Sunday, March 26, 2017

Air Quality

http://www.sphere3env.com/images/Photos/AirQuality.jpg

Air Quality & Your Health 

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It indicates how unhealthy or clean the air is, and  helps people understand what local air quality means to their health. The AQI is calculated for four major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: particle pollution, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The AQI is like a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level EPA has set to protect public health. In general, AQI values that are at or below 100 are thought of as satisfactory. AQI values above 100 are considered to be unhealthy, at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values increase. The AQI is divided into six levels of health concern pictured below:

                                                                                     https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_02_14.pdf

Air Quality Conditions Meanings:

Good - Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.

Moderate - Air quality is acceptable, but pollution in this range may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals, especially those who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution. These people may experience respiratory symptoms.

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is not likely to be affected.

Ozone --> People with lung disease, older adults, children, and people who are active outdoors are considered sensitive and therefore at greater risk. 

Particle Pollution --> People with lung or heart disease, children, and older adults are considered sensitive and therefore at greater risk. 

Unhealthy - Everyone may begin to experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

Very Unhealthy - This triggers a health alert which means that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

Hazardous - This triggers health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is even  more likely to be affected by serious health affects. 

AQI Forecasts

Cincinnati Air Quality Forecast

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 60 - moderate
Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Tomorrow's High: 65 - moderate
Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

AQI Pollutant Details

Today
Ozone: 40 - good
Particles (PM2.5): 60 - moderate

Tomorrow
Ozone: 45 - good
Particles (PM2.5): 65 - moderate

Cleveland/Akron/Lorain Air Quality Forecast

Forecast is not available, but current conditions are:

Air quality Index
59 - moderate

AQI Pollutant Details
Ozone: 44 - good
Particles (PM2.5): 59 - moderate

Columbus Air Quality Forecast: 

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 50 - good
Health message: None

Tomorrow's High: 46 - good
Health message: None

AQI Pollutant Details

Today
Ozone: 39 - good
Particles (PM2.5): 50 - good

Tomorrow
Ozone: 44 - good
Particles (PM2.5):  46 - good 

Dayton Air Quality Forecast:

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 53 - moderate
Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Tomorrow's High: 57 - moderate
Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

AQI Pollutant Details

Today
Ozone: 40 - good
Particles (PM2.5): 53 - moderate

Tomorrow
Ozone: 44 - good
Particles (PM2.5):  57 - moderate

Youngstown Air Quality Forecast: 

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 55 - moderate
Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Tomorrow's High: 46 - good 
Health message: None. 

AQI Pollutant Details

Today
Ozone: N/A
Particles (PM2.5): 55 - moderate

Tomorrow
Ozone: N/A
Particles (PM2.5):  46 - good

 State Implementation Plan (SIP)

A State Implementation Plan is a collection of regulations and documents used by a territory, state, or local air district to reduce air pollution in areas that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS. 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (40 CFR part 50) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. There are two types of national ambient air quality standards that are identified by the Clean Air Act:

Primary Standards - These standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as children, asthmatics, and the elderly

Secondary Standards - These standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, vegetation, buildings, and crops. 

The EPA has set NAAQS for six principal pollutants called "criteria" air pollutants. These pollutants include: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide. 

SIP - List of Current Standards 

Ozone (O3): 
2015 eight-hour ozone standard = 0.070 ppm

Particle Pollution (PM 2.5):

2012 annual standard = 12.0 ug/m3

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2):

2012 one hour primary standard = 75 ppb 

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2):
2012 one-hour primary standard = 100 ppb
annual standard = 53 ppb 

Lead (Pb):
2008 0.15 ug/m3


Air Pollution in China


Pollutants being emitted into the air
References: 

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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Potential Adverse Health Effects from Cell Phone Use

1) Distance cell phone from head

Cell phones are usually held near the head when being used, which causes a big concern as to whether or not they might cause or contribute to tumors in this area. The body tissues closest to the phone absorb more energy than tissues farther away.  It is possible that cell phones could cause the following: malignant brain tumors such as gliomas, non-cancerous tumors of the brain such as meningiomas, non-cancerous tumors of the nerve connecting the brain to the ear, and non-cancerous tumors of the salivary glands. 


2) Carrying cell phone on body

The human body absorbs energy from devices that emit radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. The dose of the absorbed energy is estimated using a measure called the specific absorption rate (SAR) which is expressed in watts per kilogram of body weight. The upper limit of SAR allowed in the United Sates is 1.6 watts per kilogram of body weight. SAR values on phones can be misleading. The listed SAR value is based only on the phone operating at its highest power, not on what users would typically be exposed to with normal phone use. It's possible that a phone with a lower listed  SAR value might actually expose a person to more radiofrequency energy than one with a higher listed SAR value in some cases based on a number of factors. 

Many different factors can affect the amount of radiofrequency energy to which a person is exposed, including:

  • the model of phone being used - different phones give off different amounts of energy
  • the amount of cell phone traffic in the area at the time - higher traffic may require more energy to get a good signal
  • the distance and path to the nearest cell phone tower - cell phones adjust their power to use the minimum amount for a good signal, being farther away from the tower requires more energy to get a good signal, as does being inside a building 
  • whether or not the person is using the speaker mode on the phone or a hands-free device - using one of these allows the phone to be held away from the head
  • the amount of time the person is on the phone

3) Heating versus non-heating effects

Heating is the only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency waves can heat up body tissues when they are at very high levels. This is the basis of how microwave ovens work. Radiofrequency exposure from cell phone use does cause some heating to the area of the body where a cell phone or other device is held. However, it is not sufficient to measurably increase body temperature. It is unclear exactly how cell phones are affecting our bodies and our brains, and more research is needed to look at possible long-term effects. For example, it has been suggested that radiofrequency energy might affect glucose metabolism, but two small studies that examined brain glucose metabolism after use of a cell phone showed inconsistent results. Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from x-rays, is known to increase the risk of cancer. However, even though there have been many studies that examined the potential health effects of non-ionizing radiation from radar, microwave ovens, cell phones, and other sources, as of right now, there is no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk. 

