Final Blog

This class was enlightening and I enjoyed being exposed to topics and conversations that I would not otherwise engage in. I enjoyed personalizing this learning, like looking into my personal care products and reflecting on steps to contribute to a healthier life and environment. I also appreciated the flexibility in choosing our own research topic as it relates to environmental health.

I liked that the blogs held us accountable for doing the online modules/readings and it was a quick way to write down our thoughts, reflect, and engage with peers. I thought the blog prompts were interesting and simple (not too challenging) and I did enjoy reading my peer's opinions/thoughts on the content. I will say, however, that I thought there were way too many blog posts and having to respond to each one for 2 people became a chore rather than something to look forward to. There could have been less blogs to do each week (2 max).

Thank you! And thank you Rudi and Matt for your thoughts and replies!

Climate Change

The most troubling thing I find about climate change is the inevitability of it. It feels very out of our control, and almost unstoppable, which is interesting since it is a result of our own human behavior. Although I have learned that there are small changes we can make in our daily lives to help, I still feel slightly disempowered to be able to really contribute to prevention. Our focus can be on preparedness and our response to the effects of climate change. Perhaps the thing that needs greatest attention right now is emergency response. I also think that part of this includes counseling and support for mental health around PTSD and trauma from experiencing large scale disaster. I would describe climate change to a long-lost relative as simply as possible. I'd describe it as the gradual shift in our environments i.e. temperature change which result in negative health outcomes for all life. I would list some examples like asthma (human impact), drought (ecological), and the loss of natural habitat  and (ecological). I would also include a discussion about what is being done to help slow down climate change. 

Missed one! 10.1 Video/Family Work Exposure

My dad is retired, but used to work for the City of Oakland's Sewage and Drainage Department. He started in the rough, being one to suit-up and clear out blockages, and then became a supervisor so that he no longer was directly in contact with drains and sewage lines but was still around them. I remember he was often out at night working during rain storms while I was growing up. This job definitely had chemical and biological health hazards in terms of exposure to the contents of sewers and drains. The only part of the hygiene hierarchy that I think fits with this is the lower level of protective equipment/gear. Some barriers to this may be personal opinions ("Oh I don't need to wear gloves or a mask") which could be addressed through education and mandatory gear. 

Zero Waste Life

While watching the video, I was (and still am) in amazement at this lifestyle! It is really inspiring, it seems like it was a hard transition (especially with having to hand-make products). I went shopping yesterday and was noticing all the plastic packaging and I felt myself torn- I didn't want to buy certain food due to its packaging, but I really wanted to eat the food! I ended up buying it anyway...but I think my mindfulness on the waste that I support and create is a good first step. Maybe I can make little changes in what I buy- buying less plastic packaging little by little. I want to do more shopping at farmers markets, too. I overall appreciate the woman's advice on steps toward a zero waste lifestyle.  

Occupational Health Related Disease: Byssinosis

I chose Byssinosis (brown lung) since I have not heard of this much before. It is a respiratory disease associated with working at textile mills (primarily dust from fibers i.e. cotton). I was reading a 1978 article from the NY Times about how the cotton industry pushed back against regulation and OSHA did not set any standards for cotton dust exposure. Eventually there were standards set around ventilation, respirator use, and routine medical check ups. Upon my research on this work related disease, there seems to be little campaigns and research around prevention, but in the US Byssinosis rates are declining, according to the American Lung Association and CDC.  I was hoping that the CDC would have more info on public health campaigns around this disease, but I am not finding much information.

OSHA Program

I found on OSHA's website that they support/provide a program that gives free consultation at high-risk work places (i.e. with high hazards or exposures). They support this for small businesses and their team members will go to the work place to give recommendations for improvements so that the business will not get fined by OSHA and to further ensure worker safety. Sounds like these services are for new/developing businesses which is great so that they can learn how to be more safe, especially if they grow! This does not really apply to me/my health/my work. I also found on the OSHA website a zone for young workers where it talks about their rights and how to safely handle equipment in different work environments. This portion of the website is very kid friendly (language use, colors, etc.) and is helpful for my health since there are a lot of youth who work in industries that I am involved in (restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores). I also work indirectly with youth and could use this knowledge to tell them about their rights/refer them to this site.

