Urea formaldehyde was used as a foam to insulate homes. Maximum exposure to formaldehyde usually occurs right after installation at 1.0 ppm but the gas can be smell year after the installation. Formaldehyde was banned due to the various health effects it had on individuals. Individuals reported having headaches, insomnia, and loss of libido. Formaldehyde is also known to irritate the eyes, nose and throat and levels that are found in living and work environments.
The bleach that we typically use for cleaning purposes is composed of sodium hypochlorite. Various risks to exposures exist that affect different populations. For example, research has shown that women who use bleach for home cleaning are at risk for non-allergic asthma and elevated neutrophil counts. In a separate study, school-aged children exposed to bleach are at higher risk for respiratory infections. Finally, bleach products such as disinfecting wipes, are commonly used in the workplace. In a study among healthcare professionals, there was an association among cleaning related chemicals (including bleach) and an increase in adult asthma.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
M.4.4 Radon
The second leading cause of lung cancer is exposure to radon gas. Radon is a radioactive gas that can not be seen or smelled. In my opinion, the general population is not informed about radon, since it's not talked about. We understand that various health risks exist due to radon exposure. In order for the population to understand the risks and learn ways to better their environment, a national campaign would work with state and local stakeholders to bring awareness to this issue. At the national level, I would work with the EPA to improve the information already available and to improve the access to that information. I would also work agencies such as the EPA and U.S Department of Health and Human Services and local Health Departments to provide radon tests to those individuals unable to afford it. I would work with various national health organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists to create educational programs at the state level to help individuals understand the risks of radon. I would also work with the department of Education, at all levels of government to incorporate Environmental and Occupational health education as part of their curriculum. Social media would take a big role in publicizing all available information and resources regarding the effects of radon.
Using different social media and news networks, I would work with various national, state, and local organizations to promote awareness. Finally, during the Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, I would work with various community organizations, student groups, and local agencies to promote create events or participate in events that promote various environmental hazard that lead to lung cancer.
Using different social media and news networks, I would work with various national, state, and local organizations to promote awareness. Finally, during the Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, I would work with various community organizations, student groups, and local agencies to promote create events or participate in events that promote various environmental hazard that lead to lung cancer.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
M3.5 Transportation
Living in a city like Los Angeles my whole life, I have always seen transportation as an environmental and health issue. In large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, the amount of people commuting every day makes it difficult for individuals to easily commute by foot or use bicycles. Even though, Los Angeles has become a more bike-friendly city, the amount of automobiles every day makes you question the risks of biking. In the past years, Los Angeles has improved their metro system by creating more accessible bus lines and extending their metro rail system. Even with the increased access to public transportation, the air quality in Los Angeles is very poor. Different pollutants in the air create various health problems in the population.
I now live in the City of Davis, which is extremely different than Los Angeles. Every morning, I used to feel the fresh air on my face as I rode my bike to school. Compare to Davis, the main mode of transportation is a bicycle. Davis, being a college town, most of its habitats either use public transportation, a bicycle, or they walk. This affects the air quality in the City, as its pollutants are not mainly from automobiles.
The Transportation Health Tool gave the city of Davis a high score. The number of transit trips per capita was 49.2, scoring in the 95th percentile. The number of vehicle miles per capita was 14, scoring in the 90th percentile. Using public transportation, walking, or using a bike to commute to places, increase one's physical activity. In order to address health issues, cities should create more access to public transportation and make streets safer for individuals to walk or bike as part of their commute.
I now live in the City of Davis, which is extremely different than Los Angeles. Every morning, I used to feel the fresh air on my face as I rode my bike to school. Compare to Davis, the main mode of transportation is a bicycle. Davis, being a college town, most of its habitats either use public transportation, a bicycle, or they walk. This affects the air quality in the City, as its pollutants are not mainly from automobiles.
