Final Blog

This class completely opened by eyes to so much more than I could have ever imagined. I felt like I was learning so much but at the end of the day it was about opening my eyes to what is happening around me. I now am looking at products completely different, reading almost all the labels, and I have completely changed all my meat and produce buys to organic (which I don’t think my paycheck appreciates lol). 

I appreciated the blogging experience because it gave me a chance to really think about how I felt about a certain topics. Having a smaller group to blog with, made it easier to respond to but with how many blogs we did on a weekly basis, I did have to stop myself from repeating certain things. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this class. Thank you for reading :) 

12.9 Climate Change

1.    What do you personally find most troubling about climate change?

The aspect I find most troubling about climate change is that there are people in our world who still don’t believe that is happening. Because of this disbelief governing bodies are not taking proper enough actions in order to fully enact change that will help our worlds pristine environments. 

2.    As a public health professional, what do you think needs the greatest attention right now?

As a public health professional, I think awareness and acknowledgement about climate change by our governing bodies is what is needed as the greatest attention right now. By not being aware or acknowledging what is really happening under our feet, in our water, and in our air, it is creating major barriors to any sort of corrective action. If our governing bodies all were on the same page about climate change, proper actions could and would be taken. 

3.    If you were visiting with a long-lost relative who had never heard about climate change, how would you describe it and its attendant human health and ecological threats?

If I was visiting a long-lost relative who had never heard about climate change, the first thing I would say to describe climate change is that our earth and our environment is like a human body. If we get too hot or too cold, our systems start changing for the worse and everyday functions would become harder. If we take care of our body (our earth), we are providing it with the resources it needs to live on its own and thrive. 

11.5 Zero Waste Life

This module in particular really got me thinking about how I live my life in regard to the foods I eat and how I handle my waste. I started really looking into the products I own and buy and researched different methods to try. Then after watching the TedTalk by Laruen on how she lives a zero-waste life, I was amazed. Part of me thought I was doing enough but she really opened my eyes on different ways I could reduce a lot of my waste and majority of ways were so simple!

I am proud of myself that I already don’t use plastic water bottles, I thank my 40-oz hydroflask bottle for that one. But I am extremely disappointed in the amount of other plastics I use on a daily basis. Just this morning when I was putting together my lunch, I was putting carrots in a plastic baggy and I thought to myself I should really be putting these in one of my reusable containers. Then when I was eating lunch, I was using the free utensils my work gives us and they were plastic too! Then I started to think about how many plastic baggies and plastic silverware I was using on a daily basis just at work and became extremely disappointed in myself. By just using reusable containers and not using plastic silverware, I can reduce so much plastic waste and it is such an easy fix! 

If its anything this module of information has taught me is to be WAY more cautious. Just by taking a second look at the products I use and buy on a daily basis can make a huge impact. I think the biggest take away is to be aware, aware of what you’re doing and how it affects everything around you. The more you are aware, the more you are going to want to change your habits and tendencies.

10.8 Occupationally-Related Diseases

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that is caused by exposure to a large amount of asbestos fibers or dust for a prolonged period of time causing scarring on your lungs. There is no cure and it usually diagnosed by a careful medical history, exposure history, and chest x-rays or CT scans. Asbestos usage can date back to prehistoric times but it became popular during the Industrial Age’s. Regulations of asbestos in the US began in the 1970s when the public began to understand the connection between asbestoses exposure and lung diseases, but it is still not banned. OSHA has a set of regulations to protect workers from the hazards of asbestos. The three main standards depend on the type of workplace: General Industry, Shipyards, and Construction. Protections under these standards include Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL); assessments of workplace; monitoring of PEL levels; proper hazard communication; separate decontamination and eating areas; and specific training requirements. Here is a fun and educational video emphasizing the safety tips of asbestos! 

10.5 Occupational Safety & Health Organization

I looked up Cal/OSHA and I clicked on the featured program Tree Work Safety. I chose this program because just last week a huge tree branch fell in the courtyard at my work (luckily it fell in the middle of the night when nobody was there) and it is not something individuals think about on a daily basis. Tree work safety includes anything from trimming, pruning, or removing trees; climbing trees; being lifted in aerial devices; using power tools while in a tree; or feeding wood chippers. Injuries involving tree work can be fatal if precautions are not taken. The Tree Work Safety page has clear pictures and information regarding what personal protective equipment must be worn and the safety equipment that is required. This page on Cal/OSHA even has a fun Tree Work Safety Video that represents facts on tree workers, the various injuries tree workers may face, what tree workers companies must provide, and for where to find more information on tree work safety.

10.2 MSDS- Isopropyl Alcohol 99%

As state in my prior blog (10.1), I work at a tech headquarters in Silicon Valley. Many chemicals are used on campus so for this particular assignment I decided to focus on Isopropyl Alcohol 99%. Below are my findings from Western’s Digitals Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS):

·     What are the health risks associated with this chemical?

