Health Environment

Family planning for happy and successful life

2011-01-21T00:11:00.000-08:00

Family planning for happy and successful life
Who Expert committee defined Family planning as “a way of thinking and living that is adopted voluntary upon the basis of knowledge ,attitude and responsible decision by individuals and couples.”
The main objectives of
Family planning is to avoid unwanted births.
The family planning brings about wanted births.
Family planning regulates the intervals between pregnancies.
Family planning controls the time at which birth occurs in relation to the ages of the parents.
Family planning determines the number of children in the family.
The eligible couples refers to a currently married couple where in the wife is in the reproductive age, which is generally assumed to lie between the ages of 15 and45.
Target couples are the couples who have had 2-3 living children, it also includes families with one child or even newly married couples with a view to develop acceptance of the idea of family planning from the earliest possible.
Contraceptive Failure Rate
It is defined as pregnancy rates per 100 women during first year of use of contraceptives.
They are broadly grouped as
-Spacing: For family planning knowledge of spacing is most important.
-Terminal
Family planning in Nepal
Family planning services are provide free of cost by the Government of Nepal, Contraceptive Retail Sales (CRS) company is responsible for its distribution. Depo-Provera is the most popular contraceptive method in Nepal.

Environmental Physics

2011-01-19T00:12:00.000-08:00

Environmental Physics

What is exatctly the definition of Environmental Physics?. There are so many definition of it .
In the increasingly and modern technology,applied physcs plays a vital role to understanding
the effect of new and the existing technologies on environment.There is the direct impact on
society also.
Mathematical modeling,ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions and simultations of electromagnetic
phenomena.Mathematical modeling isthe main physical processes of these studies and electrodynamics
simulations of the solar wind.It also analysis the energy usage and emissions in urban
transpartation.The applied physics colaborated withlDepartment of Natural resourses and the
environment ,Atmospheric ,Oceanic , Space science and Geology.
Also the Environmental Physics concerns with all species of life survive and reproduction.It also
involves in mathematical analysis that describe the physical processes of the environment and many
bilogical processes.Environmental Physics gives the ideas about thecomplex response of animals and
plants on environmental change.
Now a days the Environment change has made both politician and public aware of its effect like as
global weather,global warming etc.mostly the biologists atmospheric scientists and weather forecast
and modeller.
These global warming and water cycles and weather change plays vital role in Agricultural fields.
So we all public, politician should be aware of it.

Applied physics

2011-01-19T00:11:00.000-08:00

Applied physics

Applied physics is a general term for physics which is the applied field of Physics.
It is the practical field .There are different types of theory in physics.
The study of these theories is the pure science but applied physics is the practical
based study as similar to applied mathematics. It usually differs from engineering in
that engineering is to design on something but applied physics is to develop new thing
that is physics research. Its main aim to develop new technology and helps to solve engineering.
Applied physics is the implementation of pure physics or implementation of basics theory of physics.
It is the growing field in physics. It is totally practically based course.
There is great scope of Applied physics in many field. Such as in Engineering, Research fields.

Agrophysics

2011-01-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

Agrophysics
Agrophysics is a branch of science which deals with Physics and Agronomy.
Agrophysics is the study of the agroecosystem and the biological objects
and it is described by the methods of physical sciences.

Agrophysics is closely related to biophysics but it is not related with biological terms. It is different from biophysics. Biophysics is the study of biology and physics.
It is the research oriented field. It involves the knowledge of Nutritional science
and Agricultural technology, Biotechnology, Genetics etc.
It is different from agricultural engineering. There are many institutes where Agrophysics can study. Anyone can study this course but you must be patient and hardworking.

Insurance To Remove HealtH Accidents And Risk

2010-12-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

Insurance To Remove HealtH Accidents And Risk

Insurance is a risk management desk of all things.HEALTH INSURANCE is one of the most important among the different types of insurance.Such as Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Marine Insurance, Vehicle Insurance, Farmer Insurance, Land Insurance, Property Insurance, Child insurance Insurance, Motorbike Insurance, Aernoplane Insurance, Health Care Insurance, Home Insurance, Insurance, Mobile Insurance, Shop Insurance, Restaurant Insurance, Clothing Insurance etc. There are so many insurance. But Health insurance is most important.In nepali language insurance is said as "BEMA." Someone says that "HEALH IS WEALTH".Health is most precious thing than anything in the world.When we do health insurance ,insurance company is responsible to take the the risk of it.Insurance company compenset all that we need.Now a days Health Insurance is very great and plays vital role to make health healthy and better life.

Mental Health is great problems among youngster

2010-03-25T13:26:00.001-07:00

About 500 million people are believed to suffer from stress-related, neurotic, and somatoform (psychological problems which presents themselves as physical complaints) disorders. Mental health is not mere absence of mental illness. Mentally healthy person has three main characteristics:
-He feels comfortable about himself.
-He neither underestimates nor overestimates his ability.
-He is able to meet the demands of life.

Causes of mental illness are organic conditions and social pathological causes. In Newari language some people say "DIKKA JULA" that means headache.Newari has many festivals.They have many problems of money to perform such activities.then they say 'PAISA MARU DIKKA JULA'.There must be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It includes worries , anxieties, emotional stress, tension, frustration, unhappy marriages ,broken homes, poverty , industrialization, changing family structure ,rejection ,neglect., insecurity ,economic and like.
Due to such types of mental illness people are engaged in drug addiction and do many social crimes.
is

Prevention of Allergies

2010-03-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

There is a plethora of allergy medications which
supposedly provide relief for the watery eyes,
itchy/runny nose and sneezing. Over the counter
antihistamines and decongestants are the best
kinds of over-the-counter drugs to take.
Using steam therapy to clear out nasal passages
is also a great way to obtain relief. Since many
believe that symptoms of asthma are attributed to
a spring/summer cold, the best thing to do to
determine whether you are allergic to pollen is to
receive a skin test or a blood test. There are
different ways of prevention for different ways of
allergies.

Bug bites

2010-03-06T21:23:00.001-08:00

It’s important to wear proper attire when walk through
tall grass land. You must pay attention to strange
symptoms you may experience while at play outside.
Bug bites are common during the time of the year.
Prevention:
You must wash your hands thoroughly and frequently
during the day. Many illnesses are born of common bacteria.
Such types of bacteria are easily found in grass.
So it’s always a good idea that prevention is better
than care.

Adolescence

2010-03-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

What is the exactly the meaning of adolescence? The adolescence is nothing but the age group between 10 to 19 is period of adolescence among different phases of development of man.
We mostly fall in adolescence group from childhood. There they are considered as adolescence. The WHO (World Health Organization defines adolescence as the age between 10 to 19 years.
There are different changes during adolescence time .They are as follows
Physical changes
Physical changes are the overall growth and development occurring in the size and function of different organs and systems in the body .such changes occur in adolescence time rapidly.
External changes are different in adolescence boys and girls. Internal systems are also changing rapidly such as bones, muscles, glands, digestive system, blood circulatory system and reproductive system.
Mental changes
During adolescence a number of changes also occur in the mental set up. Some mental changes are as follows:
Creativity analytic power and mental maturity grows during adolescence.
Adolescents begin to understand their responsibilities towards self, family, and society in general.
Emotional changes
There are a number of changes also in the emotional set up of adolescents.
These include stronger feelings and expressions of happiness, sadness, anger, likes and love and hatred.
Adolescence is a period of development of newer emotions which are not so prominent in children.
Social changes
During adolescence, both males and females begin to socialize more.
Their group interactions and activities also increase.
Friendship plays an important role in the lives of adolescents.

