Blog 8- Food Quality

Food quality is a very important for our health and well being. According to a article put out by the University of Iowa, FAT TOM is an acronym used in the food in industry to explain what makes food born pathogens grow. It stands for Food Acidity Time Temperature Oxygen Moisture. 

Food: The nutrient in certain foods depends on if microorganisms. More protein rich foods are hazardous like meat, eggs, and fish. 

Acidity: Bacteria thrives in neutral and slightly acidic environments. Any foods that are 7 and below on the PH scale are more likely to grow bacteria.

Time: Time is very important when dealing with foods. The sooner you eat or cook the food the better it will taste and be. It is very important to put certain foods in the refrigerator as soon as possible because the longer some foods sit out the longer bacteria has time to grow on it. 

Temperature: Temperature is very important because microorganisms thrive between the temperatures of 41 degrees - 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping foods in a cool refrigerator will make them last longer. 

Oxygen: Most microorganisms need oxygen to grow. Sealing foods and excluding oxygen from the food makes them last longer. Foods like canned soups are shelf stable for a decent ammount of time. After opening and exposure to oxygen, refrigeration is needed. 

Moisture: Microorganisms need a lot of moisture to grow. Depending on the food, each item needs a certain amoint of moisture content. Meat, produce, and soft cheese are high in moisture need. Beef jerky and jams have lower moisture need due to salt and sugar content. 

According to the FDA, food can be contaminated in three main ways- chemical, physical, and biological. 

Chemical contamination: Chemicals getting in the food at the time of packaging and producing. These chemicals can include Acrylamide, Benzene, Dioxins, Furan, Melamine, and Radionuclides. For example, Acrylamide is a chemical that can form in some foods when there are high temperatures such as frying, baking, and cooking. 

Physical contamination: According to Food Quality and Safety website, physical contamination is anything that can not be visibly seen and not a part of the food originally. This can be done by employees and pests. Its important that employees handling food make sure that there hair, nails, jewerly, and overall appearence is tidy. 

Biological contamination: Things such as bacteria,virus, protozoa, fungus/yeast, and parasites can grow in food. Bacteria in food can include salmonella. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It is from food not being cooked and handled properly. 

The top five causes of foodborne illness are:

1. Improper hot or cold storage of foods.

2. Improper cooking temperatures of foods. 

3. Dirty utensils and equipment while handling foods.

4. Poor employee health and hygiene. 

5. Food recieved from unsafe sources. 

Some common foodborne diseases spread by people are Campylobacteriosis, Escherichia coli, and Giardiasis. These diseases are spread by people through the food. 

It is very important we keep our food safe and clean for the wellbeing and overall health of each citizen. 

Blog 7- Air Quality

Air Quality is a very important topic for our health. It is a ongoing urgent topic that we must always stay informed about and discuss. The Clean Air Act which was last amended in 1990 has established a system of rules and protocols for the air quality of our environment. 

Air Quality and Your Health

There are six different levels of AQI heath concerns. The levels are listed below:

Good- Numerical Value: 0-50, This means that the air quality is satisfactory and air poses no threat to health. 

Moderate- Numerical Value: 51-100, This means that air quality is acceptable; however there may be health concerns for few people who are unusually sensitive to pollution.

Unhealthy for Sensitive Group- Numerical Value: 101-150, This means that members in that community of sensitive group may experience health effects. 

Unhealthy- Numerical Value:151-200, This means that members in the community will experience health effects. 

Very Unhealthy- Numerical Value: 201-300, This means 

that health warnings are in emergency condition. Members of the entire community are more than likely affected. 

Hazardous- Numerical Value: 301-500, This means that the area is under full health alert, Members of the entire community may experience serious health effects. 

AQI Forecasts Cities

Cincinnati: Air quality high is 50 on March 23rd, which is in the good zone. The forecast does not seem to change in the next day. 

Cleveland/Akron/Lorain: Air quality is in the moderate zone on March 23rd. The forecast seems to change into the good zone the next day. 

Columbus: Air quality high is 43 on March 23rd which is in the good zone. The forecast changes to a high of 46 the next day which is still in the good zone. 

Dayton: Air quality high is 38 on March 23rd which is in the good zone. The forecast changes to a high of 42 the next day which is still in the good zone. 

Youngstown: Air quality high is 50 on March 23rd which is in the good zone. The forecast doesn't change the next day. 

State Implementation Plan 

According to this pdf, State Implementation Plan (SIP) is a plan that is federally enforced by the government. It identifies how a state will maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Each state must have an SIP that has a precise plan of action that will maintain air quality. 