4) WiFi

WiFi uses radiofrequency to transmit data through the air. WiFi radiation is a type of EMF. Although WiFi radiation may not cause a thermal heating effect and is non-ionizing, it gives off low level wave radiation that could potentially have harmful effects on the body such as: DNA chain breaks, increased blood-brain barrier permeability, disruption to brain glucose metabolism,creation of stress proteins, and disruption of cell metabolism. Numerous studies have also linked WiFi radiation exposure with cancer.

To minimize your exposure to WiFi radiation:
  • turn off  your WiFi when you're not using the internet and especially when you go to sleep at night
  • avoid using WiFi while you're in a vehicle
  • choose to use a hardwired Ethernet connection in your home instead of wireless
  • situate wireless modems/routers, as far as possible from your bedroom and from rooms where you spend a lot of time
  • be mindful of WiFi radiation exposure from neighbors



https://cdn1.tekrevue.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wi-fi-assist-iphone-960x540.jpg

5) EMF's

Cellphones emit a kind of energy called radiofrequency EMFs (electromagnetic fields). EMFS are types of radiation that are created by all electronic devices. Cell phones emit relatively weak EMFs, but because they are used frequently and kept close to the head and body, cell phone EMFs can affect nearby cells and tissues.

To lower your exposure to EMFs from cellphones, you could increase the distance between you and your phone. This could be done by:

  • sending text messages
  • using the speaker phone
  • use a headset and carry your phone away from your body
  • keep your phone away from your body
  • limit your cell phone use when reception is weak
  • reduce the amount of time spent talking on a cell phone
    • keep cell phone calls short
    • use speaker phone mode or a corded phone for longer conversations
    • take off your headset when you're not on a call
  • do not rely on devices  that claim to shield or neutralize EMFs from cell phones because these devices have not been shown to reduce exposures

References:
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Monday, March 13, 2017

Glyphosate

About Glyphosate:

Glyphosate is an herbicide that is applied to the leaves of plants to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses. The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to ripen fruit and regulate plant growth. Glyphosate's chemical name is N-(Phosphonomethyl)glycine and its main effect is to block an enzyme that plants need to make amino acids and proteins. When the enzyme is blocked, plants dies within a few days. It is never used on its own as an herbicide, it is always combined with other chemical ingredients. Glyphosate is the active chemical ingredient in Roundup herbicide as well as many other name brand glyphosate-based weedkillers. Roundup is the brand-name of an herbicide produced by Monsanto. Roundup is is commonly used by both people in their backyards and farmers in their fields.


http://www.hoajonline.com/journals/A-Z/J/toxicology/content/figure/volume/2/1/fig1.jpg

1) What was it patented for in 1964?

In 1964, glyphosate was patented by Stauffer Chemical as a metal chelator used to clean or descale commercial boilers and pipes. Glyphosate has the ability to bind to and remove minerals such as calcium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium which are vital to our health.

2) How much is used in the US/World?

Glyphosate has become the most heavily-used agricultural chemical in the world. A study published in 2016 in the journal of Environmental Sciences Europe shows that Americans have applied 1.8 million tons of glyphosate since its introduction in 1974, and worldwide, 9.4 million tons of the chemical have been sprayed onto fields.

3) How is it used in the US?

In the U.S., glyphosate is used in agriculture and forestry, on gardens and lawns, and for weeds in industrial areas.

http://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2014/April/glyphosate-effects.jpg

4) Is there any health/environmental harm from it's use..endocrine disrupters?

Glyphosate is an endocrine disrupter. This means that it interferes with the proper functioning and production of hormones, in human cell lines. It's not completely clear how much of an impact glyphosate has had on cancer rates, but studies where high doses were administered to laboratory animals suggest that glyphosate has carcinogenic potential.

Glyphosate-containing herbicides may contaminate soils in and around treated areas. Once it is in the soil, the relationship between glyphosate and soil ecosystems is complex, and varies from soil to soil. In some cases, glyphosate can form complexes with metal ions, potentially affecting the availability of nutrients in the soil. In other cases, glyphosate may be used as a source of energy and nutrients by some soil micro-organisms, increasing their numbers. But, at the same time, it could be toxic to other species, reducing their populations. The presence of glyphosate in the soil could change the balance of bacteria and fungi in soil, in turn altering soil ecosystem functions and plant health.

Pure glyphosate is low in toxicity to fish and wildlife, but some products containing glyphosate may be toxic because of the other ingredients in them. It could affect fish and wildlife indirectly because killing the plants alters the animals' habitat.

5) What are Roundup Ready crops?

Roundup Ready crops are crops that are genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup. Because these plants are resistant to Roundup, farmers that plant these seeds are able to use Roundup to keep other unwanted weeds from growing in their fields.

http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/2016/02/02/roundup-glyphosate.jpg


 References:
http://gmofreeusa.org/research/glyphosate/glyphosate-overview/
http://web.mit.edu/demoscience/Monsanto/about.html
http://www.newsweek.com/glyphosate-now-most-used-agricultural-chemical-ever-422419
https://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/foee_5_environmental_impacts_glyphosate.pdf
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html

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