Material Safety Data Sheet

My friend works at the UC Berkeley "Innovative Genomics Institute" and was telling me about a common chemical in her workplace, Imidazole

Imidazole:

- skin burns and irritation, eye damage, may harm unborn child

-not a carcinogen

-wear protective gear i.e. gloves and goggles, recommends wearing a respirator but does not stress this as mandatory (which is confusing since it states inhaling it is a hazard and to immediately get fresh air if inhaled)

-did not receive any education or training on this chemical, but was told to look up the SDS for further info and to not inhale it. Received a overall/general training on how to read hazard labels (pictograms) but nothing specific to chemicals.

-no discrepancies between the SDS and ToxNet

The MSDS (now called SDS) for Imidazole (or any other chemical I am sure) was not easy to read and comprehend. It was also difficult to find. If a worker (particularly someone with a low English proficiency) has to find and read this on their own, they will probably have a difficult time understanding. 

Heavy Metals

My general thoughts/response from the 1st article by Herbert Needleman:
- surprised that lead was present in wine due to its sweet flavor
- also never knew that lead poisoning may have had an influence in the fall of Rome!
- i like that the article provided a breakdown of lead structure and toxicology
-its wild how lead can have so many different impacts, like even no collagen, and it is not just internal impact but also influential on behavior like hyperactivity
- i'm very interested in the association between lead and dementia

My general thoughts/response from the Nigerian lead article:
- so sad :( like the lead poisoning deaths were associated with people trying to make $$$ off gold (but i know that there was no knowledge that these actions would cause lead poisoning)
-a very collaborative and caring response to make the community safe again (reminds me of what i learned in my Community Based Participatory Research class)- input from local government, tribe members, NGOs, etc. to help respond to and prevent this crisis

Green Chemistry

I loved learning about green chemistry (aka sustainable chemistry). Although I had not heard about it before or read about its principles, I was not surprised to learn that this exists. If only this could be implemented everywhere! It makes me wonder how difficult (and maybe expensive) doing green chemistry is. Are most companies just being lazy and unethical? Or just banking on secondary prevention efforts? I cannot think of any major green chemistry examples from my life at the moment but I was recently informed about biodegradable glitter instead of regular glitter since it is eco-friendly! The video on the plastic garbage patch was so hard to watch, especially since the ugliness of pollution/littering/waste is taking place in such a beautiful location. What will that place look like in 10 years? 50 years? It was sad and crazy to hear one of the women in the video say that our ocean is the largest dumpster :(

Six Chemical Classes

One of the six chemical classes I chose to learn more about was flame retardants. The video I watched about them was clear and began by understanding why flame retardants have been used (to meet flammability regulations and delay spread of fire), but unfortunately they actually are not effective and are highly toxic. They cause more smoke and toxic gas to be released when burned, and when not burned, the chemicals can move onto our bodies, like on our hands, and move into dust that we breathe in. Some facts about flame retardants:

• babies are born with the same amount of flame retardants in their system as their mothers
• toddlers have 3-10 times more flame retardants in their system than adults (bc they have close contact with furniture and put their hands in their mouth)
• flame retardants can cause lower IQ and hyperactivity in kids, and cause reproductive issues and cancer in adults
• cats have 10-100 times more flame retardants in their system than humans since they lick their fur
• common items with flame retardants:
• TV cases, building insulation, car seats, mattresses, foam blocks

As the videos state- is it actually necessary to have this in our products? No, the cost outweighs the benefit! And when moving forward with purchasing household items (like a couch), I will remember to ask or check the tag to see if it has flame retardants. 

Ideal Chemical Policy

The ideal chemical policy would:

• clearly state the risk of use of the chemical (this would keep the farmer/grower informed)
• clearly state the risk of consumption of the chemical (this would keep the consumer informed, and further allow for informed consent around what we are choosing to put in our bodies)
• include mandated, not recommended, maximum quantities used of the chemical at one time, and would also suggest a healthier alternative to motivate safer substitutes/alternatives
• clearly state consequences for not following the policy to therefore uphold accountability and integrity (this could be supported by the EPA and through regular inspections)

This ideal chemical policy would take on the public health elements of protection and prevention. Protection of the people, as well as the environment, and prevention of harmful health outcomes due to environmental and chemical exposures. 

