Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

Story: FDA Weighs Approval of Irradiating Produce, 2/8/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june07/irradiation_02-08.html

Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. The Food and Drug Administration has already approved using radiation to treat some foods. What are those foods?

Spices, wheat, red meats and poultry.

2. How does radiation kill pathogens such as E. coli?

The radiation -- a beam of sped-up electrons -- breaks the molecular bonds in the DNA of E. coli and any other bacteria that might be present.

3. Describe what Dr. Suresh Pillai is trying to figure out with his research?

He wants to figure out the lowest dose of radiation that will effectively kill pathogens without changing or harming produce.

4. Why does Dr. William Au say that he is not sure that irradiating food is safe?

Au says a chemical called 2-ACB is formed in irradiated meats, and he believes further study is needed to determine if long-term exposure to 2-ACB will cause health problems. Also he says that irradiating food may change the food's nutrient content.

5. What key questions does the FDA say need to be answered before deciding whether to approve irradiating produce?

The agency says it needs to find out whether irradiating produce works, and if so at what radiation doses, and what happens to the produce at those doses.

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.