Posts
Reflections Week 13 and 14
14 years ago
Friday, December 18, 2009
Share and Voice 10: PS3 Commercial
I think this commercial is outrageous. They are basically telling our kids to stay inside and play video games, instead of playing outside getting exercise. With our obesity epidemic, you would think they would be trying to get kids active and not stay in and play video games all day. I think this is horrible to advertise and should not be taken seriously by anyone. Sure, the dad seems a bit out of whack, but at least he's not influencing his kids in a way that will cause them to be lazy. I absolutely hate this commercial and cannot wait until it is not aired anymore.
Reflections: Week 13 and 14; Overall Course
Week 13 we took a tour of Goodwill here in Duluth. It was so interesting to see all the things behind the scenes. They provide job opportunities for the disabled, and find a job right for them. It was so crazy to see all of the things they have in that one building that you never knew was there! The poor stuffed animals were squished to death! I thought that was funny, but sad at the same time. It was fun to see all of that. We finished up our read 'n' seeds for that week. My book was very interesting overall, and I'm glad I got to read it.
Week 14 we brought in our junk projects and then voted on who we thought had the most creative one. I thought it was really cool to see everyone else's stuff. For my project, I just took a picture holder that usually sits on my wall (that I don't even use to hang pictures) and put some cds in it which could turn it into a mirror. For the rest of the class, we just discussed what we learned and how we can apply it to our lives. The conversations were interesting, like the road rage drivers (which I am one). It was funny and interesting to listen to everyone's side of things. Super cool ideas and thoughts. We had to do our learning activities for our advocacy projects and complete the activities made by our group members. I thought it was a great way to learn about the other subjects.
Overall, this course was SUPER educational and very interesting. I don't know if I've learned more things in any class since beginning college. And this is my fourth year already. I definitely suggest this class to others in my field, and not in my major. It was a great learning opportunity and I think that everyone should take this class. I even talked about all the things I learned to my mom and how it really opened my eyes to new things that I had never known before. We learned many things, from Dr. V. and from each other. It was super interesting and I will definitely take away many things from this class.
Week 14 we brought in our junk projects and then voted on who we thought had the most creative one. I thought it was really cool to see everyone else's stuff. For my project, I just took a picture holder that usually sits on my wall (that I don't even use to hang pictures) and put some cds in it which could turn it into a mirror. For the rest of the class, we just discussed what we learned and how we can apply it to our lives. The conversations were interesting, like the road rage drivers (which I am one). It was funny and interesting to listen to everyone's side of things. Super cool ideas and thoughts. We had to do our learning activities for our advocacy projects and complete the activities made by our group members. I thought it was a great way to learn about the other subjects.
Overall, this course was SUPER educational and very interesting. I don't know if I've learned more things in any class since beginning college. And this is my fourth year already. I definitely suggest this class to others in my field, and not in my major. It was a great learning opportunity and I think that everyone should take this class. I even talked about all the things I learned to my mom and how it really opened my eyes to new things that I had never known before. We learned many things, from Dr. V. and from each other. It was super interesting and I will definitely take away many things from this class.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities
Advocacy Project: Arthritis Learning Activity
By Carrie's Environment
After reading the summary, please answer the following questions:
1. True or False? Arthritis only affects people 65 years and older?________
2. True or False: Arthritis can affect every day activities such as brushing your teeth?__________
3. True or False: Obese people have a greater risk of Arthritis?________
4. Arthritis Affects the____________
5. True or False? Arthritis is the most common cause of disability?_________
6. True or False? Arthritis is expected to increase by the year 2030?__________
7. What helps prevent arthritis? a) Eating Healthy b) Exercising c) Yoga d) all of the above
8. What percent of people with arthritis are not able to work within 10 years of diagnosis? a) 10 b) 20 c) 0 d) 50
MY ANSWERS:
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. Musculoskeletal System
5. True
6. True
7. D
8. D
I liked the topic because I never really knew that much about it. My joints are horrible already and I'm still very young. I wouldn't be surprised if I got arthritis eventually! It was very interesting to learn about!
Advocacy Project: Inform, Crossword Puzzle, Act!
By Rita's Realm
Instructions:
First, read through the information I have gathered from different sources that I thought may get your attention due to this disease. Second, go through the crossword puzzle and see how much you learned. If you get stuck on a question, go to this link to help you. Third, take some action!!
ACROSS
4 Type of surgery that can result in weight gain afterwards
5 Classifications of this disease
7 Adulthood obesity
DOWN
1 Not the only determinant of this disease
2 Childhood obesity
3 This generation might be the first to outlive their children's generation
6 Epidemic in our society
MY ANSWERS
ACROSS
4. Bariatric
5. Two
7. Hypertrophic
DOWN
1. Genetics
2. Hyperplastic
3. Baby Boomers
6. Obesity
I thought this topic was also really great. This is a HUGE problem in our society, and as health educators, we need to take action to try and prevent more from happening. I liked the crossword, because a lot of these things, I had no idea about. It's crazy that we might not outlive our parents and grandparents! Hard to believe some of these things. Great topic Rita!!!
By Carrie's Environment
After reading the summary, please answer the following questions:
1. True or False? Arthritis only affects people 65 years and older?________
2. True or False: Arthritis can affect every day activities such as brushing your teeth?__________
3. True or False: Obese people have a greater risk of Arthritis?________
4. Arthritis Affects the____________
5. True or False? Arthritis is the most common cause of disability?_________
6. True or False? Arthritis is expected to increase by the year 2030?__________
7. What helps prevent arthritis? a) Eating Healthy b) Exercising c) Yoga d) all of the above
8. What percent of people with arthritis are not able to work within 10 years of diagnosis? a) 10 b) 20 c) 0 d) 50
MY ANSWERS:
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. Musculoskeletal System
5. True
6. True
7. D
8. D
I liked the topic because I never really knew that much about it. My joints are horrible already and I'm still very young. I wouldn't be surprised if I got arthritis eventually! It was very interesting to learn about!
Advocacy Project: Inform, Crossword Puzzle, Act!
By Rita's Realm
Instructions:
First, read through the information I have gathered from different sources that I thought may get your attention due to this disease. Second, go through the crossword puzzle and see how much you learned. If you get stuck on a question, go to this link to help you. Third, take some action!!
ACROSS
4 Type of surgery that can result in weight gain afterwards
5 Classifications of this disease
7 Adulthood obesity
DOWN
1 Not the only determinant of this disease
2 Childhood obesity
3 This generation might be the first to outlive their children's generation
6 Epidemic in our society
MY ANSWERS
ACROSS
4. Bariatric
5. Two
7. Hypertrophic
DOWN
1. Genetics
2. Hyperplastic
3. Baby Boomers
6. Obesity
I thought this topic was also really great. This is a HUGE problem in our society, and as health educators, we need to take action to try and prevent more from happening. I liked the crossword, because a lot of these things, I had no idea about. It's crazy that we might not outlive our parents and grandparents! Hard to believe some of these things. Great topic Rita!!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Share and Voice 9: 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green
I found this cool website about going green. It's all stuff we have talked about in class, but there are so many people who have no idea how much the small changes they can make, will make such a difference. It talks about the simple things like unplugging things when not in use, setting the thermostat a little lower, taking shorter showers, using cold water to wash clothes (which I do automatically to help save money and energy), and it even talks about how to eat smarter and more fresh. I thought this was very helpful, and I think it would be helpful for those who aren't as educated on this topic as we are. Get out and educate!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Advocacy Project: How Safe Are Our Beaches?
PURPOSE: This learning activity is to educate others on the safety and quality of beaches at lakes we swim at and fish from. Poor water quality at beaches can alter our health, and can affect the fish we eat from these waters.
BACKGROUND: "In 2001, there were over 3,000 confirmed cases of infectious diseases" (Loon Commons). Those were just from swimming in lakes filled with these diseases. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, beach closures usually result from high levels of bacteria in the recreational waters. "Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRDC's report, Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, confirms that our nation's beachwaters continue to suffer from serious contamination -- including human and animal waste -- that can make people sick" (Consumer Affairs). Duluth's own Part Point beach is listed as a Five Star beach, which is good for those of us who swim there!
INSTRUCTIONS: Read and analyze the three websites listed above and answer the following questions.
1. List at least 3 types of disease-causing germs that can be found in recreational waters.
2. Who monitors the bacteria at swimming beaches in Minnesota?
3. What are some major causes of water pollution?
4. What are ways that we can do our part to prevent water pollution at beaches?
5. Reflect on what you thought about this subject and what it means to you.
BACKGROUND: "In 2001, there were over 3,000 confirmed cases of infectious diseases" (Loon Commons). Those were just from swimming in lakes filled with these diseases. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, beach closures usually result from high levels of bacteria in the recreational waters. "Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRDC's report, Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, confirms that our nation's beachwaters continue to suffer from serious contamination -- including human and animal waste -- that can make people sick" (Consumer Affairs). Duluth's own Part Point beach is listed as a Five Star beach, which is good for those of us who swim there!
INSTRUCTIONS: Read and analyze the three websites listed above and answer the following questions.
1. List at least 3 types of disease-causing germs that can be found in recreational waters.
2. Who monitors the bacteria at swimming beaches in Minnesota?
3. What are some major causes of water pollution?
4. What are ways that we can do our part to prevent water pollution at beaches?
5. Reflect on what you thought about this subject and what it means to you.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Read 'n' Seed 6: Final Review of Environmental Epidemiology: Epidemiological Investigation of Community Environmental Health Problems
OVERVIEW
This book went through many aspects of environmental health from in the past. It talked about studies done about cholera outbreaks from water contamination, deaths from chemical leaks at plants, the quality of air, indoors and out, lead in drinking water, heat waves, drinking and driving, asthma due to living next to factories, and many other things. It was interesting to read about the findings of these studies. Some things they were able to figure out and cure or fix, other things took much longer to fix. It was very interesting and educational.