Chemical Policy Reform

I chose to read the background on "Act on Early Warnings". This article focused on primary preventions and suggested that chemicals should be assumed to be dangerous until they have been thoroughly tested. It also highlighted the importance of paying attention to "clusters of harm" as a warning sign that harmful chemicals may be being used. Other things this article mentioned:

• it is difficult to connect harm to specific chemicals
• health outcomes are unknown before use since there may be long latent periods after chemical exposures
• there needs to be more effort in reducing exposures

Suggestions include:

• monitoring new programs, chemicals, and technologies closely
• looking at toxicity records and making these records public
• developing systems that do not rely on toxic chemicals
• establishing "Early Warning Committees" that will receive reports on harmful outcomes or suspicions, report these, work to make recommendations and changes, and hold accountability for actions/change

What's on my Food?

I think this website is really cool/interesting in that we can learn what is on our food and see how many things (pesticides) go into agriculture. The only thing, however, is that I wish I could specify where I am buying my products from so that I could get a more accurate rating/description of what is on my food.

Last night I had a hamburger for dinner. On it I put lettuce and tomato and it was on a wheat bun. I'm pretty surprised by the amount of possible pesticide residue on the produce (almost 35 different types of pesticides on the lettuce and tomato!). The tomato even had suspected hormone disruptors and probable carcinogens. The hamburger (beef) had 6 residues like DDE which fell under probable carcinogen, suspected hormone disruptor, and reproductive toxins. The bun had only 4 pesticide residues. Each of the ingredients of my dinner had likelihood of bee toxins.

Along with personal choices, like buying organic and washing or peeling produce, public health could step in to help. There could be mandated laws on what is used in food production, how many pesticides are used at one time (is this already a law?), and specific pesticides could be outlawed altogether in favor of developing healthier/less harmful alternatives.

Lit Review Topic

How do chemical exposures on pregnant women influence the risk of having a child with autism?

This is what I am doing research on for my literature review. I think that there are some federal agencies that may provide regulatory oversight with chemical exposure impact, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FECA) who looks at oil and gas industries, and also the FDA (more specifically the USDA) to regulate production- chemicals used in food production or food storage or pesticide use that may have harmful effects. 

Agency's Role in Environmental Health

The agency that I chose to look into was the US Department of Commerce. This agency is in charge of money/economics with the goal of economic growth and efficiency. A main thing that caught my eye in regards to this agency with its connection to environmental health is its ability to place expectations on industrial production and standards. Perhaps the Dept of Commerce can further uphold EPA values in regulating materials, methods of production, and chemical exposures, which could assist in sustainability efforts and protection of all life. The Dept of Commerce could also influence money distribution for disaster relief funds and contribute $ to research on climate change.

Local Environmental Services

I went to the Alameda County Public Health Department website and identified these as environmental health services:
-asthma program: education and case management, home visits, collaboration with landlords and medical providers on asthma prevention and treatment
-lead poisoning prevention: education on sources of lead, lead prevention/reducing hazards, lead testing
-tobacco control program: education, enforcement of law and policies on smoking, reducing second hand smoke exposure and availability of products
-wildfire smoke program: education on what to do when wildfires occur near your area in order to decrease the amount of smoke you breathe in; how to track your air quality.

I was surprised to see the amount of programs supporting mental health and adolescent health around nutrition and physical activity. I was also surprised on the specificity of some services, for example, around infections such as Ebola and the flu. Honestly looking at this webpage made me really happy and inspired that so many specific services exist in Alameda county that include a wide range of public health concepts/needs.

Local Food and Obesogens

What is locally grown where I live: The first thing I found were a couple of meat companies/factories in SF lol, I know this is not grown but it still relates to production! But in regards to produce, there is a farm in El Sobrante as well as Alameda, both very close to me. Currently, the items in season are: peppers, chard and other greens, broccoli, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, garlic. The Harvest Calendar showed me other in season items as well, including artichokes, beets, basil, corn, eggplant, citrus, rhubarb, persimmons (yay!) and pomegranates (yay!).

I looovee the idea of hospitals partnering with local farms to bring in healthier, fresh foods. The farm to table movement could definitely shift to include hospitals, why hasn't this become more of a thing? I know it is really popular in Bay Area schools to expose students to gardening, healthy food options, and environmental health through such farm/garden programs.