Allergies

2010-03-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

There are different ways that people may have allergy.
Some people may have allergy when sees mass of people.
Now a days, with spring comes a host of sinus and nasal
issues, mainly due to the release of pollen from weeds,
trees, and grass. Adverse reactions to pollen are generally
called hay fever, or rose fever. Because of the abundance
of pollen in the air during springtime, it is extremely
difficult escape breathing in those itchy molecules.
Some people who are exposed to large amounts of pollen
can develop asthma. Environment becomes dusty and may
cause allergy.

Adolescence time is very risky

2010-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

During this time teenagers boys and girls cannot able to take right decision in their life. But they have to think their problems many times or consult with elders. This is time that we make our future.
Problems during time of Adolescence
Several physical, mental, sociaal,and emotional problems appear during adolescence. These problems occur mainly because of the changing physical and mental state of the individuals and that of the society in general. Some common problems during adolescence are as follows:
Increased mental tensions so in this time teenagers do many mistakes in their life.
1.Peer and parental pressure.
2.Unadjusted family and social situations.
3.Malnutrition.
4.Tendency to hide things.
5.Drop out from school.
6.Sexual perversion.
7.Early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
8.Deviation to antisocial activities.
9.Beginning to smoke/drug abuse and alcohol intake.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs)

2010-03-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

The diseases transmitted from one individual to another through the sexual contact are called sexually transmitted diseases.
Sexually transmitted diseases are communicable diseases that are mainly transmitted thought sexual contact. These are commonly called STDs.
There are various types of transmitted diseases through sexual contact.
1. Syphilis: Syphilis is contagious diseases .It affects firstly in sex organs. Then after it affects the hearth, lungs and minds. It is cause by germs called "Treponema Pallidum".
2. Gonorrohoea: Gonorrohoea is one of the oldest human diseases. It is caused by a germ called "Gonococcus of Neisser". It affects the genitals (sex Organs), urethra, anus, throat and cervix. It is also transmitted by sexual intercourse.
3. HIVS/AIDS: It is also sexually transmitted disease. AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is viral infection caused by Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV).HIV infections leads to AIDS. HIV is transmitted through
-sexual relation with an infected person,
-the use of infected syringes and needles,
-blood transfusion, and
-infected mother or her unborn child.
So one must be careful with these diseases.

How to implement Sex Education

2010-03-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

Sex education is urge/feelings that attract man and woman to each other .It is also taken as a drive/ force, which influences our family life. Sexuality is a kind of feeling or awareness about oneself and surroundings. Love, recognition, sharing and belonging are the constant sexual needs of an individual throughout childhood to adulthood.
Sexuality is lie long process, which contributes to healthy sexual reproductive practices.
Sex Education can be defined as a process of bringing changes in knowledge, attitude and practice about different aspects of sec which can make the sexual life of a person happy and healthy.
Thus through the sex education, we can learn about the reproductive systems, different development stages, healthy sexual behaviors, sexual disease and their control. With the help of these things we can bring about changes in our behaviors and a healthy sexual life.
So sex education is very important to solve sexual problems, to prevent us from STDs, HIV/AIDS, to inform about sex related issues, to remove our mis-conceptions of sex and sexuality, to get answer on sex related issues.

Maternal and Child Health

2010-02-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

Maternal and Child Health is the preventive, pro motive, curative and rehabilitative health care of mothers and children. The main components of maternal and child health care are Antenatal care, Postnatal care, Intranatal care and care of the under five children.
Antenatal care
i.e. shortly ANC is the care of woman during pregnancy. The main aim of ANC is to achieve at the end of a pregnancy a healthy mother and a healthy baby. Drug contraindicated during pregnancy is very harmful. Smoking effects low birth weight baby, Alcohol effects brain development, Thalidomide effects deformed limbs, Tetra cycline effects skeletal development, streptomycin effects 8th cranial nerve damage.
Postnatal care
Postnatal care means the care of the mother and new born after delivery. The objectives postnatal care are to prevent complications of postnatal periods like puperal sepsis, urinary tract infections, mastitis, to prevent care for the restoration of mother to optimum health, to provide family planning immunization services, to check the adequacy feeding, to provide neonatal tetanus and other infection clean hands.
Intranatal care
It is the care during the time of delivery. The main purpose of Intranatal care are as follow .They are delivery with minimum injury to the infant and mother, care of the baby at delivery- resuscitation, care of cord, care of eyes etc.
Nutritional status assessment of child i.e. growth indicates physical maturation, development indicates functions, Anthopometric measurement: height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, growth chart, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment.
These are lots of thing that we have to care about maternal and child health.

Health Education Is Important For Everyone

2010-02-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

Health education is the education about how to live healthy in our society. The health education is very important .We all know that “Health is Wealth”. Without health we cannot do any thing .The is the most prior thing in our life. We live in a society .Society is made up of families. So that we all know about heath education. And the very important thing is that our environment must be healthy. If our environment is healthy then we can feel healthy life. We do not disturb environment of animals, birds. Health education is indispensable in achieving individual and community health. It’s a process propose at encouraging people to want to be healthy, to know to stay healthy, to do what they can individually and collectively to maintain health and to seek help when needed. It changes knowledge, practice and attitude. Health education has four popular and well known approaches that are Service approach, Health education, Regulatory approach, Primary health care approach. Communication is main thing that exchange ideas, information and feelings. There are four ways of communication Sender i.e. Source, message i.e. Content, and channels (medium), Receiver (Audience) .There are different methods to give health education.
1. Individual methods: It involves person to person communication. The limitation is that the numbers we reach are small and health education is given only it those who come in contact example counseling and interviews.
2.Small group methods: Group teaching is an effective way of educating the community example Demonstration, Problem solving, Role field playing trip, Panel discussion, Brain storming, Symposium, Buzz session and case study.
3. Mass method: This is the education of general publics. Like as from Lecture, Campaigns, exhibition, Newspaper, Posters, TV, Radio, Internet. aids. The main principles of Health education are
The media of health education are Audio aids, Visual aids, Audio-visual Awareness Trail, Evaluation, Interest and Adoption.

Health, Environment, Agriculture, Development Environment - Four Relative Terms

2010-02-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

Health, Environment, Agriculture & Development are four relative terms which can be summed up as HEAD. HEAD is the controlling organisation of any thing. Thus these four factors are the major controlling sectors for our society.

Now we should take measures to control all these four sectors. Till date we all had tried to destroy these four sectors, now we have to pay the price for the destruction. To overcome this problem we have to restore all these sectors.

Under Health sector lots of Govt. Initiatives are their to provide good health to the citizens. But the public is still facing the problems. We have to look up the loop holes in these initiatives. We all know the initiatives taken up by the Govt. are very visionary, but the plans fail to get materialised. The loop hole are many.

Similar situation is prevailing in all the four sectors. Numbers of projects and schemes are thrown into the society to control the four sectors.

Some project are:

NRHM- National Rural Health Mission
NMEP- National Malaria Eradication Programme
MAB- Man & Biosphere Programme (UNESCO)
IFPS- Integrated Forest Protection Scheme
CSS- Centrally sponsored Schemes for Wildlife Conservation
NWMP- National Water Quality Monitoring Programme
NAMP- National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
NLCP- National Lake Conservation Plan
NRCP- National River Conservation Plan
NWCP- National Wetland Conservation Plan
NAP- National Afforestation Programme
NFSM- National Food Security Mission
NHM- National Horticultural Mission
NAIP- National Agriculture Innovation Project
ATMA-Agriculture Technology Management Agency
Watershed Development Program
MMA- Micro Management of Agriculture Scheme
NREGE- National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
SGRY- Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
SGSY- Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana
PMGSY- Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
IAY- Indira Awaas Yojana
ARWSP- Accelerated Rural Water Supply Progarmme
TSC- Total Sanitation Campaign
JNNURM- Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission etc.