3 SIGNIFICANT THINGS
One of the things that I found the most significant was the "20 Minute Disaster". So much can happen in so little time, and we only have a limited time to think and act before we suffer the consequences. Many families died or were injured due to a chemical leak, and had almost no time to escape. It is something to learn from and hopefully avoid if it ever happens again.
Another thing that really stuck with me is the quality of water. So many things can be in our water causing disease and illness and we don't even know it. It would be nice to catch these things before they cause too much damage.
And finally, the study on drinking and driving in michigan was very significant. The changes they made reduced the number of accidents due to driving while drunk. If we could keep reducing the number of accidents, it could save many lives and save a ton of money.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
It is important to learn from the past so we can prepare for a more healthy future. By doing studies like the ones explained in the book, scientists can find ways to ensure that we are safe, and make the changes necessary for that to happen. Outbreaks like the ones in describedin the book can happen again, and if we can catch the signs early enough, it can be stopped before too many people are affected by it.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
I would recommend this book. It's beneficial and educational. It is a little old, but it's important to know things about the history so things can be learned and changed in order to make for a better future. It was interesting to read, but at times it was confusing with all of the statistics and numbers. Overall, it was a good read and I learned a lot from it.
This book went through many aspects of environmental health from in the past. It talked about studies done about cholera outbreaks from water contamination, deaths from chemical leaks at plants, the quality of air, indoors and out, lead in drinking water, heat waves, drinking and driving, asthma due to living next to factories, and many other things. It was interesting to read about the findings of these studies. Some things they were able to figure out and cure or fix, other things took much longer to fix. It was very interesting and educational.
3 SIGNIFICANT THINGS
One of the things that I found the most significant was the "20 Minute Disaster". So much can happen in so little time, and we only have a limited time to think and act before we suffer the consequences. Many families died or were injured due to a chemical leak, and had almost no time to escape. It is something to learn from and hopefully avoid if it ever happens again.
Another thing that really stuck with me is the quality of water. So many things can be in our water causing disease and illness and we don't even know it. It would be nice to catch these things before they cause too much damage.
And finally, the study on drinking and driving in michigan was very significant. The changes they made reduced the number of accidents due to driving while drunk. If we could keep reducing the number of accidents, it could save many lives and save a ton of money.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
It is important to learn from the past so we can prepare for a more healthy future. By doing studies like the ones explained in the book, scientists can find ways to ensure that we are safe, and make the changes necessary for that to happen. Outbreaks like the ones in describedin the book can happen again, and if we can catch the signs early enough, it can be stopped before too many people are affected by it.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
I would recommend this book. It's beneficial and educational. It is a little old, but it's important to know things about the history so things can be learned and changed in order to make for a better future. It was interesting to read, but at times it was confusing with all of the statistics and numbers. Overall, it was a good read and I learned a lot from it.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Share and Voice 8: Eco-Friendly and Organic Gift Ideas
http://www.findgift.com/Categories/Eco-Friendly/
With the holiday season coming up, some of us might be thinking about getting gifts for our friends and family. This website has many gift ideas that are eco-friendly and there are some great ideas on here! My roommate does a lot of creative cooking, and on this website I found organic vanilla. Definitely something she would be interested in! There is a coffee cup that looks like a plain paper cup that you would get at a coffee shop, but the title of the cup even says "I am not a paper cup". I thought that was really cute. There are some interesting things on this website and some great gift ideas! Check it out!
With the holiday season coming up, some of us might be thinking about getting gifts for our friends and family. This website has many gift ideas that are eco-friendly and there are some great ideas on here! My roommate does a lot of creative cooking, and on this website I found organic vanilla. Definitely something she would be interested in! There is a coffee cup that looks like a plain paper cup that you would get at a coffee shop, but the title of the cup even says "I am not a paper cup". I thought that was really cute. There are some interesting things on this website and some great gift ideas! Check it out!
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART Goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottles. I was tired of having so many plastic bottles around my house and in my room. I bought a reusable bottle to carry around with me to class, work, driving, working out, and for just around the house. My goal was: "I will use a reusable water bottle everyday for the next ten weeks". I didn't make any changes to my goal, but I almost bought another bottle to have for at work so I would stop forgetting to bring it.
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I did really well with my goal for the most part. I always remembered to bring it to class. When I started my walk to school, I always had my bottle in my hand. Not in my backpack, but in my hand where I knew I would use it. It was tough at times, because I would leave for work but forget my bottle at home. I only forgot maybe 2 or 3 times, but even so, I would have to use a plastic cup to drink out of, which I didn't like at all. I may possibly get another bottle to keep in my locker at work, that way I don't have to worry about forgetting it at home!
BENEFITS
Before beginning this project, I didn't really know much about plastic, and how bad it really is for the environment, and for my own health. Reusing a regular plastic bottle can have bad health effects. By using a reusable bottle, I save money, and reduce the amount of plastic being used and trashed on the planet. Although I do recycle, it is still possible for my plastic to get elsewhere.
CONTINUE BEHAVIOR?
I am most definitely continuing to use my bottle. It has become a habit and I'm proud of it. It is convenient, healthy, and simple. Something so small can change the environment so much. People see others making the trend of buying reusable bottles and it can influence them to do the same. I know it has influenced me!
RECOMMENDATIONS
My recommendations to someone making a lifestyle change would be to just keep with it. If you need to make changes, then make changes. Learn as you go. Educate and encourage others to change for the better. It really does make a difference!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.
My SMART Goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottles. I was tired of having so many plastic bottles around my house and in my room. I bought a reusable bottle to carry around with me to class, work, driving, working out, and for just around the house. My goal was: "I will use a reusable water bottle everyday for the next ten weeks". I didn't make any changes to my goal, but I almost bought another bottle to have for at work so I would stop forgetting to bring it.
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I did really well with my goal for the most part. I always remembered to bring it to class. When I started my walk to school, I always had my bottle in my hand. Not in my backpack, but in my hand where I knew I would use it. It was tough at times, because I would leave for work but forget my bottle at home. I only forgot maybe 2 or 3 times, but even so, I would have to use a plastic cup to drink out of, which I didn't like at all. I may possibly get another bottle to keep in my locker at work, that way I don't have to worry about forgetting it at home!
BENEFITS
Before beginning this project, I didn't really know much about plastic, and how bad it really is for the environment, and for my own health. Reusing a regular plastic bottle can have bad health effects. By using a reusable bottle, I save money, and reduce the amount of plastic being used and trashed on the planet. Although I do recycle, it is still possible for my plastic to get elsewhere.
CONTINUE BEHAVIOR?
I am most definitely continuing to use my bottle. It has become a habit and I'm proud of it. It is convenient, healthy, and simple. Something so small can change the environment so much. People see others making the trend of buying reusable bottles and it can influence them to do the same. I know it has influenced me!
RECOMMENDATIONS
My recommendations to someone making a lifestyle change would be to just keep with it. If you need to make changes, then make changes. Learn as you go. Educate and encourage others to change for the better. It really does make a difference!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official
December 7, 2009
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Honorable Senator Amy Klobuchar,
I am writing to you to encourage you to vote yes on H.R. 2093. This bill is working to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). This amendment will require the EPA to use more specific criteria for monitoring recreational beaches, and the water connected with these beaches, for detecting pathogens that can alter human and animal health.
Waterborne pathogens that affect human health can include things such as E. Coli, salmonella, noroviruses, and “swimmer’s itch”. Noroviruses have the same symptoms as food poisoning. These kinds of illnesses can have a major impact on the health of individuals, especially the young and elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. A common way of waterborne illness occurring is from children with diapers, and fecal material getting into the waters. There can also be waters contaminated with mercury, which also infects the fish that humans eat. Most people don’t take the time to actually think about the kinds of bacteria that can be in water that they frequently fish from or swim in.
By voting yes on this bill, the number of outbreaks will be minimized and they can be caught early enough to take care of them before they infect large quantities of people and animals. The quicker the beach is closed, the quicker it can get cleaned up, and fewer infections will occur.
Feel free to contact me at any time, and thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Danielle Scandinato
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Honorable Senator Amy Klobuchar,
I am writing to you to encourage you to vote yes on H.R. 2093. This bill is working to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). This amendment will require the EPA to use more specific criteria for monitoring recreational beaches, and the water connected with these beaches, for detecting pathogens that can alter human and animal health.
Waterborne pathogens that affect human health can include things such as E. Coli, salmonella, noroviruses, and “swimmer’s itch”. Noroviruses have the same symptoms as food poisoning. These kinds of illnesses can have a major impact on the health of individuals, especially the young and elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. A common way of waterborne illness occurring is from children with diapers, and fecal material getting into the waters. There can also be waters contaminated with mercury, which also infects the fish that humans eat. Most people don’t take the time to actually think about the kinds of bacteria that can be in water that they frequently fish from or swim in.
By voting yes on this bill, the number of outbreaks will be minimized and they can be caught early enough to take care of them before they infect large quantities of people and animals. The quicker the beach is closed, the quicker it can get cleaned up, and fewer infections will occur.