Standards:

- The 2015 eight-hour ozone standard =0.070 ppm

- The 2012 annual PM 2.5 standard =12.0ug/m3

- The 2010 standard for Sulfur Dioxide = 75ppb

- The 2010 standard for Nitrogen Oxide =53ppb

- The 2008 standard for Lead =0.15ug/m3

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

According to this table, NAAQS was established by The Clean Air Act that was last amended in 1990. This table sets six different air pollutants of concern: Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Particle Pollution, and Sulfur Dioxide. They are categorized in two standards- primary and secondary. Primary standards provide public health protection, including the sensitive population of children and older people. Secondary standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against damage to crops, animals, vegetation, and buildings.

Blog 6- Cellphone Radiation

Just about everyone you probably know has a cell phone these days. People tend to be attached to their phones and sucked into what they have to offer. The current generation of teenagers and young adults are the first to be growing up with cell phones. They will be the generation that tells us what health affects cellphones bring to humans. It makes people stop and think about how much everyday we are exposed to cellphones and radiation. Many people spend hours and hours on their cellphone pressed against their temple.

Picture of people attached involved in their cellphones. 

According to the CDC, cellphones do give off radiation. The radiation is not the same time of radiation that we think of. It is radio frequency radiation and is different from x-ray radiation. Since cellphones are a newer technology, studies are being done to see the health affects of this radiation. These studies will not be accurate or prove anything until scientists have years of these studies under their belt.

A picture of cellphone radiation.

It is suspected that cellphone radiation can increase the risk of cancer. We hold our cellphones very close to our head for hours at a time while talking. When holding a cellphone the radio frequency radiation does cause heating to a certain part of the body where you are holding it. It is also suspected according to NIH (National Cancer Institute), that it can effect glucose metabolism. These studies are inconsistent though because of lack of evidence in variety. It is suspected that where you put your cellphone on your body can effect that area. Say you store your cellphone on your hip, your pelvis area can weaken. It also is known for bone density to weaken. An increased risk of tumors is also known.

According to Time, wifi is not as much of worry as cellphone radiation. Wifi is a much lower radiation then radio frequency that is cellphones. EMF's stand for electromagnetic fields. They are invisible forces that go from a device to another device. There are two types of EMF's-low and high frequency. Low frequency is from appliances such as microwave and cellphones. High frequency are TV antennas and radio antennas. 

A picture of how what devices give off EMF. 

With all this being said, there are many ways to limit radiation exposure. One of the ways is using a headset or ear buds. This avoids the cellphone being pressed up against your head. Another way is too keep your phone out of your pocket. Keeping the phone in a purse or outer extremity is better than having it close up to your body. Avoid cellphone exposure with children. Children are developing and have a thinner skull then adults. Children are at the most risk with health issues because they are growing. Talking on the phone while driving is always a danger no matter what. It is also a danger because when you are driving you are jumping from tower to tower which exposes to more and more radiation.

Blog 5- Glyphosate

Glyphosate

Everyday many people are exposed to Glyphosate without even knowing it.  According to glyphosate.eu, Glyphosate was first patented in 1964 as the main ingredient of the herbicide Roundup.With Glyphosate growing at annual rate of 7.2%, it is expected to be work 9 billion by 2019. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Roundup and if it can be harmful for humans, animals, and the environment.

A picture of the different types of Roundup products.

According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency),  Glyphosate is used to control weeds in many places including gardens, houses, roadsides, and lawns. Round up can be sold in solid or liquid form. It is applied by uses tools to spray and spread the product on the certain area.

According the PAN (Pesticide Action Network), statistics put out by the EPA, conclude that Roundup usage has nearly double from 2000 to 2007. In 2000, at least 90 million pounds was used. It has doubled since with at least 180 million pounds being used.

A picture of someone spraying Roundup in a field. 

Monsanto, the company that makes Roundup, has been under scrutiny in the past couple years about the affects of Glyphosate on the body. There have been articles published going against the usage and claiming many health problems. Monsanto, has fired back on their website with a whole section claiming that it has been tested multiple times with no direct link to these health problems. 

Endocrine disruptor's are chemicals that disrupt the body's endocrine system which is neurological, immune, and reproductive. Many claim that it is an endocrine disruptor's that can lead to weight gain, birth defects, cancer, and other problems.