The health risks associated with Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is that it may cause drowsiness or dizziness, cause serious eye irritation, and it is a highly flammable liquid and vapor. 

·     Is the chemical a carcinogen?

Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is considered an Isopropyl Oil (group 3) which is not considered carcinogenetic to humans.

·     What personal protective equipment or special precautions should be taken when working with this chemical?

To work with Isopropyl Alcohol 99%, a person must wear tightly fitting safety goggle and wear protective gloves/clothing and antistatic boots. It is also advised to use this chemical either outside or in well-ventilated areas. Hygiene measures in working with this chemical include not eating or drinking when using the chemical; contaminated clothing should not be allowed outside the workplace; and to wash hands before breaks or immediately after using the chemical. 

·     If this is a chemical found in your workplace, what training/education were you given about any risks associated with this chemical?

I specifically did not get any training/education to handle this chemical due to not being in a lab that handles it. My role as part of the environmental health and safety team (called ERT on my campus) is if there is a chemical spill to evacuate the area and inform the head of ERT that there is a spill that needs clean up.

Isopropyl Alcohol 99% poses an acute health hazard and a fire hazard. It is associated with drowsiness and dizziness if inhaled and is an eye irritant. Due to it being a dry chemical, water spray is inefficient. I think the MSDS was an adequate tool for workers at Western Digital to gain knowledge and an understanding about the potential health risks of the chemicals used on campus and how to protect themselves. The website was a little confusing at first due to having to know the various chemicals used on campus. Once I figured it out, I found it very easy to use. It was also available in various languages, which is good because Western Digital is an international company.

10.1 Video/Presentation on Occupational Health & Safety

I work at a tech headquarters in the Silicon Valley and the company has an environmental health and safety team under the same facilities department that I am under. I work closely with them because I am  also being CPR/AED & First Aid certified and the fitness center is a high concern of worker safety on campus. Due to being a tech company, we have many labs on campus which contain various chemicals. These labs are for authorized personnel only and each lab have a different protocol depending on what the lab does or contains. These requirements could include anything from clothing requirements, gloves & mask requirements, google requirements, or having to be completely covered with gowns & face mask requirements.

A barrier workers face, especially at my workplace, is ergonomic barriers. We have a lot of employees who sit for hours at a time which poses serious back/neck/spine health. A fun part of my job in the Fitness Center is showing people exercises to combat excessive back pain from sitting for  to long. Another barrier, that the environmental health and safety team face a lot, is that employees on campus feel that they don’t need to wear the required items when entering “hotspot” labs. The team is constantly informing employees about the various health and safety risks for not complying to the rules of the labs. 

9.4 Heavy Metal

Lead is a toxic metal that I am surprised has only been banned in the US since 1978. With how many studies there are presenting the negative side effects to humans of lead exposure, it truly baffles me. I am also surprised why in the 1960s the CDC thought that an acceptable toxic threshold for lead was 60 mg/dl. Luckily, today, that threshold has been lowered to 5 mg/dl. The focus of lead exposure in children is very much needed. Children are such a vulnerable population due to their excessive hand-to-mouth activity and the fact that that a child’s gut absorbs lead much more readily than an adults. A child’s central nervous system is also greatly affected by lead exposure causing headaches, behavioral changes, alternations in consciousness, and convulsions. 

I feel that more needs to be done to ban the use of lead universally. With how many products are made oversees, a universal act would not only protect the vulnerable populations from lead exposure (like the children) but it would also make our population healthier. 

9.3 Green Chemistry

I have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I find it very distributing and sad that that much pollution and garbage waste is ending up in the middle of our ocean on what looks like such a pristine part of our earth. Before this class I had not heard of green chemistry, but after reading what it stands for, I really hope it pushes forward and prevails. The 12 principles of Green Chemistry clearly represent how the EPA is working to not only design products that can biodegrade in the environment, but reduce the overall pollution of hazardous chemicals. There is no reason to create products that cannot degrade in our environment, especially this day in age. Luckily, I feel that people are getting smarter with their choices in purchasing sustainable products which then pushes other people, companies, and communities to also make smarter choices. 

9.2 Six Chemical Classes

The six chemical classes presented by The Green Science Policy bring knowledge and awareness of ingredients in daily products used by billions of people. These chemicals include highly fluorinated chemicals, antimicrobials, flame retardants, phthalates & bisphenols, and certain heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium). The aspect of the 6 vidoes I really appreciated was they not only talked about where these chemicals can be found, the bring light to what us as consumers can do to avoid them. 