Feel free to contact me at any time, and thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Danielle Scandinato
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Reflections: Week 11 and 12
We started off week 11 by getting into 3 groups and looking up different terms that had to do with environmental literacy. We had to define them in a way that a young person could understand. It was harder than I thought it would be. Then each group sent it to the next for them to make adjustments. We then watched a video called The Story of Stuff. It talks about the production of things and how they get places, and where they go. It was very interesting! Then Dr. V brought in a few things for us all to look at while in groups and we had to make a list of things that they could be used for. It was so funny to see the things that people came up with! Very creative minds! We had our fourth quarter of our read 'n' seeds. It went by really fast!
Week 12 we started out with MckLinky Blog Hops and used our photo essays for the links. Using that, we presented our photos to the class and shared our stories of what they were about. I thought some people came up with interesting things! Then we talked about our letters to editors or letters to politcal representatives and what the letters should consist of. This semester is going by so fast, I can't even believe it's almost over!!
Week 12 we started out with MckLinky Blog Hops and used our photo essays for the links. Using that, we presented our photos to the class and shared our stories of what they were about. I thought some people came up with interesting things! Then we talked about our letters to editors or letters to politcal representatives and what the letters should consist of. This semester is going by so fast, I can't even believe it's almost over!!
Share and Voice 7: Eco-friendly Bamboo
I thought this video was very interesting. So amazing that bamboo can grow up to one meter per day! I thought it was really cool that it is a UV ray protectant, and that it is warmer than wool! It would be fun to try some of the clothing sometime!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 9: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use a reusable water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week."
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I've been doing good still, remembering to bring it to work and school. I had it for my ride back up to Duluth after Thanksgiving so that was nice. One of the days, I worked at my other job, which I haven't worked at in about 2 months. I remembered to bring it to work with me, but I forgot to bring it home! I used my roommate's water bottle for the time being, until I could get back to the mall to pick it up. I have it back with me now, and I'm about to bring it to work with me again. Not the job where I will forget it though!
FEELINGS
Things are winding down, and I'm still going strong. I'm happy I did this because I was always wanting to get a reusable water bottle, but didn't really have the time or motivation to actually look for one. Now all that's over with and I use it all the time! I'm happy about it!
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same, and I will not forget my bottle anywhere! It will stay by my side at all times!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use a reusable water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week."
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I've been doing good still, remembering to bring it to work and school. I had it for my ride back up to Duluth after Thanksgiving so that was nice. One of the days, I worked at my other job, which I haven't worked at in about 2 months. I remembered to bring it to work with me, but I forgot to bring it home! I used my roommate's water bottle for the time being, until I could get back to the mall to pick it up. I have it back with me now, and I'm about to bring it to work with me again. Not the job where I will forget it though!
FEELINGS
Things are winding down, and I'm still going strong. I'm happy I did this because I was always wanting to get a reusable water bottle, but didn't really have the time or motivation to actually look for one. Now all that's over with and I use it all the time! I'm happy about it!
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same, and I will not forget my bottle anywhere! It will stay by my side at all times!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Eye Opener: Photo Essay
For my photo essay, I decided to show things that I do to TRY and be a little more environmentally friendly.
Things such as unplugging things when they aren't in use. I didn't always do this, but I am slowly learning. I especially unplug chargers when they aren't in use, like phone, computer, and camera battery chargers.
Separating our garbage and recycling
Things such as unplugging things when they aren't in use. I didn't always do this, but I am slowly learning. I especially unplug chargers when they aren't in use, like phone, computer, and camera battery chargers.
Using up old plastic bags as garbage bags
Separating our garbage and recycling
Recycling aluminum separately from the rest of our recycling
My roommates and I are saving up all of our cans and are going to bring them to the place where they take aluminum and exchange it for money. We are going to use that money to help with our bills.
And finally, as you've seen from my SMART Goal, I use reusable water bottles. I have completely quit buying water in plastic bottles.
I also walk to and from school everyday, but I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it. It's great exercise, and I don't pollute the air with my car! Also saves a ton of money by not buying a parking pass or fuel as often.
This class has definitely opened my eyes to notice the small things I do and don't do that can affect the environment.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Read 'n' Seed 5: Fourth Quarter of Environmental Epidemiology: Epidemiological Investigation of Community Environmental Health Problems
For the final quarter of my book I read chapters 17 through 24, which were pages 197-253.
Chapter 17 was about young drunk drivers in Michigan and the accidents caused by it. Deaths due to external causes are the highest causes of deaths for people aged 15-24 and car accidents is number one on that list. They talked about raising the legal limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21, in hopes of it decreasing the number of fatalities due to drunk driving. This study was done in the late '70s and since then, they have found a significant decrease in drunken driving since raising the age.
Chapter 18 was just a review of the past five chapters, mostly talking about how it is hard to conduct these studies based on long term effects, so they are using the short term effects to hypothesize what the long term effects will likely be.
Chapter 19 was very interesting. It talks about a chemical, 1,2-dibromo-3chloropropane, also known as DBCP. They found that men who worked with this chemical (used on some crops to eliminate nematodes), became sterile. The longer they were around this chemical, the lower their sperm count. If someone had worked with it a shorter period of time, their count was lower than normal also. They found that if they stayed away from this chemical for a long time, they would regain their ability to reproduce. I found it interesting because there were no birth defects out of the ordinary, just less pregnancies.
Chapter 20 was about reproduction in relation to being exposed to anesthetic gases. Female anesthetists being exposed to this gas had results of spontaneous abortions. "The findings are sufficient to indicate three things: women should not be exposed to work involving exposures to waste anesthetic gases during early pregnancy; waste anesthetic gases can and should be controlled in order to protect the health of all operating room personnel; prospective monitoring of reproductive outcomes of nurses and of operating room personnel is needed to assure that unfavorable effects do not continue to occur" (p. 231-232).
Chapter 21 was a review of chapters 19 and 20. It mostly just talked about being adequately ventilated in work places, as to not be exposed for long periods of time to gases that can affect the body.
Chapter 22 starts to wrap up the entire book. It talks about the community studies that they wrote about in the previous chapters and how we learn from them to make health better. "Environmental health decisions reflect political, historical, and economic considerations as well as what is known and/or suspected about the impact of environmental exposures on health" (p. 240). He talks about how people who run farms and factories do not intend to cause damage to the health of the affected communities. It's important to learn from our experiences and make the changes necessary to protect ourselves for the future.
In chapter 23, he talks about the unintended effects of technological change, and how it not only affects humans, but our natural world around us that sustains our life, and how we must take responsibility for it. I thought it was very interesting because we talked about these things in class. We need to make changes before things get too out of hand and we lose all our resources.
The final chapter, chapter 24, is the historical postscript. He mentions the late Arnold Toynbee, who was dean of historians back in 1971. Toynbee says "Is it not an atrocity, to produce children who will have been condemned in advance to lifelong suffering and misery by the pollution of the world that is mankind's habitat?" (p. 253). It is so true and we need to do something to change our planet soon.
Goldsmith hopes that this book can teach people to alter their judgment and make the changes necessary to make our world last for generations to come. Like I said before, we need to make the changes necessary to overcome this. Not just a select few, but everybody. It's the only way we can make a difference for the future of this planet.
Chapter 17 was about young drunk drivers in Michigan and the accidents caused by it. Deaths due to external causes are the highest causes of deaths for people aged 15-24 and car accidents is number one on that list. They talked about raising the legal limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21, in hopes of it decreasing the number of fatalities due to drunk driving. This study was done in the late '70s and since then, they have found a significant decrease in drunken driving since raising the age.
Chapter 18 was just a review of the past five chapters, mostly talking about how it is hard to conduct these studies based on long term effects, so they are using the short term effects to hypothesize what the long term effects will likely be.
Chapter 19 was very interesting. It talks about a chemical, 1,2-dibromo-3chloropropane, also known as DBCP. They found that men who worked with this chemical (used on some crops to eliminate nematodes), became sterile. The longer they were around this chemical, the lower their sperm count. If someone had worked with it a shorter period of time, their count was lower than normal also. They found that if they stayed away from this chemical for a long time, they would regain their ability to reproduce. I found it interesting because there were no birth defects out of the ordinary, just less pregnancies.
Chapter 20 was about reproduction in relation to being exposed to anesthetic gases. Female anesthetists being exposed to this gas had results of spontaneous abortions. "The findings are sufficient to indicate three things: women should not be exposed to work involving exposures to waste anesthetic gases during early pregnancy; waste anesthetic gases can and should be controlled in order to protect the health of all operating room personnel; prospective monitoring of reproductive outcomes of nurses and of operating room personnel is needed to assure that unfavorable effects do not continue to occur" (p. 231-232).
Chapter 21 was a review of chapters 19 and 20. It mostly just talked about being adequately ventilated in work places, as to not be exposed for long periods of time to gases that can affect the body.
Chapter 22 starts to wrap up the entire book. It talks about the community studies that they wrote about in the previous chapters and how we learn from them to make health better. "Environmental health decisions reflect political, historical, and economic considerations as well as what is known and/or suspected about the impact of environmental exposures on health" (p. 240). He talks about how people who run farms and factories do not intend to cause damage to the health of the affected communities. It's important to learn from our experiences and make the changes necessary to protect ourselves for the future.
In chapter 23, he talks about the unintended effects of technological change, and how it not only affects humans, but our natural world around us that sustains our life, and how we must take responsibility for it. I thought it was very interesting because we talked about these things in class. We need to make changes before things get too out of hand and we lose all our resources.