These project/schemes were started by Govt. and in some occasion these projects/schemes become successful and on maximum occasion they become unsuccessful.

There are number of factors which helped to made these project/schemes unsuccessful.

But to have a sustainable & good livelihood we have to overcome these problems.
We will discuss on these problems.

Thanks
Abhijit Mohapatra

The Earth is shouting as "Save Me From Pollution"

2010-02-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Earth is shouting as "Save Me From Pollution"

In the name of development people misused the natural resources.They know everything what to do and not to do but they didn't think about future but think about today's luxury life.When someone says that misuse of earth resources bring ecological disaster in future then they pretend as deaf ear.Now a days people are so mercy and they think that I have to survive and other survive or not they don't care.Now this time more and more automobiles and factories are running day by day.
But even we get benefit from them,we don't care that air we breathe becomes poisoned and suffer from throat cancer.Hundred of tonnes,alarming signals and horn are released into the atmosphere.This poisonous waste ends up in our lungs and cause lung cancer and many other severely affects our health.Some of it passes to our bloodstream which is very dangerous to our health.Now we have to do something before it became to late.We can not prevent deforestation but we can do plantation.So we have to save our earth.If Earth remains then we will remain in Earth otherwise nowhere to survive.

Environment and Health Education

2010-02-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

Environment and Health Education

Environment and Health Education are very co-related things.
The concept of education should be completely changed to create an awareness regarding environment
protection .New generations should be aware of various
aspects of environment and health education.
The disturbing thing is that the younger generation is still unaware about various
aspects to protect environment.The world environment is going worse day by day.The resources
of nature are rapidly destroyed which may leads to ecological balance.
There is one way to give knowledge about Environment and health education by teaching the this subject at the school level.
The main thing is that the general public must be educated about to maintain the environment clean.They must know the knowledge about the ways to protect the environment.
Increasing population may be problematic for saving environment so health education is must for saving environment.We all have to know that "If there is maintained,balanced and peace Environment then only we can survive and can give our identity".People must realize from their heart that Environment is not for you only,not for me only, not for us only but it is for all living creatures in this world.So we have to save our world and Environment.

Pollution and Environment

2010-02-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

Pollution and Environment

From the beginning of civilization ,the man, first life in the world created by nature committed crimes against the nature is disturbing the environment which makes Environment pollution. Green forests have been cut down, then left dry and fallow, free flowing streams stopped, diverted and greater material advancement.
with the invention of power driven machines and development of modern techniques of exploitation of mineral wealth. Man need a luxury life. How do we save our environment from the drawbacks of industrial society? There is no any clear cut answer to solve the problems created by industries.But we can keep it clean of garbage and waste products of industries in proper place.
Pollution in Environment does not occur only by industries but also from vehicles generators ,.So we have to clean and repair the vehicles and generators periodically for good performance which helps to maintain the clean Environment.In factory there must be apply pollution control measurements such as sound absorber,proper maintenance of machines. we must try to decrease the smoke and level of noise .

Environmental physics

2010-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

Environmental physics

What is exactly the definition of Environmental Physics?. There are so many definition of it .
In the increasingly and modern technology, applied physics plays a vital role to understanding
the effect of new and the existing technologies on environment.There is the direct impact on society also. Mathematical modeling, ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions and simulations of electromagnetic phenomena. Mathematical modeling is the main physical processes of these studies and electrodynamics simulations of the solar wind.It also analysis the energy usage and emissions in urban transportation.The applied physics collaborated with Department of Natural resources and the environment ,Atmospheric ,Oceanic , Space science and Geology. Also the Environmental Physics concerns with all species of life survive and reproduction.It also involves in mathematical analysis that describe the physical processes of the environment and many biological processes.Environmental Physics gives the ideas about the complex response of animals and plants on environmental change. Now a days the Environment change has made both politician and public aware of its effect like as global weather,global warming etc.mostly the biologists atmospheric scientists and weather forecast
and modeler.These global warming and water cycles and weather change plays vital role in Agricultural fields. So we all public, politician should be aware of it.

Relation between Environment and physics

2010-02-16T21:36:00.000-08:00

Relation between Environment and physics

There are various problems in environmental science with physics and social issues and application of physics which are very essential.eg sensor developments, energy conservation,storage and management of radioactive materials,development of energy saving etc.
All are very interesting and challenging for physics.Combining courses in physics,Chemistry and environment science gives great success for solving problems of environment science.

What are really really bad molds?

2008-10-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

In fact, there is no such a standard in CDC or NIH, or even the medical societies, who has or have set a criterion. But medical and clinical research already had found many commonly isolated molds or fungi from animals and human. Every medical text book has those mold or yeast names described. Since people are getting older and living longer, new fungal pathogens are growing and emerging.

All molds and yeasts are bad!!!

The book "Atlas of Clinical Fungi. G. S. de Hoog et al. 2000. CBS Netherlands" described thousands of fungal molds and yeasts, which are reportedly isolated from animal or human hosts published in scientific journals.

Medical mycology textbooks mainly include those common but pathogenic molds and yeasts:

Aspergillus fumigatus; Coccidioides immitis; Paracoccidioides braziliensis; Histoplasma capsulatum; Blastomyces dermatitidis; yeast Candida albicans; yeast Cryptococcus neoformans; Dermatophytes, which infect skin and nails.

Any molds that can grow in 37C are potentially human pathogens.

Because within human body, the temperature is 37C, a mold to be a pathogen, has two conditions to meet: to tolerate a 37C temperature and to resist or evade the human immune system.

All BSL-3 and some BSL-2 molds!

BSL-3 molds: such as Penicillium marneffei; Coccidioides immitis; Histoplasma capsulatum.

BSL-2 molds: such as Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus terreus.

Opportunistic yeast pathogens: Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans

Both yeasts are saprobes, yet they are capable of invading humans if the host has weakened immune systems. Candida can even invade human skin, digestive tract and reproductive tract, causing so-called "Candidiasis". Cyrptococcus can cause "Cryptococcosis".

Dimorphic fungi

Dimorphic fungi are meant that a fungus can take both morphological forms: in filamentous moldy form or a more-or-less yeast form, upon different culture conditions. Most fungal pathogens do take yeast forms once they are invaded human tissues.

Courtesy of Nature Review Immunology, by Luigina Romani, @ http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v4/n1/box/nri1255_BX2.html

Black Mold Stachybotrys

2008-10-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Black Mold Stachybotrys

This article is also available @ http://www.bioidea.net/

The really black "Black Mold" Stachybotrys, or so-called "Sick Home Syndrome" mold Stachybotrys is the biggest fear in the Indoor Air Quality industry.

It is a cellulolytic saprophyte with a worldwide distribution and is frequently recovered in water-damaged buildings.

This black mold aroused significant notification when infants in Cleveland, Ohio, died of pulmonary hemorrhage after lived in Stachybotrys infested houses.

From the authoritative book "Atlas of clinical Fungi" (de Hoog et al., 2000, CBS Netherland), this mold is not described but referred to as "a toxigenic fungus, it was isolated from lungs of a child with pulmory hemisiderosis" .

That publication goes to the Journal of Pediatrics (Okan Elidemir, Vol.104 No.4 October 1999, pp. 964-966), in which "Stachybotrys atra, a toxigenic fungus, has been implicated as a potential cause of pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis in infants living in water-damaged homes. Although epidemiologic evidence supports this association, neither the organism nor its toxic products has ever been recovered from humans. We report the first case in which Stachybotrys was isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of a child with pulmonary hemorrhage. Stachybotrys was also recovered from his water-damaged home. The patient recovered completely after his immediate removal from the environment and subsequent cleaning of his home. This case provides further evidence that this fungus is capable of causing pulmonary hemorrhage in children".

