Blog # 9

Air Pollution

Particle pollution consists of a mixture of solids and liquid droplets.Particle pollution levels can be very unhealthy and even hazardous during events such as forest fires. Particle levels can be elevated indoors, especially when outdoor particle levels are high.

Sensitive groups for particle pollution include people with heart or lung disease (including heart failure and coronary artery disease, or asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), older adults (who may have undiagnosed heart or lung disease), and children. The risk of heart attacks, and thus the risk from particle pollution, may begin as early as the mid-40s for men and mid-50s for women.

Ozone affects the lungs and respiratory system in many ways. It can:

• Irritate the respiratory system
• Reduce lung function
• Inflame and damage the cells that line the lungs
• Make the lungs more susceptible to infection
• Aggravate asthma
• Aggravate other chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis
• Cause permanent lung damage

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. It forms when the carbon in fuels does not completely burn.Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and binds to hemoglobin, the substance in blood that carries oxygen to cells. It reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues.

• People with cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, are most at risk. They may experience chest pain and other cardiovascular symptoms if they are exposed to carbon monoxide, particularly while exercising.
• People with marginal or compromised cardiovascular and respiratory systems (for example, individuals with congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, anemia, or chronic obstructive lung disease), and possibly young infants and fetuses, also may be at greater risk from carbon monoxide pollution.
• In healthy individuals, exposure to higher levels of carbon monoxide can affect mental alertness and vision.

Sulfur dioxide, a colorless, reactive gas, is produced when sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil are burned. Generally, the highest levels of sulfur dioxide are found near large industrial complexes. Major sources include power plants, refineries, and industrial boilers.

• People with asthma who are physically active outdoors are most likely to experience the health effects of sulfur dioxide. The main effect, even with very brief exposure (minutes), is a narrowing of the airways (called bronchoconstriction). This may be accompanied by wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, which may require use of medication that opens the airways. Symptoms increase as sulfur dioxide levels or breathing rate increases. When exposure to sulfur dioxide ceases,lung function typically returns to normal within an hour,even without medication.
• At very high levels, sulfur dioxide may cause wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath even in healthy people who do not have asthma.
• Long-term exposure to sulfur dioxide may cause respiratory symptoms and illness, and aggravate asthma. People with asthma are the most susceptible to sulfur dioxide. However, people with other chronic lung diseases or cardiovascular disease, as well as children and older adults, may also be susceptible to these effects.

A key tool in this effort is the Air Quality Index, or AQI. EPA and local officials use the AQI to provide simple information about your local air quality, how unhealthy air may affect you, and how you can protect your health.

I read about impact of air pollution on immune system. Negative health effects from the chronic inhalation of polluted air are well known to cause cardio-respiratory disease. It can be particularly damaging to seniors, children, and people with asthma. According to a study from Ohio State University, breathing polluted air can also cause widespread inflammation by triggering the release of white blood cells from bone marrow into the blood stream. The influx of white blood cells can alter the integrity of the blood vessels. The white blood cells are then absorbed into fat tissues where chemicals are released that cause inflammation.

To reduce my impact on air quality, I can:

• Choose a cleaner commute — car pool, using public transportation, bike or walk when possible.
• Follow manufacturers' recommendations for use and properly seal cleaners, paints, and other chemicals to prevent evaporation into the air
• Educate my community to monitor the local Air Quality Index (AQI) daily and follow the necessary precautions based on the level of AQI eg. When AQI values are between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is unlikely to be affected. So The following groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion:The following groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion:
     - People with lung disease, such as asthma
     - Children and older adults
     - People who are active outdoors

Local particulate Air pollution (PM2.5) in San Mateo, CA  was 7.2 (μg/m3), AQI : 28.8, and health category was good by utilizing air assessment tool. Since 1955, the Air District has worked to improve air quality in the Bay area. The first regulation aimed at reducing air pollution banning open burning at dumps and wrecking yards is adopted in 1957.

The journal articles were not associated to my current practice. However, a article was very interesting to me.

Pesticide-Poisoned Patients: Can They Be Used as Potential Organ Donors?

 The gap between the number of patients on transplant waiting lists and patients receiving transplants is growing. Use of organs from donors who have died following pesticide exposure remains controversial. Overall survival with good function was 96%, 71%, 83%, and 67% for kidneys, livers, corneas and hearts respectively.Review of the published literature suggests that solid organ donation following exposure to a pesticide is associated with good short-to-medium-term graft organ function following transplantation, particularly for transplanted kidneys and corneas.

