Environmental news for this week

California Wildfires

The numerous and relentless California fires are not only causing havoc and physical strain to the landscape, personal properties and the resources but it has more of a detrimental effect on the lives of the residents that are exposed to the fine and course particulate matter (PM) that they breathe in the air.  Our skies around Fresno are looking gray and I can see the pollution in the near distance, however, I am no where in close proximity to any of the fires to the north or south of me.  I see the PM laden on the cars and trees.  Our air is so dirty that I cannot run outside, and when I am out, I suddenly start sneezing and coughing, so I can only imagine what it must be like for the individuals who are evacuating to nearby towns only to be intoxicated with all these gases and PM.  As a health care professional I can only predict that I will see more patients at my clinic with respiratory illnesses or exacerbation of their diseases due to the air pollution from the fires around California.

Blog #18: Pesticides

Treat our earth like a nest egg

Reading and watching the videos on the use of pesticides were appalling and eye-opening on the amount that is currently being allowed on the market.  Not only were the videos were at my dismay but what was found in my food I had eaten the day before shocked me.  The chicken I had contained 14 pesticides, the Brussels sprouts and asparagus had about 11 pesticides, and to my surprise, the bottled water I consumed had pesticides in to too.  I drink bottled water because I do not trust our city water because of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals that seep into the ground water.  I also wondered prior to taking this course, if the pesticides ever got absorbed into the meat of the fruit and not just a residue on the outside.  Nonetheless, I am grossly shocked to know how our government is regulating our consumerism, and how we are treating our gentle and giving earth.  

Then I do agree with organic, sustainable and preservative farming and agriculture.  We do not need to expend every resource it has given us, so then, why aren't we treating our world like a nest egg?  Our attitudes and practice towards organic sustainable agriculture will ensure the nest egg we have relied on for thousands of years, to continue to produce, protect and regenerate for a thousand more years to come.

The public should be informed through media sources and doctor visits on how to live and eat healthier by giving them the facts about pesticides, that it is not all good.  In fact, most of the pesticides according to the literature are harmful, causing birth defects and chronic diseases.  Maybe we should not just talk about calories and exercise, maybe we should talk about the root of the problem to our populations at risk, I think this will be a good start.

If there are postings about pesticide use in my children's playground, I would take them somewhere else to play, maybe a community center.  There is no guarantee that the pesticides are kid-proof.

I am more aware of the effects of pesticide poisoning but I would need more education and exposure to the clinical cases to be 100 % prepared and confident.  I do have a clearer understanding on the exposure risks to pesticides.

Blog #17: Food Safety

Food Safety

Consider what you ate today and where the ingredients came from? How many health standards might have been invoked?

The food I ate today, came from a globalized market because they were products bought at my local grocery store.  According to the video on food safety and production, not all ingredients are local.  The product boxes may state product of the U.S.A., it doesn't mean that all the ingredient s are from the U.S.A.  I do read the labels and the ingredients before buying the product.  Codex Alimentarius is an international organization for food safety in its production, process, and distribution to ensure it is good quality food free of contaminants and bacteria.  This organization ensures adequate food safety standards for human consumption and for trade in commerce.  The food I bought and ate went thought the Codex on, animal feed and welfare, antimicrobial resistance, the technology (biotechnology) used to process and package the food, void of contaminants that are not intentional, nutrition and labelling and use of pesticides. Although I did not buy organic, I expect that the food I consumed today was safe.

What vulnerable populations do you work with that could benefit from education on food safety?

I work with all age groups but the people I take care of are for the most part educated and of working class. I can educate the population that I take care of to have them read the food labels carefully and where they buy their food in order to prevent risk of contamination from poor quality food sources.  Pregnant women would be one vulnerable group to educate in buying local and organic since we have been educated and made aware of pesticides that cross over into the placenta, causing fetal damage and endocrine disruptors for both mother and baby.

Given the increase in antibiotic resistance infections, especially those that are hospital acquired, what are some initiatives that nurses can propose to promote safe uses of antibiotics in agriculture (through food purchasing decisions at home and in our institutions) and from other sources that create risks for the development of resistant organisms?

Teach and inform patients to buy local from smaller farms, this ensures that they are not buying from CAFOs.  Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) use antibiotics in the feed and water to prevent illnesses caused by overcrowding and unsanitary conditions of animals.  The meat products that we consume are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant organisms, particularly, E. Coli.  With this information, it is pertinent to advised patients to cook their meat thoroughly.