A case study published in Journal of Respiratory Medicine (Shariat and Collard. Vol.3, issue2, page 74-75, 2007) confirmed that "a patient who presented with acute respiratory failure and histopathological evidence of diffuse alveolar damage shortly after exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum in her home".

Stachybotrys chartarum micrographs with magnification of 600x and 1000x.

Very Tough Molds Infect Hand Skin

2008-10-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

There are types of molds called "dermatophytes", or dermatophytous fungi which are common in our environment, usually in soil, could infect human hands (palm skin or nails), if in contact with the mold spores or conidia, when doing gardening work.

Some of those dermatophytes are so tough and resistant to local treatment with over-the-counter anti-fungal ointment or cream to the localised skin infection over a prolonged period of 6 months, that prescribed medicine must be used to systematically inhibit their growth, and cure the skin. Those fungal infections are related to "athelet' foot" and "Jockey's itch".

Those dermatophytous fungi belongs to the genera Microsporium, Epidermophyton, and Tricophyton.

For mold testing, go to www.bioidea.net.

A man killed by mold spores called Aspergillus

2008-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Now most people know that molds in a house is a big concern for health. And there is one more scientific evidence.

A healthy man with a normal immune system who inhaled mold spores (Aspergillus) while doing gardening work actually died in a few days. This incident is reported in a scientific journal "The Lancet" as well as in the UK press in June 2008.

Mold spores inhaled by human can penetrate deep into lungs and lodged in lungs' aveoli. The mold Aspergillus spores are so small that they are very fit in lungs' aveoli. Mold spores will germinate when warm and humid, while the human immune system will counter-attack.

The overwhelming immune response indeed arrest and shut down the man's system. He died within days from the mold disease called "invasive aspergillosis".

Mold, Environment, and Health

2008-09-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Mold and related information please see www.bioidea.net.

Air quality in Malaysia: impacts, management issues and future challenges.

2008-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Centre for Environmental Technology and Natural Resource Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor. awang@fsas.upm.edu.my

OBJECTIVE: Observations have been made on the long-term trends of major air pollutants in Malaysia including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, the ozone and total suspended particulate matter (particularly PM10), and sulfur dioxide, emitted from industrial and urban areas from early 1970s until late 1998. METHODOLOGY: The data show that the status of atmospheric environment in Malaysia, in particular in highly industrialized areas such as Klang Valley, was determined both by local and transboundary emissions and could be described as haze and non-haze periods. RESULTS: During the non-haze periods, vehicular emissions accounted for more than 70% of the total emissions in the urban areas and have demonstrated two peaks in the diurnal variations of the aforementioned air pollutants, except ozone. The morning 'rush-hour' peak was mainly due to vehicle emissions, while the late evening peak was mainly attributed to meteorological conditions, particularly atmospheric stability and wind speed. Total suspended particulate matter was the main pollutant with its concentrations at few sites often exceeding the Recommended Malaysia Air Quality Guidelines. The levels of other pollutants were generally within the guidelines. Since 1980, six major haze episodes were officially reported in Malaysia: April 1983, August 1990, June 1991, October 1991, August to October 1994, and July to October 1997. The 1997 haze episode was the worst ever experienced by the country. Short-term observations using continuous monitoring systems during the haze episodes during these periods clearly showed that suspended particulate matter (PM10) was the main cause of haze and was transboundary in nature. Large forest fires in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan during the haze period, clearly evident in satellite images, were identified as the probable key sources of the widespread heavy haze that extended across Southeast Asia from Indonesia to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. The results of several studies have also provided strong evidence that biomass burning is the dominating source of particulate matter. The severity and extent of 1997's haze pollution was unprecedented, affecting some 300 million people across the region. The amount of economic costs suffered by Southeast Asian countries during this environmental disaster was enormous and is yet to be fully determined. Among the important sectors severely affected were air and land transport, shipping, construction, tourism and agro-based industries. The economic cost of the haze-related damage to Malaysia presented in this study include short-term health costs, production losses, tourism-related losses and the cost of avertive action. Although the cost reported here is likely to be underestimated, they are nevertheless significant (roughly RM1 billion). CONCLUSIONS: The general air quality of Malaysia since 1970 has deteriorated. Studies have shown that should no effective countermeasures be introduced, the emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the year 2005 would increase by 1.4, 2.12, 1.47 and 2.27 times, respectively, from the 1992 levels.

Danger Zone at Night Spot

2007-12-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

Workers and patrons at food and entertainment outlets,which allowed smoking are more exposed to the harmful effects of tobacco, according to a survey by Universiti Sains Malaysia.

They are exposed to the harmful effects of carcinogen and toxin as the air pollution there is 91% higher than in outlets, which prohibits smoking.

USM National Poison Centre re-searcher Dr Foong Kin said the smoke could cause dizziness, sore throat, watery eyes and coughing.

She said the study was conducted in 50 venues in Penang and 103 in Kuala Lumpur, involving bars, discos, cafes, hotels, fast-food outlets, snooker centres, restaurants, Internet cafes and video arcades between February and November last year.

She said a TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor, costing about RM17,000, was used to record the levels of respirable suspended particles (RSP) in the venues involved in the study.

Dr Foong said the study was aimed at showing that workers and patrons in smoking venues were exposed to harmful levels of carcinogen and toxin.

“For a start, we appeal to the Government to implement smoke-free zones for all air-conditioned public areas and workplace.

“Such a move has already been implemented in England, Scotland and Ireland,” she said in an interview.

Currently, the country prohibits smoking in governmental offices, health and education facilities, public transport and shopping malls.

Restaurants are permitted to have a designated smoking area within the premises while there are no smoking restrictions in bars, discos and nightclubs.

Dr Foong said it did not make much difference whether restau-rants had designated smoking areas.

“The partition around that area is so low that the smoke from there travels easily to the non-smoking section,” she said.

Dr Foong said she was currently conducting a study on the im- pact of passive smoking on those working in places, which allowed smoking.

“We are targeting more than 100 workers from 50 places, in-cluding pubs and bars in Penang,” she said.

The study, which started in September, was expected to finish by December, she said.

By NG SU-ANN

Air Pollutions- room for improvement

2007-12-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

VEHICLES and power plants that generate the electricity that we use, were the main air polluters last year. Power stations emitted half of all the soot that clouded our sky, and also half of the total sulphur dioxide (a pungent gas which irritates the respiratory system and forms acid rain).

Motor vehicles, vans and lorries in particular, spewed the most oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide, gases which lead to respiratory ailments.

Foul air: Nationwide, the annual averages of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and ozone were below guidelines, but there is concern over the effects of chronic, long-term exposure.

Klang Valley folks breathed in unhealthy air quality 7% of the time last year, and moderate air quality 70% of the time. The air was good only 23% of the time. The valley is prone to air pollution due to its geographical position, industrial and commercial activities, dense population and traffic.

Nationwide, the annual averages of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and ozone were below guidelines, but there is concern over the effects of chronic, long-term exposure. Ground level ozone is of concern as continuous exposure aggravates respiratory ailments, harms vegetation, and leads to smog. Ozone forms when oxides of nitrogen react with hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds in the presence of heat and sunlight.

Murky flows

The main river pollutants are domestic sewage, waste from livestock farms, runoffs from towns, silt from earthworks, leachate from rubbish dumps, runoffs from farms, litter from riverside squatters and mining waste

Last year, 80 river basins were deemed clean, 59 slightly polluted and seven, polluted. This is a marked improvement from 2005, when 80 river basins were clean, 51 slightly polluted and 15 polluted. The seven polluted rivers were Pinang, Juru, Buloh, Danga, Tebrau, Segget and Pasir Gudang.