The final chapter, chapter 24, is the historical postscript. He mentions the late Arnold Toynbee, who was dean of historians back in 1971. Toynbee says "Is it not an atrocity, to produce children who will have been condemned in advance to lifelong suffering and misery by the pollution of the world that is mankind's habitat?" (p. 253). It is so true and we need to do something to change our planet soon.
Goldsmith hopes that this book can teach people to alter their judgment and make the changes necessary to make our world last for generations to come. Like I said before, we need to make the changes necessary to overcome this. Not just a select few, but everybody. It's the only way we can make a difference for the future of this planet.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 8: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use a reusable water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I've still been remembering to bring my bottle to work! I haven't forgotten since I last updated and I'm doing very well with it. I don't really give in to drinking pop when I have my bottle full of water. I am now back home for Thanksgiving and I had my bottle next to me in my car for the 2 hour drive. The only thing was that I gave in and filled it with pop instead of water. I wanted something with a little flavor and there was a 2-liter of soda in my fridge so I just used it. But since I've been home I've been using it for water, especially next to my bed like usual.
FEELINGS
I'm feeling really good about my goal. I've been remembering to bring it to more places, more often. It's very useful when I have it around and I know I didn't just waste money on it. I feel really good about that. I don't like to spend money, unless it's something I will actually use. I like how it's been going. I know that I'll keep using it even after the complete ten weeks is up. It's just a habit now :)
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
Definitely going to keep my goal the same. I like how it's going and I know I will keep remembering it. Once I get into the habit of something, I usually keep at it. Most definitely going to bring it to work with me for Black Friday. I will be exhausted that day!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use a reusable water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I've still been remembering to bring my bottle to work! I haven't forgotten since I last updated and I'm doing very well with it. I don't really give in to drinking pop when I have my bottle full of water. I am now back home for Thanksgiving and I had my bottle next to me in my car for the 2 hour drive. The only thing was that I gave in and filled it with pop instead of water. I wanted something with a little flavor and there was a 2-liter of soda in my fridge so I just used it. But since I've been home I've been using it for water, especially next to my bed like usual.
FEELINGS
I'm feeling really good about my goal. I've been remembering to bring it to more places, more often. It's very useful when I have it around and I know I didn't just waste money on it. I feel really good about that. I don't like to spend money, unless it's something I will actually use. I like how it's been going. I know that I'll keep using it even after the complete ten weeks is up. It's just a habit now :)
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
Definitely going to keep my goal the same. I like how it's going and I know I will keep remembering it. Once I get into the habit of something, I usually keep at it. Most definitely going to bring it to work with me for Black Friday. I will be exhausted that day!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Advocacy Project: Issue Overview
Introduction
What is the issue/problem? As a consequence of raised bacteria levels in the water, beaches are shut down to protect the health of the public. Closure could be due to many reasons, such as, pollution or transfer of pathogens by infected swimmers.
What current legislation has been proposed to address this? H.R.2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
Who is affected by the issue?
Who is affected the most? Swimmers who get illness and infections due to the bacteria. Government is also affected, having to spend money to have the water tested in chemicl labs, and sending someone to collect the samples.
Who loses, and what do they lose? The swimmers lose by getting ill, and by not being able to use the beaches for recreation due to closures, and the government loses money by doing the testing of the safeness of the water. Also, at times, the aquatic animals in the area can suffer consequences, as well as carry bacteria and infection into humans who eat the fish.
Who gains, and what do they gain? The chemists doing the testing gain by finding new advances and resources to make our waters safer. Animals gain by getting the bacteria in the water getting taken care of so they can live in healthy waters.
What are the consequences of the issue?
For the individuals mostly affected? Swimmers get infections and illnesses, if not taken care of, serious illness or death could occur. Fish and other aquatic animals in the area can suffer from disease and death as well.
For their families? While taking care of the ill person, the infections could be passed on. If someone is fishing in an affected area, they could be feeding the infection to their families.
For society? It can affect the purchasing of fish in stores and markets"Any fish (store-bought or sport-caught) could contain contaminants such as mercury and PCBs that can harm human health - especially the development of children and fetuses. You can't see, smell, or taste the mercury or PCBs in fish. That's why it is important to know which fish are safer than others to eat" (Minnesota Department of Health).
What is the economic impact of the issue?
What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs? Most of these beach monitoring programs are federally funded. Many local health departments monitor the water quality of beaches.
What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits? Health care and insurance companies benefit from the people getting sick from the contaminated water.
What is the social impact of the issue?
What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs? The activities at beaches can drop, losing money at resorts and other beach companies.
What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits? If we do have testing of the bacteria in the water at beaches, it can help the resorts and beaches, reducing the number of days the beaches are closed.
What are the barriers?
What are the barriers to addressing this issue? Well, first of all, it's almost winter right now. People aren't swimming at beaches (hopefully). There might not be people in power who support the issue. They might not think it's important enough to act on.
How can they be overcome? Although, most people don't swim in the winter time, people still fish. Fish can be contaminated in the waters, and people can still be eating them. We just need to inform people in power and convince them this is important enough to act upon. Show cases of illnesses that were due to poor water conditions.
What are the resources?
What resources will we need to address this issue? Access to people with power, people who can make a change. Making the public aware of the issue
Where and how can they be tapped? Sending letters to editors, to policy-makers, putting up posters around town and near beaches, educating people on the issue.
What is the history of this issue?
What is the history of the issue in the community? According to the Minnesota Department of Health, in 2001 there were hundreds of laboratory confirmed cases of infectious disease. One outbreak was sourced back to children with diapers.
What past efforts were made to address it? The BEACH Act was made to standardize the levels of bacteria in the water, and testing them on a regular basis.
What were the results? "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended criteria for beach water monitoring. Congress has recently enacted the BEACH Act that requires states to adopt EPA’s recommended standard and encourage states to monitor and notify public when health standards are exceeded" (Minnesota Department of Health).
Allies & Opponents
Who would support this issue? People who swim at the beaches that are contaminated, people who eat the fish from contaminated waters, environmentalists, public health officials.
Who would oppose this issue? Government agencies who don't want to fund for the issue. Those who don't think it's important enough to worry about.
Your Recommendation
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy? Policy-makers should vote yes for this issue. It is important for the health of our environment, as well as the health of humans and animals.
What is the issue/problem? As a consequence of raised bacteria levels in the water, beaches are shut down to protect the health of the public. Closure could be due to many reasons, such as, pollution or transfer of pathogens by infected swimmers.
What current legislation has been proposed to address this? H.R.2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
Who is affected by the issue?
Who is affected the most? Swimmers who get illness and infections due to the bacteria. Government is also affected, having to spend money to have the water tested in chemicl labs, and sending someone to collect the samples.
Who loses, and what do they lose? The swimmers lose by getting ill, and by not being able to use the beaches for recreation due to closures, and the government loses money by doing the testing of the safeness of the water. Also, at times, the aquatic animals in the area can suffer consequences, as well as carry bacteria and infection into humans who eat the fish.
Who gains, and what do they gain? The chemists doing the testing gain by finding new advances and resources to make our waters safer. Animals gain by getting the bacteria in the water getting taken care of so they can live in healthy waters.
What are the consequences of the issue?
For the individuals mostly affected? Swimmers get infections and illnesses, if not taken care of, serious illness or death could occur. Fish and other aquatic animals in the area can suffer from disease and death as well.
For their families? While taking care of the ill person, the infections could be passed on. If someone is fishing in an affected area, they could be feeding the infection to their families.
For society? It can affect the purchasing of fish in stores and markets"Any fish (store-bought or sport-caught) could contain contaminants such as mercury and PCBs that can harm human health - especially the development of children and fetuses. You can't see, smell, or taste the mercury or PCBs in fish. That's why it is important to know which fish are safer than others to eat" (Minnesota Department of Health).
What is the economic impact of the issue?
What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs? Most of these beach monitoring programs are federally funded. Many local health departments monitor the water quality of beaches.
What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits? Health care and insurance companies benefit from the people getting sick from the contaminated water.
What is the social impact of the issue?
What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs? The activities at beaches can drop, losing money at resorts and other beach companies.
What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits? If we do have testing of the bacteria in the water at beaches, it can help the resorts and beaches, reducing the number of days the beaches are closed.
What are the barriers?
What are the barriers to addressing this issue? Well, first of all, it's almost winter right now. People aren't swimming at beaches (hopefully). There might not be people in power who support the issue. They might not think it's important enough to act on.
How can they be overcome? Although, most people don't swim in the winter time, people still fish. Fish can be contaminated in the waters, and people can still be eating them. We just need to inform people in power and convince them this is important enough to act upon. Show cases of illnesses that were due to poor water conditions.
What are the resources?
What resources will we need to address this issue? Access to people with power, people who can make a change. Making the public aware of the issue
Where and how can they be tapped? Sending letters to editors, to policy-makers, putting up posters around town and near beaches, educating people on the issue.
What is the history of this issue?
What is the history of the issue in the community? According to the Minnesota Department of Health, in 2001 there were hundreds of laboratory confirmed cases of infectious disease. One outbreak was sourced back to children with diapers.
What past efforts were made to address it? The BEACH Act was made to standardize the levels of bacteria in the water, and testing them on a regular basis.
What were the results? "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended criteria for beach water monitoring. Congress has recently enacted the BEACH Act that requires states to adopt EPA’s recommended standard and encourage states to monitor and notify public when health standards are exceeded" (Minnesota Department of Health).
Allies & Opponents
Who would support this issue? People who swim at the beaches that are contaminated, people who eat the fish from contaminated waters, environmentalists, public health officials.
Who would oppose this issue? Government agencies who don't want to fund for the issue. Those who don't think it's important enough to worry about.
