M5 News: Flint isn't ready yet

It turns out the former water utilities administrator told two Michigan Environmental Quality employees that the water treatment plant was not ready to be opened in April 2014. However, the plant was still reopened and no one listened to him. It turns out that he had been fired due to the water source switch that had occurred. Him and one other individual were accused of involuntary manslaughter. However, the Genesee Country water expert testified that he had not seen any corrosion in the water before the April 2014 launch date. There is still no set answer and this is extremely scary.

After all of these ups and down with the Flint, MI water, it seems that there are no real answers. Officials hide things from the public that should be shared. Particularly facts like these. It makes me wonder if these types of things occur often in a local water treatment plant near me. How can these types of issues be prevented?

Resource:
Fleming, L. N. (2018). Ex Flint official: DEQ ignored plant warning. Retrieved from http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2018/02/22/water-expert-corrosion-controls-flint-plant/110713910/.

M5.7 Sewage Facilities

When I was researching the sewage facilities for Walnut Creek, CA I found three different water treatment plants. Envirozone Technologies Inc, East Bay Municipal Utility District, and Central Contra Costa Sanitary Treatment plant. The Walnut Creek Water Treatment plant within the East Bay Municipal treatment showed to be making major improvements that were completed in August of 2014. EBMUD added two new filters, a new plumbing plant, and upgraded the plants water stream reclaim system. This was done to increase reliability of the drinking water to continue to meet demands through the year 2030. This is so comforting to know because it is the water that I am drinking on a daily basis. I am glad to know that my community and my local public health professionals understand the importance of clean tap water and are willing to put in the funds to invest in such an important cause.

M5.5 Campaign for Tap Water

If I were to have a campaign about tap water, my slogan would be "Go Green, Drink Tap". 

Considering my last post on the health of my local tap water, I am comfortable with the idea that drinking tap water is okay. If there is another thing one can do if they are nervous about the water they are drinking in their city, they can buy a filter. How much cheaper would it be to purchase a $20-$30 water filter over spending 2000 times more on water bottles because of the pretty picture on its bottle? The amount of money going into the making of bottled water is ridiculous! The idea of my campaign would be about being environmentally healthy. This is something the water that would be best accomplished by providing education to others. It would be more important to fund for improving our local tap water since, in the end, we always turn back to our tap water for so many other things that turn into us ingesting it! 

M5.4: Consumer Confidence Reports and Water Quality

The CCR report for Walnut Creek, CA was a little bit more difficult to find by doing a city search. I had to research the water system name and then find it before I could look it up on the CCR website. 

• The source of my water comes from the Contra Costa Water District. The primary water source is the surface water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta. 
•  In the water quality results, the chemicals that were found to be a little higher than normal was Chlorine Residual and the total number of coliforms.
• I did not expect to find any traces of radon in my water, nor any coliforms. This seems unusual to me. However, all results seem to be in range from the state and federal regulations.
• Thankfully, there were no chemicals that had any associated health risks in our water. If there was any trace of any chemicals it would just be traces of chemicals from the disinfecting process. And even then, it was almost not determinable.

My water comes from the Contra Costa Water district, more specifically the Ralph D. Bollman water treatment plant near the Mallard reservoir. I discovered that the water quality in my area is actually quite good. I've been using a filter all my life mostly out of habit. I never felt that my drinking water tasted any different though - it was more a habitual thing. Regardless, I would still use a filter because you never know when something goes awry. In my case, I would try to filter our any extra fluoride (particularly since we shouldn't be ingesting fluoride). However, in small amounts I will drink the tap water. I do not drink bottled water unless I am in a situation where there are no other options because of the plastic waste. I prefer to use my hydroflask waterbottle filled with my own filtered water. 

M5.2: Public Health Importance of the Clean Water Act of 1972

After watching the videos from M5.1, I am intrigued by how far clean water has come from 1972 and how our water use is 6 times more than what it used to be. Ground water is also interesting because it is something not seen by the naked eye, thus never gets any exposure. The Clean Water Act of 1972 is so important because water ultimately dominates all other earth elements. We ingest it, we live in it, we are surrounded by it, we cook with it, and we are even approximately 70% water! If the Clean Water Act of 1972 did not occur, I'm not sure what kind of world we would live in. I agree that it is important for our governmental entities to take part in the process of ensuring clean water, but we as citizens should also be well aware of the issue at hand. The Clean Water Act's public health importance is in that without it, we would not be able to drink or even use the local water reserves we have on hand. It is important because the Environmental Protection Agency can work to keep our water clean and safeguard our environmental quality, particularly that affecting the quality of our life. Clean water is vital to all of the water surrounding us, including the ground water that provides agricultural support to our farm land. It is an important public health issue for all of us to be aware of, and to do our part in keeping our water clean.