Last year, domestic sewage and discharges from latex-based factories, agro-based industries and manufacturing industries, fouled 22 river basins.

Domestic sewage and livestock farming waste soiled 41 river basins while earthworks and land clearing turned 42 river basins murky.

Tainted groundwater

Arsenic levels were high in groundwater near a radioactive waste landfill, solid waste landfills, municipal water supply sources and agricultural areas. Groundwater near waste dumps was also contaminated with iron, lead, manganese, phenol and faecal bacteria.

Contaminated seas

Our marine waters showed a higher of Escherichia coli, mercury and arsenic levels last year than the year before. However, levels of suspended solids, oil and grease, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium dropped.

The faecal bacteria E. coli was the dominant pollutant in waters off 71 islands, which included resort islands, marine parks and protected islands. This is because of the discharge of raw or poorly treated domestic sewage.

Pollution by silt was the worst the coasts of Kedah, Perak and Negri Sembilan. Oil and grease pollution were mostly seen in Terengganu, Pahang and Negri Sembilan. E. coli levels were highest off the coasts of Perlis, Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Penang island.

Lead contamination was evident in Terengganu, Kelantan and Perak waters.

Our seas are polluted by rubbish, silt, heavy metals and sewage.

Toxic discards

Hazardous waste thrown out by industries more than doubled in the past two years, from 548,916 tonnes to 1,103,457 tonnes. The hike was due to the addition of electronic waste and gypsum waste (511,929 tonnes) from two generators which were previously not reported.

Gypsum, oil and hydrocarbon, dross, heavy metal sludge, mineral sludge and e-waste form the bulk of the waste. The waste had mostly come from industries dealing with chemicals, electronics, metals, pharmaceuticals, industrial gas, rubber and plastic, petroleum/oleo chemicals and batteries, as well as from automotive workshops.

By TAN CHENG LI

Smoke out the polluters

2007-12-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

I WOULD like to highlight the problem of dust pollution caused by factories and palm oil mills in this country.

It is a problem faced by tens of thousands of Malaysians every day, and has the potential to cause serious health problems.

A recent article in a local daily reported on dust pollution suffered by the residents of Chaah, Johor, where a palm oil mill has been causing black dust to descend on the town for close to 20 years now.

It is high time the authorities act on such pollution by industries.

Similarly, my hometown of Nibong Tebal, Penang, has been under constant assault for many years from factories and palm oil mills. The boilers in these mills spew out smoke and most crucially black dust into our houses and our lungs.

Just like the residents of Chaah, the people of Nibong Tebal have faced dust and air pollution for many years. Much of this airborne “dust fallout” is being inhaled by us, our children and parents, every day.

“Particulate matter is especially harmful to people with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States warns on its website.

“Other people who are sensitive to particulate matter exposure are children, the elderly and people with heart disease.”

I understand there are clear environmental guidelines on the emission of smoke and dust. If so, can the Department of Environment please act for the sake of the countless numbers of Malaysians suffering from the invisible enemy, that is, dust pollution.

We hear of Malaysians complaining about the haze every year. We complain about the lack of urgency shown by Indonesia. What about ourselves then?

We can do our part by cutting down on pollution, through strict enforcement of existing regulations.

Environmental issues are not just about saving the wildlife and the forests. We have to act to save us humans, too.

By MOHSIN ABDULLAH, Subang Jaya, Selangor

Increasing illness

2007-12-28T20:27:00.000-08:00

A WARMER world will also mean a sickly one. World Health Organisation (WHO) projects that illnesses and deaths related to temperatures, extreme weather and population displacement, as well as from air pollution, food and water shortages and food-, vector- and rodent-borne diseases will go up.

“Some expected impact will be beneficial, for instance, a drop in cold-related deaths, but most will be adverse. Medical experts do not expect to see new diseases but changes in the frequency and severity of familiar ones,” says Dr H. Ogawa, adviser at WHO Western Pacific office.

He says the health effects of climate change are already seen as in the heat waves in Europe in 2003 and Tokyo in 2004, as well as increasing cases of dengue fever in Singapore.

The shift in weather patterns will introduce vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, to areas where vectors were not previously present. The temperature rise has contributed to rising dengue cases, triggering global concern.

“The distribution of dengue cases has changed to a wider population. It now afflicts 30% of the global population but that figure will reach 50% to 60% by 2085. We need more vigilant surveillance and health control for dengue.”

Ogawa says the higher temperatures will also worsen photochemical smog, triggered by the reaction between car emissions and sunlight.

Under-nutrition is another future concern as food production, which is affected by temperature and rainfall, is expected to decline.

He says developing countries will suffer more from climate-related health risk as they lack supporting facilities. To protect their populations from climate-related health risks, he says nations must strengthen their public health systems.

Ontario: new car licensing fee?

2007-10-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

All provincial candidates agree to move
to a differential car licensing fee

Toronto - All the provincial candidates agreed Ontario should switch to a differential car licensing fee, away from the current flat rate for every type of cars, during a Trinity-Spadina riding community meeting on Tuesday October 2nd.

The idea would be to charge less the smaller cars and more the larger, more polluting cars - as opposed to currently charging $ 74.00 yearly to every single cars in Ontario to renew their license plate, regardless of the engine size.

All the provincial candidates in the Trinity-Spadina riding, when asked about a differential car licensing scheme, answered unanimously. "It is a good idea", said incumbent MPP Rosario Marchese, NDP. "If I am elected, I will put forward a private member's bill" to move this idea forward, has declared Marchese.

All other candidates, from Liberal, to Progressive Conservative, to the Green Party and an independant candidate, all said they were in favour of such a tax change.

Currently, the City of Toronto is contemplating introducing a similar flat-rate car licensing fee, modelled after the Provincial scheme - even though this type of accross the board fee is sending out a contradictory message to the City of Toronto Climate Change reduction plan. Bigger polluting cars are taxed the same way as the smaller, less polluting vehicles.

Athlete's foot

2006-04-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects many people at some time in their lives. The condition easily spreads in public places such as communal showers, locker rooms and fitness centers.

Usually this condition affects the spaces between your toes, but it can spread to your toenails and the soles and sides of your feet. The infection can also involve your palms and fingers. Although it occurs primarily in adults, athlete's foot can affect children.

Changing socks, keeping your feet dry and alternating shoes can help you prevent athlete's foot. Often, athlete's foot responds well to over-the-counter treatments you can apply to your skin. More severe cases may require oral medications.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of athlete's foot can be numerous, although you probably won't have all of them:

Itching, stinging and burning between your toes, especially the last two toes
Itching, stinging and burning on the soles of your feet
Itchy blisters
Cracking and peeling skin, especially between your toes and on the soles of your feet
Excessive dryness of the skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet
Nails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored or pulling away from the nail bed

Causes
A group of fungi called dermatophytes causes athlete's foot. These organisms sprout tendril-like extensions that infect the superficial layer of the skin. In response to this fungal growth, the basal layer of the skin produces more skin cells than usual. As these cells push to the surface, the skin becomes thick and scaly. Most often, the more the fungi spread, the more scales your skin produces, causing the ring of advancing infection to form.

Also called tinea pedis, ringworm of the foot and dermatophytosis, athlete's foot is closely related to other fungal skin conditions, most with similar names. Tinea is a type of fungus, and pedis is the Latin word for "foot." Other common tinea infections include:

Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis). This form causes a red, scaly ring or circle of rash on the top layer of your skin.
Jock itch (tinea cruris). This form affects your genitals, inner thighs and buttocks.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). This form is most common in children and involves red, itchy patches on the scalp, leaving bald patches.