The best strategy for me to help patients and reducing the effect of air pollution on them is education. Providing information to patients, their families, and parents of pediatric patients about impacts of various pollutants on health, aggravating cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, and other diseases, how to help to clean the air, and how to monitor air quality index can be very helpful.

Blog # 10

Indoor Air Quality

It has been estimated that people spend about 90% of their time in both private and public indoor environments, such as homes, gyms, schools, work places, transportation vehicles, etc.; thus, IAQ has a significant impact on health and quality of life in general. For many people, the health risks from exposure to indoor air pollution may be greater than those related to outdoor pollution. In particular, poor indoor air quality can be harmful to vulnerable groups such as children, young adults, the elderly, or those suffering chronic respiratory and/or cardiovascular diseases.

Most indoor air pollution originates from sources that release gases or particles into the air. Candles, air fresheners, cleaning products and other household items can be potential culprits of air pollutants in your home.

In my home, whenever is possible I open the doors and windows for having fresh air and better ventilation. For home hygiene, I also clean the surfaces with diluted vinegar. But, since we have yard and garden, we expose to pollen and allergens which trigger my husband's allergy symptoms especially in spring.

The floor of my house is covered by carpets. So I am concerning about the impacts of carpet and formaldehyde on our health.

New carpeting is a primary source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can include highly toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The largest release of VOCs from new carpeting will occur in the first 72 hours after installation. 

New carpet installation is associated with wheezing and coughing in babies during their first year of life.

Consider carpeting and rugs made from natural materials like wool, which will (typically) not contain flame-retardants or stain-resistant chemicals and will naturally repel insects.

Make sure you regularly ventilate your home by opening windows on opposite sides of the house so the toxic fumes can be exchanged for outside air.

Patients and their family need to know about indoor air quality, cooking risks and ensuring air flow. Thus, I educate them about these important issues.

NEWS

Feb 19, 2019

Plastic threatens our health from before production to long after it’s thrown away: Report

"Every stage of the plastic lifecycle poses significant risks to human health, and the majority of people worldwide are exposed to plastic at multiple stages of this lifecycle."

Brian Bienkowski

The report cites shocking statistics on plastic production, including data that shows plastic

production has increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 380 million metric tons in 2015.

Currently about 42 percent of plastic is designed for packaging, which is especially troubling

because most plastic packaging is designed for single-use.

And the tons of plastic already produced is not going anywhere— "roughly two thirds of all

plastic ever produced has been released into the environment and remain there in some form—

as debris in the oceans, as micro- or nanoparticles in air and agricultural soils, as microfibers in

water supplies, or as microparticles in the human body," the authors wrote.

"Companies cannot continue hiding behind waste-management solutions like recycling, when

none of that will be enough unless they also dramatically reduce plastic use by using 

alternatives to single-use plastics," she added.

Two-thirds of all plastic ever produced remains in the environment

2008–2009 Annual Report President’s Cancer Panel

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK

What We Can Do Now

Executive Summary

Despite overall decreases in incidence and mortality, cancer continues to shatter and steal the lives of Americans. Approximately 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and about 21 percent will die from cancer. The incidence of some cancers, including some most common among children, is increasing for unexplained reasons.

Public and governmental awareness of environmental influences on cancer risk and other health issues has increased substantially in recent years as scientific and health care communities, policymakers, and individuals strive to understand and ameliorate the causes and toll of human disease.

Between September 2008 and January 2009, the President’s Cancer Panel (the Panel) convened four meetings to assess the state of environmental cancer research, policy, and programs addressing known and potential effects of environmental exposures on cancer. The Panel received testimony from 45 invited experts from academia, government, industry, the environmental and cancer advocacy communities, and the public. This report summarizes the Panel’s findings and conclusions based on the testimony received and additional information gathering.

Research on environmental causes of cancer has been limited by low priority and inadequate funding. Current toxicity testing relies heavily on animal studies that utilize doses substantially higher than those likely to be encountered by humans. These data—and the exposure limits extrapolated from them— fail to take into account harmful effects that may occur only at very low doses.