M4 News: Toxic Firefighting Foam

Washington state is debating the ban of firefighting bill because it has toxic chemicals known as perfluoralkyl, polyfluoroalkyl, or PFA. It is said that chemical exposures to PFA's have been linked to a variety of health issues. The population of people who are most affected are Firefighters. Some training academies have begun using firefighting foam that does not contain PFAs. The bill that is passing through Senate also talks about banning the manufacturing of firefighting clothing and equipment that contain PFAs. Lawmakers are waiting for a bigger development plan by the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health before moving forward with the ban. The question is, why aren't other states and fire departments looking into the toxic chemical that all firefighters around the United States are being exposed to. It is a very important topic of discussion to dive deeper into a chemical that could be harming our every day heroes. While so many of our local heroes are being exposed to these chemicals, there could be other brands that are utilized without the use of PFAs. At this point, the biggest thing we can do is spread awareness and demand a deeper look into the harmful effects of PFAs for firefighters. 

Reference:

Shukovsky, Paul. (2018). Washington State Nears Ban on Toxic Firefighting Foam. BNA. Retrieved from https://www.bna.com/washington-state-nears-n57982088723/.

M4.6: Radon

I didn't realize that radon was such a harmful gas in Utah. I looked up California's radon levels and it looks like there are low levels of radon found. I would have never thought to look up radon levels, but given the quick google search, I will be ordering a radon test to do in my household. I don't think the Youtube video is a great campaign to educate about radon. It is a much more important tool, and the youtube video seemed like a more boring video campaign. It looks like Los Angeles and parts of central California could benefit from a radon campaign. Unless people were to take this class, I don't know of many people who would understand the effects of radon on the health of our community. It is important to provide this education through commercials, the news, and our schools so we understand the health effects of such exposure.

M4.3 National Library ToxNet

It is alarming the number of chemicals we encounter on a daily basis. I did not know much about urea formaldehyde but I am very familiar with bleach. While I knew it was probably not good for you, I don't think I understood the extent of it. Urea formaldehyde is a resin typically found in building materials. Exposure to urea formaldehyde is carcinogenic, can cause upper respiratory and lower respiratory issues. It has also been known to interrupt the reproductive system by women having reported low birth-weight when exposed to urea formaldehyde since it crosses the placental border in mice. Bleach can cause a variety of various health issues as well, including cardiac and respiratory issues, and can irritate skin, eyes, nose, and throat.

M3.5 Transportation

San Francisco is doing a good job at trying to incorporate public transportation and the use of bicycles for the primary form of transportation. My current city, Walnut Creek, is incorporating further usage of bicycles by form of LimeBikes. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system is one of mine and my peers' way of transporting around the bay area. We try to limit using our cars or to carpool if we could. This is an amazing system that we use because it is easily accessible to us. However, we are also doing the environment some justice by utilizing these systems. It is so great the American Public Health Association has planning organizations for various cities to bring more bicycle paths and walking projects. These projects reduce obesity by giving people access to other methods of transportation and influence an active lifestyle.

M3.4 Air Pollution

Air pollution is a real problem. I am glad the Clean Air Act of 1970 and other legislation are making moves to reduce air pollution. It is important to be wary of the air quality because when it comes to times such as the fires a few months ago, we can choose to try to stay indoors or use a face mask to prevent pollutants from getting into our system. 

My community score card is completed for the Contra Costa Community. 

The top polluters in our zip code are Shell Oil Productions and Tesoro Refinery which are both located in Martinez, CA. 1% of homes in the county have high risk of lead hazards. A Superfund Site is any land that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and has been identified as the EPA as a site to be cleaned up because it poses environmental/health risk. There are three Superfund Sites in Contra Costa County. It looks like the Superfund Sites listed are the Concord Naval weapon station, a local dump in Antioch, and a canal in Richmond with some industrial developments. Thinking about these locations, it makes sense because of where they are, but the dump in Antioch should be first and foremost removed because it is not necessary for a dump to be located in that area. The Richmond Superfund Site is located around the refineries and other industrial development so those companies need a place for their waste. Overall, the air quality in the Contra Costa County is moderate with only 80 days in the year with good air quality. This number is shocking and makes me wonder if there is anything else legislation can do for us. The county is ranked worst 10% in all US counties. I'm glad I drink only filtered water because the water ranks the worst, yet is not a priority for regulation. Many of the rivers and streams are marked with pesticides, and the lakes/reservoirs have 100% mercury. It looks like in a environmental/social justice scale, Contra Costa Community could do much better in the distribution of toxic chemicals to low-income environments. 