A chemical highlighted in the videos that is particularly interesting to me is antimicrobials. I recently did my literature review on the antimicrobial drugs given to livestock and how it is increasing the antibiotic resistance in humans. Antimicrobials are chemicals that are added to products to kill or inhibit the growth of microbes (bacteria or fungi). They are typically found in products like cleaning and personal care products; linens; building materials; kitchenware; exercise mats; and electronics. This particular chemical scares me due to the fact that overuse leads to the bacteria in your body becoming resistant to the common drugs that are supposed to be killing the bad bacteria. It also leads to disruptions in your hormones; negative developmental and reproductive effects; and higher rates of asthma, dermatitis, and allergies. The best ways to avoid overuse of antimicrobials is to avoid products labeled “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial”, this will ensue you are avoiding the two main ingredients in antimicrobial products (triclosan and triclocarban).

8.5 Ideal Chemical Policy

An ideal chemical policy would be to require all chemicals to go through the same extensive testing as any other chemical in another country. Essentially, creating a universal testing platform. There is some disconnect between the countries on what chemicals should be allowed for the public’s use. For example, the EU has over 1000 chemicals banned for use in cosmetics while the US only has 11 chemicals banned. By creating a universal testing platform for chemicals, countries would be on the same page as what can be aloud of publics use. 

8.4 Chemical Policy Reform

The background paper I choose to write about from the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals was #4, Act on Early Warnings. This background paper focuses on providing credible evidence that harm is present or is likely to occur, even when there is a level of uncertainty regarding the exact nature and magnitude of the harm. I completely agree with this background paper, as focuses on providing significant information about a chemical that could potentially cause harm to the public. The paper states how to better act to prevent harm on the state and federal levels, along with on the local level within our communities. Without acting on early warning signs, many humans could be at potential risk for serious health concerns. 

8.3 Pesticides

Last night, I went to MOD Pizza. I had a margherita pizza on whole wheat crust. The main ingredient is the crust. The website What’s on my Food states that wheat grain has 4 pesticide residues; these are deltamethrin, azoxystrobin, boscalid, and metconazole. Because I do not know if MOD Pizza uses regular tomatoes or canned tomatoes for their pizza sauce, I decided to look up canned tomatoes (I already knew tomatoes had a high pesticide count). Canned tomato have been found to have 5 pesticide residues which are methamidphos, o-phenylphenol, azinpho methyl, endosulfan I, and dimethoate. The last two main ingredients on a margherita pizza are mozzarella cheese and basil. The website does not have information on mozzarella and basil. I would assume mozzarella would not have many pesticide residues due to it being made from milk. Basil, on the other hand, I would be really curious to find out how many pesticides residues are used on this herb. 

7.8 My topic & Agencies

My topic for the literature review and final project is the usage of antibiotics in livestock and its effect on human health. Antibiotics are given to livestock to increase their growth, improve feed utilization, and reduce mortality and morbidity from clinical and subclinical infections in animals. These antibiotics given to livestock are increasing the antibiotic resistant (AR) in not only the animals but in humans. My literature review will be examining the effects these antibiotics have on human’s health and how they are increasing the AR in the body’s ability fight common diseases or illnesses. 

There are many distinguished bodies who are raising the alarms over antibiotic resistance. These include World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Medicines Agency, the Institute of Medicine, the World Economic Forum, and the US Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology. The main agency in charge of addressing this very pertinent topic is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has many components to them but in regard to food and safety their mission is “…responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.”  Last year, in January 2017, the FDA officially banned the use of antibiotics on livestock without a prescription from a veterinarian and also made it illegal to use antibiotics solely to make animals fatter. Sadly, there are thousands of meat samples still being found today containing antibiotics that are claimed to be “critically important” in human medicine. The FDA; along with local, state, and international agencies; need to push further this ban of illegal antibiotic use in the meat given to humans as food. 

While doing research for this blog and the agencies involved with my topic, I found an article stating that in 2015 Governor Brown signed into law SB27, which made California the leading state to make the use of antibiotics in livestock only legal with a veterinarian’s prescription. I have not looked up other states yet to see if any other states followed in CA's lead but the FDA did put into place their ban in 2017.

7.7 NIH & Environmental Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) works to prevent diseases and improve the health of humans, increasing the their longevity of life. Their missions is to “…seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.” The goals of the NIH include foster fundamental discoveries, research, and their applications to protect and improve health; develop, maintain, and renew the resources that ensure the national is capable of preventing diseases; expand the knowledge base in medicine to enhance the well-being of our nation; and the promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility of science. The NIH has a great impact on environmental quality. Its work comprises the health of humans and methods to increase the well-being and longevity of life. There are 27 institutes and centers that comprises the NIH, which all focus on particular diseases or body systems. A few that tackle environmental straight on include National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). 

7.4 My Local Environmental Services

The County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health has four main categories which each have their own sub-categories. The four major categories are Consumer Protection Division (CPD), Hazardous Materials Compliance Division (HMCD), Solid Waste Programs (SWP), and Vector Control District (VCD). The CPD services comprise the most programs which include Certified Farmer’s Markets, Disaster Preparedness & Response, Drinking Water, Food Safety Programs, Noise Pollution, and Tobacco & Smoking Ordinance. The HMCD services include hazardous materials and site mitigation programs. The SWP services is the second largest category that includes medical waste management and solid waste (LEA). The smallest category is VCD comprises diseases and surveillance.

