MPH 632:Environmental Health | Brianna Rubio

OSHA and CAL sponsors a featured safety program known as Heat Illness Prevention. This program trains all employees and supervisors about heat illness prevention.  It also provides enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour, or four 8 ounce glasses, of water per hour, and encourage them to do so. Shade is also extremely important in order to prevent heat strokes. This health illness prevention program provides access to shade and encourages employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. Last but not least, this program develops and implements written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard. I think this program is great especially for farmworkers who work long hours in the fields. 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET: BATTERY FLUID ACID  What are the health risks associated with this chemical? Exposure to the chemicals contained in batteries can lead to health problems, even if no physical contact with the acid is made. For example, in lead-acid batteries, breathing the exposed lead from a leak can cause damage to brain and kidney.  This corrosive chemical can cause severe damage to your skin if contact is made.   Is the chemical a carcinogen? Some batteries contain sulfuric acid and  individuals who have breathed large quantities of sulfuric acid at work have shown an increase in cancers of the larynx. What personal protective equipment or special precautions should be taken when working with this chemical? Wearing protective clothing is a good way to prevent burns on your skin. Be vigilant when working with batteries Working in a well-ventilated room can help you avoid breathing harmful vapors. Take precautions with batteries if ...

Pneumoconiosis - " Black Lung" Many dusts can cause pneumoconiosis.  Pneumoconiosis is a general term given to any lung disease caused by dusts that are breathed in and then goes deep in the lungs causing damage. Pneumoconiosis is usually considered an occupational lung disease, and includes asbestosis, silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as "Black Lung Disease."  This disease is called black lung disease because  the charcoal dust in the lungs can turn them black in color. The most known dusts that cause this disease are: Asbestos   fibers   are very durable and resistant to heat, leading to their use in insulation and fireproofing, as well as in textile manufacturing. Examples of workers who might be exposed to asbestos include: plumbers roofers mechanics shipyard workers, including naval officers.  People are at higher risk of developing asbestosis if they have higher levels of exposure to asbes...

Highly fluorinated These chemicals are man made and can make their way from industrial plants into our food and drinking water. This chemical can also be found in carpets, cosmetics, carseats, food packaging, and the list goes on. All highly fluorinated chemicals pose a risk and should not be used unless it is essential as the video said. The convenience of products that contain highly fluorinated chemicals is not worth the potential for harm. The most studied of these substances is a chemical called PFOA, which is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, elevated cholesterol, decreased fertility, and thyroid problems and decreased immune response to vaccines in children. Antimicrobials Although this antimicrobials  might sounds like a good idea, they are unnecessary and can do more harm than good. This is found  in personal care products, exercise  mats, apparel, food store  containers and the list goes on. The health concerns related to this chemical a...

I have never thought about chemistry in a sustainable way and it was really interesting to learn about this as it was a new concept for me. My favorite part was learning about the difference between green chemistry and cleaning up pollution. Green chemistry reduces pollution while cleaning up pollution includes cleaning up environmental spills (and other releases) and treating waste streams. I think green chemistry is great for human health by providing cleaner water, air, i ncreased safety for workers in the chemical industry, s afer consumer products, safer food, and less exposure to chemicals. Green chemistry reduces the risk of exposure to chemicals of concern to human health and the environment across life cycle. It helps r educe exposure across the globe and aims to have healthier communities, materials, products, people and planet.  The 12 principles really helped me better understand how green chemistry reduces risk and minimizes environmental footprint. They serve as ...

Lead poisoning has severe health effects, especially for children. It made me extremely sad to read about all the children who lost their life due to lead poisoning. These children were under five years old and did not deserve to go over something that could have been prevented. Just like lead was removed from gasoline, public health efforts should still continue to try removing lead from homes.  Lead paint  is  still  present in millions of homes and I believe there needs to be more awareness around this issue. With lead paint being present in buildings such as schools and homes, this is only adding to the number of children being exposed. I don't think everyone is educated enough to know about the serious health adverse effects that lead can cause. Environmentalist professionals can screen homes for lead dust and help families remove this for the best of their health. 