M3.2 Environmental Justice

It is mind-boggling the lack of environmental justice embedded throughout the US and other global communities. Environmental justice should be high priority, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. In many of those cities with the highest rates of minorities, environmental justice is not being served. While the government has rules in place to reduce toxic emissions, the locations of the waste plants do not do the public justice. What can we do for these communities? For one, it is important to provide education to these communities about the toxicities they are encountering in their community versus what would be encountered in a neighboring community. People can then make the active decision to move from one place to another. It is important for the EPA to go into these cities and target their changes to be made for them and the other communities.

M3.2 Vulnerable Populations

I think it is important to make some changes in the way health care is delivered. Our environment is important in making diagnosis and creating a plan for treatment. If this were to be looked at from the start then we could possibly cut cost, keep people out of hospitals, and treat the patient rather than the symptoms. When addressing obesity and other chronic diseases in the US, we have to focus on our most vulnerable patients and their living situations. Health care workers can help make the changes needed in the environment if the patient gives consent. Clinicians and health care professionals tend to focus on sedentary lifestyles because influencing those behavioral changes might be easier than going deeper and thinking about other health factors. We tend to look at the socioeconomic status and their family support when providing health education, but education should also be provided about the environment. The unfortunate thing is that many vulnerable populations don't have the money for something that is better quality than canned food. The convenience of the canned food is necessary and that is how some of the highest amounts of chemicals get into ones system. If they don't have access to higher quality foods, how will one reduce these exposures? It is something the healthcare system has to think about.

Week 3 News: Chemical in Plastic

In this article by Newsweek, by eating canned food we are essentially raising levels of BPA in our system. BPA levels are not only found in water bottles so we have to look elsewhere when thinking about chemical plastics that are entering our system. BPA can effect many chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, and cancer. According to the study published in BMJ Open, we can focus on how this can be avoided and that is steering away from canned food. I knew BPA was bad for us as humans, but I just didn't know the extent of the chaos it could bring to our bodies. I felt this article was relevant to this weeks discussions since we are talking about chemical events that can be harmful to our bodies. Hormones are one of the most important tools to having smooth functioning of our bodies and if that is disrupted by these chemicals, then we are causing disruption and possible disease. The best that we can do is be knowledgable of the changes we can make and stay away from all canned foods.

Resource:
Sheridan, Kate. (2018). Chemical in plastic that wreaks havoc with hormones may be impossible to avoid, study finds. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/chemical-plastic-wreaks-havoc-hormones-impossible-avoid-study-finds-799605

M3.1 Biomonitoring

After watching the news special on CNN, I am in shock with the number of chemicals we are exposed to and the number of chemicals that can be found in children's blood streams. This means that children are being exposed to things that can cause potential side effects later on in life. Looking at the blood and urine test results for chemicals that have no "safe" levels makes me angry and very terrified for my health. My first thought is, "where could these chemicals have come from?" and my second question is, "what can I do to reverse these effects"? To think that these chemical exposures could lead to future illness completely alters my thoughts and ideas about preventative medicine. In behavioral health class we talked about patient behavioral health changes as their socioeconomic environment and less about the products they encounter. Moving forward as a public health professional, I am going to be wary of this.

Week 2 News: Fertilizer in California

In this weeks Environmental Health News, I read the effects of fertilizer in the quality of air for California. A study done by UC Davis is showing that there is a reduced amount of nitrogen oxide emissions in the air due to excessive amounts of fertilizer. Nitrogen oxide can cause harmful ozone which has a variety of negative effects on the community. The states Central Valley is primarily in charge of growing many of our nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Perhaps the reason farmers feel it is necessary to use more fertilizer is because of global warming. However, the article states nitrous oxide which is a component of nitrogen oxide has 300 times more impact on global warming than a pound of carbon dioxide. This is an alarming amount! It seems to me that it may be hard to figure out which is coming first. If the excessive fertilization is happening due to global warming or because the fertilization itself is becoming a vicious cycle of increased nitrogen oxide. The potential solution they have found is utilizing slow-release fertilizer to reduce the amount of emissions. Like the article states, it is important for the policy makers to create a law surrounding this issue or we could see harmful effects in the long term future.


