Environmental Health
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Environmental Health
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NEWS:
10 Affordable Ways to Make Your Home Safer and Healthier
3 Shocking Facts About the Air in Your Home
60 Percent Of Americans Live In Areas Where Air Is Dirty Enough To Endanger Lives “The report finds that air pollution hovers at unhealthy levels in almost every major city, threatening people’s ability to breathe and placing lives at risk. Some of the biggest sources of air pollution, including dirty power plants, dirty diesel engines and ocean-going vessels, also worsen global warming. “The more we learn, the more urgent it becomes for us to take decisive action to make our air healthier,” added Nolan.”
After the fire, other health concerns “She says air quality can be hazardous close to a burning bushfire, with fine particles, such as ash and smoke combining with gases like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Those who are close to the fire and exposed to this smoke can suffer long-term health effects, such as cardio-respiratory problems and reduced lung function. But while fine particles can remain in the air for many days after the fires, most toxic gases will disperse or react very quickly, and are less likely to be an ongoing problem, she says. One exception is ozone produced by atmospheric reaction with toxic gases – this can affect people many kilometres downwind from the fire and can cause respiratory health problems in those vulnerable. “
America's Most Polluted Cities
Are Candles Making You Sick? “The candles, which are made from petroleum, are a source of known human carcinogens and indoor pollution, researchers said in a study to be presented Wednesday at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Washington, D.C. In the study, R. Massoudi and Amid Hamidi found that candles made from beeswax or soy, although more expensive, apparently are safer because they do not release potentially harmful pollutants. "An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you," Hamidi said in a news release. "But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an unventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems." “
Carpenters 'face asbestos death' “One in 17 UK carpenters born in the 1940s will die of the asbestos-related lung cancer mesothelioma, researchers predict. They also calculated the deadly disease would strike one in 50 plumbers, electricians and decorators and one in 125 other construction workers. The UK mesothelioma death rate is now the highest in the world, with 1,749 deaths in men in 2005. The study appears in the British Journal of Cancer. “
Chemicals in Hospital Cleaning Products May Affect Workers' Health “Examples of common tasks performed and observed included floor finishing and cleaning of floors, mirrors, windows, toilet bowls, sinks, and counters. The major product lines used included general purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, washroom cleaners, and floor-finishing products. Results showed that ingredients of concern include quaternary ammonium compounds, glycol ethers such as 2-butoxyethanol, and ethanolamines. In addition, cleaning workers were found to be at risk for acute and chronic inhalation exposures to volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors and aerosols from product spraying, as well as dermal exposure, mostly through their hands. “
Chinese-made drywall ruining homes, owners say “Homeowners' lawsuits contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats and face huge repair expenses. The drywall is alleged to have high levels of sulfur and, according to homeowners' complaints, the sulfur-based gases smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail. "It's economically devastating, and it's emotionally devastating," said Florida attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, who filed one of the lawsuits. It would cost a third of an affected home's value to fix the dwelling, Gonzalez said. "The interior has to be gutted, the homeowners have to continue paying mortgages, and they have to pay for a [temporary] place to live," Gonzalez said.”
Cleansing the Air at the Expense of Waterways ““It’s like they decided to spare us having to breathe in these poisons, but now we have to drink them instead,” said Philip Coleman, who lives about 15 miles from the plant and has asked a state judge to toughen the facility’s pollution regulations. “We can’t escape.” Even as a growing number of coal-burning power plants around the nation have moved to reduce their air emissions, many of them are creating another problem: water pollution. Power plants are the nation’s biggest producer of toxic waste, surpassing industries like plastic and paint manufacturing and chemical plants, according to a New York Times analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data.”