An ideal chemical policy would be one that Makes the public aware about chemical information. Makes it mandatory to require a comprehensive safety data regarding chemicals Removes toxic chemicals and provides substitutes that are safe for ones health One that has a mission of protecting communities and workers As this weeks material said, people need to be more aware of the chemicals in our products, food and the environment. If people don't know or have the right to know, then we can't protect ourselves or make better decisions in terms of our products and food. I wouldn't have known about the chemical i my personal care products until this class and in my opinion, I shouldn't have had to find out through this class. If there were policies that make it mandatory to disclose chemical information with consumers, I am sure I would have found out sooner. This issue relates to social determinants of public health. If we don't have the right to know, then it is ...

The background subject I chose to blog about is "Give the Public and Workers the Full Right-to-Know and Participate." I agree with this paper that we have every right to know about the chemicals we are exposed to. Policy makers and public health professionals need to come together and develop laws and practices that make it mandatory to inform workers and communities of toxic chemical sources and exposures. This paper does a great job at examining current limitations in disclosure policies. I like this papers approach, "Right to Know"basically saying that workers and the public shouldn't have to find out about exposures through government documents, it should be routine and systematic to report and let the public and workers know of any toxic chemicals or other environmental health hazards that we are being exposed to.

Last night I ate chicken breast, rice and cauliflower. Please see below for the pesticides my food had and the human health effects: Chicken breast Pesticides (top 5): MGK-264 DDE p,p' Carbaryl s Boscalid Fipronil Health & environmental effects: Human Health Effects: 3 — Known or Probable Carcinogens4 4 — Suspected Hormone Disruptors 1 — Neurotoxins 2 — Developmental or Reproductive Toxins Environmental Effects: 4 — Honeybee Toxins5 Rice Pesticides (top 5): Piperonyl butoxide MGK-264 Malathion Permethrin Propiconazole Health & environmental effects: Human Health Effects: 4 — Known or Probable Carcinogens4 10 — Suspected Hormone Disruptors 2 — Neurotoxins 3 — Developmental or Reproductive Toxins Environmental Effects: 6 — Honeybee Toxins5 Cauliflower  Pesticides: Imidacloprid Deltamethrin (includes parent Tralomethrin) DCPA Thiamethoxam Acephate Dinotefuran Health & environmental effects: ...

The topic I am considering is chlorpyrifos (insecticide) among farmworkers.  Chlorpyrifos  is used to control many different kinds of pests, including termites, mosquitoes, and roundworms .  Farmworkers come in contact with many pesticides and insecticides in their working environment therefore, I think this is an interesting topic to learn more about and share my findings with the class. Farmworkers are exposed to a number of exposures and it is important to ensure that the safest practices are established and used in order to protect the human health of these farmworkers. According to Toxnet,    chlorpyrifos  can cause cholinesterase inhibition in humans leading to an overstimulated nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and respiratory paralysis and death at very high exposures. 

The county I reside in, San Joaquin County does have an Environmental Health department. This department has a variety of programs that focus on protecting our community from any environmental hazards. One program I was happy to see was the Body Art program because there are a lot of tattoo shops in my community. This program provides  minimum statewide standards for the regulation of persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, and the application of permanent cosmetics. The requirements are to protect both, the provider and client from the transmission of diseases that can occur through the application of body art procedures and the control of    cross-contamination of instruments and supplies.  Medical waste  contains material that is  infectious and contaminated therefore, it is important to have a program that protects the public, the facility, and employees from i njury and exposure to pathogenic organis...

U.S Department of Health and Human Services  The mission of HHS is  to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. They do this by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. The leaders in this department are  p ublic servants who are committed to our health and well-being. HHS has prevention and wellness programs that are related to the environment and our health. The environmental program specifically is designed to help individuals s tay aware of where they are and their exposure to disease or injury. This program also helps individuals learn about safety and prevention in their workplace, home, and more.

