Nashik: Maharashtra water supply and sanitation minister Gulabrao Patil on Friday said a team from his department visited Mahadarwaja in the district’s Trimbakeshwar taluka to explore possibilities of providing tap water to every household in the hamlet.
Patil told TOI that state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray had taken a strong note of the struggle the women in the hamlet to collect water from a well that was the only source of water for them.
“Thackeray and I had a discussion about how to mitigate the sufferings of the women of that hamlet. A team from my department visited the hamlet on Friday to explore the possibilities of providing tap water to the households. Once the team gives its report, we will plan our future course of action. I have asked the officials to submit the report as fast as possible.
The TOI had in its April 6 edition reported the plight of the women from the Mahadarwaja of Metghar village in Trimbakeshwar taluka, who have to walk every day for three hours to reach a well and scrape a potful of water from its bottom. The women are compelled to risk their lives by climbing down the steep walls of the near-dry well to fetch water. The well is the only source of water for the 300-odd residents living in around 50 households at the hamlet.
Nashik collector Gangatharan D on Friday said work was on to provide piped water from the well to the village. “We expect that the residents of the village will get drinking water from Monday,” he said.
Another senior officer said the work of pumping the water up through the pipeline was a difficult task. “Efforts to pump up the water twice failed. Some minor technical changes were being made to tide over the challenge. Trials were being conducted at the site, the officer added.
The zilla parishad had on Thursday swung into action to ensure that the residents of Mahadarwaja hamlet in Trimbakeshwar have access to adequate water. The authorities expedited the work of laying of a 1,250m pipeline to ensure the water is supplied to Mahadarwaja above the hills at Metghar fort in Trimbakeshwar taluka.
The zilla parishad had dug a well under the Thakkar Bappa scheme in March and the work on its pipeline connection had started. The administration put the work on the fast track.
The official said the water supply scheme was carried out with the help of a private orgnisation about three years ago from another storage of water. There was no government land available for digging a well as a permanent source of water. That scheme had, however, failed because of some issues related to energy bills and other technical factors, an official said.
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Mass. Senators Push Climate Change Bill Worth Over $250M
(TNS) — State senators unveiled a suite of concrete climate change regulations tallying more than $250 million Thursday that they consider vital for ensuring Massachusetts achieves net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including incentives to bolster the transition to electric vehicles and all-electric building construction.
Senate President Karen Spilka called fighting the climate crisis a top priority as she outlined “An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward,” which will be debated on the Senate floor next week — marking the second major piece of climate change legislation the Senate has tackled this session, according to the Ashland Democrat.
“Let’s face it, improvements we make in education or health care policy won’t mean anything if our coastal cities and our cities are under water,” Spilka said during a press conference Thursday afternoon in the Senate Reading Room at the Massachusetts State House. “This is the most important issue of our time … We are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to saving the planet with a particular focus on three sectors.”
Those sectors are clean energy, transportation and buildings, according to the bill summary.
Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem, chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, said the bill reflects her colleagues’ concerns that Massachusetts will not meet its ambitious goals with the policies now in place.
“We don’t think the agencies are taking the quick approach that they should be taking,” Creem said. Spilka added senators “wanted the legislative intent to be clear.”
The bill calls for the creation of a $100 million Clean Energy Investment Fund to spur infrastructure developments, with separate proposals making it easier to seek financial assistance for “cutting-edge technologies,” including nuclear fusion, networked geothermal and deep geothermal energy.
There’s also a proposed $100 million Electric Vehicle Adoption Incentive Trust Fund in the bill, plus $3,500 rebates — an increase of $1,000 from the current provision — for zero-emission cars and light-duty trucks. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft would need to comply with stricter emission-reductions rules, and the bill also requires the MBTA fleet to be fully electrified by 2040.
A new outreach program would be designed to reach undeserved communities, as well as communities that have a large proportion of high-emission vehicles, according to the bill summary.