The prevailing regulatory approach in the United States is reactionary rather than precautionary. That is, instead of taking preventive action when uncertainty exists about the potential harm a chemical or other environmental contaminant may cause, a hazard must be incontrovertibly demonstrated before action to ameliorate it is initiated.

Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety. U.S. regulation of environmental contaminants is rendered ineffective by five major problems: (1) inadequate funding and insufficient staffing, (2) fragmented and overlapping authorities coupled with uneven and decentralized enforcement, (3) excessive regulatory complexity, (4) weak laws and regulations, and (5) undue industry influence.

People from disadvantaged populations are more likely to be employed in occupations with higher levels of exposure (e.g., mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, certain service sector occupations) and to live in more highly contaminated communities. The reality of this unequal burden is not just a health issue, but an issue of environmental justice. While all Americans now carry many foreign chemicals in their bodies, women often have higher levels of many toxic and hormone-disrupting substances than do men. Some of these chemicals have been found in maternal blood, placental tissue, and breast milk samples from pregnant women and mothers who recently gave birth. Thus, chemical contaminants are being passed on to the next generation, both prenatally and during breastfeeding. Some chemicals indirectly increase cancer risk by contributing to immune and endocrine dysfunction that can influence the effect of carcinogens. Children of all ages are considerably more vulnerable than adults to increased cancer risk and other adverse effects from virtually all harmful environmental exposures.

Many of these contaminants— even substances banned more than 30 years ago—remain ubiquitous in the environment because they break down very slowly, if at all. Other industrial chemicals or processes have hazardous by-products or metabolites. Numerous chemicals used in manufacturing remain in or on the product as residues, while others are integral components of the products themselves.

The entire U.S. population is exposed on a daily basis to numerous agricultural chemicals, some of which also are used in residential and commercial landscaping. Many of these chemicals have known or suspected carcinogenic or endocrine disrupting properties. Pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides) approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contain nearly 900 active ingredients, many of which are toxic. Farmers and their families, including migrant workers, are at highest risk from agricultural exposures.

Conveniences of modern life—automobile and airplane travel, dry cleaning, potable tap water, electricity, and cellular communications, to name a few—have made daily life easier for virtually all Americans. Some of these conveniences, however, have come at a considerable price to the environment and human health, and the true health impact of others is unconfirmed. Disinfection of public water supplies has dramatically reduced the incidence of waterborne illnesses and related mortality in the United States, but research indicates that long-term exposure to disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes may increase cancer risk.

The use of cell phones and other wireless technology is of great concern, particularly since these devices are being used regularly by ever larger and younger segments of the population. At this time, there is no evidence to support a link between cell phone use and cancer. However, the research on cancer and other disease risk among long-term and heavy users of contemporary wireless devices is extremely limited. Similarly, current and potential harms from extremely low frequency radiation are unclear and require further study. In addition, ultraviolet radiation from excess sun exposure and tanning devices has been proven to substantially increase skin cancer risk.

In the past two decades, improved imaging technologies, nuclear medicine examinations, and new pharmaceutical interventions have made possible significant strides in our ability to diagnose and treat human disease, including cancer. Computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine tests alone now contribute 36 percent of the total radiation exposure and 75 percent of the medical radiation exposure of the U.S. population.

In addition, pharmaceuticals have become a considerable source of environmental contamination. Drugs of all types enter the water supply when they are excreted or improperly disposed of; the health impact of long-term exposure to varying mixtures of these compounds is unknown.

The military is a major source of toxic occupational and environmental exposures that can increase cancer risk. Some of these sites and the areas surrounding them became heavily contaminated due to improper storage and disposal of known or suspected carcinogens including solvents, machining oils, metalworking fluids, and metals. In some cases, these contaminants have spread far beyond their points of origin because they have been transported by wind currents or have leached into drinking water supplies. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel and civilians in the United States received significant radiation doses as a result of their participation in nuclear weapons testing and supporting occupations and industries, including nuclear fuel and weapons production, and uranium mining, milling, and ore transport. These populations include the families of military and civilian workers, and people—known as “downwinders”—living or working in communities surrounding or downstream from testing and related activities, and in vi 2008–2009 Annual Report, President's Cancer Panel relatively distant areas to which nuclear fallout or other radioactive material spread. Federal responses to the plight of affected individuals have been unsatisfactory.

Most environmental hazards with the potential to raise cancer risk are the product of human activity, but some environmental carcinogens come from natural sources. For example, radon gas, which forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium mineral deposits, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked.

Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: A Call to Action The burgeoning number and complexity of known or suspected environmental carcinogens compel us to act to protect public health, even though we may lack irrefutable proof of harm. Action is possible at several levels: conducting scientific research to enhance our understanding and by extension, our ability to prevent and respond to environmental carcinogens; enforcing existing policies and regulations that protect workers and the public; implementing policy and regulatory changes that support public health and reduce the burden of cancer; and taking personal action.

The Panel concludes that:

• We Need to Determine the Full Extent of Environmental Influences on Cancer. Environmental contamination varies greatly by type and magnitude across the nation, and the lifetime effects of exposure to combinations of chemicals and other agents are largely unstudied. Similarly, the cancer impact of exposures during key “windows of vulnerability” such as the prenatal period, early life, and puberty are not well understood.

• The Nation Needs a Comprehensive, Cohesive Policy Agenda Regarding Environmental Contaminants and Protection of Human Health. It is more effective to prevent disease than to treat it, but cancer prevention efforts have focused narrowly on smoking, other lifestyle behaviors, and chemopreventive interventions. Scientific evidence on individual and multiple environmental exposure effects on disease initiation and outcomes, and consequent health system and societal costs, are not being adequately integrated into national policy decisions and strategies for disease prevention, health care access, and health system reform.

• Children Are at Special Risk for Cancer Due to Environmental Contaminants and Should Be Protected. Opportunities for eliminating or minimizing cancer-causing and cancer-promoting environmental exposures must be acted upon to protect all Americans, but especially children. . There is a critical lack of knowledge and appreciation of environmental threats to children’s health and a severe shortage of researchers and clinicians trained in children’s environmental health.

• Continued Epidemiologic and Other Environmental Cancer Research Is Needed. Available evidence on the level of potential harm and increased cancer risk from many environmental exposures is insufficient or equivocal. The Panel is particularly concerned that the impact, mechanisms of action, and potential interactions of some known and suspected carcinogens are poorly defined.

• An Environmental Health Paradigm for Long-Latency Disease Is Needed.
• Existing Regulations for Environmental Contaminants Need to Be Enforced and Updated; Stronger Regulation Is Needed. Regulations for workplace environments are focused more on safety than on health.

• Radiation Exposure from Medical Sources Is Underappreciated. The use of radiation-emitting medical tests is growing rapidly. Efforts are needed to eliminate unnecessary testing and improve both equipment capability and operator skill to ensure that radiation doses are as low as reasonably achievable without sacrificing image or test data quality.

• Medical Professionals Need to Consider Occupational and Environmental Factors When Diagnosing Patient Illness. Moreover, gathering this information would contribute substantially to the body of knowledge on environmental cancer risk.

• Workers, Other Populations with Known Exposures(e.g., agricultural and chemical workers and their families, radiation-exposed groups such as uranium mine workers, nuclear industry workers, nuclear test site workers and “downwinders,” residents of cancer “hot spots” or other contaminated areas), and the General Public Require Full Disclosure of Knowledge about Environmental Cancer Risks.

• The Military Needs to Aggressively Address the Toxic Environmental Exposures It Has Caused. Overall, the military has not responded adequately to health problems associated with its operations absent substantial pressure from those affected, advocacy groups, or the media. Of special concern, the U.S. has not met its obligation to provide for ongoing health needs of the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands resulting from radiation exposures they received during U.S. nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific from 1946– 1958.

• Safer Alternatives to Many Currently Used Chemicals Are Urgently Needed. Many chemists require additional training to understand environmental hazards and reformulate products. Importantly, “green chemistry” alternative products themselves require longitudinal study to ensure that they do not pose unexpected health hazards.

The Panel believes that just as there are many opportunities for harmful environmental exposures, ample opportunities also exist to intervene in, ameliorate, and prevent environmental health hazards. Governments, industry, the academic and medical communities, and individuals all have untapped power to protect the health of current and future generations of Americans and reduce the national burden of cancer.

Blog # 7

Childrens Environmental Health & Neurodevelopmental/Reproductive Risks

Reducing environmental hazards could potentially save over $254 million annually in direct and indirect costs to care for children with environmentally-related conditions and $13 billion over the lifetime for all children born each year in California.