A couple services I was surprised by/didn’t even consider to be in the realm of environmental health are healthy nails salon program, body art, and waste tire enforcement. Thinking of it now, it makes complete sense that these programs are out to ensure these places are clean and sterile and that the chemicals used in these facilities are managed and wasted properly. 

Santa Clara County also has a Public Health Department . The services provided include Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic, Birth & Death Registration, Medical Marijuana ID Cards, Public Health Labs, STD/HIV Testing & Support and Water Testing for Fecal Contamination. 

6.7 Obesogens

From the Seasonal Food Guide, there are 104 foods in season in California in early October. Of those 104 my favorites are apples, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, citrus fruits, cucumbers, edamame, ginger, grapes, green beans, kale, peaches, pears, pistachios, pomegranates, raspberries, snap peas, strawberries, and watermelon.

Utilizing seasonal/local foods into hospital menus is a fantastic idea. Not only will be providing seasonal/local foods make the meals overall healthier, but it will most likely be cheaper than all the food being shipping from all over the world. Using fruits and vegetables from your local source, means the food will taste better and be healthier for all the patients, staff, or visitors. 

I have heard of obesogons before and I knew obesogen was linked with obesity. Rereading how these compounds can actually disrupt the bodies normal functions (like endocrine disruptors) is saddening. One of the obesogons discussed in the article was Bisphenol A (BPA). After looking it up on ToxNet, I found that BPA is a known endocrine disruptor that is used in plastics. Not only do BPAs increase obesity rates, studies have also found that it increases an individual’s blood pressure levels and chances of developing peripheral artery disease. 

6.6 Use of Antibiotics

1. Antiobiotic Resistance 101: how antibiotic misuse on factory farms can make you sick

A couple of weeks ago, I actually read this article that was posted on Environmental Health News, Crucial antibiotics still used on US farms despite public health fears, and it clearly emphasizes this current article Antibiotic Resistance 101. The article posted by EHN is a newer article that states the FDA has set regulations banning the use of antibiotics on livestock without a prescription from a vet. Sadly, big companies’ product's; like Tyson, Cargill, and JBS; are still testing positive for antibiotics, in fact there was no reduction in the number of antibiotics. This is really scary to think about, especially for vulnerable populations. I hope the FDA and other governmental agencies can get on top of this before it becomes an even bigger issue.  

2. Nearby livestock may raise “superbug” risk

After reading the article Antibiotic Resistance 101 and then reading this article, it really goes to show how important it is for the government to take control of the amount of antibiotic use in livestock. The fact that MRSA has now become resistant to the antibiotics is scary to think about and proves that something needs to be done, now. 

3. Scientists discover that antimicrobial wipes and soaps may be making you (and society) sick

This article reminds me of a guy who comes to my gym and CONSTANTLY is wiping anything he uses with the antibacterial wipes. Yes, I understand that he is being cautious, and he is “protecting” himself from other people gross germs but whenever I see him doing this I can’t help to think what he is doing is not really helping. I actually have been an old-school soap and water kind of hand-washer since I was little, and I am happy this article proves that is has the same results of using antibiotic soaps. I do also always carry hand-sanitizer with me, but usually that is a last resort kind of option.  

4. A report about the new practice of incorporating antimicrobials into the manufacture of hospital furnishings

Hospitals are supposed to be one of the healthiest places to go. After reading how there is little evidence on the safety and efficacy of incorporating antimicrobials into the furnishings of hospitals, it is shocking. These are supposed to “reduce the spread of viruses and infections” and they could be but without the hard evidence, we will never know. Active research should be put into testing the safety and efficacy of these and a set of guidelines surrounding the type of furnishings are allowed into a hospital. 

6.4 Industrial Farming

I had heard before that the honeybees were disappearing and how that was bad for a lot of our fruits and veggies, but I personally never looked too much into. After watching “Vanishing of the Bees” I was surprised to see how profound the issue is. Hearing how these innocent creatures are being treated unnaturally and how they were being shipping thousands of miles just to pollinate our crops is really disturbing and saddening. I did my book review on a book that talked about all the ways industrial farming is ruining our natural ways of life, so I am not all that surprised to hear that even bees and honey are being commercialized. I actually remember seeing this article on Environmental Health News, called Active Ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup hurts honey bee guts, and after watching the video, I relooked it up and it goes to show that the evidence is out there. This documentary proves again why people should always choose certified organic products when possible, it is not only good for humans but it also good for the honeybees. 

Watching the documentary Dirt! really opened my eyes to how great dirt is. You would never think that it is a living organism and that it too is crucial to our health and wellbeing. It is great to hear that there are people all around the world who are determined to bring the health back into our dirt. 