The Transportation Health Tool gave the city of Davis a high score. The number of transit trips per capita was 49.2, scoring in the 95th percentile. The number of vehicle miles per capita was 14, scoring in the 90th percentile. Using public transportation, walking, or using a bike to commute to places, increase one's physical activity. In order to address health issues, cities should create more access to public transportation and make streets safer for individuals to walk or bike as part of their commute.
Monday, February 13, 2017
M3.4 Air Pollution
I found the article Air pollution alters function, worsens asthma symptoms most interesting. The author describes a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. The study compared 181 children with and without asthma from Fresno and Palo Alto. Fresno, which is located in Central California is known to have one of the highest levels of air pollution. The researchers found that chemicals in the air suppresses regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells maintain a tolerance to non-pathogenic substances and prevent autoimmune disease. When these cells are suppressed they fail to block the inflammatory responses, similar to those responses caused by asthma. The researchers found that children in Fresno had lower levels of Treg cells compared to those children in Palo Alto. They concluded that air pollutants alter T cell functions which explains the high number of children with asthma is cities like Fresno.
I live in the City of Woodland which is part of Yolo County.
Who and what are the top polluters in your zip code?
In 2002, Yolo county ranked among the dirtier 30% of all counties in the U.S. The top three polluters were Truck Accessories Group, releasing 112,864 pounds of pollutants, Farmers Rice Co-op with 13,909 pounds, and Equilon West Sacramento Terminal with 10,000 pounds. The major pollutants included styrene (carcinogen, organ toxicant, reproductive toxicant), toluene (developmental toxicant), and p-xylene (developmental, organ & reproductive toxicant).
What percent of the homes in your zipcode have lead-based paint?
In Yolo county, 2% of the houses have a high risk for lead.
Are there Superfund sites in your zip? (In your BLOG, make sure to tell us what a Superfund Site is)
A Superfund site is a specific location in the U.S that are polluted with hazardous materials. Yolo county has 2 Superfund sites located in the city of Davis; Frontier Fertilizer and Old Campus landfill.
What can you tell us about the Superfund sites that are near where you live?
These sites have been known to contaminate the water in the surrounding area. For example, ground water has been contaminated with DBCP (carcinogen and reproductive toxicant), 1,2-dibromomethane (carcinogen and developmental toxicant), 1,2-dichloropropane (carcinogen), and disulfoton (developmental toxicant).
What did you learn about the air quality in your zipcode?
In 1999, Yolo County ranked among the dirtiest 10% of all counties in the U.S. The top pollutants contributing the quality of air include; carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, PM, and sulfur dioxide emissions. In Yolo County, 83% of the days are considered to have good air quality and 17% of the days are considered to have moderate air quality.
How about the water quality?
Yolo County contains a portion of 3 watersheds; 19% have been reported to have problems. The top pollutants of ground water include; pesticides, mercury, metals, and salinity/TDS/chlorides. Agriculture is the leading source of pollutants.
How did your zipcode fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis?
The distribution of burden based on race/ethnicity is set to be equal among people of color and whites. A discrepancy of superfund sites exist among low income and high-income families; .071 sites per square milelow-incomencome familieis compare to .016 sites per square mile among high income families.
In Yolo county, 2% of the houses have a high risk for lead.
Are there Superfund sites in your zip? (In your BLOG, make sure to tell us what a Superfund Site is)
A Superfund site is a specific location in the U.S that are polluted with hazardous materials. Yolo county has 2 Superfund sites located in the city of Davis; Frontier Fertilizer and Old Campus landfill.
What can you tell us about the Superfund sites that are near where you live?
These sites have been known to contaminate the water in the surrounding area. For example, ground water has been contaminated with DBCP (carcinogen and reproductive toxicant), 1,2-dibromomethane (carcinogen and developmental toxicant), 1,2-dichloropropane (carcinogen), and disulfoton (developmental toxicant).
What did you learn about the air quality in your zipcode?
In 1999, Yolo County ranked among the dirtiest 10% of all counties in the U.S. The top pollutants contributing the quality of air include; carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, PM, and sulfur dioxide emissions. In Yolo County, 83% of the days are considered to have good air quality and 17% of the days are considered to have moderate air quality.