Lead exposure has the greatest financial impact—between $8–11 billion for each birth cohort. Reducing environmental hazards related to asthma could reduce annual costs by over $208 million and improve asthma outcomes for over 280,000 children every year. Similarly, annual costs of childhood cancer could be reduced by $19 million, and 120 cancer diagnoses would be avoided each year.  The prevention of environmental hazards related to select child neuro-behavioral disorders could reduce annual costs by over $27 million and lifetime costs by over $2.3 billion for each birth cohort.

Data on the costs of environmental illnesses in children can help policymakers better understand the possible benefits of environmental remediation efforts. Targeting successful public health interventions to communities with the greatest risks will continue to save both money and lives.

As health care provider, by maintaining current environmental health surveillance systems, using health surveillance data to inform policies that impact health, and collecting and providing data that is accessible and relevant to stakeholder needs, so I can be engaged in supporting healthier environments.

Regarding link between ecological hazards and neurodevelopmental disorders and its negative impacts, I read few news and articles.

A recent review focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia, and described that the susceptibility of neurodevelopmental disorders to toxicant exposure is not limited to the gestational period but extends into the postnatal period.

Interactions of environmental contaminants and other environmental factors may combine to increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. For example, exposure to lead may have stronger effects on neurodevelopment among children with lower socioeconomic status.

As health care provider we need to educate our family, community, patients, and coworkers about the environmental toxins that we expose daily and the dangerous effects on health of children and adults. How those affect prenatal and postnatal brain, neurodevelopmental, and mental disorders.

The global rise in the rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) encompasses increases in diseases and conditions related to the endocrine system—e.g. low semen quality, genital malformations, preterm birth and low birth weight, neurobehavioral disorders associated with thyroid disruption, endocrinerelated cancers, early onset of breast development in young girls, and type 2 diabetes. These trends have occurred in a timeframe inconsistent with a much slower pace of changes in the human genome, indicating that the environment has shaped these disease patterns. The global health and economic burden related to toxic environmental chemicals is in excess of millions of deaths and billions of dollars every year.

Prenatal exposure to toxic chemicals in food, water, air, and consumer products is a determinant of maternal, child, and adult health worldwide. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in urging obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, nurses, women’s health nurse practitioners, and other reproductive health professionals to take timely action to prevent exposure to toxic environmental chemicals. Reducing the disease burden of toxic environmental exposures from food, air, water, and other sources of pollution will contribute importantly to advancing the UN Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Successful strategies for prevention involve mutually reinforcing activities at the patient, healthcare provider, healthcare institution, and societal levels. FIGO recognizes that clinical settings provide only limited time to address all the complexities of maternal and child health, and that by the time a woman sees a health professional for prenatal care, preventable exposures may have already occurred. 

I currently do not work in maternal and child health services. However, as future FNP if I would work in maternal and pediatric units, I will definitely include the recommendations of FIGO in my practice by implementing prevention strategies such as educating and encouraging the women to protect them and their childrens health from environmental chemicals.

The UCSF video lectures were wonderful and very thought-provoking. How Atrazine as chemical which can be found in agricultural pesticides can rise the rate of prostate cancer and impair the growth and developmental process in mammals. How Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) which can be found in our daily food and Teflon products can lead to LBW and adverse effects of Triclosan, BPA, and PBDES on hormones of the body. It was interesting to hear the research about increasing environmental and health literacy and reproductive system in indigenous community in Canada by using various tools, as well as another research outcomes about measuring the level of 43 chemicals in pregnant women.

As they suggested, I will advocate policies in my nursing practice and healthy food system by teaching the women community, and advocate for social justice.

The women in reproductive age-groups especially in minor and low socioeconomic communities need to be taught about the consequences of exposing to toxins on IQ of their children. They should be instructed to eat fresh and frozen food rather than canned and processed ones. To use more organic food. If they are pregnant eat fish with low levels of mercury. Maintain their old home's pipes system and avoid using pesticide around home, and clean and dust the surfaces frequently. 

Blog # 8

Environmental Justice

I first time knew about environmental racism when I was living in the east coat where the majority of people were black. They were speaking about being discriminated in terms of their skin color. Thus, they considered them as the victims of environmental injustice because not being appropriately respected and appreciated for their cultural perspectives, not receiving quality health care and proper distribution of state budget, and though their fathers being living in, laboring on, and cultivating the lands for years in the past, but they have not equally got their rights to have the lands.