Risk factors
The organisms that cause athlete's foot thrive in damp, close environments created by thick, tight shoes that can pinch the toes together and create warm, moist areas in between them. Damp socks and shoes increase the risk. Warm, humid conditions that promote heavy sweating favor its spread.

The fungus is carried on fragments of skin or other particles that contaminate floors, mats, rugs, bed linens, clothes, shoes and other surfaces. Plastic shoes in particular provide a welcoming environment for fungal growth and infection. Person-to-person contact is another means of transmission. Even household pets can pass along fungal infections. Although transmission can occur within a household, the infection is more commonly passed along in public areas — locker rooms, saunas, swimming pools, communal baths and showers. Not everyone who carries the fungus develops signs and symptoms of athlete's foot.

Vulnerability probably involves a genetic component, but those who are known to be more vulnerable include people with weakened immune systems, for example, people with diabetes or HIV/AIDS. Men are more likely than women to develop athlete's foot.

Complications
The fungal infection can create an environment that invites a secondary bacterial infection. By producing an antibiotic substance, the fungus can kill off vulnerable bacteria and favor the overgrowth of hardier, resistant types. In turn, the bacteria release substances that can cause tissue breakdown - soggy skin and painful eroded areas between the toes.

After an episode of athlete's foot, proteins might enter your bloodstream, leading to an allergic reaction that may cause an eruption of blisters on your fingers, toes or hands (dermatophytid reaction).

Treatment
For mild conditions, your doctor may advise you to apply a prescription or over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray. Most infections respond well to these topical agents, which include:

Clotrimazole (Lotrimin)
Terbinafine (Lamisil AT)

If your fungal infection is severe or doesn't respond to topical medicine, your doctor may give you a prescription oral medication. Oral medications include:

Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Terbinafine (Lamisil)

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), oral Sporanox and oral Lamisil may be linked to rare cases of liver failure and death. Oral Sporanox may weaken the heart's contractions and shouldn't be prescribed for people with a history of heart failure.

Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin), an older oral medication, has been prescribed less often since the introduction of the newer medicines. It's effective, but can take months to clear up the infection.

Your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic if you have an accompanying bacterial infection. In addition, your doctor may recommend wet dressings, steroid ointments, compresses or vinegar soaks to help clear up blisters or soggy skin.

Prevention

These tips can help you avoid athlete's foot or ease the symptoms if infection occurs:

Keep your feet dry, especially between your toes. Go barefoot to let your feet air out as much as possible when you're home.
Go with natural materials. Wear socks that are made of natural material, such as cotton or wool, or a synthetic fiber designed to draw moisture away from your feet.
Change socks and stockings regularly. If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks twice a day.
Wear light, well-ventilated shoes. Avoid shoes made of synthetic material, such as vinyl or rubber.
Alternate pairs of shoes. This allows time for your shoes to dry.
Protect your feet in public places. Wear waterproof sandals or shower shoes in communal showers, pools, fitness centers and other public areas.
Treat your feet. Use an antifungal powder daily.
Don't borrow shoes. Borrowing risks spreading a fungal infection.

Alternate Treatment to Athete's Foot------> Click Here

Asthma As A Killer Disease

2006-04-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

You may not think of asthma as a killer disease. Yet each year, nearly 500,000 Americans with asthma are hospitalized, and more than 4,000 die.

Asthma is a chronic condition that occurs when the main air passages of your lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and extra mucus is produced, causing your airways to narrow. This can lead to everything from minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. In some cases, your breathing may be so labored that an asthma attack becomes life-threatening.

But asthma is a treatable condition, and most flare-ups and deaths can be prevented. In recent years, scientists have gained a better understanding of asthma's cause. New drugs have been developed to replace standard medications. Greater emphasis also is now put on managing your own condition, much as people manage their diabetes with insulin. Together, you and your doctor can work to gain control over your asthma, reduce the risk of severe attacks and help maintain a normal life.

Causes

You're more likely to develop asthma if you have an inherited predisposition to the condition and are sensitive to allergens or irritants in your environment. In fact, the inflammation that causes asthma makes your airways overly sensitive to a wide range of environmental triggers.

Asthma can develop at any age. If you're younger than 30, your asthma is probably triggered by allergies. Many people older than 30 with asthma are also allergic to airborne particles.
For some people with asthma, particularly older adults, respiratory allergies don't seem to play a role. Instead, exposure to any irritant — such as a virus, cigarette smoke, cold air, and even emotional stress — can trigger wheezing

In most cases though, asthma results from a combination of allergic and nonallergic responses. You may react to one or more of the following triggers:

Allergens, such as pollen, cockroaches and molds.
Air pollutants and irritants.
Smoking and secondhand smoke.
Respiratory infections, including the common cold.
Physical exertion, including exercise.
Cold air.
Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Sulfites — preservatives added to some perishable foods.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your esophagus. GERD may trigger an asthma attack or make an attack worse.
Sinusitis.

Treatment

A number of individual medications exist for asthma, and many are used in combination with others. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best for you based on your age and the severity of your symptoms. In general, the four types of treatments are:

Long-term-control medications. These are used on a regular basis to control chronic symptoms and prevent attacks.
Quick-relief medications. You use these as needed for rapid, short-term relief of symptoms during an attack.
Immunotherapy or allergy desensitization shots. These decrease your body's sensitivity to a particular allergen.
Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies. These are designed to prevent your immune system from reacting to allergens.

Click here for More articles on Asthma and Acute Bronchitis

Terrorism and Other Public Health Threats

2006-04-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

Air Contamination

. An accident at a plant or factory might release large amounts of a hazardous chemical into the air, for instance. A terrorist attack could involve the deliberate release of a toxic chemical or gas.

In a bioterror attack, bacteria or viruses causing diseases such as anthrax, pneumonic plague, smallpox, or tularemia could be released in an aerosol form. Anyone who inhaled the substance could be affected.

While air itself does not become radioactive, release of radiation into the environment can create radioactive dust and dirt (fallout) that can make the air unsafe. A “dirty bomb” could work in this manner, causing a relatively minor explosion but doing its real damage by releasing radioactive materials into the environment.

Allergies reach epidemic levels in Europe: experts

2006-04-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Fri Mar 31 ~ Reuter

Allergies such as hay fever are reaching epidemic proportions in Europe and a failure to treat them properly is creating a mounting bill for society and the healthcare system, experts said on Friday.

Around one third of the European population has some kind of allergy, while one in two children in Britain will have allergies by 2015, costing millions of euros in medical bills, lost work days and even impaired concentration in school pupils.
Experts say various factors such as air pollution, animal fur and dust mites could act as triggers for allergies but that the levels of allergic reaction vary from country to country.

"There is an epidemic of allergic disease in Europe and elsewhere in the world," Peter Burney, vice president of research at the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN), told reporters on Friday.

Allergies were most prevalent in Britain and Ireland, as well as other English speaking countries like Canada, Australia and the United States, Burney said, adding they were also becoming more widespread in new European Union' member states.

"It's not a problem which is going to go away soon," he added, noting that as allergy sufferers get older the complications resulting from their condition tend to get worse.
"We have data showing that up to the age of 55, people do not lose their allergies, but that the complications are greater," he said. "This is a serious problem."

Failure to treat allergies could also increase the risk of patients developing asthma later in life, GALEN's general secretary Torsten Zuberbier said, calling for early diagnosis and treatment of sufferers.
"We have valid data that one third of European Union people have allergies but only 10 percent of these millions of people are treated well," Zuberbier said, adding that around 40 percent of children with untreated hay fever will develop asthma.
"We need early treatment in children and we can avoid the large burden of social and economic costs," he said.