“We wanted to make sure in the bill that we are not stimulating the purchase of electric vehicles by single-car owners at the expense of people who live in cities, and who may not be able to afford a car or who may rely at least primarily on mass transit,” said Sen. Mike Barrett, the Senate chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee.
The heftier rebates make it more feasible for middle-income residents to purchase electric vehicles, he said. And by 2028, commuters who depend on bus transportation should expect to travel in clean buses.
“We’re intent on making sure that working-class people and poor people have the same opportunities to breathe clean air and transportation as people living in the suburbs do. So we’re being pretty tough about that,” Barrett said of the strict timelines involved. “And it’s directly responsive to our concern about environmental justice.”
The heightened emphasis on electric vehicle infrastructure is accompanied with a proposed $50 million Charging Infrastructure Council Fund. New developments must also allocate at least 10% of parking spaces for electric vehicle charging.
In a pilot project embedded in the climate change bill, 10 municipalities, including Brookline, can restrict fossil fuel use in construction projects — as long as they receive local approval. Mass Save must also start limiting its funding on fossil fuel equipment.
Barrett said Bay Staters must have grit — and exude collective faith in one another — to “sustain a good life on this planet for all living things.”
“We know climate change is relentless, so Massachusetts needs to be relentless, too,” Barrett said. “No one’s going to give us an ‘A’ for effort — what matters are results. An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward pushes back against global warming on multiple fronts, with an emphasis on innovation and smart experimentation.”
Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues said the comprehensive bill will allow Massachusetts to reach 2050 emissions goals “as quickly and as equitably as possible.”
During a virtual State House News forum last month, Spilka had previewed the Senate was working “fast and furiously” on a bill tied to climate change and green energy to roll out in April, coinciding with Earth Day later this month.
The legislation took on heightened urgency as gas prices soared due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The House and Senate rejected proposals to temporarily waive the state gas tax, expressing fear over jeopardizing the state’s bond rating and hindering future infrastructure projects. But in response to pain at the pump, Beacon Hill lawmakers have also used the opportunity to promote electric vehicle infrastructure and the future offshore wind industry.
“I believe it’s Massachusetts’ obligation to ensure as much as we can that we have a strong, thriving commonwealth 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 years from now where our residents can live, work, raise the family, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy our natural beauty and succeed,” Spilka said Thursday. “It sounds really basic, but it’s really critical.”
©2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Originally Appeared Here
Four items around the house that can cause indoor allergies
And remember: The best way to reduce allergens in the home is to keep them from getting in in the first place. Taking your shoes off before coming in the house helps keep allergens — and any other unhygienic particles — from coming in with you.
Window screens
Screens are fantastic for enjoying warm summer days and cool night breezes without letting bugs in the house. However, window screens can also act as magnets for pollen.
Take your screens out of the windows and scrub with water and soap. Cleaning your window screens every spring and fall will reduce the amount of pollen trying to find its way inside.
ExploreHow to tell the difference between coronavirus and seasonal allergy symptoms
Furnace filters
When the spring weather starts to feel like a roller coaster — warm one minute and freezing the next — it’s common to feel sick. But in most cases your “sickness” might actually be allergies. And the culprit might well be your recently turned on air conditioner.
Before switching from heat to AC (or switching back in the fall), be sure to change the filters. Otherwise, you may be blowing months’ of trapped dust and pollen right into your home.
In fact, most experts recommend changing your filter at least every three months and even more frequently if you live in a high pollen area.
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Originally Appeared Here
Issues in pediatric blood lead testing
April 08, 2022
6 min read
Source/Disclosures
Disclosures:
Woolf reports no relevant financial disclosures. Brown reports being a technical advisor for Magellan Scientific.
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A recent CDC revision to the reference value used to identify children with high levels of lead in their blood doubled the estimated number of children who should be referred for follow-up, per guidelines, a pair of experts noted recently.