I believe environmental justice is a social determinants of health. The social determinants of health involve sociodemographic indicators (income, unemployment, single-parent families, etc) of a population and talk about unequal distribution of health and well-being in national populations. It is true for environmental health conditions and for exposure to environmental risk and thus causes inequalities in exposure to – and potentially in disease resulting from – environmental conditions.

As a nurse working in health care facilities or/and educational institutes, we should provide nursing skills, education and treat our targeted population such as patients, patients' families, nursing students, and colleagues equally and fairly regardless of sex, age-group, racial and socio-economical status. We have to respect, acknowledge, and educate people in our workplaces about environmental health, hazards, and consequences.

NEWS

Jan 28, 2019

How diapers and menstrual pads are exposing babies and women to hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals

Health advocates say the report is the latest example of products falling through regulatory cracks and an inadequate societal focus on women's reproductive health.

Brian Bienkowski

Most diapers and sanitary pads contain volatile organic compounds and phthalates and with this continued, long-term exposure a significant amount of these harmful chemicals could be absorbed via the genitals, according to a new study.

The study was spurred by an investigation from South Korean media outlets in 2017 that found new sanitary pads might be causing menstrual problems and irregularities and was broadened to the U.S. and other countries. More than 15,000 women complained and signed onto a class action lawsuit claiming harm from menstrual pads by the company Lillian. The pads were removed from the market. Women alleged rashes, infections, irregular periods and bad cramping.

Scientists and advocates say the exposure uncovers a gap in our regulation of baby's diapers and is emblematic of our society's historical unease with having productive conversations about women's reproductive health.

"The physical location of the exposure site, the high absorption rate of the genitalia for chemicals, and the long-term exposure period demand a thorough investigation on the potential impact of the exposure to VOCs and phthalates," the authors wrote in the study, which will be published in Reproductive Toxicology.

"That's chronic exposure"

The lack of research and conversation around the health impacts of menstrual products "is the historical and cultural taboo in talking about the vagina," Strausfeld said.

However, there seems to be something of a cultural shift. "There are more and more bills passed at the state and federal level to supply menstrual supplies to women who can't afford them or are in prison, or in school," she said. "We're finally starting to talk about this more."

Blog # 5 

Household Products + Body Burdens

I found the amazing information about the following two products. I believe many people use the first product (electronic cleaner) which has minimal health hazard and need to follow precautions. About the second product, since I do Brazilian Blowout, I believe this important information will be interesting to my beautician and also I will educate him how to handle and disposal it.

Product: CRC Visiclear Display & Electronics Screen Cleaner 05131, Aerosol-09/30/2013