Your Recommendation
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy? Policy-makers should vote yes for this issue. It is important for the health of our environment, as well as the health of humans and animals.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Reflections: Week 9 and 10
We started week 9 off differently than doing just an eye opener. We began our advocacy project by looking up political representatives, what their position is, and how to contact them. It is always good to know who is representing us in Congress. During class we were assigned groups to discuss and teach about the readings that were due before class time, concerning advocacy and CHES Responsibilities. It was interesting to learn about, and to come up with an interesting way to teach about it! My SMART goal has been going good and I also read the third quarter of my book! It's going by really fast, can't believe we only have one quarter left!
For week 10, we had to have chosen a Healthy People 2010 goal and a bill that goes along with it for our advocacy project. Mine is about beach closings and reducing the number of closures due to sanitation issues. I'm interested to learn more about it! We then watched Unnatural Causes, In Sickness and in Wealth episode. It talked about how socioeconomic status and race affects resources and and opportunities for health. It was interesting to hear about, because not many people are informed about these kinds of things. Finally, we were introduced to our Photo essay eye opener. I'm still trying to think of something to come up with, but I'm excited to see everyone's final pieces!
All I can say is, this semester is going by very fast!!
For week 10, we had to have chosen a Healthy People 2010 goal and a bill that goes along with it for our advocacy project. Mine is about beach closings and reducing the number of closures due to sanitation issues. I'm interested to learn more about it! We then watched Unnatural Causes, In Sickness and in Wealth episode. It talked about how socioeconomic status and race affects resources and and opportunities for health. It was interesting to hear about, because not many people are informed about these kinds of things. Finally, we were introduced to our Photo essay eye opener. I'm still trying to think of something to come up with, but I'm excited to see everyone's final pieces!
All I can say is, this semester is going by very fast!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 7: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I did better this week at remembering to bring my water bottle to work. I didn't forget a single time! I continue to bring it with me to school everyday and while I'm driving. It helps me avoid giving in to drinking pop when I have it with me, because I feel it is a waste to even bring it with me if I'm not going to be using it. I'm happy I kept remembering it!
FEELINGS
I feel better this week about my goal than last week, because I didn't forget to bring it to work with me. It's nice to have my bottle sitting next to my bed every night when I wake up thirsty, or if I'm sitting in bed doing homework. I'll even carry it down to the living room with me when I go down there to sit and do homework or just watch tv for a bit.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. I didn't forget to bring my bottle to work at all, so I don't quite feel a need to buy a new bottle to keep in my locker there. I will continue to bring it with me everywhere and use it to keep me healthy!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It is very unhealthy for the environment and for me to be using plastic water bottles over and over.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I did better this week at remembering to bring my water bottle to work. I didn't forget a single time! I continue to bring it with me to school everyday and while I'm driving. It helps me avoid giving in to drinking pop when I have it with me, because I feel it is a waste to even bring it with me if I'm not going to be using it. I'm happy I kept remembering it!
FEELINGS
I feel better this week about my goal than last week, because I didn't forget to bring it to work with me. It's nice to have my bottle sitting next to my bed every night when I wake up thirsty, or if I'm sitting in bed doing homework. I'll even carry it down to the living room with me when I go down there to sit and do homework or just watch tv for a bit.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. I didn't forget to bring my bottle to work at all, so I don't quite feel a need to buy a new bottle to keep in my locker there. I will continue to bring it with me everywhere and use it to keep me healthy!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Share and Voice 6: One on one with nature
Last weekend, I joined my dad and brother in Bemidji to deer hunt on opening weekend. I always look forward to getting out of town to spend some time in the quiet woods with no distractions. Kind of my escape from reality for a couple days. Unfortunately, I saw no deer. But I got a chance to enjoy nature and take some pictures of things I saw, so I thought I might share them with you!
This picture is my view from my treestand looking south. The tree in the foreground has marks on it from porcupines and birds. The bark is eaten right off! In the background, the two tall trees are where my dad's old treestand sits. The tree on the left is leaning so far that it pretty much pulled the stand right apart! One of the trees that holds up my stand is quite similar, but not as bad quite yet. It got to be very windy out in those woods, and I felt like the trees were gonna pull MY stand apart! But thankfully, nothing happened to it and I was safe.
Here is a closer view of the porcupine marks. Kinda cool lookin!
This is a blue jay that NEVER went away. Very pretty bird, but when he was hopping around in the leaves it would make me think it was a deer walking! It was fun to just sit watch him though :)
And finally, the beautiful sunset I got to sit and watch. One of the most peaceful things to do.
It was so nice to sit outside for 10 hours and just take it all in. Fresh air, birds chirping, and just the sounds of nature. One of the most relaxing things I have done in a really long time!
Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS
1. The Healthy People 2010 goal I chose is under Water Quality 8-9. The objective for this goal is: Increase the proportion of days that beaches are open and safe for swimming. There wasn't any information about it on the Progress Quotient Chart.
2. Opportunities and Challenges: The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act was passed in October 2000, which amended the Clean Water Act to establish a program for national grants to make water quality standards, monitoring of beaches, and approaches to public notification better, and strengthen national information collection. EPA created the BEACH program to support more regularity in beach health programs and to offer better information to the community. Contained in that program, EPA accumulates information on beach advisories and closings. It has been able to gather that information using annual questionnaires sent to contributing states, tribes, local governments, and other organizations that care for beaches used for swimming. The questionnaire gathers the information about advisories and closings that have taken place during the swimming season.
Emerging Issues: Programs used for beach monitoring are normally run by local health agencies, and programs differ by place. The results in monitoring are conflicting because there are different indicator organisms that agencies use, and differing monitoring occurences. EPA has specific performance standards that States and other governments must attain to collect beach grants, as part of the grant program. These standards are anticipated to offer improvements in the collecting of beach advisory data.
There was no information provided for progress or disparities.
3. H.R.2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
Title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (27)
Latest Major Action: 8/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Recommendation: Vote yes for H.R. 2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
My Political Representatives: Senator Al Franken and Senator Amy Klobuchar
2. Opportunities and Challenges: The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act was passed in October 2000, which amended the Clean Water Act to establish a program for national grants to make water quality standards, monitoring of beaches, and approaches to public notification better, and strengthen national information collection. EPA created the BEACH program to support more regularity in beach health programs and to offer better information to the community. Contained in that program, EPA accumulates information on beach advisories and closings. It has been able to gather that information using annual questionnaires sent to contributing states, tribes, local governments, and other organizations that care for beaches used for swimming. The questionnaire gathers the information about advisories and closings that have taken place during the swimming season.
Emerging Issues: Programs used for beach monitoring are normally run by local health agencies, and programs differ by place. The results in monitoring are conflicting because there are different indicator organisms that agencies use, and differing monitoring occurences. EPA has specific performance standards that States and other governments must attain to collect beach grants, as part of the grant program. These standards are anticipated to offer improvements in the collecting of beach advisory data.
There was no information provided for progress or disparities.
3. H.R.2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
Title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (27)
Latest Major Action: 8/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Recommendation: Vote yes for H.R. 2093 Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009
My Political Representatives: Senator Al Franken and Senator Amy Klobuchar
Friday, November 13, 2009
Read 'n' Seed 4: Third Quarter of Environmental Epidemiology: Epidemiological Investigation of Community Environmental Health Problems
For the third quarter of my book, I read chapters 11 through 16, which were pages 129-196. These chapters are much like the previous chapters I read in the second quarter, which have to do with pollution and the ozone.
In chapter 11, is about odor pollution. I thought it was a little odd, because I guess I never thought about odor as being a pollutant, depending on what kind of odor I suppose. Some of the people in the areas reported being bothered very much or moderately, on a scale of very much, moderately, a little, or not at all. Differences in this study between men and women were noticed for headache and nervousness.
Chapter 12 is basically a review of the previous pollution chapters. They showed that after a few minutes exposure to an odorous material in the lab, the awareness of the odor begins to diminish. They talked about pollution and the effects of new exposures, how, if detected early, it should be taken care of immediately, instead of waiting to see if any health risks come about from it.
Chapter 13 is about nitrate levels in drinking water and methemoglobin in infants. They discovered that infants whose formulas were made up with contaminated ground water would give them this disease of Methemoglobinemia. In adults, the stomach secretions are strongly acidic, and this can limit the types of bacteria that can survive mixture with the stomach's secretions; but in infants, the strongly acid secretion has not yet evolved, and so when bacteria are ingested they may colonize the entire intestinal tract. They found it obvious that babies that are breast fed are likely to have little tap water ingestion in relation to infants fed a dry or powdered milk formula.
Chapter 14 is about carbon monoxide exposures and survival from heart attacks. This chapter was really confusing to me because they used a bunch of numbers and figures that were hard for me to understand. They were trying to research the difference between carbon monoxide exposures to the survival rate of heart attacks. The conclusions found that in Los Angeles in 1958 in times and places of high exposures to carbon monoxide there is an increase in the case fatality rate for heart attacks.
Chapter 15 is about lead exposures in children. They used the teeth that children naturally lose to test for lead and then compare to their school performance and intelligence. The study provided powerful evidence of a possible role of lead exposures in early childhood in handicapping school performance and intelligence.