Common Plants Can Eliminate Indoor Air Pollutants
Daily Bathroom Showers May Deliver Face Full Of Pathogens, Says Study “It's not surprising to find pathogens in municipal waters, said Pace. But the CU-Boulder researchers found that some M. avium and related pathogens were clumped together in slimy "biofilms" that clung to the inside of showerheads at more than 100 times the "background" levels of municipal water. "If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium, which may not be too healthy," he said. … Previous studies by Pace and his group found massive enrichments of M. avium in "soap scum" commonly found on vinyl shower curtains and floating above the water surface of warm therapy pools. A 2006 therapy pool study led by Pace and CU-Boulder Professor Mark Hernandez showed high levels of M. avium in the indoor pool environment were linked to a pneumonia-like pulmonary condition in pool attendants known as "lifeguard lung," leading the CU team into the showerhead study, said Pace.”
Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass “For decades, farmers, lawn care workers and professional green thumbs have relied on the popular weed killer atrazine to protect their crops, golf courses and manicured lawns. But atrazine often washes into water supplies and has become among the most common contaminants in American reservoirs and other sources of drinking water. Now, new research suggests that atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than previously thought. Recent studies suggest that, even at concentrations meeting current federal standards, the chemical may be associated with birth defects, low birth weights and menstrual problems. Laboratory experiments suggest that when animals are exposed to brief doses of atrazine before birth, they may become more vulnerable to cancer later. … The E.P.A. has not cautioned pregnant women about the potential risks of atrazine so that they can consider using inexpensive home filtration systems.”
Diesel Exhaust Is Linked To Cancer Development Via New Blood Vessel Growth
DNA Damage From Environmental Exposures May Occur In As Little As Three Days
Environmental Pollution Increases Risk Of Liver Disease, Study Finds “"Our study found that greater than one in three U.S. adults had liver disease, even after excluding those with traditional risk factors such as alcoholism and viral hepatitis," said Matthew Cave, MD, assistant professor, department of medicine, division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Louisville. "Our study shows that some of these cases may be attributable to environmental pollution, even after adjusting for obesity, which is another major risk factor for liver disease." “
Environmental Toxins & Liver Disease: A Link? “Among the chemicals studied were lead, mercury, and organochlorine pesticides. "And, so from this list, we found several chemicals associated with a dose-dependent increased risk for abnormal liver enzymes," he says. Organochlorine pesticides have been banned from use in the U.S. since the 1980s, but they can linger in the environment. Exposure to organochlorines can still occur when people eat fatty foods such as fish or dairy products contaminated with these long-lasting pesticides. A pregnant woman can pass them to her unborn child through the placenta or to her child during breastfeeding, according to the CDC.”
Facemasks Help Prevent Adverse Cardiovascular Effects Caused By Pollution “Diesel exhaust causes arteries to lose their flexibility. Researchers found that exposure to engine pollution resulted in arterial stiffness in a group of healthy volunteers. … There is, however, something that cyclists and pedestrians in smog shrouded cities can do to limit the vascular effects caused by diesel exhaust. In a separate article also published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology, researchers report how wearing a facemask reduces exposure to airborne pollution particles and leads to a reduction blood pressure and improved heart rate control during exercise in a city centre environment. Jeremy Langrish from the University of Edinburgh said, "We tested a range of facemasks that differed widely in their efficiency as particle filters. In general, those masks designed to reduce occupational exposure to dusts in the workplace were more efficient than those marketed to cyclists and pedestrians." The authors say, "This simple intervention has the potential to protect susceptible individuals and reduce cardiovascular events in cities with high concentrations of ambient air pollution."“
Forcing Cleaner Manufacturers to Come Clean “There's a lot at stake: studies show links between chemicals in common household cleaners and respiratory irritation, asthma, and allergies. Independent research has also documented troubling hormone-disrupting qualities of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) -- commonly found in detergents, disinfectants, stain removers, and floor cleaners. And because many cleaning chemicals survive the sewage system and are released into streams, there is growing concern that such chemicals pose a threat to fish and other aquatic wildlife, causing, among other things, the "feminization" of male fish and throwing ecosystems out of balance.”
Formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds in Hong Kong homes: concentrations and impact factors. (Indoor Air. 2009)
Hidden Threat: Elevated Pollution Levels Near Regional Airports
Household Chemicals May Show Up in Blood “"In everyone we found fire retardants, Teflon chemicals, fragrances, bisphenol A or BPA, and perchlorate," she tells WebMD. Flame retardants are found in foam furniture, televisions, and computers. Teflon is used in nonstick coatings and grease-resistant food packaging. BPA is a plastics chemical; perchlorate, a rocket fuel ingredient, can contaminate tap water and food. Fragrances have been associated with hormone disruption in animal studies. Every woman tested positive for up to 60% of the 75 chemicals evaluated, the report found.”
Indoor Air Pollution as a Lung Health Hazard: Focus on Populous Countries “Purpose of Review: Indoor air pollution (IAP) resulting from the use of solid fuel for cooking and heating is a significant public health concern in developing countries. … It is estimated that indoor air pollution (IAP) - caused by the indoor burning of wood, coal, animal dung and crop residues in open fires or poorly functioning stoves - is responsible for between 2.7 and 2.8 million deaths annually.”
Indoor Air Pollution? Samples From Couch Cushions And Drywall Reveal Chemicals Used In House “The EPA estimates Americans spend roughly 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor air pollution - caused by sources ranging from paints to cleaning solvents, personal care products to furnishings - has been linked to a wide variety of adverse health effects. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are particularly vulnerable, perhaps in part due to their weaker immune systems and increased time spent indoors. Many people don't realize the amount of chemicals they introduce into their homes every day. For example, dry-cleaned clothes can emit perchloroethylene, a chemical that has been shown to cause cancer in animals. Studies indicate that people breathe low levels of this chemical in homes where dry-cleaned goods are stored.”
Insecticides May Raise Risk of Lupus, RA “Women who spray their homes and gardens with insecticides may be placing themselves at risk for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, a study shows. In a study of more than 75,000 women, those who used insecticides six or more times a year had nearly two-and-a-half times the risk of developing the autoimmune diseases than women who adopted a live-and-let-live attitude toward bugs. Similarly, the risk more than doubled if bug sprays were used in the home for 20 or more years. Hiring a gardener or commercial company to apply insecticides also resulted in a doubling of risk, but only if they were used long-term, says Christine G. Parks, PhD, an epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "Our new results provide support for the idea that environmental factors may increase susceptibility or trigger the development of autoimmune diseases in some individuals," she says. “
Is your house making you sick?
Main Ingredients in Household Dust Come From Outdoors “This outdoor-based dust can contain lead, arsenic and other potentially harmful substances, said the Arizona researchers. For example, they estimated that 60% of arsenic in floor dust may come from arsenic in the surrounding air, with the remainder coming from tracked-in soil. The substances in household dust that originates outdoors may be a special concern for homes with children, who put dust-contaminated toys and other objects into their mouths …”
New studies prompt rethink on radon risk
Particulate Matter From California Wildfires Is More Toxic Than Particulate Matter In Ambient Air
Pesticide Exposure Found To Increase Risk Of Parkinson's Disease “In a new epidemiological study of Central Valley residents who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, researchers found that years of exposure to the combination of these two pesticides increased the risk of Parkinson's by 75 percent. Further, for people 60 years old or younger diagnosed with Parkinson's, earlier exposure had increased their risk for the disease by as much as four- to six-fold.”
Pesticide Residue Common on Kitchen Floors “The most commonly detected insecticide was permethrin, a carcinogen, which was present on 89 percent of the floors. About 78 percent of the floors had measurable levels of chlorpyrifos, a broad-spectrum insecticide used to control pests in the house and garden. About 64 percent had chlordane, one of the organochlorine insecticides that are no longer in use. Other compounds that were found included piperonyl butoxide (52 percent), cypermethrin (46 percent) and fipronil (40 percent), a relatively new residential-use insecticide used to kill fleas and ticks on pets, termites and ants and cockroaches in bait traps, according to the study.”