In a perspective published in Pediatrics, Alan D. Woolf, MD, MPH, director of the environmental medicine program at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Mary Jean Brown, ScD, RN, former chief of the CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, also discussed the reissue of the LeadCare II testing instrument following a recall.
We spoke with Woolf about blood lead testing in children.
Alan D. Woolf
Healio: What does the CDC’s reference value (RV) for a child’s blood lead level (BLL) mean?
Woolf: The CDC calculates RV based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which measures various chemicals, including lead, in blood samples taken from kids across the United States. The CDC then takes that data and calculates the upper 97.5th percentile of the population. That’s the number that they call the “reference number” as the upper limit of an “acceptable” lead level.
So, it isn’t really a health-based number; it’s a population-based number. Whatever the lead level is in the blood of the population, that reference number is specifically at the 97.5th percentile.
This is the first time the CDC has revised the reference level since 2012, when it was lowered to 5 mcg/dL. And, again, it points to the fact that the BLL has gone down in the population of preschoolers over those past 9 years, so that just last October the CDC lowered the RV to 3.5 mcg/dL. An RV lets you know where the child stands with respect to the population of preschool children nationwide.
Healio: What are the consequences of the pandemic on monitoring the lead exposure status of children?
Woolf: We don’t have the same insights into children and their families who may have a health issue related to lead contamination because the blood of some preschool children wasn’t tested for lead. The pandemic shut down well child checkups for a while in 2020, and it’s a fact that low body burden lead poisoning is often asymptomatic. A child may sometimes have a little constipation or irritability or poor appetite, but often they simply have no signs of lead exposure. That’s why we have screening in all 50 states, and then blood lead testing for those children felt to be at high risk. Screening children varies from state to state, in terms of the criteria used to determine when to get a blood test on a child. But the fact is, for high-risk children, if we don’t do the blood test, we may not know whether the child has been exposed to lead, either at home or in daycare.
It really has serious implications when, during the pandemic, people went into lockdown. People were afraid to go to the doctor. Many doctors closed their practices for a short time in 2020 while they adjusted their services. And when well childcare isn’t happening, lead testing of children is not happening.
As we noted in the article, across America, there was as much as a 34% reduction in the number of kids being tested for lead. Health care providers eventually were able to pivot and make the needed changes in their everyday practice to ensure the safety of their patients. And they have been trying to catch up with testing kids for lead since then.
Healio: What happened with the LeadCare II blood lead measuring instrument?
Woolf: That was a technical issue with the accuracy of that test, which first came to light, I believe, in 2021. The company reacted quickly to recall the lot numbers of test kits that were affected. Under the guidance of the FDA, the use of the LeadCare II instrument was paused in 2021 until they could clear up these technical issues.
So, pediatric practices, already stressed in delivering care during the pandemic now had to pivot and find another way to test children for lead. That meant having the child go to a hospital laboratory or commercial laboratory to get their blood drawn, rather than testing in the office itself. That change added a burden on the pediatric practices as well as on the families. For some of those labs, families had to make separate appointments. Sometimes the testing wasn’t convenient, and in some cases, it didn’t get done. Laboratory results had to be sent back to the doctor’s office and entered into the child’s medical record. Sometimes that might not happen correctly.
Those difficulties compounded the problems that we were already having getting kids tested because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the company resolved the technical issues, and with the approval of the FDA, LeadCare II kits went back into production for distribution in February 2022.
Healio: What should clinicians be doing to help families of kids with elevated BLLs?
Woolf: Pediatric health care providers are using the new RV of 3.5 mcg/dL to identify children at high risk of continuing exposure to the metal. In the article, we urge clinicians to continue to test children to see if they have an elevated lead level. If children have an elevated level, then this is a wonderful opportunity to counsel families. We made some points in the commentary of things that pediatric health care providers have been doing all along and should continue to do. For example, they can counsel families about dietary intake of calcium, iron, vitamin D and other essential minerals and vitamins in foods. Those can help in a child who has an elevated lead level and may be iron deficient. And they should continue to monitor the child’s blood periodically until the lead level falls below the RV.