Chapter 16 is about photochemical pollutants and the long term health effects. In 1971, the published data supported these conslusions:
"At times and locations with increased photochemical pollution, eye irritation, respiratory irritaion, increased cough and sputum, and possible headache were observed; A fraction of the population with existing asthma was more likely to experience asthma attacks when pollution levels exceeded an hourly average of 0.20 ppm of ozone; Men with cronic bronchitis or emphysema and impaired lung function experienced further lung function impairment when levels of ozone were elevated from 0.10 to 0.30 ppm; Mortality from chronic respiratory conditions was showing a general upward trend, but effects of cigarette smoking, survival from tuberculosis and pneumonia, and occupational exposures were considered the predominant contributors; High school cross country teams had 'poorer' times when they exercised during smoggy weather than the same teams exercising when smog was less" (p. 182-183).
It's scary to think about all of these things and some of them have irreversible effects. Hopefully, we can keep making sure our water is clean, keep carbon monoxide reduced, and photochemical pollution reduced. So many of these things are detrimental to our health, as well as our environment's health. We need to make sure we take care of these new exposures as they are happening instead of waiting to find out years later that they cause serious medical problems, because that long into it, it would take years to figure out how to reduce it all again.
In chapter 11, is about odor pollution. I thought it was a little odd, because I guess I never thought about odor as being a pollutant, depending on what kind of odor I suppose. Some of the people in the areas reported being bothered very much or moderately, on a scale of very much, moderately, a little, or not at all. Differences in this study between men and women were noticed for headache and nervousness.
Chapter 12 is basically a review of the previous pollution chapters. They showed that after a few minutes exposure to an odorous material in the lab, the awareness of the odor begins to diminish. They talked about pollution and the effects of new exposures, how, if detected early, it should be taken care of immediately, instead of waiting to see if any health risks come about from it.
Chapter 13 is about nitrate levels in drinking water and methemoglobin in infants. They discovered that infants whose formulas were made up with contaminated ground water would give them this disease of Methemoglobinemia. In adults, the stomach secretions are strongly acidic, and this can limit the types of bacteria that can survive mixture with the stomach's secretions; but in infants, the strongly acid secretion has not yet evolved, and so when bacteria are ingested they may colonize the entire intestinal tract. They found it obvious that babies that are breast fed are likely to have little tap water ingestion in relation to infants fed a dry or powdered milk formula.
Chapter 14 is about carbon monoxide exposures and survival from heart attacks. This chapter was really confusing to me because they used a bunch of numbers and figures that were hard for me to understand. They were trying to research the difference between carbon monoxide exposures to the survival rate of heart attacks. The conclusions found that in Los Angeles in 1958 in times and places of high exposures to carbon monoxide there is an increase in the case fatality rate for heart attacks.
Chapter 15 is about lead exposures in children. They used the teeth that children naturally lose to test for lead and then compare to their school performance and intelligence. The study provided powerful evidence of a possible role of lead exposures in early childhood in handicapping school performance and intelligence.
Chapter 16 is about photochemical pollutants and the long term health effects. In 1971, the published data supported these conslusions:
"At times and locations with increased photochemical pollution, eye irritation, respiratory irritaion, increased cough and sputum, and possible headache were observed; A fraction of the population with existing asthma was more likely to experience asthma attacks when pollution levels exceeded an hourly average of 0.20 ppm of ozone; Men with cronic bronchitis or emphysema and impaired lung function experienced further lung function impairment when levels of ozone were elevated from 0.10 to 0.30 ppm; Mortality from chronic respiratory conditions was showing a general upward trend, but effects of cigarette smoking, survival from tuberculosis and pneumonia, and occupational exposures were considered the predominant contributors; High school cross country teams had 'poorer' times when they exercised during smoggy weather than the same teams exercising when smog was less" (p. 182-183).
It's scary to think about all of these things and some of them have irreversible effects. Hopefully, we can keep making sure our water is clean, keep carbon monoxide reduced, and photochemical pollution reduced. So many of these things are detrimental to our health, as well as our environment's health. We need to make sure we take care of these new exposures as they are happening instead of waiting to find out years later that they cause serious medical problems, because that long into it, it would take years to figure out how to reduce it all again.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
I remembered to bring my water bottle to work with me last week on Wednesday and Thursday, which was very good. I took my bottle hunting with me and had it for my two and a half hour drive, and I even brought it out to the woods with me! It was very useful when I got thirsty out in the woods. I caved and bought a bottle of pop for my drive back to Duluth. I was craving carbonation and sugar, and I had gotten up at 4:30 each morning to get out in the woods before dawn, so I felt I was in need of caffeine for my drive home. Once I was done with that, I returned to my water bottle. On Tuesday this week, I forgot to bring my bottle with me again to work, but the rest of the week is looking up. I will keep it by my purse at all times to make sure I don't forget!
FEELINGS
I'm still feeling decent about my goal. I liked having it out in the woods with me over the weekend. I also had it by my bedside at the hotel each night. I might have to get another bottle to keep in my locker at work so I can stop worrying about forgetting to bring my bottle from home each time! I'll see how the rest of my work week goes. If I keep remembering it, I'll stick to my current plan.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. If I can't keep remembering to bring my bottle to work, I'll buy another bottle to keep in my locker, so I don't have to worry about forgetting all the time!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES FEELINGS
I'm still feeling decent about my goal. I liked having it out in the woods with me over the weekend. I also had it by my bedside at the hotel each night. I might have to get another bottle to keep in my locker at work so I can stop worrying about forgetting to bring my bottle from home each time! I'll see how the rest of my work week goes. If I keep remembering it, I'll stick to my current plan.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. If I can't keep remembering to bring my bottle to work, I'll buy another bottle to keep in my locker, so I don't have to worry about forgetting all the time!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives
These are my political representatives for the U.S., Minnesota, and Princeton.
President of U.S.: Barack Obama, DFL
House Congressman: James Oberstar,
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6211
Other representatives: Website
Senators: Al Franken
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
and Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
Governor: Tim Pawlenty, Rep.
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-3391
House Legislature: Bob Gunther, Rep,
289 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-3240 or 800-684-4598
other representatives: Website
Senator: Lisa Fobbe, DFL,
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room 306
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
651-296-8075
other senators: Website
Mille Lacs County board commissioners
Princeton Mayor: Jeremy Riddle
City Hall
705 Second Street North
Princeton, MN 55371
763-389-2040
Well, I think this was good because I never really knew there were even websites for all of these political members. I found out there is a webpage for my hometown! Cool stuff. And Lisa Fobbe is from my hometown, so it was cool to see her on that list.
President of U.S.: Barack Obama, DFL
House Congressman: James Oberstar,
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6211
Other representatives: Website
Senators: Al Franken
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
and Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
Governor: Tim Pawlenty, Rep.
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-3391
House Legislature: Bob Gunther, Rep,
289 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-3240 or 800-684-4598
other representatives: Website
Senator: Lisa Fobbe, DFL,
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room 306
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
651-296-8075
other senators: Website
Mille Lacs County board commissioners
Princeton Mayor: Jeremy Riddle
City Hall
705 Second Street North
Princeton, MN 55371
763-389-2040
Well, I think this was good because I never really knew there were even websites for all of these political members. I found out there is a webpage for my hometown! Cool stuff. And Lisa Fobbe is from my hometown, so it was cool to see her on that list.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Reflections: Week 7 and 8
Week 7 we started out with an eye opener from the Environmental Working Group. It's a website that you can look up different cosmetic items and see what kind of harm they can cause, to humans and the environment. I looked up a blush that I own (don't use it very often) and it had an 8 out of 10 high hazard. I was shocked that something so simple as blush could potentially be extremely hazardous to my own health!
We then watched a movie called "Green". It was about people living near the Mississippi River in Louisiana and there was a high cancer rate. They blamed it on the chemical factories in the area, for exposing them to toxic fumes and getting into their foods in the gardens through the ground. It's outstanding at how many cases they had of cancer in the area! I got to read a few more cases in my book I'm reading for my read 'n' seed. The ones I read this time were mostly about pollution and air quality in big cities. Some interesting stuff!
Week 8 we started out with an eye opener titled "Junk on the Brain". We got to see this cool website of projects that people make out of things that seem to have no use anymore. Very creative! I liked it a lot.
Then we watched a documentary titled "Thirst". It was about privatizing water and people having to pay to use it. I thought it was outrageous. Water is a necessity for life. There shouldn't be a price on that.
After the movie we talked about our blogs, and the general things that needed to be worked on. Mine had a few things that needed improving, such as putting my longer posts into separate paragraphs so it's easier to read. It was a good discussion because it helped me notice things that I needed to work on that I didn't notice before!
We then watched a movie called "Green". It was about people living near the Mississippi River in Louisiana and there was a high cancer rate. They blamed it on the chemical factories in the area, for exposing them to toxic fumes and getting into their foods in the gardens through the ground. It's outstanding at how many cases they had of cancer in the area! I got to read a few more cases in my book I'm reading for my read 'n' seed. The ones I read this time were mostly about pollution and air quality in big cities. Some interesting stuff!
Week 8 we started out with an eye opener titled "Junk on the Brain". We got to see this cool website of projects that people make out of things that seem to have no use anymore. Very creative! I liked it a lot.
Then we watched a documentary titled "Thirst". It was about privatizing water and people having to pay to use it. I thought it was outrageous. Water is a necessity for life. There shouldn't be a price on that.
After the movie we talked about our blogs, and the general things that needed to be worked on. Mine had a few things that needed improving, such as putting my longer posts into separate paragraphs so it's easier to read. It was a good discussion because it helped me notice things that I needed to work on that I didn't notice before!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
My goal is going good still, I keep remembering to bring my bottle with me to school, working out, and when I'm driving. One part I need to work on is remembering to bring it to work with me, so I don't have to keep reusing plastic cups to drink water out of. The first day I brought it to work, I forgot it in my car! The next day, I just completely forgot it. But the last time I worked, I remembered to bring it and I kept it in my locker to drink while on my break. I was really craving pop, but I didn't give in. At my work, we have a fountain pop just like the picture here, and I have to work right next to this machine so it's hard to not give in but I've been doing great! I wanted to put my water bottle to good use. It worked out great.