The GALEN network has established standard practice across Europe in diagnosing allergies and it has now begun to draw up guidelines on how best to treat the conditions.

IS Your Office Killing You ?

2006-03-30T23:25:00.000-08:00

Indoor Pollution Facts

2006-03-30T23:17:00.000-08:00

"Indoor Air is up to 100 times worse than Outdoor Air". American College of Allergists
"50% of all illness is caused by indoor air pollution." United States Environmental Protection Agency
"Indoor Air Pollution is American's most serious environmental health problem affecting humans." USA TODAY
"Indoor Air Pollution is wide spread. You are more likely to get sick from pollution in your home and office than from pollution in the air outside." The American Lung Association
"Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Now the leading chronic illness among children, asthma, affects one in ten children." Yale School of Medicine
"It's hard to come up with another problem that affects more people than indoor air pollution". Brian Leaderer, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Saturday Reader
"Lost productivity associated with indoor air pollution costs businesses an estimated $60 billion per year." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"Indoor air pollution is one of our biggest environmental health threats - bigger than toxic waste sites, the destruction of the ozone layer and a slew of other problems." Wall Street Journal
Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) call indoor pollution the number one environmental health problem in America. Today, 90% of colds are caught indoors…only 10% outdoors. Indoor air can be up to 10 times as polluted as outdoor air.
When you don't breathe bad stuff indoors your immune system can recover and get stronger to better fight off the bad stuff outdoors. Common Sense

ASTHMA/ALLERGIES/MCS...lots of talk...lots of money spent...lots of ongoing misery...in the case of Asthma, too many deaths...and, with MCS, too many Emergency Room trips...yet very little effort to ELIMINATE THE CAUSE...but, lots of people put forth lots of effort to TREAT THE SYMPTOMS. Environmental testing is not needed for improving the Asthma/Allergy/MCS problem because a lot of the triggers for these scourges are inside every tightly sealed building...or rather every building that doesn't have sufficient fresh air inside.

Elimination of the cause of these scourges is VERY SIMPLE in most cases...in fact it's so simple, quick and INEXPENSIVE that's probably why it doesn't get much attention or gets ridiculed. It all starts with germs and/or allergens which are naturally present in our air. Nature sanitizes outdoors for us via sunlight, ionization, ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and ozone from the UV rays and from lightning. So those who work outdoors benefit by generally being healthier than those who work indoors.
But, those who are cooped up indoors in buildings sealed with deadly precision are now under constant attack, or rather their immune system is. And, the result is Asthma, Allergies and MCS. And, part of the explanation for the increased incidence of these scourges is that Americans are now spending about 90% of our time indoors in that unhealthy air...it might not smell or look bad but it's bad...trust me, it's bad! It's been reported that indoor air has more chemicals in it than were found in a well equipped chemistry lab in 1900. So the fix is really VERY SIMPLE...get Fresh Air indoors to sanitize for us! [Notice I didn't say FILTER the inside air...that won't eliminate the cause; NO filter exists that can strain out all the bad stuff]. We can't open our doors and windows to let Fresh Air in, but that's OK. What we can do is use the latest electronic technology like NASA uses in its spacecraft. The chart above shows just how effective Electronic Fresh Air is at KILLING Bacteria and Fungi. Astronauts don't get sick while cooped up in their spacecraft...why should you get sick while cooped up at home or work? Fresh air inside in three days or less..."Technology Wins Again".

EPA Statistics: 5% of Nations Air Pollution

2006-03-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

"Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants. Garden equipment engines, which have had unregulated emmissions until very recently, emit high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to 5% of the nation's air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas.
A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars (or as much as as much air pollution as driving a car for 100 miles)."

In a single day, Southern California's lawn tools spew out more pollution than all the aircraft in the Los Angeles area. A single mower puts out more pollution than 73 new cars. CNN Onine

Toxic Air Pollutants

2006-03-23T01:15:00.000-08:00

EPA has released an important tool to guide further local, state and federal steps to cut toxic air pollution and build upon the significant emissions reductions achieved since 1990. The second National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) is a state-of-the-science screening tool that estimates cancer and other health risks from exposure to air toxics.

"Since 1990, we've significantly cut toxic emissions and risks in the United States," said Acting EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum. "This tool will help EPA and states refine our understanding and approaches to further reduce air toxics. With strong industrial standards already in place, our efforts to cut risks from toxic pollution will rely on more advanced technology, more sophisticated analysis, and enhanced cooperation among federal, state and local agencies."

The United States has made significant progress in reducing air toxics from industry, fuels and vehicles, and indoor sources. Since the Clean Air Act was amended in 1990, EPA has issued 96 standards for 174 different types of industrial sources of air toxics, including chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace manufacturers and steel mills. The agency also has issued regulations for 15 categories of smaller sources, such as dry cleaners, commercial sterilizers, secondary lead smelters and chromium electroplating facilities. Together, these standards are projected to reduce annual emissions of air toxics by about 1.7 million tons from 1990 levels when fully implemented. These reductions are not fully reflected in this assessment, however, because a number of these regulations took effect after 1999.

Vehicles and fuels also emit air toxics. EPA's current and future fuels and vehicles programs will reduce air toxic emissions by another 2.4 million tons in 2020, compared to 1990 levels.

NATA is not designed to be used as the sole basis for regulatory action. The results of the assessment, however, will help EPA and state and local air quality regulators identify pollutants and sources of greatest concern and set priorities for addressing that pollution. NATA also will help identify areas where EPA needs to collect additional information to improve the understanding of risks from air toxics exposure.

NATA covers 177 of the Clean Air Act's list of 187 air toxics plus diesel particulate matter. For 133 of these air toxics (those with health data based on chronic exposure) the assessment includes estimates of cancer or non-cancer health effects including non-cancer health effects for diesel particulate matter.
EPA develops NATA in cooperation with state and local environmental agencies, which provide key information about air toxics emissions.

The assessment estimates that in most of the United States people have a lifetime cancer risk from air toxics between 1 and 25 in a million. This means that out of one million people, between 1 and 25 people have increased likelihood of developing cancer as a result of breathing air toxics from outdoor sources, if they were exposed to 1999 levels over the course of their lifetime (70 years). The assessment estimates that most urban locations have an air toxics lifetime cancer risk greater than 25 in a million. Risk in transportation corridors and some other locations is greater than 50 in a million. In contrast, one out of every three Americans (330,000 in a million) will develop cancer during a lifetime, when all causes (including exposure to air toxics) are taken into account.

The second NATA expands on EPA's first national-scale assessment with a more complete emissions inventory and the latest health effects information. The first assessment, based on 1996 data, was release in 2002. The methods used for the assessments were peer-reviewed and endorsed by EPA's Science Advisory Board in 2001.

EPA plans to develop new national-scale assessments as inventory data from subsequent years become available. The next such analysis will focus on exposure and risks from 2002 emissions.

Prevent from polluted air>> www.ozonebank.com

Pesticides and Child Safety

2006-03-23T00:56:00.000-08:00

Every 15 seconds U.S. poison centers receive a call about someone being exposed to a poison. Forty percent of those cases involve a child under three. According to the National Safety Council, more than 50 percent of over two million poisoning incidents each year involve children under six years of age. These figures show the need for everyone to lock up household pesticides and chemicals in a high cabinet out of the reach of children.

EPA observes National Poison Prevention Week each year to increase awareness of the danger to children of accidental poisonings from pesticides and household products, and to encourage parents and caregivers to lock up products that could potentially harm children.

In most poisonings, children swallow common substances found around almost every home: prescription drugs, non-prescription pain killers, vitamins, cosmetics, and personal care and cleaning products. These poisonings also involve house plants, vegetable, fruits, tobacco products, and alcohol.