Healio: What should families be doing at home?
Woolf: Families living in older apartments or homes built before 1978, and especially those built prior to 1960, should get their home professionally inspected for lead contamination. And we recommend all sorts of attention to the home environment. Some of the things we suggest, interestingly enough, are the same things we have been doing over the past 2 years for preventing COVID-19 infection, such as cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, including tabletops, baseboards, furniture and windowsills. Besides reducing the risk for COVID-19 infection, cleaning floors and high-touch surfaces is also effective for cutting down on lead-containing dust that kids can get exposed to by putting their fingers in their mouth. Dusting rooms, damp-mopping floors and cleaning high-touch surfaces with soap and water several times a week lowers the risk of lead contamination in older homes and apartments. Everybody should leave their shoes at the front door, so they don’t track in lead-containing dust or dirt from outside the home.
Careful and frequent handwashing is important. Just like we do for COVID-19, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and wash your toddler’s hands frequently. Toddlers put their fingers in their mouth, they explore toys by mouthing them, so by getting rid of dust and by careful, frequent handwashing, we are trying to break the hand-mouth cycle of lead dust ingestion. Same thing for cleaning plastic toys with simple soap and water, so they don’t accumulate dust.
Again, we’re just trying to interfere with that hand-to-mouth behavior that that puts kids at risk for getting lead from dust inside the home.
Healio: Are there other ways pediatric health care providers can help prevent childhood lead poisoning?
Woolf: What we also recommend for practitioners is that they advocate for policies and laws — local, statewide and federal — that will protect children and their families from lead.
Mary Jean Brown, who was my partner in writing this article, was the former head of the childhood lead prevention program at the CDC and has years of experience in public health. She mentions in the article the things that public health agencies can do. For example, when a town decides they have enough money to replace leaded water mains, they should make sure they replace all of the service lines so they will no longer be a source of contamination of drinking water.
Mitigating the lead hazard in housing is another important activity. Often homeowners and landlords have a hard time with lead abatement because of the economic cost. Attention to new legislative initiatives to “get the lead out” — regulations, resources, and funding made available to landlords and home-owners — as well as funding available to public housing authorities, will help make housing in the country hazard-free with respect to lead.
We want to make homes safe for children and give them a better environment in which to grow and flourish. It’s a big issue in our country.
Reference:
Woolf AD, et al. Pediatrics. 2022;doi:10.1542/peds.2021-055944.
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Originally Appeared Here
DFRobot Launched Air, Environmental and Gas Detection Sensors for Industrial and Environmental Protection
Gravity: Air Quality Sensor
Gravity: ENS160 Air Quality Sensor, based on ScioSense’s new ENS160 sensor chip, is specifically designed for indoor air quality monitoring and offers detection of multiple IAQ data (TVOC, eCO2, AQI). The innovative TrueVOC™ technology combines the metal oxide (MOX) technology that brings this sensor superior accuracy, fast response, anti-interference, etc. With intelligent on-chip algorithms, the ENS160 can directly output rich and easy-to-understand environmental data. The preheating time of the sensor is less than 3 minutes, which can obtain accurate data more quickly. The built-in automatic baseline calibration algorithm ensures the long-term stability of the sensor.
Gravity: Multifunctional Environmental Sensor
Gravity: Multifunctional Environmental Sensor is a 5-in-1 sensor that integrates temperature and humidity sensor, pressure sensor, light sensor, and ultraviolet sensor. It supports UART and I2C communication modes, two versions: Gravity and Fermion (breakout), and complete Arduino and Python libraries. It is exquisite and compact, suitable for indoor and outdoor environmental monitoring systems and other applications.
Gravity: Gas Detection Sensor Series
Gravity: Gas Detection Sensor Series can detect 12 kinds of gases covering oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide. It features strong anti-interference ability and high stability and sensitivity and supports three output modes: analog, I2C, and UART. The probe has been calibrated at the factory, which can quickly and accurately measure the concentration of gases in the environment. It can be widely used for detecting gas in industrial and environmental protection.