FEELINGS
I'm feeling pretty decent about my goal, although I wish I was better at remembering to bring it to work. I think I'll be better about it from now on. Now that I actually brought it once, it will be easier for me to remember. Just have to get into the habit.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. I'm going to keep bringing it to school with me to drink during classes and working out. I'm going hunting this weekend, and it will be almost a 3 hour drive to where I'm going, so I will definitely have it with me while driving! I'm going to bring it into the woods with me as well to keep hydrated during the day. I will most likely have a mug with hot chocolate in it as well to keep with me. Also going to work hard at remembering to bring it to work with me to drink on my breaks!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
FEELINGS
I'm feeling pretty decent about my goal, although I wish I was better at remembering to bring it to work. I think I'll be better about it from now on. Now that I actually brought it once, it will be easier for me to remember. Just have to get into the habit.
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I will be keeping my goal the same. I'm going to keep bringing it to school with me to drink during classes and working out. I'm going hunting this weekend, and it will be almost a 3 hour drive to where I'm going, so I will definitely have it with me while driving! I'm going to bring it into the woods with me as well to keep hydrated during the day. I will most likely have a mug with hot chocolate in it as well to keep with me. Also going to work hard at remembering to bring it to work with me to drink on my breaks!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain
PART 1
Antiques/Antiquing: any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase. To shop for or collect antiques.
Junk/Junking: anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible; trash. To cast aside as junk; discard as no longer of use; scrap.
Flea market: a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-rate merchandise, etc.
Thrift shop: A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization
Upcycling: involves processing used materials into new products, or the re-use of a product with crippled functionality for alternative purposes, to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production, with the intent of creating a product of higher quality design and artistic value.
Resale shop: They usually sell mainly second-hand goods donated by members of the public, and are often staffed by volunteers. Because the items for sale were obtained for free, and business costs are low, the items can be sold at very low prices.
PART 2
1. They have to do with environmental health because instead of these things being thrown away, they are donated, resold, reused, and recycled. Saves energy and helps the needy.
2. Antiques: Canal Park Antique Center 310 S Lake Ave Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 720-3940
Junking: Junk My Car 1-877-586-5692
Flea market: Studebaker Drivers Club Swap Meet Flea Market and Classic Car Show Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road Duluth, MN 55811
Thrift Shop: Goodwill 4883 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown , MN 55811 (218) 727-0001
Upcycling: I couldn't find anywhere that has upcycling, but I found this cool short article about it :)
Resale Shop: Plato's Closet 5115 Burning Tree Rd Ste 315C Duluth , MN 55811 (218) 733-9455
3. I have used some of these things, most of which are Thrift shops like Goodwill or Savers, or resale shops like Plato's Closet. I have gone antiquing with my friend's parents or my grandparents before, but it's not something I do regularly. I also donate my old clothing to these types of places so I'm not throwing them away. I'm helping the company, and helping the commuity.
PART 3
I really like this Paris Themed Necklace. I thought it was very creative and pretty as well. I would never think to make something like that!
I also thought this Light Bulb project was cute. Good way of reusing an old light bulb by planting flowers in it!
This edible centerpiece was super cool. I love food and finding creative ways to use it and display it are very interesting!
That is a very cool website and I like how creative people can be!
Antiques/Antiquing: any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase. To shop for or collect antiques.
Junk/Junking: anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible; trash. To cast aside as junk; discard as no longer of use; scrap.
Flea market: a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-rate merchandise, etc.
Thrift shop: A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization
Upcycling: involves processing used materials into new products, or the re-use of a product with crippled functionality for alternative purposes, to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production, with the intent of creating a product of higher quality design and artistic value.
Resale shop: They usually sell mainly second-hand goods donated by members of the public, and are often staffed by volunteers. Because the items for sale were obtained for free, and business costs are low, the items can be sold at very low prices.
PART 2
1. They have to do with environmental health because instead of these things being thrown away, they are donated, resold, reused, and recycled. Saves energy and helps the needy.
2. Antiques: Canal Park Antique Center 310 S Lake Ave Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 720-3940
Junking: Junk My Car 1-877-586-5692
Flea market: Studebaker Drivers Club Swap Meet Flea Market and Classic Car Show Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road Duluth, MN 55811
Thrift Shop: Goodwill 4883 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown , MN 55811 (218) 727-0001
Upcycling: I couldn't find anywhere that has upcycling, but I found this cool short article about it :)
Resale Shop: Plato's Closet 5115 Burning Tree Rd Ste 315C Duluth , MN 55811 (218) 733-9455
3. I have used some of these things, most of which are Thrift shops like Goodwill or Savers, or resale shops like Plato's Closet. I have gone antiquing with my friend's parents or my grandparents before, but it's not something I do regularly. I also donate my old clothing to these types of places so I'm not throwing them away. I'm helping the company, and helping the commuity.
PART 3
I really like this Paris Themed Necklace. I thought it was very creative and pretty as well. I would never think to make something like that!
I also thought this Light Bulb project was cute. Good way of reusing an old light bulb by planting flowers in it!
This edible centerpiece was super cool. I love food and finding creative ways to use it and display it are very interesting!
That is a very cool website and I like how creative people can be!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Read 'n' Seed 3: Second Quarter of Environmental Epidemiology: Epidemiological Investigation of Community Environmental Health Problems
For the second quarter of my book, I covered chapters 5 through 11 which is pages 65-127. These chapters mostly went through and told stories and studies of pollution and ozone problems.
Chapter 5 was the most interesting to me. The title of the chapter is called "The 20 Minute Disaster: Hydrogen Sulfide Spill at Poza Rica". It tells the story of a neighborhood near a plant that happened to have a gas leak. People in the neighborhood were poisoned by these gases, some of which died, some of which were hospitalized. I found it very sad, because so many families were affected by it. Some lost children, some lost a parent, and some lost children and a spouse, all because of a few minute long gas leak. Once the valves were shut, the fog cleared up and the air got better, but not before the devastating effects took place.
Chapter 6 went on to talk about three Los Angelos heat waves, and the researching of the effects of the elderly and sick in the nursing homes. They found there was a 1-day lag between th peak of temperature and the peak of mortality in each age group. They also found that heat waves like these happen every 8 years. 1939, 1947, 1955, and 1963 are significant years in this study.
Chapter 7 is about the planning, analysis, and preparation and how it can save lives. One statement that stuck out to me says "Most heat waves are forecast by the weather service. Should such forecasts provide advice to elderly and ill persons to take preventive measures? If you answered yes, what measures, at what temperature level, and who should offer the advice?" (Goldsmith, 84). I found that very interesting, because taking such precautions could save many lives.
Chapter 8 is about school children in Kawasaki, Japan and their respiratory problems because of the industries near the school district. They used two measuring indexes of air pollution: monthly sulfation rate by lead peroxide method and monthly dustfall. Dustfall?? Honestly? Now that's some serious pollution right there. These students had layers of dust on their school desks and their books became soiled. The industries eventually did something about it to solve the problem, but how horrible for those kids to go through that!
Chapter 9 mostly talks about people with asthma and environmental factors, and the affect on their breathing. An interesting thing I saw was a list of environmental factors of asthma attacks. "1. Allergens such as those produced by cockroaches, house dust mites, mammals and birds, molds and fungi, pollen, and food and drugs. 2. Irritants such as SO2, ozone, NO2 and mixtures of pollutants consisting of ozone, CO, and NO2. 3. Climatic factors such as temperature (more specifically, sudden changes in temperature) and humidity, and temperature inversions. 4. Respiratory infections" (Goldstein and Hartel, 102).
Chapter 10 is about asthma and air pollution in Los Angeles. They found that most of the asthma attacks occurred at night, whereas peak pollution levels were in the middle of the day to early afternoon. It showed that there is a latent period between the pollution exposure and the maximum effect. I found that to be intriguing. They also concluded that small increases in sulfur oxides can lead to aggravation of asthma in a number of the asthmatic persons exposed.
A lot of these cases are from years ago, but it still shows how the environment has an effect on our health. It's good to see that they have done some things to try and fix some of these problems. But it's also sad to see that some of these problems still exist today, even after all the researching. Hopefully, we can continue to minimize pollution. We need our planet for as long as possible!
Chapter 5 was the most interesting to me. The title of the chapter is called "The 20 Minute Disaster: Hydrogen Sulfide Spill at Poza Rica". It tells the story of a neighborhood near a plant that happened to have a gas leak. People in the neighborhood were poisoned by these gases, some of which died, some of which were hospitalized. I found it very sad, because so many families were affected by it. Some lost children, some lost a parent, and some lost children and a spouse, all because of a few minute long gas leak. Once the valves were shut, the fog cleared up and the air got better, but not before the devastating effects took place.
Chapter 6 went on to talk about three Los Angelos heat waves, and the researching of the effects of the elderly and sick in the nursing homes. They found there was a 1-day lag between th peak of temperature and the peak of mortality in each age group. They also found that heat waves like these happen every 8 years. 1939, 1947, 1955, and 1963 are significant years in this study.