2006-03-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

California emissions rules lauded
March 17, 2006

ASSOCIATED PRESS A government-sponsored report backs California's role in setting tough standards on smog-forming emissions from cars, trucks and construction vehicles. The state's approach is scientifically valid and necessary in the quest for cleaner air, researchers said yesterday.

Acknowledging substantial progress in reducing emissions, the National Academies' National Research Council also said more needs to be done to meet federal air-quality standards in many parts of the country.

California began regulating pollution before the federal government did. Under the Clean Air Act, the state has the power to set its own vehicle pollution standards. Among the other states that have put in place California's rules are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

"California has used its authority as Congress envisioned: to implement more aggressive measures than the rest of the country and to serve as a laboratory for technological innovation," the report said.

The auto industry and environmentalists, which have fought over California's strict requirements, kept close watch on the review, which Congress ordered in 2003. Automakers have said the state's rules add considerable cost for consumers and that the federal standards for nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are stringent. Environmentalists worried that lawmakers might use the study to restrict states' abilities to follow California regulations.

"State initiatives were the kick in the pants automakers needed to produce the cleanest cars on the market today," said Michelle Robinson, Washington director of the Clean Vehicles Program for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The report does not recommend giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to stop states from following California's standards. Instead, it encourages the agency to give states more guidance on the benefits of the federal rules.

Automakers noted that the study recognized that vehicles have become cleaner since the 1970s. Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said it also recommended that the EPA "become more involved in helping states understand the complexities of the regulations and the benefit of the regulations."

David Allen, chairman of the council committee that produced the report, said manufacturers described the costs associated with complying with both California and federal standards. But it was difficult for the committee to quantify those costs, said Mr. Allen, a professor of chemical engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

When the California Air Resources Board revises or sets an emission standard, it must seek a waiver from the EPA. The study recommended that the agency speed up waiver requests it considers routine and put a time limit on more contentious decisions.

Clean Air Threatens Rural Folk

2006-03-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Air pollution comes from many different sources such as factories, power plants, dry cleaners, cars, buses, trucks and even windblown dust and wildfires. Air pollution can threaten the health of human beings, trees, lakes, crops, and animals, as well as damage the ozone layer and buildings. Air pollution also can cause haze, reducing visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. EPA protects human health and the environment through the regulatory process and voluntary programs such as Energy Star and Commuter Choice. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets limits on how much of a pollutant is allowed in the air anywhere in the United States. Although national air quality has improved over the last 20 years, many challenges remain in protecting public health and the environment. EPA's goal is to have clean air to breathe for this generation and those to follow.

There are many sources of air pollution, including automobiles, power plants, factories, small businesses and household products. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA develops and enforces rules and regulations for all entities that emit toxic substances into the air. The Agency works with state, local and tribal governments, other federal agencies, businesses and community groups to implement and enforce its regulations. EPA also partners with scientists to study the causes and effects of pollution and to develop environmentally beneficial alternatives to pollution-generating processes.

EPA’s Folk Theory of Clean Air Threatens Rural America

In a proposal that “drew praise from the mining industry”, the EPA recently suggested we all stop worrying about air quality in America’s less populous areas, instisting that dust from those fruited plains and majestic mountains can’t possibly hurt you, as if the only air pollution in the world was the black stuff from tailpipes and smokestacks. But how can the experts at EPA harbor these quaint notions about air pollution when we know what farming does to air (and water), and mining is famous for the debris it kicks up? Maybe they need some re-education, starting with EWG’s work on air quality, here.
New York Battles EPA for Household Chemical Records

New York state is suing the EPA for its refusal to release information on the smog-causing properties of some common household chemicals. Smog-heavy states like New York and California need the records to plan for reducing pollution in order to meet their stringent Clean Air Act requirements. Per ususal, the companies under fire, like paint-maker Sherwin-Williams, say the information can't be released because it's trade secrets.

Volatile organic compounds, the smog-forming components found in household products like paint and varnish, may also contribute to increased asthma rates. Last year EWG released "Smoggy Schools," a report on what air pollution costs California measured in missed school days and children's medical expenses.

Food Pollution

2006-03-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Food pollution

Food can influence the human body in many ways, both positively and negatively. Several key elements of contemporary food cultivation and production are presented, along with their potential consequences to our health. The history of food cultivation and consumption is contrasted between early hunter-gatherer societies and modern day societies. Natural nutrient-rich foods produced from the soil in early societies have been replaced with artificial supplements and treated with pesticides and herbicides to control plant disease. The World Labor Organization state that the usage of agricultural chemicals and pesticides has dramatically increased from 65 million tons to more than 400 million tons in a short span of year.

US Food & Drug Association (FDA) issued several reports in 2005 indicating that, in every 150,000 cancer patients, 25% of them are affected by cancer causing agricultural chemicals.

Heavy antibiotics in farming causing super-diseases

Last year, reports surfaced of a super-strain of food-borne salmonella that's resistant to most forms of drug treatments. Some strains are resistant to all known treatments, and other common food-borne diseases also are getting more difficult to treat. Organizations like the

Union of Concerned Scientists say the cause is the heavy use of antibiotics in farming not to protect against disease, but as a cheap and easy way to speed up animal growth.

Fish becoming too toxic to eat

In the past, perch, bass, catfish, trout and walleye have been contaminated with toxic levels of PCBs, lead, cadmium and pesticides. And virulent bacterium and natural toxins can thrive in raw oysters, clams and mussels. If you're pregnant, you might want to avoid fish and raw shellfish. But the

Environmental Working Group offers a startling suggestion that several other commonly sold fish should be avoided entirely if pregnant, and that you should eat still others on a limited basis only. This list includes tuna, halibut, sea bass, cod, pollock, and mahi mahi. See a CNN report on possible effects of too much tuna on developing fetuses.
Consumer Association of United States report indicates that if a child consume too much of contaminated foods, the nervous system can be affected and damaged.

Ozonebank.com

Create a Healthy Living Environment

2006-03-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Air Pollution

The quality of the indoor environment depends largely on "what's in the air." The presence of airborne pollutants can cause health problems for the home and office occupants. It is important to realize that the most effective, and usually least costly, methods to limit indoor pollutants are. US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) report indicate that indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor.

Source control

Find out where the pollutants come from, what they consist of, and reduce or eliminate these sources. This task can involve actions such as controlling moisture, reducing mold growth, choosing "low emission" furnishings and coatings, and/or reducing dust, moisture or smoke producing activities indoors.

Ventilation

Home, offices or any enclosed area need to have a sufficient amount of outdoor air to dilute and remove pollutants and moisture that are produced indoors, and to supply combustion devices (and occupants) with oxygen. The amount of fresh air that is brought in is limited by the cost of heating or cooling the outside air.
If air quality is still a problem after attending to source control and ventilation, especially with respect to dust, smoke, mold and bacteria, an air cleaner may be of help. In terms of health effects, dust particle size is of great importance. Particles smaller than about 10 microns in diameter are the most problematic from a health standpoint, so it is most important for an air cleaner to remove these.

About Air Cleaner Performance

The buyer may be confronted with a variety of manufacturers’ claims about the performance and "efficiency" of various units. Several different performance standards exist, relating to different jobs that different filters are supposed to do. Some of this information may mislead buyers seeking the control of fine particulates. For example, a good performance on an efficiency test that measures the capture of large particles does not mean that small particles will be controlled.
For instance, furnace filters are rated according to the ASHRAE 52.1-76 standard, which can show a high "efficiency" at capturing dirt, but which has no relevancy to fine particles. A revised standard, ASHRAE 52.2, seeks to remedy this.

Ozonebank.com