For more information about the new sensors, please visit: https://www.dfrobot.com/new-products
SOURCE DFRobot
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Originally Appeared Here
How to Choose the Best Air Humidifier for Need? – Sonoma Sun
Posted on April 8, 2022 by Allen Brown
Air humidifiers are a great way to add moisture to the air in your home, but there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing one. The type of air humidifier you need, the size of the unit, and how often it will be used all play a part in choosing the best one for your needs.
You want to keep your home or office comfortable, but the air is too dry. You may suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems.
Use an air humidifier to maintain a comfortable level of humidity in your home or office.
What Is An Air Humidifier?
An air humidifier is a small, unobtrusive device that helps to maintain comfortable indoor air quality by adding moisture. Humidifiers are typically used in rooms with low humidity levels, such as bathrooms and bedrooms. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be installed on shelves or placed on the floor.
5 Best Types of Air Humidifiers
Looking for the best air humidifier to help keep your home cool and dry in the summer? Here are five of the best options!
1. Ultrasonic Humidifiers
These machines use ultrasound waves to create a mist that helps to moisturize and cool the air. They’re generally quiet, easy to use and have a wide range of coverage areas.
2. CO2 Humidifiers
These humidifiers work by releasing a vaporized form of carbon dioxide that helps to regulate humidity levels in the air. They’re often more expensive than ultrasonic humidifiers, but they also tend to be more efficient, lasting longer on average before needing replacement.
3. Wet-Beds
These humidifiers use water as their primary source of moisture, which is then dispersed into the air using fans or other devices.
4. Evaporative Humidifier
This type of air humidifier relies on evaporation to produce humidity. These machines use water tanks or reservoirs to hold water and release it into the atmosphere through a fan
5. Electronic Humidifier
The electronic humidifier uses electricity to produce moisture. This type of humidifier is often more expensive than other options but it offers several advantages. For one, it’s easier to operate because there’s no need for filters or water refills.
3 Things to Consider Before Buying Humidifiers
1. Size
People usually buy humidifiers in different sizes to fit their needs. When choosing the size of a humidifier, it is important to keep in mind the room’s square footage and the amount of moisture that is desired. Small humidifiers are typically used in bedrooms while larger humidifiers can be used in living rooms and other large spaces. Humidifiers come in a range of price points, with some being more expensive than others. It is important to find a humidifier that fits your budget and needs.
2. Type
There are many types of humidifiers to choose from when looking to add moisture to the air in your home. Some are more expensive than others, but they also vary in terms of how well they work and how often they need to be cleaned. Ultimately, the type of humidifier you buy will depend on your needs and budget.
3. Price of Humidifiers
The main factor that affects the price is the brand name. Name-brand humidifiers tend to be more expensive than generic models.
There are a few main factors that affect the price of a humidifier. The first is the size and type of the machine. A small, tabletop model will typically cost less than a large tower-style machine. The second factor is the features included in the humidifier. More expensive humidifiers offer features such as automatic shut-off and filter replacement that are not found on more affordable models.
Why Choose the Best Humidifier?
If you suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma, an air humidifier can be a life-saving device. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 25 million Americans suffer from some form of allergy, and asthma is the most common respiratory illness in children.
You’re looking for a good air purifier for your home, but you have no idea where to start.
Many of the top-rated air purifiers are expensive and you don’t want to waste money on something that doesn’t work.
I’ve done the research and found the best air purifiers under budget, check out our buying guide here!
Oftentimes people with asthma are also sensitive to pollen and other environmental allergens. An air humidifier can help relieve these conditions by adding moisture to the air. Air humidifiers work by releasing water vapor into the room, which breaks down into water droplets and creates a mist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when looking to buy an air humidifier, it is important to consider the specific needs that you have. By doing your research and taking the time to find the best humidifier for you, you will be able to enjoy the many benefits that come with having one in your home.