In my current county (Santa Clara County), there are no current numbers on animals being factory farmed. It did show that in 2002, there was a broiler farm and a dairy farm. Digging more into the closest factory farms in the Bay Area, I found that in 2012 there was a chicken (layers) factory farm in Santa Cruz County and dairy farms in Marin County. Majority of big factory farms are located in Central California and in the dessert down in Southern California.       

I have not composted in the past and I do not currently compost. I do have a lot of friends who compost, and they have informed me for years on the added benefits of composting. After watching the documentary Dirt! I would definitely considering composting.

5.7 San Jose's Sewage Treatment Facility

The San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility works 24/7 cleaning all of Silicon Valley’s wastewater. The Facility serves 1.4 million residents, over 17,000 business in 8 cities, and four sanitation districts. The facility treats an average of 110 million gallons of wastewater per day and uses a treatment process that stimulates the way nature cleans water. When I was completing this research, I also found that San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater facility is the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility in the western US. The site also states its plans for the future which include the integration of cutting edge treatment technologies into its processes and the rebuilding of the infrastructure. 

5.5 Campaign for Tap Water

For my campaign to encourage people to drink tap water over bottled water, I would use the slogan “Refills, not Landfills”. To start this campaign, I would work with large corporations who have cafes on campus. Majority of these large corporations have water fountains all over campus and large soda fountains in the café. To promote refills, we can use infographics (like the one attached) informing employees of what plastic bottles do the environment. We can place these infographics around campus in breakrooms or even over the water fountains. We can also work with the café managers and make it so if an employee gets a soda from the soda fountain, it would be significantly cheaper than the bottle of Diet Coke from the fridge. 

5.4 My Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and water quality

San Jose’s water (particularly North San Jose) gets its treated water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) which is then delivered to customers in North San Jose. Majority of the water comes from the Hetch Hetchy Watershed, which is water from the snowmelt that flows down the Tuolumne River from the mountains in Yosemite. 

After reviewing the Annual Water Quality Report, I was happy to see that majority of the chemicals tested were within the range of the public health goal. A result that was higher than the rest was the Chromium-6. If anyone remembers the Erin Brockovich story, you will remember that Chromium-6 is a cancer-causing agent that can naturally occur in the environment, but also is polluted in the environment from industrial projects. I know the EPA has set strict standards for this element, but I think it’s crazy to see it still has traces in our waters. 

I typically am always drinking filtered water. At home I have a filter on my fridge and at work I purposely go to the break room water fountain. (Side note: I also recently found out that the break room water fountain is filtered more than the water fountains in my gym, so I tell everyone to go the break room to get water now). I know the tap water is okay in San Jose, but I would rather be more safe than sorry. I also hardly never drink from bottled water. I always make an effort to bring my hydroflask water bottle with me (I hate paying for water).

5.2 Safe Drinking Water

Earth has about 366 quintillion gallons of water on it, but sadly only 0.007% of this precious resource is drinkable. With more than 7 billion people all needing to drink water, it is a huge public health importance to enact, uphold, and update the Clean Water Act. In 1972, the Clean Water Act was passed by Congress which dramatically bettered numerous bodies of water in the United States. Before the act was passed, many individuals and companies were carelessly polluting our lakes, riverways, and oceans. This made them not only toxic for us humans but all aquatic wildlife. The Act divides pollution into three areas for purposes of regulation and urges individuals and companies to abide by the regulations. The example, given in the video on the Clean Water Act, about the Chicago River perfectly represents how this Act was a success and can still a success if it updated for this era. 

**Side note: Having gone to school in Indiana and have frequently visited Chicago, you still don't go in the Chicago River. Much of the public is very wary of its cleanliness. It is kind of like the Bay in the way.**

4.5 Think about it/Group Exercise

From the videos on air pollution and the three articles, it is clear that children are the most subjective to environmental exposures. Indoor air pollution is the most common exposure in children and is why 2 in 5 school aged children in California have asthma. In order to combat this exposure, which is preventable, a chemical/fragrance policy in schools would be a manageable plan. It would push school staff to better regulate what kind of cleaning products are being used and fragrances worn by either the staff or the students. A policy could include items such as: decreasing the amount of chemicals used to clean by janitors, kindly asking the teachers and staff not to wear any overpowering scent/perfume while on the school’s campus, or if there is a locker room to ask the students to not bring certain body sprays. This is a potentially touchy subject, as you do not want to regulate how a person choice to live, but by at least stopping a few things could dramatically decrease the amount of air pollutants surrounding a school. 

Side Note: When I was in college living in my sorority house, we actually had a girl who had bad allergic reactions to Febreze. One day in our chapter meetings, she described her situation and kindly asked the entire chapter to please use any other air freshener besides Febreze. Nobody questioned it or complained, as she was open and honest with her situation. Since that night, nobody used Febreze. 