Nurses and other health professionals can steward the safe use of antibiotics through advocating for policy change in the agricultural industry.  We have the knowledge power to convince policy makers to change how our agriculture is conducted affecting consumerism and public health with unnecessary and unsafe use of antibiotics in our slaughter animals for human consumption.  One alternative and trending food product is plant-based foods instead of meat.  By adding this option on the hospital menu for both patients and staff can reduce the consumption of antibiotic laden meat products to a more healthier one.

Blog #16: The power of Health Care Purchasing.

Farm to Hospital Theory

I quite liked the articles and videos in this week's modules on agriculture.  The power of health care purchasing allows a more farm to hospital service to the public by providing more organic foods produced through regenerative farming practices.   The article discusses about the power of health care institutions having the power in purchasing organic produce and meats in a more local commerce rather than corporate commerce on food purchasing.  By purchasing large quantities from organic agriculture, it allows the sustainability of organic farming.  This method of farm to hospital of large health care institutions who focus on local and regional farming impacts on the public and the environment closer to home making the affects are more noticeable.  By having a large purchasing market for produce, organic agriculture will slowly and steadily push out large factory farming, ultimately, improving the population's diet and nutrition, decreasing acute and chronic diseases and preserving the environment from deterioration and pollution.

Blog # 16: Environmental news

Animal Agriculture

The public nowadays are concerned about where their meat and produce come from, and farmers are moving towards improving animal welfare that will impact climate change.  This movement is due to the transparency of agriculture in its modern and onerous time.  Twelve states have banned extreme animal confinement, resulting in more use of green space in the natural environment for animals to roam and eat from the earth.  Producing less meat products are driving consumers to eat more plant based foods.  Through this shift in food consumerism, it is predicted to have less pollution, odor, better operating systems and food delivery.

How does this consumer movement on the type of food consumption effect climate?  The authors of a recent article states that by using ecological regenerative systems that mixes with animal agriculture, plants and fungi, will be more intuitive to nature.  This ecological movement will ultimately decrease greenhouse gases because the type of diet people consume is more conservative in energy used to raise animals, process the meat and ship it to the consumers.  The earth, people and animals all benefit from this change in diet and industry.

Blog #15: Drinking water

Drinking water in California

Certain areas of California have contaminated drinking water, for example in Kettleman city.  Areas near agriculture are more prone to contaminants due to their proximity to pollutants from farming and dairy.  My source of drinking water come from municipal wells.  Fresno city's watershed is at Millerton dam.  I do use a home osmosis system throughout my household with carbon and Nacl pellets.  Although, our city water is treated through our water treatment plant, I don't trust the quality of the water because of its chlorinated taste.  I know this because I taste the difference in the tap water in Vancouver, Canada to Fresno's tap water.  The tap water in Vancouver tastes pure and it taste like your drinking the better quality of bottled water on the market.  My water system is filtering out the chemicals used to treat my drinking water.  When I go to the gym or when I'm at work I do drink bottled water, and yes, I did watch the video on the 'story of bottled water'.  The information surprised me so now I look at the source and where it's bottled.  Evian is bottled water that I trust and drink as opposed to the lower grades of water.  Even the lower grades of bottled water are filtered with reverse osmosis and is considered clean compared to our tap water, which I will not drink.

Blog #14: Water

Water

Watching the videos on water consumption and contamination and reading articles about mercury contaminating the communities water supply does not reassure me that the ground and surface water is safe where I live.  I live in the central valley in the city of Fresno, far from any agriculture or cattle farms.  However, nearby communities are surrounded by agriculture where pesticides are used on our crops and fields that leach into the soil and contaminate the air.  The pesticides contain volatile organic combustibles (VOC) and mercury that make up particulate matter (PM) contaminate the surrounding areas that have dairy, ranches and fields of crops.  Although my risk of ingesting highly contaminated water is a lot less than in communities who live in close proximity to these industries, the videos explain that ground and surface water can carry contaminants for miles from the polluting source.  I have a reverse osmosis filtration system in my home and I drink bottled water when I am not at home.  To summize, I am not convinced that my community has safe drinking water.

