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.