4.6 Radon

I would devise a campaign that educates the public through a short video that can be advertised on social media outlets. It is estimated that 3.196 billion people are using social media. By creating a 1-minute video that explains what radon is, the dangers of radon, where it comes from, and how to test for it; we can reach millions of people and educate them on the risks. We can also create the video to be in various different languages, making it accessible for everyone. Stakeholders for this campaign would include the EPA, Dr. Akerley (he created the 3-minute video on Radon), Lung Cancer Organizations, or local/regional environmental health workers. 

4.2 National Library ToxNet

The lectures on toxic exposures were educational and very interesting. A lecture I found particularly interesting was the fracking and health. Having gone to undergraduate in Indiana, I heard a little about fracking but never thought too much about it. Learning how these chemicals can cause serious health problems was eye-opening and very saddening. I also had no idea these operations where happening right here in CA, only a few hours south in Monterey. 

Using the National Library’s ToxNet Resources website, we were prompted to look up a chemical and review the health effects associated with the exposure to it. I looked up Urea Formaldehyde, which is used in building homes. This toxic chemical can be found in building items such as pressed wood, foam insulation, glues, and particle board.  Exposure to this chemical can result in respiratory irritation (upper and lower), eye irritations, increased cancer risk, and burning sensations in the eyes and throat. Being aware of these kind of health effects is a good idea, as much of these symptoms will not appear if the formaldehyde exposure is below 1.0 ppm. 

3.5 Transportation

To be completely honest, I have never really relied on public transportation. Growing up in the suburbs of the tri-valley (Danville) you drove everywhere, even if you wanted to take Bart you would have to drive to the Bart station (which was a 10-minute drive either north or south). Even when I was doing my undergraduate at Purdue University in Indiana, I would walk everywhere. Yes, the buses were reliable there, but they were always overcrowded and would actually end up taking longer than it would to walk. I also found walking around campus a great way to get some exercise in. Still to this day, I typically drive everywhere I need to go. I know public transportation has many more benefits than me driving my car but when it comes down to it, it would take me 30+ minutes to get to work if I took public transportation, where if I drive it takes me 12 minutes maximum. Since moving to San Jose, my boyfriend and I do try to come into work together at least two times a week (we work at the same company) but it does get hard at times with changing schedules. 

I wish California, in reality the entire United States, had better public transportation. It would dramatically increase our air quality by reducing pollution, there would a reduction in car fatalities and injuries, and make our population overall healthier. Sitting in a car for an hour doing nothing takes a serious toll on a person’s health, whereas public transportation has proven benefits of decreasing the overall obesity rates due to active commuting. 

3.4 Air Pollution in SJ

Last month I moved into a new apartment in San Jose. For this blog entry, I decided to observe the county I just moved into, Santa Clara Country. 

Santa Clara Country was ranked among the dirtiest/worst 10% of all counties in the U.S. for toxic chemicals released by Factories, Power Plants, and other Industrial Companies in 2002. The top two polluters are Owens Corning Corporation (180,227 pounds) and Hanson Permanente Cement (36,138). The top chemicals released into the country are Ammonia (130,175 pounds), Formaldehyde (54,992 pounds), and Hydrochloric Acid (36,542). 

Only 1% of houses in Santa Clara country have a high of lead hazards 

In 2004, Santa Clara County was ranked of the 10% dirtiest/worst counties in the US to have designated Superfund sites. Of the top Superfund sites were Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc. and CTS Printex Incorporated. AMD Inc. manufactures electronic equipment at a plant in Sunnyvale and has monitoring wells that are contaminated with like Chloroform, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, and Tetrachloroethylene. CTS Printex Inc. manufactures printed circuit boards in Mountain View and is known for high levels of copper and lead usage. 

In 2003, Santa Clara County was ranked among the dirtiest/worst 10% of all counties in the U.S. for smog and soot as well as posing a cancer risk for hazardous air pollutants. The facility that let out the most emissions at 101 tons was Kaiser Cement Corp.. 

The water quality is just above the national average. The percentage of surface waters with impaired or threatened uses was at a 70%, while the number of impaired waterbodies was 60%. 

Santa Clara County (95112) is rated poorly regarding environmental justice with the low-income communities and communities of color suffering greater impacts from environmental degradation. 

Overall, learning these details about Santa Clara County was not all that surprising. San Jose is very much a town where you are in a nice neighborhood one minute and then a not very nice neighborhood the next minute. It is also a huge technology hub for many  companies, so I am sure hundreds of toxic chemicals are being pumped into our environment without our knowledge everyday. I think just being aware of these different kinds of exposure is the most important part as we as humans can better protect outselves. 