Pesticide Use Linked to Higher Risk of Pre-Cancerous Multiple Myeloma
PET bottles potential health hazard “Water bottles made from PET plastic leach compounds that mimic the hormone oestrogen raising questions about their safety, say German researchers. Previous research has focused on plastics containing the chemical bisphenol-a (BPA). During that time regular PET plastic water bottles have maintained a reputation as safe, at least as far as human health is concerned. But new evidence suggests that PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, may not be so benign after all. Scientists at Goethe University in Frankfurt found that estrogenic compounds leach from the plastic into the water. “
Poisons on Pets “Flea control products now on the market include seven specific "organophosphate insecticides" (OPs). OPs work by blocking the breakdown of the body's messenger chemical, acetylcholine, thereby interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous systems of insects, pets and humans alike. In the presence of OPs, acetylcholine builds up in the body. The resulting interference with nerve transmissions is of such a magnitude that it actually kills insects. In overdoses, OPs can also kill people and pets. But even with normal use of flea-control products containing OPs, pets and children may be in danger. The seven OPs are chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion. They are the active ingredients in dozens of pet products. A comprehensive list of products appears in Table 1. It includes major pet pesticide brands, such as Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, Ford's, Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Kill-Ko, Protection, Rabon, Riverdale, Sergeant, Unicorn, Vet-Kem, Victory and Zema. … The continued exposure of children, pets and animal workers to OPs contained in pet products is all the more distressing because safer alternatives are readily avail-able. Easy physical measures alone, like frequent washing and combing of the pet and vacuuming carpets and furniture, can bring mild flea infestations under control. Alternatives include insect growth regulators, or IGRs, which are not pesticides, but rather chemicals that arrest the growth and development of young fleas. These include methoprene, fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen and the popular lufenuron (Program®). Alternatives also include newer pesticide products sprayed or spotted onto pets, such as fipronil (Frontline®) or imidacloprid (Advantage®). Particularly when used in combination with physical measures, the safety and effectiveness of these newer chemical products makes the continued use of pet products containing OPs -- and their attendant risks for humans and pets alike -- rash and unnecessary. … “
Radon gas action needed across UK “He said: "One of the problems is that the radon level can vary widely from house to house - one can be greatly above the 'action level', while next door the levels are significantly below. "What we need to do is to get the right health messages out there about measuring radon and remedying the problem where it exists." “
Reducing Indoor Radon's Contribution to Deaths From Lung Cancer
Report Warns Against Overuse of Household Disinfectants
Tunnels Concentrate Air Pollution By Up To 1,000 Times
U.S.-made drywall also being investigated
Workers Exposed To Lead Show More Cognitive Problems Later In Life “Both the developing brain and the aging brain can suffer from lead exposure. For older people, a buildup of lead from earlier exposure may be enough to result in greater cognitive problems after age 55, according to a follow-up study of adults exposed to lead at work. … Among the lead-exposed workers, men with higher cumulative lead had significantly lower cognitive scores. The clearest inverse relationships – when one went up, the other went down – emerged between cumulative lead and spatial ability, learning and memory, and overall cognitive score. This linkage was more significant in the older lead-exposed men, of at least age 55. Their cognitive scores were significantly different from those of younger lead-exposed men even when the researchers controlled for current blood levels of lead. In other words, even when men no longer worked at the battery plants, their earlier prolonged exposure was enough to matter.”
ARTICLES:
3 Easy Ways to Make Your Environment Healthier
3 Shocking Facts About the Air in Your Home
5 Basics for Non-Toxic Cleaning
6 Surprising Toxics Hiding in Your Home
Are You Harboring These Dangerous Products?
Evaluating the Effects of Ambient Air Pollution on Life Expectancy
Household Insecticides Linked to Lupus and Arthritis “New research out of Philadelphia suggests a link between women’s exposure to household insecticides (including roach and mosquito killers) and the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Previous research has shown a link of agricultural pesticides to higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Autoimmune diseases are diseases where the immune system goes haywire and begins to attack the body. Farmers were shown to be a high risk group for this reason. Women who reported applying insecticides had a higher risk of developing the two autoimmune disorders than women who reported no insecticide use, whether or not they had lived on a farm. Those who used the insecticide the most often and most frequently had double the risk.”