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NOAA analysis finds surge in atmospheric methane, highlighting urgent need for emissions reductions – Clean Air Task Force
New analysis on surging levels of methane in the atmosphere “highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global effort to reduce methane emissions,” said Sarah Smith, Program Director, Super Pollutants at Clean Air Task Force.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found in new analysis that atmospheric levels of methane spiked by a record amount in 2021 and are increasing at the fastest-ever recorded rate.
“The continued surge in methane concentrations poses a grave threat to our climate and to life as we know it,” continued Smith. “Methane warms the planet over 80 times more than carbon dioxide during its first 20 years in the atmosphere and is responsible for half a degree Celsius of the global warming we’ve experienced to date. At the same time, reducing methane emissions has a nearly immediate impact on climate change — and is the best strategy we have to reduce warming quickly to help avoid passing irreversible climate tipping points.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has noted that rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are essential to keep the world from warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, a crucial threshold to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Beyond critical tipping points, larger, more abrupt, reinforcing, or accelerating changes create the potential for cascading warming effects.
NOAA’s analysis indicates that the annual increase in atmospheric methane last year was 17 parts per billion (ppb), the largest annual increase recorded since systematic measurements began in 1983. Levels of carbon dioxide also continue to increase at historically high rates.
Due to methane’s short lifespan in the atmosphere, reducing methane emissions can immediately slow the rate of global warming, and readily available solutions exist to reduce methane emissions from all major emitting sectors. Using currently available technologies, global methane reductions of at least 30% by 2030 are possible, enough to avoid 0.3 degrees Celsius of warming. Doing so would create co-benefits for air quality and public health, and most available measures would have low or negative mitigation costs, according to the Global Methane Assessment.
Smith continued: “It’s going to take a coordinated, global effort to turn this troubling trend around. President Biden and other world leaders have already demonstrated ambition to reduce methane emissions through the Global Methane Pledge, and now is the time for action. Countries must urgently develop ambitious methane action plans and get to work on policy making right away, while the U.S., EU and other countries should scale up funding for technical assistance and for key organizations like the Climate and Clean Air Coalition that can help catalyze rapid and transformative emissions reductions.”
Press Contacts
Troy Shaheen, Communications Director, U.S., Clean Air Task Force, [email protected], +1 845-750-1189
Rowan Emslie, Communications Director, Europe, Clean Air Task Force, [email protected], +32 476 97 36 42
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world.
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Originally Appeared Here
Lane County agency gets $2.7M to improve Oakridge-area air quality
Air quality in the Oakridge area, for years falling short of national standards, will receive a boon from not meeting air quality standards in the form of a $2.7 million grant just as federal regulators are expected to officially recognize things have improved.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s targeted airshed grant will supplement existing programs meant to reduce smoke pollution around Oakridge, where wood-burning stoves are a common heat source. The Oakridge area qualified for the grant because it is not recognized as meeting air quality standards, though it soon should be.
The grant was awarded to the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, which collaborates with local partners.
“Great work has already been done by residents and partners in Oakridge and Westfir to solve this problem,” said Steve Dietrich, LRAPA executive director. “This support from the EPA will further efforts underway in the community.”
Related:Oakridge area will benefit from $500,000 in wildfire risk mitigation grants
Targeted airshed grant built Oakridge Air
The new EPA grant supplements another targeted airshed grant awarded in 2019, which was used to found the Oakridge Air program. The program offers no-cost wood stove upgrades, home weatherization and ductless heat pump installation, as well as paying for increased air quality monitoring, subsidized seasoned firewood and more.
The new funding will allow more homes to enroll in the program and receive upgrades, according to the grant announcement.
It also will fund new efforts that benefit the area such as support for the city of Oakridge’s yard waste disposal program; offering residents chimney sweep vouchers, wood moisture meters and wood stove thermometers; and funding collaborative research between Oakridge Air, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University to evaluate indoor air quality improvements for residents enrolled in the home heating program, the release said.