3.3 Environmental Justice

For decades, issues have come arise that people of color have decreased health outcomes because systems back in the day were not in place to protect them. The impact of environment on human health was overstated for years which increased poor air quality, disproportionate exposures to hazards, and unhealthy housing conditions. All which are highly correlated with chronic conditions like asthma, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer. It was not until the 1980’s when the U.S. General Accounting Office did a study which found that 3 out of 4 hazard waste landfills in the Southern region of the US were located in predominately African American communities. From then, countless executive orders and laws have been passed in order to reverse some of the damage that has been done, but sadly it is not enough. 

In the reading, 8 Horrifying Examples of Corporations Mistreating Black Communities with Environmental Racism, an excerpt that really hit home was the Chevron Richmond Refinery, by Standard Oil. With how expensive California is to live in, it is no wonder why these underprivileged communities, primarily African Americans, either have to or choose to live in Richmond. In the article, it stated that people living in Richmond are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease or strokes and are more likely to have asthma. 

I always pass the Valero Benicia Refinery when driving up to my family’s lake house. Every time I pass it I can’t help but think that what they are pumping into our air and water is not environmentally friendly and can cause serious health concerns. It really scares me to think that these kinds of refineries can have such a terrible impact onto our environment and health. Obviously being aware of what kind of toxins someone is being exposed to in these communities is important but when is enough enough? 

3.2 Vulnerable Populations

After reading the readings and watching the videos, it was clear that there is still so much work that needs to be done to help protect the vulnerable populations from toxic chemical exposures. Children are at the forefront of this protection, as they are more susceptible to many environmental pollutants than adults and majority of their exposures can be prevented. Asthma is 30% preventable for children and is associated with mold, tobacco smoke, chemical cleaners, and air pollutants. Cancer is 15% preventable for children and is associated with radiation exposures, pesticides, solvents, and in-utero chemical exposures. Neurobehavioral disorders are 10% preventable for children and is associated with lead, PCBs, PBDEs, pesticides, and air pollutants. Sadly, many healthcare professionals only fix the problem they see instead of digging into why these children have such issues. In the reading, Costs of Environmental Health Conditions in California Children, it was stated that only 3% of the US’s $2.5 trillion dollars in health goes toward public health initiatives and disease prevention. The other 97% goes directly towards healthcare costs and medical service expenses.

The video that really caught my eye was the Tedtalk by Rishi Manchanda, that represents that some doctors see this backwards way of medicine and is trying to get in control of it. He talks about his work as a clinician and how he examines health where it begins. After examining the client’s symptoms, he asks basic questions to get an idea of the kind of exposures could be causing their symptoms. He asks his client about where they work, where they live, and where they spend majority of their lives. They call themselves the “upstream-ists”, where they implement a process that changes the way of medicine. They not only try to fix the problem at hand (the client’s symptoms), but they try to fix it from never happening again by mobilizing outside resources (like community advocates or even lawyers).  

Until our government and chemical companies come to terms that toxic chemical exposures are dangerous even at very low levels (which might never happen). I think by pushing doctors and other healthcare professionals to continue on the path of finding out why such disease are happening, we can dramatically decrease the effects of preventable diseases, especially among children. The more aware everyone is of the risks toxic chemicals can have, the better off our community will be in the long run. 

3.1 Biomonitoring

After watching the video segment “Body Burdens” by Anderson Cooper, if I myself did a body burden exam and got those results back, I would be extremely disappointed and scared. The two chemicals I would be most concerned about would be DDT and PCBs. Both of these chemicals have been banned in the United States since the 1970’s and are highly correlated with causing cancer in humans. I would be curious to find out how I was exposed to such a toxic chemically, especially because I was born in 1992 (way after the ban of these chemicals). Other chemicals I would not be so surprised about being in my blood would be Phthalates, Lead, or Dioxins. Sadly, these chemicals are still present in our environment and it on us humans to be aware of these toxins and their health effects. I wish it was the other way around and the government be the one to act but until that happens, I think informing people that these toxic chemicals are still present and can cause serious health effects is extremely important. 

2.4 Ken Cook and Advocacy Organizations on Toxics in Personal Care Products

The presentation and video by Ken Cook, the president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), was extremely eye-opening and shocking. Pediatricians and doctors previously thought that fetuses were safe from toxic pollutants because the placenta would flush them out. The experiment completed by Ken Cook and the EWG, “10 Americans”, researched this and found staggering evidence that proved that fact to be completely false. They found 287 toxic chemicals in 10 fetuses, representing to the public that the first time in a person’s life that they are exposed toxic chemicals is in the womb.  With such a vulnerable population, it is our duty to be aware of these kinds of exposures and attempt to prevent any negative exposures (which might be impossible unless chemical companies change their views as well).  I am happy to see that there was an act created in response to all this information called the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act in 2008, but when I looked it up today it seems that it had died in Congress. I feel like nowadays (10 years later) people are more aware of the toxic chemicals in our environment and if an act like this was created again if it would pass. I did see that the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 was modernized under President Obama in 2016, which is good to hear, but I don’t know how much of an impact that would have on the more vulnerable populations, like the fetuses. 