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Air pollution in relation to U.S. cancer mortality rates: an ecological study; likely role of carbonaceous aerosols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. (Anticancer Res. 2009)
Carcinogenicity of inhaled nanoparticles. (Inhal Toxicol. 2009)
Chinese Drywall a Threat to Homeowners? “The drywall, installed in homes in Florida, may be emitting sulfuric odors, potentially exposing homeowners to respiratory health problems. The emissions can also corrode air conditioning coils and wiring, posing a potential risk of electrical fire. Although a number of drywall manufacturers may be implicated, the most commonly-cited is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., Ltd. (KPT), a China-based producer. The company regularly prints its name on the back of its drywall, making it the most easily identifiable potential culprit. Florida homeowners have submitted almost 100 complaints to the Florida Department of Health about problems relating to their drywall, prompting U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) to petition the CPSC and Environmental Protection Agency to investigate. In a statement, Nelson called for the agencies to determine the number of homeowners potentially affected by the problem, and to decide whether a recall needs to be initiated. Nelson also directed the CPSC to promulgate drywall safety standards to avoid a repeat of the issue in the future. … Homeowners have complained of headaches, dry eyes, and bloody noses, among other allergy-like symptoms. The Florida Department of Health says that preliminary tests show no “immediate health threat,” but is reportedly conducting further tests to determine the extent of health risks. The problem was originally blamed on a shortage of American-manufactured drywall, ostensibly due to the housing boom and extensive construction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Recently, however, suspicions have arisen that the problem dates back further. Some Florida experts have suggested that the defective drywall was installed as early as 2004. “
Comparison of Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Human Adipose Tissue of Inhabitants from Veracruz and Puebla, Mexico. (Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009)
Contact with Beach Sand among Beachgoers and Risk of Illness (American Journal of Epidemiology. 2009)
Experimental exposure to diesel exhaust increases arterial stiffness in man. (Part Fibre Toxicol. 2009) “Acute exposure to diesel exhaust is associated with an immediate and transient increase in arterial stiffness. This may, in part, explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease associated with air pollution exposure.”
Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States (NEJM 2009) “Conclusions A reduction in exposure to ambient fine-particulate air pollution contributed to significant and measurable improvements in life expectancy in the United States.”
Long-term particulate matter exposure and mortality: a review of European e pidemiological studies. (BMC Public Health. 2009) “CONCLUSIONS: European studies on long-term exposure to PM indicate a direct association with mortality, particularly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.”
Predictors of Endotoxin Levels in US Housing (Environmental Health Perspectives. 2009) “Conclusion: Increased endotoxin in household reservoir dust is principally associated with poverty, people, pets, household cleanliness, and geography. Introduction Household exposure to endotoxin has emerged as an important factor in the development and severity of nonatopic asthma (Michel et al. 1996; Thorne et al. 2005) while apparently reducing the likelihood of allergic sensitization and lessening the chance of developing eosinophilic asthma (Braun-Fahrländer et al. 2002; Ernst and Cormier 2000; Klintberg et al. 2001). However, there is strong evidence that occupational endotoxin exposure is a potent agent for the development and exacerbation of neutrophilic asthma, asthmalike syndrome, and organic dust toxic syndrome (Thorne and Duchaine 2007). Endotoxin is an amphiphilic outer-cell-wall component of gram-negative bacteria that is a potent inflammatory agent and asthma trigger. “
Residential Exposure to Urban Air Pollution, Ankle-Brachial Index, and Peripheral Arterial Disease. (Epidemiology. 2009) “CONCLUSIONS:: This study adds to the evidence that long-term residential exposure to traffic is associated with atherosclerosis.”
Sick Building Syndrome: is mould the cause? (Med Mycol. 2009)
Urban air pollution: Influences on olfactory function and pathology in exposed children and young adults. (Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2009)
Why pesticides could be a common cause of prostate and breast cancers in the French Caribbean Island, Martinique. An overview on key mechanisms of pesticide-induced cancer. (Biomed Pharmacother. 2009)
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