Resources that I can rely on to ensure clean drinking water, is through the county's public health department.  Our water quality is monitored on a regular basis.  There are no NGOs in my community advocating for clean water because of where I live but when I drive out towards the rural agricultural parts of of the central valley, such as, Kettleman City, there are signs about clean water and water conservation.

I think policy lobbying is a good way to make legislators aware of the problem, after all, any public protest, boycott and policy proposal have resulted in improvement in the health of communities as history shows.

Blog #14 Environmental News today

Rethinking waste and plastic thrash in Bali

I read Bali in the headline, so I had to read it.  I am traveling to Bali in late November, it has always been one of the many places I have wanted to visit.  The beaches of Bali are pristine, as I imagined but the current news posted a waste land of garbage on one of its beaches.  During the rainy season, from November to March, tons of trash is washed ashore, leaving an unsightly mess.  It is called 'garbage season' in Bali.  It makes me not want to go.  This garbage strewn site is a result of increasing tourism, lack of infrastructure and an unofficial plan on how to dispose and recycle garbage.  Countries ranked as poorly managing plastic are: China (#1), Bali (#2) and the U.S. (#20).

The news reports that only half of the waste is properly managed both in recycling and landfills, the other half ends up in the ocean, so when the water rises in the rainy season, all this garbage washes up on shore.  Now the Bali government had banned plastic straws, plastic bags, and polystyrene (s synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer to make car parts, instrument panels, used in food service industry for food trays, containers, disposable eating utensils, and foamed cups, plates and bowls).

Blog #13: Radon, CO2 and VOCs

Radon Campaign

Using local media, advertisements in popular magazines and in health clinics are the main targets for the awareness and education of radon.  I would use my organization the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) to make the public aware, just as health care providers promote the influenza vaccine for the prevention of the flu.  The stakeholders accountable for the health of the community will be the local public health department and the PCPs who must educate their patients and the public on radon exposure, testing, prevention and resolution.  If radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, then it is only prudent to supply every home with a radon detector, along with smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.  This policy will ensure a preventable environmental catastrophe and health of the community.

Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Following the recommendations of the CDC video on carbon monoxide (CO2) poisoning, during the patient's health visit, it is important to ask about the home and work environment.  What are the sources of potential CO2 exposures that could negatively affect the health of my patient.  Like annual exam screening questions, CO2, radon and VOCs exposure can be asked on the patient assessment paperwork.  The PCP will review the health questionnaire and manage the patient from the information provided.

VOCs

I have at least three if not more VOCs in my home because I am a clean freak and germaphobe.  I like to clean with bleach and other chemicals that are contained in my cleaning products.  When I do use them I vent the rooms but sometimes, the ventilation is not adequate enough for the stronger VOCs I use, as a result, I have a sore irritated throat for about 2 days.  Learning more about toxic environmental exposures in this course, I have become more selective on the cleaning products I use.  My workplace has many VOCs as well from disinfectants to the cleaning supplies used in the office.

Formaldehyde

I would have them watch the video on the Brazilian blowout, then educate then that formaldehdye use and the risk of crossing over into the baby via the placenta.  Formaldehyde is not only toxic to the mother but it can also cause birth defects while the baby is in uterus because it is carcinogenic.

Blog #13 Environmental News on Valley Fever

Valley Fever Expansion by the end of the 21st Century

This news about Valley Fever (VF) is of interest to me because this is my topic for my DNP project.  The report recently released in Irvine, California that climate change is affecting the spread of VF.  VF is currently endemic in Arizona and California's San Joaquin valley because of the valley's hot and dry climate.  The spores live in undisturbed dirt but when soil is disturbed through farming, agriculture and dust storms, these activities can carry the micro-spores in the air where people who are exposed to dust and soil, can breathe these spores, resulting in a respiratory infection.  Scientists predict, due to climate change will cause the fungal infection's range to spread from the central valley northwards and through to the mid-west of the United States by 2095.  This vast infection to the geographical range can increase health care expenditure only exponentially.  How can global warming and the rise of VF can impact the populations' health? It is through education and awareness of the disease so it can be diagnosed and treated sooner before dissemination can occur.  Hence, my DNP project is educating the primary care providers on clinical symptoms of VF, its screening methods and treatment modalities.

Environmental news today: High levels of PFAS found in milk!

Biosolids: mix of human wastes with toxic chemicals are spread on crops!

