfishing, resulting in many species being endangered. Captive farming has become a major industry in many places to meet the abalone demands. Farming began in China and Japan in the 1950s and 60s and the majority of abalone farms are still in east Asia. Because of overfishing, the majority of the world's abalone supply now comes from farms. Sport fishing is legal in many parts of the world, with 25% of the wild harvest coming from Tasmania. Many places require permits and have catch limits, but poaching remains a major industry. Collection of abalone is usually done with a blunt scoop called an abalone iron that can pop the animal off of rocks. It has to be blunt because abalone blood does not clot and any cut will lead to the animal bleeding to death. Overharvesting and increasing ocean acidification are the largest threats to abalone. Places where abalone are reintroduced to the wild have seen increased biodiversity and environmental health.

(Image: a carving made by the Haida people of British Columbia, Canada. It reselbles a face with a tall hat or head with a small body carved on it. Abalone shells are used for inlay,, cut into rectangles with the nacre facing out. End ID)

[biowastefl]

Sharps Container Disposal in Winter Garden and Alafaya, FL

BioWaste Services, Inc. ensures the safe disposal of biowaste in Winter Garden and Alafaya, FL. Trust our expert team for efficient and compliant biowaste removal, maintaining hygiene standards, and protecting the environment.