There have been lawsuits and speculation against Monsantos. Many people have gotten cancer after working around this product for a good amount of time. There is speculation that the EPA and  government has covered Glyphosates tested results to save the billion dollar powerhouse company that is Monsanto.  Monsanto claims that they have tested but it is argued that the tests have not been long enough to see the actual effects. 

On the environmental side, a species of butterfly known as the Monarch Butterfly lives off milkweeds. Milkweeds are killed by Roundup. It is examples like this that prove that these chemicals can cause a species of something to dissipate. 

A picture of a poster made against the usage of Roundup. These facts are not proven at this time. 

Roundup Ready Crops
According to this blog, roundup ready crops are crops genetically modified to resist Roundup. This includes corn and soybean plants. There is a concern that so much Roundup used on plants will eventually lead to the weed becoming used to the product. Monsanto has come up with seeds that are genetically modified to resist Roundup.

It would cost millions of dollars to find another chemical instead of Glyphosate. Even if this chemical was found, it would likely not be as strong, reliable, and powerful as Glyphosate. It is hard to know for sure if Glyphosate is good for humans. There is very unreliable and contradicting research about this. I wish the government would tell us the truth and give us a clear cut answer.

Blog 4- Water Quality

People all over the United States take advantage of the resource of clean and drinkable water everyday. Citizens don't know how lucky they are to be able to use water freely everyday of their lives without worry. With this being said, people need to be educated on what can be passed through our water and that it is a finite resource.

Coliform 
According to this PDF put out by the Ohio Department of Health, Coliform bacteria is found in soil, plants, intestines of humans, and cold-blooded animals. This bacteria aides in digestion of the food in the intestines. The presence of the bacteria in the environment often doesn't cause illness. The presence of this bacteria in water indicates that there is disease carrying pathogens that are likely present.

 There are sixteen different types of Coliform. There is a subgroup called Fecal Coliform. Fecal Coliform is obviously found in the fecal waste of warm-blooded humans and animals. E. Coli is one of the rare forms of Fecal Coliform. E. Coli has been in the news in recent years from a customer eating at the popular restaurant chain, Chipotle and getting sick from this bacteria. According to the article by WebMD, E. Coli is most commonly transferred through meat when not cooked properly. It can also transferred by water in lakes, rivers, or streams.

Coliform in drinking water means that pathogens that carry diseases are very likely present. Testing for Coliform is easy but testing for all other possible pathogens is very hard.

A picture of how to test Coliform in water. 

Turbidity
Turbidity is the measure of cloudiness of water. Cloudiness can be caused by non-disease or disease causing organisms. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the standard for turbidity to 1 NTU. Public water sources must not exceed .3 NTU on the monthly test.

An example of turbidity in water. 

Radon
Radon is a gaseous highly radioactive element. This page by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), explains radon in the environment. Radon can cause cancer. It is found in air and water. Water that is from a surface source like river, lake, and reservoir is usually free of Radon because it gets released into the air. Radon is usually a concern in water that is gotten from underground. There is currently no federal standard for Radon in water. The EPA has proposed that community water sources be kept below 4,000 pCi/L.

A diagram of how Radon can enter a house. 

Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines of humans or animals. It is passed down by feces. Cryptosporidiosis is a diarheal disease caused by Cryptosporidium. The parasites can be found in every region in the United States and can be found mainly in private wells. To get rid of these parasites you can bring your water to a rolling boil, put in clean container, and refrigerate. There is no standard for this.

Giardia
Giardia is very similar to Cryptosporidium. It is a parasite that can live in the intensities of humans or animals. It is passed down by feces. It causes a diarheal disease. To get rid of these parasites you bring your water to rolling boil, put in clean container, and refrigerate. There is no standard for this.

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Cyanotoxins
HAB's are caused by cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria is the often seen blue-green algae. This algae is found naturally in lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams. These HAB's put of toxins that can affect the nerves in the brain and the liver.

Blog 3- Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning can effect and damage every system in the human body. It is a very important issue for children all over the United States and the world. The most popular form of lead exposure is lead based paint. Other ways for exposure are cosmetics, food, soil, toys, bullets, hobbies, or jobs. Many old toys and old houses have lead in the paint. Now most paints used for toys and houses have little to no lead in them at all. It is prevelent in developing countries and poor people are at a higher risk.

In the symptoms section of an article by Healthline, light exposure symptoms include abdominal pain, cramps, irritability, headaches, memory loss, fatigue, sleep problems, and constipation. High exposure symptoms include vomiting, seizures, muscle weakness, and stumbling.

