Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a major public health challenge in the U.S., especially among women, who. disproportionately bear the long-term consequences of STDs. For example, each year untreated STDs cause infertility in.
Chemically known as âcalcium sulfate dihydrate,â gypsum contains calcium, sulfur bound to oxygen, and water. Gypsum is an abundant mineral and takes forms including alabasterâa material used in decoration and construction as far back as ancient Egypt.hemically known as âcalcium sulfate dihydrate,â gypsum contains calcium, sulfur bound to oxygen, and water. Gypsum is an abundant mineral and takes forms including alabasterâa material used in decoration and construction as far back as ancient Egypt.
Gypsum has been used in construction since the days of ancient Egypt, where it was used in building the Pyramids. Some of this construction is still visible over 5,000 years later, a tribute to gypsumâs durability as a building material. Alabaster is a form of gypsum used both in building and as a decorative material. In the 18th century, the French chemist Lavoisier began modern research on gypsum by studying its chemical properties. Large deposits of gypsum were discovered near Paris, and âPlaster of Parisâ became a popular building material. Plaster of Paris is raw gypsum that is chemically altered by heat to remove much of the water naturally occurring in gypsum. French farmers also used natural gypsum as a soil additive to improve crop yields. Benjamin Franklin brought this idea to America, and the use of gypsum in agriculture expanded dramatically when gypsum beds were discovered in New York State. Later deposits were found across the country, notably near Ft. Dodge, Iowa.