Released October 5th, 2019: human sludge wastes should be in landfill but instead some waste management companies are repackaging this sludge and selling it as fertilizer, for crops that humans and animals consume.  This sludge waste contain PFAS and other pharmaceuticals that are left in the sludge.  The report states that 60% of sewage sludge produced by waste treatment plants will be spread on farmland, gardens, schoolyards and lawns.  Human sludge contains nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus but it also contains large amounts of PFAS , hormones, plastic worms, bacteria viruses and pharmaceuticals that humans consume and in the pipes of the sewage treatment plants.  The EPA however, insists that spreading is toxic waste is safe.  A university study found that 75% of people living near farms that spread biosolids had health issues like burning eyes, nausea, vomiting, boils, rashes, and some even contracted MRSA.

Maybe that's why we have such an unhealthy society in the U.S.  We cannot possibly blame it all on lifestyle but more of what we eat and how the U.S. produces food for human and animal consumption.  It is downright appalling!

Blog #12 Indoor air quality

Indoor Air Quality

An environmental assessment in the home or school is an extremely valuable tool kit to use to determine the cause of acute illnesses.  I never knew there was an environmental health nurse that could assess one's home or school to find risks of  indoor pollutants such as, mold, radon or CO2. So to answer the question, if schools in my area have an environmental health team, I'm not sure.  In fact, I am not sure if any of our school nurses know about Environmental Risk Reduction through Nursing Intervention and Education (ERRNIE).  

It is best to use the city's health department to conduct an ERRNIE assessment to see if our kids in schools are actually being exposed to these pollutants.  Like the 'YouTube' videos show that one would have to physically look at the rooms for ventilation, leaks and cracks to assess the school's indoor air quality.  I think it's a good measure to to be done on a yearly basis in order to keep or kids healthy.  From a community health standpoint, implement a policy or make the parents aware through the ERRNIE to be activists in this health concern.

Blog #11 The built environment and transportation

I agree with the readings and the  video by Jan Gehl fro Copenhagen, Denmark about the speed of the built environment affecting population's green space and the affect on social living.  I found it quite interesting since I have never thought along that concept of urbanization and living.  Reducing green space means reducing space for gathering, social activity, physical activity and relationships.  Mega cities are the root of the lack of green space, resulting from advancement in  architecture, and that Gehl's describes as 20, 60 and 120 miles per hour.  The rapid growth of buildings isolates the people and crowds them with the amount of traffic and buildings.  Gehl's  concept of living with a good and active quality of life in an urbanized city is promising and needs attention now.

I do believe that having an efficient transiting system will serve the communities well who live in an urban and cosmopolitan city.  When I traveled in Europe, their transportation system is efficient and everyone walked there.  Despite their rich diet of carbs and cheeses, don't forget the wine, very few people are overweight.  There aren't an abundance of fast food places either.  I think the car is way too convenient and there are laws that enforce drivers to be mindful of bicyclist and pedestrians, even in Fresno.

Blog #10 Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality in Poverty Stricken Communities

I found the article on household air pollution quite interesting.  I have never have thought about air pollution indoors until I read this article published by the WHO.  They report that approximately 3 billion people cook on open fires fulled by kerosene, biomass (this is a new word for me) and coal.  Just to clarify that 'Biomass' consists of wood, animal dung and crop waste to make a fire.  This way of cooking leads to adverse health effects such as pre-mature deaths, stroke, MI, COPD and lung cancer.  In children under 5 years of age, half of the deaths are from pneumonia caused by particulate matter (soot) from the household air pollution.  

Household air pollution is more problematic in third world and developing countries.  As a result, the Global Alliance has set  a goal to have households to adopt clean cooking stoves by year 2020 with the aim of eliminating deaths from cooking by 2030.  This statistic is astounding to me because it was not known to me about the risks of indoor air pollution.  In order to achieve the 2020 goal, there are alliances from different disciplines that must contribute their expertise in this issue.  Expert advise and experience comes from specialties like. epidemiology, climate science, global finance and gender equality.  

I am being presumptuous in stating that my house has no air pollution caused by my indoor cooking methods, however, I do like to BBQ and I use a gas grill but sometimes I use a charcoal grill doused in fire starter to fuel the fire.  After reading this article, I think I will limit my outdoor cooking, and only use a gas grill.  Even though all this combustion cooking is done outdoors, who is to know if any of the smoke or fumes remain inside my home or on my food.