There are many ways to avoid lead poisoning. In this article, it gives parents 9 ways to prevent lead poisoning in children. These ways include getting your child screened regularly, evaluate your home, clean with purpose, don't ignore the dangers of renovation, and watch the water exposure.

Housing that were built before 1978, are likely to have lead based paint. In 1978, the federal government passed a law that consumers could not use lead based paint anymore. Paint that is in good shape is usaully not a problem. When paint starts to crack, rot, or chip, then there can be high lead exposure.

The best way to detect lead poisoning is by a simple blood test.

The first way to treat it is to identify the source of the lead. Whether it is paint, toys, or cosmetics, identifying and getting rid of the source is first and best way to stop exposure. Knowing how to properly remove the product is very important. For example, sometimes it is better to seal over the paint instead of removing it.

For light exposure, good nutrition is very important. Eating foods that are high in iron, vitamins, and minerals will help balance out the lead levels.

For high exposure, Chelation therapy is a controversial treatment. Chelation therapy is injecting a synthetic solution into the blood. The synthetic solution then takes all the hard metals out of the body and excretes it through the urine.

It is very important to use cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and bottle formula for babies. Folk medicine, Mexican candies, no lead free food containers, and toy jewerly are other things to avoid with lead.

According to the Annual Report 2015 put out by Ohio.gov, there were 153,010 Ohio children tested for lead poisoning in 2014. There were 4,596 children with confirmed blood levels of  >5ug/dl and 1,298 children with confirmed blood levels of >10ug/dl. Out of the Ohio population, .85% were tested for lead poisoning. In Athens County out of the 789 children test, 11 children had blood levels of >5ug/dl. The rest 777, had blood levels of <5ug/dl.

According to this article put out by WHO (World Health Organization),  environmental exposures to lead includes petrol, industrial processes, paint, canned food, water pipes, air, dust, soil, water, and food.

Blog 2- Zika Virus

Zika 
According to the CDC , Zika is a virus that has recently been reported in the United States. Most cases have occurred down south in areas such as Florida and Texas. Transmission of Zika is mostly done by Aedes mosquitoes. It can also be passed down by sex, blood transfusion, or mother to child during pregnancy.

An Aedes Mosquito 

Symptoms
Most people who have Zika won't have any or have mild symptoms. If symptoms are felt, they are commonly a fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Symptoms can be diagnosed by a blood or urine test. The Zika Virus usually stays in the persons blood stream for about a week. Zika symptoms are a main concern for pregnant women because it can potentially effect their baby.

Areas 
According to the CDC, there has been reported cases in Brownsville, Texas and Miami, Florida. There are alerts and warnings for pregnant women to not travel to those areas if possibly. There have been many cases in Mexico, countries in the Caribbean and South America. Pregnant women are strongly encouraged not to travel to any of those countries at any stages of pregnancy.

Prevention
According to the World Health Organization there has been no vaccine or medication found for Zika yet. It can be prevented by using insect repellent, wearing clothing as much as possible, and mosquito nets. Finding a good quality insect repellent and then reapplying regularly can prevent mosquito bites and the risk of Zika.

According to an article put out by Consumer Report, the best insect repellents are Sawyer Picaridin, Natrapel 8 Hour, and Off! Deep Woods VIII. The Sawyer Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour both contain 20% Picaridin. Off! Deep Woods VIII has 25% Deet.

A bottle of Sawyer Picaridin

There has been other ways of prevention done by the government. Aerial Spraying can be done by planes or vehicles. It sprays insecticides mainly Naled on large areas that have many mosquitoes. Naled has been used since the 1950's and is something that degrades on surfaces with water or sunlight. There is such a small amount sprayed at a time that it doesn't pose the risk of hurting people or causes illness.

Birth Defects 
Microcephaly is the birth defect that can be caused by Zika. It is where the head of the infant is smaller then a normal infant sized head. A smaller head leads to a smaller brain that has not fully been developed yet.

Congenital Zika syndrome is the pattern of birth defects that has gone a long with the Zika Virus. It includes Microcephaly, decreased brain tissue, back of the eye damage, and joints with limited range of motion.

Guillain- Barre syndrome is a sickness of the nervous system that causes the immune system to damage nerve cells leading to weakness of muscle and/or paralysis. The connection between Zika and Guillain- Barre syndrome was made when countries has serious Zika outbreaks and reported increase in Guillain- Barre syndrome at the same time. Guillain- Barre will only last a few months and is something people rarely die from.

Pregnant women are encouraged not to travel to areas in the south that have a high mosquito population and places that have reported Zika.