2.3 Household Products

Not only do our personal care products pose a health risk but the products we use daily to clean our homes also pose significant risks. Two products I reviewed were ther multi-surface cleaner I use and the glass cleaner I use. For everyday spills and wiping down of my counters, I use Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner, Lavender. This product does not meet the classification as being hazardous to our health by OSHA. The product also received a zero as hazardous to our health. I excepted these results as I had actually read an article about the benefits of this brand before trying it for myself. 

            I also reviewed the glass cleaner I use to wipe down the mirrors and windows of my home. I use the trusty Original Windex Glass Cleaner. I feel like this product is a staple in majority of houses, which is one of the reasons I reviewed it. Windex does not contain hazardous chemicals at or above OSHA standards (health rating=1). It did receive a higher rating of a 2 (moderate) of flammability which I did expect. I am glad to find out that this trusty staple in homes does not have a high hazardous rating. 

I don’t think I will be changing my consumer behavior after reviewing these two products, but I might check some of my other products when I get a chance to make sure they do not pose any significant health risks. I think everyone should know about the risks surrounding every day cleaning products. Many of the labels can be misleading making people assume they are being environmentally friendly when in fact it is hurting their overall health and our environment. 

2.2 Personal Care Products

I looked up the body wash I use on a daily basis and my shampoo which I use every other day. I expected the results of my body wash (Aveeno Daily Moisturizing) as being a 4 on the hazardous scale (moderate). I expected it because Aveeno is not typically advertised as being free-this or free-that, but I am glad it was not scored higher. Even though this product had a score of 4, when reviewing the ingredient list, it did have formaldehyde (quaternium-15) in it. This fact was concerning as formaldehyde is a toxin that causes cancer. I may be trying to find a new body wash when that times comes.

I was extremely surprised of the results from the shampoo I use (Tigi Bed Head Self-Absorbed Mega Nutrient Shampoo). It received a rating of 7 (high) on the hazardous scale. This scares me because I thought was using a higher end shampoo, but it really goes to show that no matter the price difference, it depends on the ingredients used in the product. I will definitely be using this website to find another shampoo and conditioner as I am almost out of this current product. 

            In both items, I was surprised to see that fragrance had the highest level of toxicity. I would have never guessed that as I try to buy items that are not too overpowering in smell. It is concerning to think about the items that are overpouring and makes me curious to see what kind of ratings they would have. I think it is extremely important that everyone is aware about these kinds of risks because they are not something people talk about it. It also good for people to know the various names of different toxins as manufacturers try to hide/bury them in the ingredient list making them look good when in reality they aren’t.  

1.5 Environmental Health Home Assessment

After the first class and learning how dangerous environmental exposures were everywhere, I was intrigued to know more about the home I grew up in. I find it amazing how just a simple informative fact (like what year the home was built) can have such a big impact. Knowing the age of your home is extremely important because older houses were typically built with more harmful products, like lead pipes or asbestos. Also knowing if someone lives in the basement is important because there could be lurking gases coming from the ground; like radon, which is naturally broken-down uranium in soil or rocks. 

I was pretty shocked to see that my house was in good shape. It was built in 1979 and we actually had a renovation completed on it about 5 years ago. During the renovation a lot of the items on the assessment were checked (like the piping, ventilation, and appliances). An issue that did come up was our constant problem with roof rats, although they are not necessarily in the home they are definitely around. Due to living in a more wooded area, our neighborhood is known for having common rodents around, for example a couple of months ago my sister found a baby skunk that was left by its mother down the block from our house and she had to take it to wild animal rescue. Our community is informed on how to protect ourselves and our homes from such rodents, but there are still around and still can cause damage if you aren’t aware or careful. 

            I really appreciated this assignment because it helped put things into perspective of the different environmental exposures that we come in contact with, especially in our home where we spend majority of time. Attached is my home assessment. 

1.4 List of Environmental Exposures

After our class last Thursday (August 23, 2018), I was stunned to see how overlapping all the different types of environmental exposures were. With the news so amplified nowadays, you are constantly hearing about a huge exposure here and there, but nobody really talks about what is surrounding us all the time.  We spend majority of our lives either at home, school, work, or strolling around your community but unless something is right in front of our faces we will never know the true exposure unless it is talked it. I feel like the best way to protect ourselves from the most common environmental exposures is to educate ourselves and the others around us. The more we know, the healthier our fellow students, colleagues, and neighbors will be. I am looking forward to this class in particular to learn more about the various environmental exposures and how they impact my health. 

Introduction

Hello! 

My name is Alex Henderson. This blog has been created for a class I am currently enrolled in at University of San Francisco called Environmental & Occupational Health Issues in Public Health. I plan on writing about current issues related to environmental and occupational health along with my thoughts/opinions on them. 
Please let me know if you have any questions about the content I will writing about.

Thank you and Enjoy :)