The second article on obesogens was really helpful in further understanding what they are. I did not know about them and first heard of them from class when we went to the library! It's interesting with how they can have several different effects, such as increasing the # of fat cells, size of fat cells, or impact one's hunger, satiety, or metabolism.

i chose to look further into BPA on ToxNet. There was a study done on it to see if early life exposure would cause weight gain later in childhood (there was an association) but more research is needed. I also just read about the chemical and its effects, such as causing allergies and irritations (to throat, nose, and eyes), dermatitis, and disruption of the endocrine system.

Use of Antibiotics

The underlying theme within the articles (especially the last 3) is the need for more research around the impact increased use of antimicrobials and antibiotics have on human health.

I enjoyed the first article because it was a clear explanation on why industrial farms are using antibiotics with their animals, and I appreciated learning about "non therapeutic use". I understand why this is being done, but I do not understand why it needs to be so excessive. I also thought it was nice how the article was outlining the scientific/biological explanations around antibiotic resistance. I agree with the recommendations around creating legislative restrictions on non therapeutic antibiotic use in industrial farming!

I thought learning about the "superbug" was interesting. It is a little disturbing to read that people can get this even from non-direct contact with the farm animals. We need research on exposure/mode of transmission. The article on the antimicrobial wipes was fascinating because I (and I think we as a society) assume that if something says "antimicrobial" that is is a more effective/protective way to clean! I liked the clarity of the last article/policy brief and I connected a lot with the recommendation to only use microbial that have undergone EPA evaluation to know that they are not going to increase risk of hospital associated infections. This topic also needs some more research. Overall, very interesting reads.

Industrial Farming: Bees, Dirt, and Compost

I was aware of our crisis around bees vanishing. I went to an exhibit a year ago at the Oakland museum that illustrated this and visually showed potential impacts on our food/fruits/vegetables/flowers availability as well as the economic and social impact for farms. It is scary! I can't imagine a world without fruits and vegetables.

I have not finished watching Dirt! yet, but I am finding it very interesting and I love how it caused me to consider the value of dirt and how this has a different label/definition/value from "soil".  Dirt is ~alive~ and it is essential for life!

I really enjoyed navigating and reading the website on factory farms. There is not a factory near me (in Alameda County) which I think makes sense given the city life here. But there is high density factory farms north of me in Marin County, and severe density in Sonoma County. This makes sense to me given the open land up there and they are known for farming and delicious cheese. I had it in my mind that they were local, small friendly farms so I am a little saddened by the reality.

I do compost. My housemates and I keep it in the freezer to minimize bugs or smell. It is slightly extra effort to compost but I think it is worth it. In college, I used to teach elementary schools about compost and farming when they came on field trips to UC Davis!

Oakland Sewage Treatment Facility

In my community of Oakland, the main sewage treatment facility is run by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and it is located in Oakland under the start of the Bay Bridge. Here, the sewage is treated and recycled, and some of it is disposed of into the Bay. Oakland's Public Works Department helps maintain the city sewage pipes so that it makes it to this treatment plant.

Tap Water Campaign Slogan

Some slogan ideas:

Targeting individual behavior: YOU can make a difference. Choose tap. (and provide a couple details on why tap is the better choice).

Clap 4 Tap! (insert picture of clapping hands and include some facts on why we should celebrate tap water).

Tap Water FTW!! (Tap water for the win!!): include a picture of tap water in a wrestling wring with bottled water, tap water wins and there are some facts about why).

Consumer Confidence Report: Water Quality

In doing some research of the water supply in my area, I found out a few things. I already knew that my water is supplied from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), but where does it really come from? And what is in it?

• The water I drink comes from Pardee Reservoir, a reservoir that holds water from the Mokelumne River about 90 miles east of the Bay Area
• Some chemicals that are in this water at surprising levels are:
• flouride: very little! Less than 0.1 mcl
• lead: more than I expected- 3 mcl when the goal is 0.2
• chlorine: 2.4 mcl, when the goal is 4. This is not as high as desired (since chlorine helps disinfect the water)
• trihalomethanes (ppb): this was very high, at 75 when the highest level allowed is 80.
• The report explained that this high level was caused from excessive precipitation and run-off  after the drought which increased organic materials in the water source
• Some unexpected chemicals in the water:
• copper and aluminum. I think this makes sense, maybe this come from the pipes
• Associated health risks with large/long term exposure to these chemicals:
• lead: especially harmful to children and pregnant women, can be a neurotoxicant and cause brain damage, birth defects, reproductive issues, damage to other organs
• trihalomethanes: neurotoxicity and harmful impact on other organs i.e. liver, kidneys, heart

I drink tap water and I do not use a filter. I have drank filtered water before, and I notice a slight difference. I think it filters out some left over sediments. I also do not drink bottled water- I could connect with the video in that I am someone who often thinks "Water is basically free why buy it?". Plus, I find tap water satisfying, it does not bother me. The video was interesting in how it pointed out advertising tactics around persuasion.