Reference:
Bienkoswki, B. (2018). Fertilizer is fouling the air in California: Study. Retrieved Februrary 1, 2018 from http://www.ehn.org/california-fertilizer-nitrogen-air-pollution-2530258544.html

M2.3 Household Products

I reviewed two household products; the Lysol multi-surface cleaner, lavender scent and the Tide HE Liquid Laundry detergent. Both are inside the home products I use on a weekly basis. 

I usually pour he multi-surface cleaner into a spray bottle and clean countertops and other surfaces on a daily basis so I thought it would interesting to see if this has any health effects. The Lysol multi-surface cleaner is HMIS level of 2, meaning it has a moderate level of severity for acute exposures. Although, there is no known level of carcinogenicity and that is reassuring to me. Based on the explanations of acute health effects, it looks like there is eye irritation but no known skin or inhalation effects. However, if ingested it might cause irritation to throat and mouth. The level of 2 actually surprises me. Based on the information provided, there is too many unknowns to say this product has a level 2 severity of acute exposures. I would imagine based on reading the information, the level would be at 1. It is important for the community to know the risks provided with such a product, but understand that maybe it is not necessary to use the organic product in this case. 

Laundry is one of my favorite household chores to do and this is the laundry detergent I use on a weekly basis. The Tide HE Liquid Laundry detergent is HMIS level 1. This is not surprising to me as I have never noticed any acute side effects for this product. The product is not carcinogenic, and no chronic health effects have been reported. It looks like it may cause eye irritation and ingestion could cause gastrointestinal issues - but this is to be expected of a liquid soap product. It is important for all users to be aware of the issues it could cause. It may be important to note the proper disposal method because the level of biodegradability could be a reason to use the more organic product over this one. 

M2.2/M2.4 Personal Care Products

I looked up two products that I use on a daily basis, my Dove Clinical Protection deodorant and my Aveeno Active Naturals Stress Relief Moisturizing lotion. Both of these products have a safe place in my home and are a part of my daily beauty routine. About 6 months ago I made the switch to Schmidt's Natural Deodorant after hearing about the harmful effects of aluminum, but I never felt it worked as well as the other deodorants out there. I gave it a fair shot before switching back to my original deodorant. I also steered away from other moisturizing lotions because I liked the idea that the Aveeno brand was more natural and I loved the lavender scent associated with the "stress relief" portion of the lotion advertisement.

 After reviewing both of these, I am having mixed emotions about the score level of both. For reference, here is the scoring scale.

The Dove Clinical Protection deodorant received a score of 3 out of 10. Three is the lowest number provided in the "moderate hazard" range. I am surprised the score of this deodorant is not higher considering all of the news I hear that using deodorant with aluminum in it can cause breast cancer. In fact, in regards to concern for cancer, this deodorant ranks "fair". It seems that the highest score the deodorant has is a score of 8 with its fragrances. All of the other ingredients linked to the product seem fairly low. With this information, I will look for deodorants linked with no added fragrances and try to look for a deodorant without aluminum. I will try to use the Schmidt's natural deodorant as often as I can and save the clinical protection for longer days and nights out. It is important for everyone to know how deodorants are ranged so that we are not affecting our body in any negative way. Particularly since deodorants are used daily in nodal areas of the body.

The second product I reviewed was the Aveeno Active Naturals stress relief moisturizing lotion with an overall score of 3. I use this lotion daily after a shower. While it had no cancer relating effects, the fragrance also showed it as a score of 8 - showing concerns of allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity, and ecotoxicology! The benzyl alcohol ingredient had a score of 5 showing imunotoxicity organ system toxicity, and the petrolatum showed a score of 4 with organ system toxicity. With this information, I will look for other products I can use in place of my lotion and do some research on the ingredients on this website. Between the two products, the lotion I am most surprised about because it had more number of toxic ingredients in it. I will likely not use this product again. It is important for all of us to be aware of the products we are using and choose products better for our environment and our health.


Response to Safe Cosmetics 101 Youtube Video
This video was a wonderful and very educational video to watch about the products we use on a daily basis! It was shocking to me when Jane Hooligan talked about that the word "organic" or "natural" has no real standard. It is also so shocking to me that baby products have such harsh carcinogens in the product. Thinking about all products that create suds or bubbles can be carcinogen because of the byproducts it holds, I am now going to start doing more research on the products I and my future children will use. The thing that makes me a little bit relaxed is that by 2015 Johnson and Johnson was to remove all carcinogenic ingredients. I think it is so important for us to all be advocates. I am glad she is doing this educational video and spreading awareness to retail stores and parents towards the Safe Cosmetic Act.