How about the water quality?
Yolo County contains a portion of 3 watersheds; 19% have been reported to have problems. The top pollutants of ground water include; pesticides, mercury, metals, and salinity/TDS/chlorides. Agriculture is the leading source of pollutants.
How did your zipcode fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis?
The distribution of burden based on race/ethnicity is set to be equal among people of color and whites. A discrepancy of superfund sites exist among low income and high-income families; .071 sites per square milelow-incomencome familieis compare to .016 sites per square mile among high income families.
M3.2 Vulnerable Populations
The statement from Dr. Rishi Manchanda "One's zip code matters more than our genetic code", is very powerful and I could not agree more with it. I grew up in East Los Angeles, not too far from South LA, where "Veronica" lives. While I watched Dr. Manchanda TED talk, images from my childhood crossed my mind. Growing up I always saw my parents being frustrated that the only thing doctors will do is prescribe medication for their symptoms. I don't recall one single doctor asking my parents the type of work they did or our living conditions, which would explain the various health issues we faced. Like "Veronica", many individuals in low-income communities face the same struggles. Health care providers are trained to treat the symptoms individuals portray, but fail to address the underlying causes of disease, this is the main reason why I decided to go into public health. Dr. Manchanda ends his talk with a call for more "Upstreamist" in the medical community, and I can say, that is the path I want to take to help the individuals I will be working with. Many health care disparities exist in low-income communities, but in order to be able to decrease these disparities, we need to be able to think outside the physiology of the individuals we work with. We need to take the public health approach and be able to address the causes of diseases.
It's very alarming to know that such small amount of chemicals can cause long-lasting effects on the development of children. We are exposing our children to various chemicals unintentionally, and this is this is leading to an increase in cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and a decrease in IQ. Similarly, endocrine disruptors are known to have a great impact on your reproductive health. Levels of BPA found in our bodies have been linked to altered sexual differentiation, advanced puberty, increase prostate size, and decrease sperm count. BPA, an estrogen-mimic chemical that is found in products that we use, is known to causes effects at low doses.
I found the presentation by Dr. Hayes extremely interesting. I have an interest in the development of the reproductive system and his presentation touched on the effects of altrazine. Altrazine has been linked to increasing levels of estrogen which can lead to breast cancer in females and prostate cancer in males. Latino males in central California who work in agriculture are being exposed to high levels of altrazine, leading to different health risks. It would be interesting to analyze the health conditions of this population to better understand the effects of altrazine.
It's very alarming to know that such small amount of chemicals can cause long-lasting effects on the development of children. We are exposing our children to various chemicals unintentionally, and this is this is leading to an increase in cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and a decrease in IQ. Similarly, endocrine disruptors are known to have a great impact on your reproductive health. Levels of BPA found in our bodies have been linked to altered sexual differentiation, advanced puberty, increase prostate size, and decrease sperm count. BPA, an estrogen-mimic chemical that is found in products that we use, is known to causes effects at low doses.
I found the presentation by Dr. Hayes extremely interesting. I have an interest in the development of the reproductive system and his presentation touched on the effects of altrazine. Altrazine has been linked to increasing levels of estrogen which can lead to breast cancer in females and prostate cancer in males. Latino males in central California who work in agriculture are being exposed to high levels of altrazine, leading to different health risks. It would be interesting to analyze the health conditions of this population to better understand the effects of altrazine.
M3.1 Biomonitoring
I know that I have mentioned this about other videos and articles, but this video is pretty alarming. I was pretty concerned that the children who got their blood tested had higher levels of chemicals in their blood compared to their parents. As a parent, it is pretty alarming to know that my son's favorite toys or him crawling on our rug at home or at daycare might be harming him. It's not general knowledge to know the type of materials that are used to make the toys or furniture that we buy. We don't really stop and think "What is this made of?" when we are out shopping for basic things like toys and furniture. As consumers, we should be aware of all these things to assure we are buying products that are not going to harm us.