Importance of Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act of 1972 prioritized safe drinking water as well as the protection of all life. It not only considered the impact of contaminated water on human health, but ecological health, too. With healthier water, our planet has healthier wildlife like fish and plants. We eat these organisms, and if they are living in contaminated waters then we are also impacted. The Clean Water Act was also considerate of increasing fresh water resources and helped regulate industry standards/actions on water management and pollution. Overall the Clean Water Act has held significant public health importance on the quality and protection of life.

Fragrance Policies

Based on the articles, there exists large amount of indoor and outdoor air pollution from a variety of sources that primarily impacts vulnerable populations, such as children. Pollutants irritate the internal bodily systems/functions (such as the lungs). Personal care products also irritate humans, especially children, since they contain fragrances that are irritants to the eyes and skin. 

Some ideas to develop and implement a fragrance-free policy in the hospital could include hospital workers being not allowed to use fragrance/powerful scented products or wear perfume/cologne. Hospital bathrooms could also only include fragrance free soap. There could be signs around the hospital saying "Scent Free Zones" and asking visitors and patients to be mindful of the impact of fragrances and to refrain from wearing them when in the hospital. 

In schools, I think the administration would need to reach out to parents and ask them to try to use fragrance free products on their children, since scents may disturb other children and teachers. There could be parent workshops or flyers to give out to parents with more information and encourage alternative methods to hygiene. Teachers could also be asked to not wear scents. 

Overall, I do not think we can fully control the personal care products people use on themselves or their children. We can make fragrance free policies in the workplace, however, and do our best to educate others on being respectful of impact. 

Breathe Easy in a Radon Free Home

For my National Awareness Campaign, I would want the campaign to cause the audience to ask themselves about the radon safety of their home. I may take the family appeal approach, where there would be billboards and TV advertisements showing families outside of their home, smiling because they know they are living in a radon safe home. There could be the question, "Are you Radon safe?"

I'd like to use the slogan, "Breathe Easy in a Radon Free Home". If this slogan were on a billboard, there would be a statistic about the prevalence of radon in homes, and then include a statement on the simplicity of doing a home test. Lastly, there would be a website or phone # that readers could use to get more information.

In regards to stakeholders, I would like to partner with the EPA or NIH to acquire funding for free home radon testing kits, so this could reduce the barrier to acquiring a home test and increase the use of them. I could then advertise on the billboard "Call this # for a free radon test kit".  I would also like to collaborate with various radon inspection companies, not only to promote their business and advertising, but also in hopes that more frequent, affordable home visits can be done.

Library ToxNet: Bleach

While reading though one of the articles on our EnviRN Evidence lectures, there is further discussion around cleaning products and the chemicals within them that may lead to, or exacerbate, asthma. One of these products is bleach. Bleach contains chlorine which releases sodium hypochlorite, an irritant gas. This is a significant respiratory hazard and explains why recurrent use and exposure to bleach may cause asthma.

Source: https://noharm.org/sites/default/files/lib/downloads/cleaners/Risks_to_Asthma_Guide.pdf

Transportation

I have a car and I definitely drive places when they are walkable distances or can be accessed by bus. I recognize that having a car allows me to (at times) be lazy and not get physical activity that I would otherwise get if I did not have a car. Having a car is also so convenient and I appreciate this privilege. I try to carpool when I know friends and I are going to the same places just to reduce the amount of cars in use at one time. I know this may barely have an impact on the environment but I still think about it. 

I take the bus on occasion because I actually really enjoy it- I like to people watch out the window. But again, I have never had to truly rely on the bus or public transportation so I see how my perspective on the bus is more positive since I ride it on my own time/with leisure. 

After reading the articles I am still left wondering a lot about BART services. How beneficial is it on air quality (both within BART trains and at BART stations). Another thing missing from the articles we read about public transportation is its affordability. BART ticket prices, in my opinion, are not reasonable and can contribute to people feeling discouraged in using it. 