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE 101: HOW ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE ON FACTORY FARMS CAN MAKE YOU SICK It was very intriguing to read about antibiotic resistance among animals. Antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria can spread from farm animals to humans through food and through contaminated waste entering the environment. The most commonly affected populations are  pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with certain health conditions because they are the ones with under-developed or compromised immune systems. However, AR bacteria has the potential to affect anyone. I agree with the article that there needs to be some type of political action that bans nontherapeutic uses of antibiotics in livestock.  NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK I don't live near a livestock however, I have family members who do. It was compelling to learn about livestock-associated MRSA and the impact that is has on individuals. MRSA is a staph bacteria that is hard to treat and has be...

Utilizing the first article, discuss what is locally grown and what is currently in season in your area. What is grown locally: Currently in season:  In season right now is almonds, apples, artichokes, figs, grapes, melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, squash, strawberries, tomatoes and walnuts.  Discuss your thoughts on seasonal/local foods and hospital menus.  I think hospitals should support local foods and purchase seasonal local ingredients for their patients. Buy doing so, hospitals can reduce the climate change  footprint caused by transportation and long distance refrigeration.  Eating seasonal foods ensures we get the most nutritious foods and brings variety to your diet which can be beneficial for patients who are lacking nutrients.  Find a Harvest Calendar for your state (or a state you are interested in) utilizing the link in the first article (found underneath the example Harvest Calendar for New Yor...

Your thoughts about the vanishing of bees (what else have you heard/seen about this issue?) When I think about bees, I think about getting stung. Honeybees are e ssential for fruits and vegetables  because they pollinate all of that . However, honeybees are  disappearing  with no sign of them dying. This was called the colony collapse disorder and it is a mystery to solve. The bees were missing and something was wrong. Vanishing of bees l ooks at the economic, political and ecological implications of the disappearance of the honeybees. This is a story about the mysterious disorder known as the Colony Collapse Disorder, but a platform of solutions, encouraging viewers to be the change they want to see in the world. Dirt!: The Movie  This film made me realize how much we depend on dirt and how important it is to take care of it. We are losing our soil and this is a serious concern. This is so serious that deadly conflicts are breaking out in other countries...

What is the source of your drinking water? Where does your water ORIGINATE?  Water System Name: Morada Acres Water System  Type of Water Source: Groundwater wells What chemicals were found in your water that were higher than expected? Detection of Contaminants with a PRIMARY Drinking Water Standard: *There have been no contaminants detected in the water supply, however the source is still considered vulnerable to activities located near the drinking water source. See below: Gross Alpha Activity (pCi/L) 2010 2.90 1.76 – 5.11 15 N/A Erosion of natural deposits Uranium (pCi/L) 2010 4.92 – 20 N/A Erosion of natural deposits Radium 228 (pCi/L) 2006 0.11 0.10–0.12 5 N/A Erosion of natural deposits Arsenic (ppb) 2007 2 – 10 0.004 Erosion of natural deposits; run-off from orchards; glass and electronics production wastes Barium (ppb) 2008 130 – 1000 2 Oil drilling and metal refinery waste discharge; erosion of natural deposits Chromium (ppb) 2008 6 – 50 2.5 Disc...

Fiji is such a well known water brand that it was shocking to me to learn that Cleveland tap water was actually better quality than Fiji water. I would have never known that bottled water is less regulated than tap. I actually thought it was better regulated and the best quality because it is in a bottle with a label. Personally, I prefer tap water however, my family does not. After showing them the video, they were very surprised about what they learned and are gradually moving towards tap water. Although I know it's going to take them some time, I am glad to see they are putting effort into it.  If I were to develop a nationwide campaign to get people to drink tap water instead of bottled water, my slogan would be "Be Smart, Choose Tap." This slogan will make people think twice about their water consumption and hopefully choose tap water.My campaign will focus on   persuading consumers to reject their bottle-buying habit because it helps the  the environment...