• Pages

  • Categories

  • RSS …in the news

    • Thirdhand smoke forms lasting cancer-causing residue.
      People may face a risk from indoor tobacco smoke in a way that’s never been recognized before, a new study finds. Tobacco smoke contamination lingering on furniture, clothes and other surfaces – dubbed thirdhand smoke – may react with indoor air chemicals to form potential cancer-causing substances.
    • Weed killer atrazine may be linked to birth defect.
      Living near farms that use the weed killer atrazine may up the risk of a rare birth defect, a new study finds.
    • Venting gas can be fatal.
      The purging of gas from pipes has been a common theme in at least seven serious industrial accidents since 1997 according to the Chemical Safety Board, which has been critical of the hodgepodge of local regulations that allow the procedure to be conducted dangerously. Others have, too.
    • Tritium hot zone expands.
      The Department of Health said late Monday there appears to be "a very large area" at the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor contaminated with radioactive tritium, and contamination levels continue to rise.
    • Dismantle the NJ DEP? Christie camp has environmentalists worried.
      It's a blueprint for devastation," said William "Captain Bill" Sheehan, executive director of Hackensack Riverkeeper, expressing his opinion of the provisions suggested by Governor Chris Christie's Department of Environmental Protection.
    • Governor's budget could reduce DEC pollution monitoring, critics charge.
      While Gov. David Paterson's proposed 2011 budget would increase staff overseeing gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, it would cut almost twice as many staff regulating other environmental cleanups, such as those in the Superfund and Brownfield programs.
    • Dish imposes gas drilling moratorium.
      After only a few minutes of discussion, town leaders declared a 90-day moratorium on issuing new drilling permits inside town limits, citing concerns about emissions from production equipment and their effect on human health.
    • Former ammunition employees suffer health effects.
      The Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant operated in Grand Island until 1973. Forty years later it is taking a toll on people's health.
    • China releases first national pollution census.
      China has revealed its most ambitious measure of what explosive development has done to its environment, saying Tuesday its first national pollution census has mapped nearly 6 million sources of industrial, residential and agricultural waste.
    • Amnesty report slams alumina mine run by Vedanta subsidiary in India.
      A mine in Orissa state is causing air and water pollution that threatens the health of local people and their access to water, a report finds.
    • Uranium mine leak '5400 times normal level.'
      Contaminated water seeping from a mine in Kakadu National Park has a uranium concentration more than 5,000 times the normal level, a Senate estimates committee has heard.
    • Climate change will make world more 'fragrant.'
      In response to the disruptions of climate change, plants will emit greater levels of fragrant chemicals called biogenic volatile organic compounds, a major scientific review finds. The problem is too complex to yet gauge many of the consequences.
    • US couple take lead on carbon trade by selling their first credit.
      Individuals keen to tackle carbon emissions should consider the example of Tami and Randy Wilson. The Pennsylvania couple have sold the world's first carbon credit awarded for a reduction in personal carbon emissions. About 1,800 others have signed up to follow suit.
    • Palin likens global warming studies to 'snake oil.'
      Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called studies supporting global climate change a "bunch of snake oil science" Monday during a rare appearance in California, a state that has been at the forefront of environmental regulations.
    • U.S. proposes new climate service.
      The Obama administration proposed a new climate service on Monday that would provide Americans with predictions on how global warming will affect everything from drought to sea levels.
    • Melting ice alters way of life in Iqaluit.
      A new report finds that global warming is altering the Arctic ecosystem in a way never seen before by humans. It predicts that the Arctic, which has had sea ice for more than 800,000 years, might lose summer sea ice as soon as 2030, and that the melting Arctic will lead to a 3-to-6°C increase over the next century.
    • $78.5 million effort to keep dangerous carp out of Great Lakes.
      Federal authorities on Monday presented a $78.5 million plan intended to block Asian carp, a hungry, huge, nonnative fish, from invading the Great Lakes.
    • Killer pesticide? Layton girl dies, toddler sister hospitalized.
      The 15-month-old sister of a Layton girl who died Saturday has been hospitalized in critical condition as investigators try to understand the role a pest-control chemical might have played in making the girls and their family sick.
    • Sugary soft drinks fuel tumour?
      People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer, an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday.
    • India to rule on future of aubergine as country's first genetically modified food.
      A fierce row over the future of the humble aubergine will reach a climax on Wednesday with a key government decision on the possible future commercial cultivation of genetically-modified strains of the plant.

Why Restaurants Should Add Nutritional Information to Their Menus?

This presentation is designed to support all stakeholders especially lawmakers who are in support of adding nutritional information to restaurant menus. Because of obesity rates and the amount of time and money we spend away from home, it is important we know the content of the food we are eating at restaurants. The ability to make an informed choice should be available to individuals at restaurants just as it is available to us in the grocery store.

Click here for my presentation: 

http://environmentalhealthtoday.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/app7becklesw.ppt

I look forward to reading your comments.