Also I am wondering about how the Uber and Lyft companies are impacting the environment (are more cars being driven because of it?) as well as individual health. These services may discourage use of public transportation or walking to places (yet they also may target an audience who has the privilege of being able to choose between transportation services- i.e. people who have more money, people who have smart phones, etc).

Air Pollution

• Who and what are the top polluters in your zip code?
• These companies and chemicals are ones found in Oakland, where I live within Alameda County. 
• Who: Pacific Galvanizing Inc, Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc, Cleveland Steel Container Corp, B&P Marble Inc.
• What: ammonia, lead, styrene, tripollutants
• Additional chemicals in Alameda County: glycol ethers, xylene, toluene, trimethylbenzene, methanol.

• What percent of the homes in your zipcode have lead-based paint?
• 3% in Alameda County have homes with lead based paint. 

• Are there Superfund sites in your zip?
• There are 2 Superfund Sites in Alameda County. A Superfund Site is a major toxic waste site. 

• What can you tell us about the Superfund sites that are near where you live?
• They are located in Livermore (about a 40 minute drive from where I live in Oakland). They are Lawrence Livermore Lab sites. They are waste sites containing "waste lagoons and wells", waste tanks above and below ground and landfills.

• What did you learn about the air quality in your zipcode?




• Alameda County was ranked "among the dirtiest/worst 10% of all counties in the U.S." (Yikes! This is awful to hear! I am also not very surprised since the city here is so full of cars, people, industries, pollutants, etc).

• How about the water quality?
• One of the dirtiest/worst water qualities in the nation! (within the 80-90th percentile). Pollutants include: mercury, pesticides, metals and PCBs. 

• How did your zipcode fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis?
• Better than I expected. Communities of color and white communities are very close in regards to toxic exposures and risk of cancer. Communities of color are at slightly higher risk. Superfund sites are in a predominantly white community of Livermore. But facilities emitting air pollutants are twice as high in communities of color. 

Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is a concept that I never deeply explored but I find really fascinating, and I enjoyed reading the Principles of Environmental Justice written in 1991 by the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. This runs closely with environmental racism, especially as I read about the impacts on low income communities of color and how they are further marginalized by corporate indifference and racism through production site pollution. This directly relates to Black Lives Matter. These communities are seen as less worthy or valuable and their health is overlooked. Furthermore, their voice is silenced when trying to advocate for their health and pursue justice. 

This also fits into the concept of social determinants of heath. One determinant is location of where you live, which has an impact on health outcomes. For example, many individuals who live near the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond have increased asthma and hospital related visits since the air quality has been impacted by the refinery (https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/02/12/8-horrifying-examples-of-corporations-mistreating-black-communities-with-environmental-racism/2/).

I connect with the EPA's definition of Environmental Justice. I think it is inclusive and thoughtful, but there is a gap in regards to accountability. I am not seeing the true consideration and implementation of EJ in communities of color and I wonder what more the EPA can do in order to uphold the true definition of EJ. 

Vulnerable Populations

The focus of this module was on vulnerable populations including low income individuals, minority populations, pregnant women and children.

The TED talk was inspiring me to be an "upstreamist."  I am learning to focus on root causes of health issues and how to collaborate with communities in order to find solutions. I also feel inspired by my MPH cohort because I think we are learning how to become upstreamists together!

The video on "Little Things Matter" shocked me in showing how chemical exposures and toxins such as lead significantly influence IQ. Ultimately, low exposure matters because there are measurable, harmful cumulative impacts (and not just on IQ!). The narrator mentions how some things are in our control, such as the food we buy (i.e. canned foods vs fresh foods) but this was a controversial statement to me- thinking about food justice and affordability- sometimes people have to purchase less healthier options bc that is less expensive. I did agree with the need for much more increased regulation in production!

Biomonitoring- Hypothetical Lab Results

If those were my hypothetical lab results, I would feel VERY disturbed.  I would think that I would have neuro and reproductive issues, since the majority of those chemicals impact those functions. I would not doubt that I would end up with a disease, maybe cancer, and infertility. I would feel incredibly sad and helpless over this news, and confused on where/how all those chemicals got into my body.

Personal Care Products: Response to Ken Cook Video

There are so many chemical unknowns it is almost scary to think about our silent daily exposures! But I like this challenge to be more aware and think about possible cumulative effects- on both self and the environment.