In a hypothetical situation where my blood was taken and high levels of chemicals were found, I would ask "How? How did all these chemicals get into my body?" and I would also be concerned. Like I mentioned in a previous blog, I had a testicular tumor years ago and one testicle was removed in order to resolve the issue. Since then my doctors told me that I would have difficulty reproducing since my sperm count was low and that may or may not increase. Knowing that my sperm count is low, I can only imagine that any chemicals like dioxins, DDT, PCBs, and phthalates would harm my reproductive system even more, or even these high levels of chemicals were the reason for a low sperm count. There is so much that we can do to reduce our risks of being exposed to these chemicals. We have control over the things we buy at our home, where we live, and the public spaces that we visit. But we do not have control over everything, we can not tell business not to use products with certain chemicals and materials. We have limited control of the exposure we received to these chemicals, but having the knowledge we can inform others in order to reduce the amount of chemicals going into our bodies.
In a hypothetical situation where my blood was taken and high levels of chemicals were found, I would ask "How? How did all these chemicals get into my body?" and I would also be concerned. Like I mentioned in a previous blog, I had a testicular tumor years ago and one testicle was removed in order to resolve the issue. Since then my doctors told me that I would have difficulty reproducing since my sperm count was low and that may or may not increase. Knowing that my sperm count is low, I can only imagine that any chemicals like dioxins, DDT, PCBs, and phthalates would harm my reproductive system even more, or even these high levels of chemicals were the reason for a low sperm count. There is so much that we can do to reduce our risks of being exposed to these chemicals. We have control over the things we buy at our home, where we live, and the public spaces that we visit. But we do not have control over everything, we can not tell business not to use products with certain chemicals and materials. We have limited control of the exposure we received to these chemicals, but having the knowledge we can inform others in order to reduce the amount of chemicals going into our bodies.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
M2.4 Jane Hoolihan and Advocacy Organizations on Toxics in Personal Care Products
There were many interesting things presented in this video. The lack of regulation from the FDA due to the 1938 Act; which limits the regulation of ingredients that make up cosmetics products that are sold to the public by the FDA. One would think that the products we put on our bodies on a daily basis have strong regulation to make sure minimal harm is done. One of the products that stood up the most for me was Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I have a 15 month old son, and when we started looking at the products we would use I remember asking my self, "Why are parents making a big deal of the ingredients in these products?...if they are in the shampoo, I'm pretty sure they are safe" I was very wrong. Johnson's Baby Shampoo contains formaldehyde, 1,4 dioxane, PEG, and dibutyl phthalate, to name a few. Companies are not obligated to include these chemicals in their labels, which makes us as consumers clueless on what we are putting on our bodies. Formaldehyde is known allergen and carcinogen, 1,4 dioxane has been linked to breast cancer, PEG is another carcinogen and can harm our immune system, and dibutyl phthalate affects the development of the reproductive system and the thyroid. Of course, a single exposure to these products will not cause harm, but exposure to these products through out the years will allow for the accumulation of these chemicals in our bodies, leading to various health effects. Triclosan is another ingredient that is used in antibacterial soap. Triclosan is known to have a negative impact on the development of the thyroid and reproductive organs, has been linked to early onset of puberty, and can lead to fertility problems. We use antibacterial soap in order to prevent the spread of germs, but in reality the ingredients in this product harms our bodies. Even though I do not use some of these products, its pretty alarming that we do not know what we are putting in our bodies. I believe is human right to know the harm that these products do to our health. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2015 authored by Senator Feinstein is supposed to give the FDA more regulation on the ingredients cosmetic companies are using. Consumers should be aware of the chemicals that their favorite products contain and companies should focus on removing harmful chemicals from their products.
M2.3 Household products
1. Febreze Air Refreshener
I was surprised to see the results of the air refreshener we use at home on a daily basis. I was expecting for this product to have a greater negative health effects. This product has a slight level of severity relating to health. The products is not known to cause any chronic health conditions. The acute health effects are different, they include, gastrointestinal irritation and eye irritations. I'm assuming that these conditions are seen when the individual is exposed to the aerosol at high concentrations. The report does state that inhalation of ethanol at high concentrations can be fatal.
2. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes
I did not expect for this product to have any negative health effects. The product can cause eye irritation, irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach, and skin irritation; these are caused when the wipes are not handled with care. This product has a slight level of severity relating to health, as stated by the database.
Over all I expected for this products to have a greater negative impact on our health, since we can easily inhale the chemicals they are made of. When I use these products I always make sure to use them in a safety manner so I'm not concern of any of the acute conditions these products may cause. Based on theses results, I will continue to use the products. If in the future i decided to change products, I will make sure that they do not cause any adverse health conditions.
I was surprised to see the results of the air refreshener we use at home on a daily basis. I was expecting for this product to have a greater negative health effects. This product has a slight level of severity relating to health. The products is not known to cause any chronic health conditions. The acute health effects are different, they include, gastrointestinal irritation and eye irritations. I'm assuming that these conditions are seen when the individual is exposed to the aerosol at high concentrations. The report does state that inhalation of ethanol at high concentrations can be fatal.
2. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes
I did not expect for this product to have any negative health effects. The product can cause eye irritation, irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach, and skin irritation; these are caused when the wipes are not handled with care. This product has a slight level of severity relating to health, as stated by the database.
Over all I expected for this products to have a greater negative impact on our health, since we can easily inhale the chemicals they are made of. When I use these products I always make sure to use them in a safety manner so I'm not concern of any of the acute conditions these products may cause. Based on theses results, I will continue to use the products. If in the future i decided to change products, I will make sure that they do not cause any adverse health conditions.
Monday, February 6, 2017
M2.2 Personal Care Products
1. Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash.
One of the products I use on a daily basis is Old Spice Body Wash. Through the years I have used different brands of body wash, but I'm sure all have similar ingredients. One of the biggest things that caught my attention when I decided to use this brand was the smell; it has a very "clean" and pleasant smell. To my surprise, the fragrance is considered a high hazard due to the ingredients use. Like stated in the report, the fragrance used in this body wash can lead to allergies, immunotoxicity, irritation of the eyes, skin, or lungs, toxicity of different organs, and it's harmful to the environment. DMDM Hydatoin was also considered a high hazard. This chemical is a formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Over all as seen in the table bellow, this product is a moderate hazard and is a low concern for developing cancer.
Ingredients on label: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Sulfate, Fragrance, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Lauryl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, DMDM Hydantoin, Lauryl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium 10, Yellow 10 Aluminum Lake (CI 47005), Green 3
2. St. Ives Body Lotion
The second product I use on a daily basis is St. Ives body lotion. The reason why I decided on this brand and type of lotion was for its fragrance and the way it made my skin feel. Like the Old Spice body wash, the ingredients that make up the fragrance in this body lotion is considered a high hazard, with a score of 8. The body lotion also includes triethanolamine, which is known to causes allergies, immunotoxicity, and organ organ system toxicity. Again, i was pretty surprised that this product is considered a moderate hazard and has a low concern for cancer development.
Ingredients on label: Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Urea, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Dimethicone, PEG 100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
Overall, like I mentioned above, I was surprised with the hazardous materials that are used to make the products I use on a daily basis. While reading the results of both products, I couldn't stop thinking of my experience with a benign testicular tumor few years ago. A lot of the chemicals in products can lead to reproductive toxicity and can cause problems in the future. Even though the two products I researches do not cause reproductive toxicity it made me wonder what products if any do. We are exposed to so many chemicals in a daily basis, that we don't really stop and thinking about the harm these chemicals are doing to our bodies. I tend to think "What can a small amount due to my body once in a while", but that once in a while becomes a lifetime. I have definitely decided to change my behaviors and look for products that do not harm my body and do not harm the environment. Individuals should be aware of the ingredients that are used in the products they use. We should be aware of the things we are exposing ourselves to in order to make decision that will benefit our bodies.
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