Winifred Beckles

Environmental Health (PUBH – 8165 – 3)

Walden University

Improving the environment and community health in Vieques, Puerto Rico: A common effort after U.S. Military use

Abstract

The island of Vieques, located at the east of Puerto Rico, was militarized by the US Navy during 60 years.  As a result of Navy military practices, exist many uncertainties that the high incidence of cancer in the population are related with the use of live bombing, storage of ammunitions, explosives, polluted sunken ships and bombs in marine surroundings, among other potential hazardous wastes in the island. Moreover, Vieques Island has been emarginated from health care services, due to its separation from the main Island Puerto Rico. In 2002, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, conducted a health assessment and concluded that there is no apparent public health hazard. However, seven years later, in November 2009, ATSDR has signaled its intent to modify some its earlier conclusions about health risks to residents of the Island of Vieques. The “double health injustice” in Vieques require a powerful strategy as Community Base Participatory Research (CBPR). There is a need of collaborative research partnership approach that involves equitably and meaningfully all partners in every step of the process.

To see the complete Commentary go to: http://environmentalhealthtoday.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/app9-ortizm-vieques1.doc

Thanks for your comments,

María Ortiz, PhD Public Health

PUBH 8165-3

Dr. Thron

Walden University

Is the extra expense of bottled water worth it?

Is the extra expense of bottled water worth it?

This presentation focuses on extra expenses spent on bottled water that does not worth it. This presentation is directed to:

  - The state sports and athletes departments

  – College students
  – Independent School Districts
        – Junior high school students
        – High School students
        – Parents/Teachers 
  

Please click here to view presentation. I hope you find the information interesting and helpful.

I look forward to receiving your questions and comments.

Thank you

Basirat T. Jimoh

PUBH 8165-3, Environmental Health

Walden University.      APP9JimohBT

Healthy School Lunches: They Taste Great and Are Great For Your Health

This presentation focuses on childhood obesity and the importance of making sure that school lunches are healthier in order to fight this epidemic. It offers information on childhood obesity, diet, and available resources to implement healthy food options into any school. This presentation is directed to school administrative staff and school board memebrs.

Please click here to view presentation. I hope that the information is helpful. If you  have any questions, or care to leave a comment, please do so, below. Thank you.

Phelesia Foster

PUBH-8165-2, Environmental Health

Walden University

E.M.S. A DYING BREED

The purpose of this presentation is to create an awareness of the injuries and fatalities that occur daily to E.M.S. providers and to seek preventative measures to decrease them.

Please Click here to view the PPT.  I hope you find this information valuable.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Thank you.

Colleen Ryan

PUBH   8165

Walden University

The Right To Health: A Global Chronic Disease Perspective

This commentary focuses on the global citizen’s right to health in a climate of chronic disease.

Please click here to view the presentation.

I hope you find the information both helpful and interesting.

I look forward to receiving your comments.

Elizabeth Wesbter
PUBH 8165-2
Walden Unversity

Family Fitness: Off and Running

The objective of this presentation is to pick up the gap of where most adult or youth fitness program leave off which is addressing the family as  as a whole for improving lifestyle for long term health benefits. It offers basic suggestions spanning from exercise and nutrition through to basic psychology that affects the family as a unit and makes some realistic guidance for those who are in a traditional or non-traditional household.

Please click here to view the presentation. I hope that both your family and you will be able to find some benefit from it.

If you have any questions, or care to leave a comment, please do so below.

Have a great day.

Thank you,

Geoffrey B Miller, MS, CSCS, HFS

millergb@hotmail.com

Doctoral Student

PUBH 8165-2, Environmental Health

Walden University

Preventing Norovirus

The purpose of this presentation is to increase awareness about Norovirus.  It reviews information on how Norovirus is spread, and offers tips for prevention.  This educational presentation on Norovirus was prepared specifically for those who handle food on cruise ships, in restaurants, nursing homes, school cafeterias, child care centers, summer camps, banquet halls, or in the home. 

Please click here to view the presentation.  I hope that you find this information helpful.  Please feel free to reply with your comments or questions.

Heather Mazakas 

PUBH 8165-3, Environmental Health

Walden University

Reduction of Workplace Bottled Water Consumption

This presentation focuses on an effort to reduce workplace bottled water consumption.  It offers several arguments against bottled water consumption including the following:  Waste Associated with Bottled Water Consumption, Exposure to Plastics associated with Bottled Water Consumption, Reduced Quality of Bottled Water compared to Local Tap Water, Inferior Regulation of Bottled Water compared to Tap Water, and the Expense of Bottled Water compared to Tap Water.  This presentation is directed to employees of a business that has decided to stop providing bottled water.

Please click here to view the presentation.  I hope that the information is helpful.  If you have any questions, or care to leave a comment, please do so below.  Thank you.

Krista Schroeder, M.H.S.

PUBH 8165-03, Environmental Health

Walden University

Healthy Choices, Healthy Kids

This presentation focuses on school nutrition for primary and secondary students.  It offers some suggestions on how more healthy food choices can be  made available in the school environment.  This presentation is directed towards teachers and parents of kids that are in elementary, middle, and high school.

Please click here to view the presentation.  I hope that this information is useful to you and that you can use it in the schools in your community.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below.  Thank you.

Ms. Djuana Stroud

PUBH-6165-1, Environmental Health

Walden University