Chapter 7 is about the planning, analysis, and preparation and how it can save lives. One statement that stuck out to me says "Most heat waves are forecast by the weather service. Should such forecasts provide advice to elderly and ill persons to take preventive measures? If you answered yes, what measures, at what temperature level, and who should offer the advice?" (Goldsmith, 84). I found that very interesting, because taking such precautions could save many lives.
Chapter 8 is about school children in Kawasaki, Japan and their respiratory problems because of the industries near the school district. They used two measuring indexes of air pollution: monthly sulfation rate by lead peroxide method and monthly dustfall. Dustfall?? Honestly? Now that's some serious pollution right there. These students had layers of dust on their school desks and their books became soiled. The industries eventually did something about it to solve the problem, but how horrible for those kids to go through that!
Chapter 9 mostly talks about people with asthma and environmental factors, and the affect on their breathing. An interesting thing I saw was a list of environmental factors of asthma attacks. "1. Allergens such as those produced by cockroaches, house dust mites, mammals and birds, molds and fungi, pollen, and food and drugs. 2. Irritants such as SO2, ozone, NO2 and mixtures of pollutants consisting of ozone, CO, and NO2. 3. Climatic factors such as temperature (more specifically, sudden changes in temperature) and humidity, and temperature inversions. 4. Respiratory infections" (Goldstein and Hartel, 102).
Chapter 10 is about asthma and air pollution in Los Angeles. They found that most of the asthma attacks occurred at night, whereas peak pollution levels were in the middle of the day to early afternoon. It showed that there is a latent period between the pollution exposure and the maximum effect. I found that to be intriguing. They also concluded that small increases in sulfur oxides can lead to aggravation of asthma in a number of the asthmatic persons exposed.
A lot of these cases are from years ago, but it still shows how the environment has an effect on our health. It's good to see that they have done some things to try and fix some of these problems. But it's also sad to see that some of these problems still exist today, even after all the researching. Hopefully, we can continue to minimize pollution. We need our planet for as long as possible!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Share and Voice 5: Vegan Outreach
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
My goal has been going very good and I'm doing a good job at remembering my water bottle everytime I go to school. I take my new bottle with me many places. The orange juice stains are starting to fade too! It's still hard at work because I work in a cafe and we can't have any of our own foods or even water bottles inside the cafe, so I have to use a small plastic cup to drink out of. I do keep it in my locker and use it for each break, but I throw it away at the end of my shift. I didn't really think about it, but I think I need to start bringing my water bottle to work and keep THAT in my locker for on my breaks instead of using plastic cups over and over. I will definitely start that change today at work! I bring it with me when I work out and I keep my bottle on my desk next to my bed from the second I get home from school so it's always where I can find it when I'm thirsty!
FEELINGS
I'm happy with the changes that I've made, and I'm glad to still find things I can change, such as bringing it to work and keeping it in my locker during each shift. I look forward to finding new things to keep using it for!
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I'm going to continue to bring it with me to school and working out. I will also keep it by my bed as usual. I plan on bringing it to work with me also from now on so hopefully I can remember to keep that up! I'll let you know how it went next week!!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. It was very unhealthy that I was reusing plastic water bottles that I would keep buying in stores. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
My goal has been going very good and I'm doing a good job at remembering my water bottle everytime I go to school. I take my new bottle with me many places. The orange juice stains are starting to fade too! It's still hard at work because I work in a cafe and we can't have any of our own foods or even water bottles inside the cafe, so I have to use a small plastic cup to drink out of. I do keep it in my locker and use it for each break, but I throw it away at the end of my shift. I didn't really think about it, but I think I need to start bringing my water bottle to work and keep THAT in my locker for on my breaks instead of using plastic cups over and over. I will definitely start that change today at work! I bring it with me when I work out and I keep my bottle on my desk next to my bed from the second I get home from school so it's always where I can find it when I'm thirsty!
FEELINGS
I'm happy with the changes that I've made, and I'm glad to still find things I can change, such as bringing it to work and keeping it in my locker during each shift. I look forward to finding new things to keep using it for!
PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK...
I'm going to continue to bring it with me to school and working out. I will also keep it by my bed as usual. I plan on bringing it to work with me also from now on so hopefully I can remember to keep that up! I'll let you know how it went next week!!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Share and Voice 4: Modern Health Crusade
I learned a bit about the Modern Health Crusade in HLTH 3303 Foundations of Health. At this website, it talks about a "No spitting" campaign to stop the spread of tuberculosis back in 1915. They believed that spitting on streets and floors could spread tuberculosis if the spitters were infected. The bacteria could live in the spit up to a day, and women stopped wearing dresses that dragged on the ground collecting the bacteria and bringing it into their homes. I found all of this very interesting. It then led to a campaign that we still kind of follow today. It includes a list of simple habits such as washing hands before each meal, brushing your teeth after breakfast and dinner, drink four glasses of water a day, taking baths regularly, and a few others. I found these things very interesting because they are kind of the starting ground for some of our healthy habits we have today.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group
I looked up Avon True Color Blush on the Environmental Working Group website. It has an 8 out of 10 high hazard. I never knew a simple powder could be so dangerous! It says that ingredients in this product are linked to: Cancer; developmental/reproductive toxicity; violations, restrictions, and warnings; allergies/immunotoxicity; and other concerns for ingredients used in this product are: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, and Biochemical or cellular level changes. WOW! I'm glad I chose a product that I very rarely use, because I'm a little scared to use it again! I'm sure it's ok to use if you use it as little as I do, which is maybe 4 times a year. It makes me want to look up all of the makeup products I use. I can't believe these products contain so many toxic things and can have that much of an effect on our bodies! I would love to use this website to look up products before I use them, and use it to help me find safer cosmetic products!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Share and Voice 3: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
This segment on Good Morning America is jaw dropping. It talks about all of the plastic going into our oceans, and staying in our oceans. It's outstanding that in their samples, there is 6 times more plastic than plankton. And the fish are eating these plastics. So if we eat these fish, are we eating the plastic too? Like they said, we need to accept responsibility, and take action at local levels to prevent this from continuing. Just awful!!!
Reflections: Weeks 5 and 6
To start off week 5, we had an eye opener from the CSPI website. It was amazing to see how much goes into the food industry and industrial farming and how harmful it is to the environment, and to the animals. I scored my diet using the amount of servings of animal products each week. I never knew that the things I ate were so bad for the environment, and just changing the amount of servings can be a huge impact on the environmental outcome.
We then watched "The Future of Food". It's crazy to think about the things that big corporations will do to take over everything and everyone. So many people's farms were taken over and they lost so many of their seeds and crops. I thought it was funny how they said that if things are genetically modified with their product, they own it. If a person was genetically modified with their product, would they own that person? I found that very interesting.
Week 6, we watched "Diet for a New America". I give John Robbins a lot of credit for not following in his father's footsteps and going in his own direction. He is leading people to healthier lifestyles instead of supporting an ice cream chain. Great work! We then worked on graphical headers for our blogs. I have a picture in my header, but I don't think it's a graphical header. I couldn't really find a program on my computer that can change the size of my picture so I just left it as is for now.
We then watched "The Future of Food". It's crazy to think about the things that big corporations will do to take over everything and everyone. So many people's farms were taken over and they lost so many of their seeds and crops. I thought it was funny how they said that if things are genetically modified with their product, they own it. If a person was genetically modified with their product, would they own that person? I found that very interesting.
Week 6, we watched "Diet for a New America". I give John Robbins a lot of credit for not following in his father's footsteps and going in his own direction. He is leading people to healthier lifestyles instead of supporting an ice cream chain. Great work! We then worked on graphical headers for our blogs. I have a picture in my header, but I don't think it's a graphical header. I couldn't really find a program on my computer that can change the size of my picture so I just left it as is for now.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 3: Weekly Update
MY SMART GOAL
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. I reused plastic water bottles beforehand, and realized I needed to change. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle or coffee mug 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
My goal has been going great and I'm doing a pretty good job. I take my new bottle with me almost everywhere. It's hard at work because I work in a cafe and for safety purposes, we can't have any of our own foods or even water bottles inside the cafe, so I have to use a small plastic cup to drink out of. I do keep it in my locker and use it for each break, but I throw it away at the end of my shift. I still keep my bottle next to my bed at night to drink out of as well.
FEELINGS
Normally, I think of a "water bottle" containing only water, but I've had a cold for the past week and I bought a couple gallons of orange juice. So everyday before I leave for school, I fill my bottle up with orange juice. I think the inside of the bottle is stained yellow now. Oh well! My cold is getting better and I'm still using my bottle for nearly everything. I like the changes I have made and hope to keep them going even after the ten weeks is up! I'm sure I will!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
My SMART goal was to use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. I reused plastic water bottles beforehand, and realized I needed to change. Not only for my own health, but for the health of the environment.
"I will use an aluminum water bottle or coffee mug 100% of the time 7 days a week for the next 10 weeks"
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
My goal has been going great and I'm doing a pretty good job. I take my new bottle with me almost everywhere. It's hard at work because I work in a cafe and for safety purposes, we can't have any of our own foods or even water bottles inside the cafe, so I have to use a small plastic cup to drink out of. I do keep it in my locker and use it for each break, but I throw it away at the end of my shift. I still keep my bottle next to my bed at night to drink out of as well.
FEELINGS
Normally, I think of a "water bottle" containing only water, but I've had a cold for the past week and I bought a couple gallons of orange juice. So everyday before I leave for school, I fill my bottle up with orange juice. I think the inside of the bottle is stained yellow now. Oh well! My cold is getting better and I'm still using my bottle for nearly everything. I like the changes I have made and hope to keep them going even after the ten weeks is up! I'm sure I will!
Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy.
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