Acute Health Effects: Eye Contact: Mildly irritating to eyes. Skin Contact: Mildly irritating to skin. Inhalation: No short term effects expected. May cause nasal or throat irritation or headache to sensitive individuals. Ingestion: Small amount are not expected to cause health effects. Swallowing large amounts may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.  Chronic Health Effects From MSDS: Unknown. Carcinogenicity: Not listed.  First Aid: Eye Contact: Immediately flush with plenty of water for 15 minutes. Call a physician if irritation persists. Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash affected area with soap and water. Call a physician if irritation persists. Wash contaminated clothing prior to re-use. Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air. Keep person calm. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult give oxygen. Call a physician. Ingestion: If health effects are experienced, contact a physician. Note to Physicians: Treat symptomatically. Health Rating: 1 Flammability Rating: 0 Reactivity Rating: 0 HMIS Rating Scale: 0 = Minimal; 1 = Slight; 2 = Moderate; 3 = Serious; 4 = Severe; N = No; information provided by manufacturer; * = Chronic Health Hazard  MSDS Date: 2013-09-30 Handling: Use only in well ventilated areas. Use caution around energized equipment. The metal container will conduct electricity if it contacts a live source. This may result in injury to the user from electrical shock and/or flash fire. For product use instructions, please see the product label. Store in a cool dry area out of direct sunlight. Aerosol cans must be maintained below 120 deg F / 49 deg C to prevent cans from rupturing. Store frost free.  Disposal: All disposal activities must comply with federal, state and local regulations. Local regulations may be more stringent than state or national requirements. Product: Brazilian Blowout Zero-01/01/2012 Warning:  This is a personal care product that is safe for consumers and other users when used as intended. This product is not classified as a hazardous substance. Keep out of reach of children. Use only as directed. Chronic Health Effects From MSDS: None. Carcinogenicity: None. First Aid: Eye Contact: Flush with water for 10-15 minutes. If discomfort persists, seek medical attention. Skin Contact: Skin Irritation. Discontinue use of the product and flush with water. If discomfort persists, seek medical attention. Ingestion: In case of accidental ingestion, drink one or two glasses of water. Induce vomiting. If appreciable quantities are swallowed, seek medical attention. Handling: Normal handling consistent with good manufacturing practices. Avoid eye contact. Wear protective gloves. No unusual storage requirements. Avoid extreme temperatures and store in a cool, well-ventilated area. Disposal: Disposal of this product should be in accordance with Federal, State, Provincial and Local regulations. From quiz I learned using water bottles is unregulated in the USA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound that found in many packaging materials including water bottled. It affects endocrine system like reproductive system and is especially harmful for children. Studies showed that BPA-free bottles are harmful in a way similar to BPA ones. As a nurse, we can make voice through nursing organizations about chemical hazards that we expose daily and bring the local legislators' attention to the dangerous effects of chemical products on our community. Blog # 6 Biomonitoring & Body Burden The video about body burden was pretty interesting. The chemicals can remain in our body for years. The rate of chronic diseases in american children currently is high such as asthma, cancer, birth defects, and developmental disability. Also, there is controversial if the high percentile of chemicals in blood system potentially could cause infertility. The president of American Chemistry Cancer stated it does not mean if we found chemicals in the body, it can cause the disease. However, many scientists disagree. Chemicals can change the DNA in sperms. Educating patients and their families, and our coworkers by showing them the similar videos or providing them information from chemicals database can be very effective. The lab results indicate that chemicals higher than safe level can affect multiple organs in our body and cause various physical and psychological disorders. As a nurse first I would assess the patient about the possible causes, and then educate them about using safe products. Since now I know that we expose to different toxins daily, I would not be surprised if I would receive my lab results higher than safe level.“One's zip code matters more than our genetic code" means our life is impacted by the environmental we live in including home and surroundings. In assessment of patients with diagnosis of respiratory diseases, CHF, GI disturbances like diarrhea, cancer, and dermatology, I will ask about the environmental risks and quality of air and water supply of their residential area.Urbanization and industrial growth increase significant health hazards. Children are vulnerable to the toxic effects of mercury, particularly during the earliest stages of neuro development. Women and children who are engaged in gold mining are at highest risks of mercury exposure. Childhood exposure to lead can occur during pregnancy. The negative effects of Pb are on neuro-development, in particular, on intelligence quotient (IQ)and behavior. DDT as pesticide is detected in breast milk and blood samples of mothers in agricultural area. Pre-, peri- and post-natal women need to be educated about the toxins exist in their environment and negative effects on neuro-developmental of their fetus and children. I read about bisphenol and its health risks before and how this chemical can affect the endocrine especially reproductive system. Patients need to be educated about avoiding using any products contain BPA like water bottles, cans, and CDCs/DVDs. If they have no access to BPA-free products, they should be encouraged to use other alternatives like home-made food, water in glass containers, listening/ watching the records on radio/TV-not necessarily via CDs. NEWSJan 28, 2019 How diapers and menstrual pads are exposing babies and women to hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals Brian Bienkowski   Most diapers and sanitary pads contain volatile organic compounds and phthalates and with this continued, long-term exposure a significant amount of these harmful chemicals could be absorbed via the genitals, according to a new study. The study was spurred by an investigation from South Korean media outlets in 2017 that found new sanitary pads might be causing menstrual problems and irregularities and was broadened to the U.S. and other countries. More than 15,000 women complained and signed onto a class action lawsuit claiming harm from menstrual pads by the company Lillian. The pads were removed from the market. Women alleged rashes, infections, irregular periods and bad cramping. However, there seems to be something of a cultural shift. "There are more and more bills passed at the state and federal level to supply menstrual supplies to women who can't afford them or are in prison, or in school," Laura Strausfeld — co-founder of Period Equity,said."We're finally starting to talk about this more." But, she adds, this new study begs the question: "What should we be looking at that we haven't been looking at? It seems clear that companies are regularly innovating new products to make them more absorbent and flagrantly using materials and new synthetic plastics that we need to be concerned about."