Air Quality Truly Reduced During Beijing Games

Now that the Beijing Olympic games are well over, assessments are now reporting that the air pollution reduction efforts throughout 2008 actually did make a significant difference in the air quality within the city.

During the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, athletes were highly concerned over inhaling toxic air pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone – both largely created from local industry and vehicular traffic. Because of the concerns, Chinese authorities restricted traffic and closed factories during the games, and researchers are now finding that the prevention efforts truly made a healthy impact.

Climate scientists Jan Cermak and Reto Knutti from Switzerland reported earlier this year in Physics Today that the aerosol optical thickness [AOT] (in general terms, meaning air pollutants) was 14% lower in 2008 than in any previous year. Their research model to predict AOT found that without the mandated reduction efforts, the pollution would have been between 10 and 14% higher than average. Therefore, the controls imposed by the Chinese authorities was worth the effort.

Further assessment done by Chinese researchers Ting Wang and Shaodong Xie also concurred that the average concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) were considerably lower after the restrictions were put into place. However, they found that afternoon air quality had not necessarily improved because of wind carrying pollution into the city from surrounding areas.

For more details, visit: Physics Today Blog

See also: Atmospheric Environmental Journal, Vol. 43, Issue 35, Page 5682.

Sustainable Remediation for Protection of Public Health

Scrap rubber tires have been accumulating for decades and are becoming an increasing challenge throughout the US and abroad. Consumption of tires is highest in the US, with an estimated 240 million scrap tires generated annually and no signs of a reduction in this waste stream; this corresponds to an astounding estimate of one scrap tire per person per year in the US has been set forth.

The scrap tires generated daily are added to existing tire dumps and landfills, or are stockpiled for recycling and reuse in construction materials. Leachate from landfills has long been a recognized public health concern, including potential impacts to soil, groundwater, and air quality in large areas around landfills. Exacerbating this concern is the significant risk of fires and ambient air quality posed by tire fires; many such fires last for several days or weeks.

Importantly, tire pile fires produce significant amounts of oils that are flammable and pose threats to air quality through emissions of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); many PAHs are known or suspected carcinogens and are considered highly toxic to human health. To the extent that tires burn with a higher per-pound heat output than most coal, making the increased heat a significant challenge with respect to extinguishment

To help address the above challenges, an innovative method has been developed to recycle large-scale scrap tire piles. The method relies on pyrolysis, which is a form of incineration that chemically decomposes organic materials by heat in the absence of oxygen. This process typically occurs under pressure and at operating temperatures above 430 °C (800 °F). To the extent that some volatile or semi-volatile materials are present in the waste, thermal desorption will also occur.

An important aspect of this methodology is that it transforms organic materials into gases, small quantities of liquid hydrocarbons, steel, and carbon black residue. The off-gases are treated in a secondary thermal oxidation unit and can in fact be used as the source of energy to run a recycling plant, remaining entirely sustainable (Allred et. al., 2000). The hydrocarbons recovered are high-quality fuels which have measurable resale value, while the steel can be readily re-smelted and reused. Lastly, carbon black, when combined with rubber, substantially increases the hardness and durability of the product, with additional applications in development of filters, inks, toners, and paints. As such, this remediation system which serves to protect public health is entirely sustainable.

In addition to the obvious environmental and public health benefits, economic analyses performed on such sustainable recycling systems have yielded measurable financial benefits. Assuming a standard size plant which can handle 100 tons per day of scrap tires, net profit estimates of over $2 million have been estimated. With this size plants, over eighty such plants are needed in the US alone to process the scrap tires generated annually; this does not even consider the more than three billion tires already present in landfills and dumps across the US.

Waterborne Infectious Diseases Prevention of Guinea Worm and Post Guinea Worm Eradication Management

Waterborne Infectious Diseases are not being yet defeated. They are still causing many problems worldwide essentially in developing countries where people do not have materials and means to deal adequately with them. Many of these diseases are rolling back again after many years of campaign against them. My presentation on Waterborne Infectious Diseases is to underline the fact that basic preventions have almost wiped this disease which has taken toll on some poor countries.