What stuck with me from the video was Cook's slogan around "harmful until proven safe." This is so true and it is unbelievable to me how industries get away with the use and exposure of chemicals without either knowing the effects or, knowing the effects but claiming that low doses will not be harmful. It makes me wonder what the people working for these industries feel is ethically and morally right. Are these workers fully aware of the circumstances? Also, I can see how Cook's descriptions may also be controversial to these chemical industries, corporations, or even the FDA, since it can be taken as criticism to their work or as opinion rather than fact. But this is fact! As Cook says, there needs to be some serious reconsideration and action on how to protect the people, not the polluters. The people can only do so much- chemical industries have a lot of power over our livelihood and therefore physical wellbeing.

Household Products

Product #1: Seventh Generation Lemon Dish Soap

The label on this dish soap advertises being non-toxic, so my expectation was that this product would not be too harmful, which is the case. It is a minimal eye and skin irritant, and has no known health hazards or carcinogens. I'm glad to know this since dish soap is something I use everyday- it comes in contact with not only my hands but the utensils/dishes that I eat with.

Product #2: Swiffer Wet Floor Wipes w/ Mop

I was more nervous to find out what was in these, especially since they have such a strong fragrance and are a powerful cleaner. However, it is non-toxic and a non carcinogen, yet may have acute health effects especially in regards to ingestion and skin irritation of dry skin. The ingredient is almost all water, which was surprising but makes sense, with the addition of some preservatives and ethers.

Personal Care Products

Product #1: Secret Deodorant "Spring Breeze"

I was very anxious waiting for the results to load on this product since I use it everyday (and love the scent!). I almost did not want to know how bad it is. But, it was not as bad as I expected. The overall hazard is "low to moderate", with no reproductive health hazard and and very low cancer risk. The main concern is its fragrance causing allergies and irritation. I also feel bad about its ecotoxicology. I am unsure if that is a result from production, use, or disposal. I feel confident in continuing to use this product, although my friend recently made her own eco-friendly deodorant and I am interested in trying that out!

Product #2: Pantene Smooth and Sleek Conditioner w/ Argan Oil

For some reason I expected this one to be higher in toxicity (and it is) at a moderate level of overall hazard. It also did not have reproductive or high cancer risk. A main concern being its fragrance ingredients that can lead to irritations and allergies, and the fragrance can also lead to moderate organ system toxicity which I did not expect. There is an ingredient "methylisothiazolinone" that contributes to low neurotoxicity (yikes!). I'm left wanting to know more about its high occupational hazard and what that entails. Overall, still planning to use this product (at least until the bottle runs out!)

This assignment has me relating to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change- I am in the pre-contemplation stage (honestly just not ready to reduce use or change personal care products, but I will move forward with taking this into consideration!)

Environmental Home Health Assessment

I understand that all of the assessments point to an environmental health risk, but I don't actually know what specific health threat or outcome it may lead to. For example- radon and mercury. I don't know much about several of these exposures.

I did re-discover the hazards of my dryer- we are not allowed to use it since there is not proper ventilation.

I also realize that I use candles frequently (a few times a week), my roommate uses incense (a couple times a month), and we burn sage (once every few months).

I think that the assessment asked about when my apartment was built to assess for lead paint.

I think that we may want to know if someone lives in the basement because they could have increased risk of exposure to mold or gas leaks (since many heaters are stored in basements).

I think that home-owners are responsible for home based environmental health risks. If the person(s) living there are not the home owner, but are renters/tenants, then I think that the landlord and/or property manager is responsible.

Home, Work, School, Community Exposures

These 4 environments can expose us to various biological, chemical, and radiological exposures.

Examples include:
-microwaves, cleaning supplies, mold (home)
-salmonella, chalk dust (school)
-radiation, burns, formaldehyde, air born pathogens (work)
-tobacco smoke, UV rays, smog, parasitic diseases, fecal matter (community)

The exposures we listed together in class often are related to poorer health outcomes. An observation I have while reflecting on this now is how this can be due to where people live, and often it involves lower income communities of color who are impacted the most.

It makes me think of the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, where the factory has negatively impacted this community with asthma and increased hospital visits. Here is an article that talks about it and highlights social, racial, and environmental justice:

http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/12/06/henry-clark-and-three-decades-of-environmental-justice/