Many people are already talking about its eradication. This presentation is intended to remind all of us that these infectious diseases are stubborn, and need strong serious post eradication prevention management. The reader will necessarily learn about Guinea Worm and see how we can manage to keep the campaign progress to its eradication. You may click on the link below to access the presentation.

http://environmentalhealthtoday.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/waterborne-infectious-diseases1.ppt

I am inviting you to read this presentation and leave your comments which will permit us to better our contribution to the amelioration of the environment. I hope you’ll enjoy it and invite your peers to action.

Thank you very much for your time.

Yawo Akrodou
PUBH 6165/8165, Environmental Health
College of Health Sciences
Ph.D. Program

Walden University

 

Water Fluoridation: Safety and Efficacy for Children and Young Adolescents

Water Fluoridation: Safety and Efficacy for Children and Young Adolescents

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Sunday Rivers

Walden University

PUBH-8165-2 Environmental Health

Obesity Prevention Through Proper Nutrition and Physical Activity

Obesity Prevention Through Proper Nutrition and Physical Activity

Decreasing childhood obesity and encouraging physical activity now can decrease risks for chronic diseases in the future.  This is a power point presentation designed for inner-city school children grades 6-12 in the Lansing School District, of Lansing, Michigan.  It is intended to be the first of four power point presentations to be given during the 2009-2010 school year.  The goal is to educate and encourage the children to improve their diet and lifestyles.  I hope that you enjoy this presentation and find it useful and informative.

Ronda Schafer

PUBH 8165-02, Environmental Health

Walden University

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Basic knowledge and preventive strategies

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)

This presentation is aimed at indirect education primary victims of River Blindness through primary healthcare providers, volunteers, local health agencies in the endemic areas.

There is review of the etiology, mode of transmission of this disease, as well as examining why the situation persists, cultural barriers and prevention measures.There is a look at the successes of prevention strategies; and continuing efforts in other areas. Lastly there is a provision of a list of resources for further reading.

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Elizabeth Ndubisi-Ukandu

Walden University

PUBH-8165-3-Environmental Health

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Wu

Summer Term, 2009

Indoor Air Quality Within Public Schools

Indoor Air Quality Within Public Schools:

This presentation will discuss the dangers within the air quality of public schools today.  Feautured will be the chemicals most found in schools, how chemicals are used and how we can reduce indoor air pollution. Also discussed will be the steps to “Green Schools”. I hope you find this presentation enjoyable and informative. Thank you for reviewing this presentation:   Environmental Health Indoor Air Quality August 2009  

Loretta S. Shaw

PUBH 8165-3, Environmental Health

Walden University

Decreasing Childhood Blood Levels in a Community

Decreasing Childhood Blood Levels in a Community.

This presentation  focuses on efforts to increase the public knowledge regarding the risk of childhood lead poisoning.

Decreasing Childhood Blood Levels in a Community offers some tips to prevent lead exposure. I hope that this presentation is helpful. If you have any questions, or care to leave a comment, please do so, below. Thank you.

Josephine M. Britanico

PUBH8165-1, Environmental Health

College of Health Sciences

Walden University

Let’s Talk Trash

This presentation is for high school students in Fairfax County. Its goal is to bring awareness, educate and encourage students to recycle material at home and at school. 

 Let’s Talk Trash I hope that the information is helpful. If you have any questions, or care to leave a comment, please do so below. Thank you.

Latoya Callender

PUBH 8165-03 Environmental Health

Walden University

What Does It Mean To Go Green?

 

The presentation is on the benefits of incorporating green policies in a samll nonprofit community based organization in Washington, DC.

 

What Does It Mean To Go Green?  I hope you find this presentation interesting as well as informative.

Phronie Jackson

PUBH 6165 -5