The research will examine the community’s use of program interventions, protective actions residents take when air quality is poor and common habits that affect an individual’s exposure to particulate matter emissions.
Program collaborators include community partners such as Good Company, the Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative, Inbound LLC, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council and others.
Oakridge-Westfir working on getting EPA acknowledgement
The Oakridge-Westfir airshed is the only area in Lane County designated as “non-attainment” for violating federal particulate matter standards, largely related to wintertime smoke. Air monitoring in the area, however, demonstrates the airshed has met those standards since 2016, which has allowed LRAPA to request the EPA remove the designation.
“The re-designation request is the cumulation of years of cooperation, progress and hard work,” Dietrich said in a news release. “We’re optimistic the EPA will approve the request in the coming months.”
After the Labor Day wildfires:Oakridge seeking EPA recognition of improved air quality, but delays may hamper efforts
LRAPA prepared its re-designation request to the EPA with data from 2020, which included an “exceptional events report” that explained certain days of low-quality air were related to the Holiday Farm Fire. Travis Knudsen, LRAPA spokesman, said preparing those reports requires a large amount of time and eventually requires EPA approval.
The request compiled by LRAPA then has to be sent to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which forwards it to EPA for approval. EPA is currently processing the request, but LRAPA must submit 2021 air quality data by May 1. If EPA doesn’t finalize the request before then, it may make LRAPA refile with 2021 data.
The 2021 data would have to include another exceptional events report because of the complex wildfires that burned around Oakridge last year, something that would even further delay the eventual air quality re-designation.
The re-designation would reduce some permitting barriers for industries and businesses in and around Oakridge, Knudsen said. Attainment also would allow more opportunities for wildfire prevention-focused prescribed burning.
Knudsen said LRAPA expects to get the re-designation, but is aware bureaucratic processes still may cause delays.
Contact reporter Adam Duvernay at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @DuvernayOR.
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Originally Appeared Here
Mission Ukhrul: Ram Muivah provides drinking water – The Sangai Express
UKHRUL, Apr 8
As a part of “Mission Ukhrul”, a team under the supervision of Ukhrul AC MLA Ram Muivah has been providing potable drinking water to the people of Ukhrul town since April 7.
Speaking to media persons, Team Mission Ukhrul members, Ashang Shimrah and Chanchui Shang informed that under the overall initiative of Ram Muivah drinking water will be provided free of cost to every nook and corner of Ukhrul town where there is acute shortage of water specially for students who are appearing the board examinations.
“Considering the sufferings of the people of Ukhrul especially the students who are standing in long lines to fetch water during the ongoing board examinations due to the scarcity of water, the MLA took up this vital initiative”, they added.
It may be mentioned that even with an average of 1763.7 mm annual rainfall, Ukhrul struggles to keep up with the demand for domestic water, especially during the dry seasons.
According to the team, on the first day, drinking water was provided to the whole of Humpum village using 4 water tanker vehicles while about 1.15 lakh litres of water was distributed in Ukhrul town on Friday.
The people of Ukhrul expressed their gratitude to Ram Muivah and Team Mission Ukhrul for providing the much needed drinking water.
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Originally Appeared Here
Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters in 13 States, FDA Says
- The FDA and CDC have linked an outbreak of norovirus to raw oysters harvested in British Columbia and distributed in 13 known U.S. states.
- As of today, 103 illnesses have been reported in the U.S. due to the norovirus outbreak.
- The FDA urges those who think they may be in possession of infected oysters to dispose of them immediately, and to avoid consuming any raw oysters from the affected areas.
- In most cases, norovirus typically causes vomiting and diarrhea and is not life-threatening.
Though oysters have been known to have some great health benefits, like being one of the many foods high in zinc and boosting your sex drive, you’re still taking some risks when eating raw oysters or clams—and right now might not be the time to add them to your diet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other government partners are currently investigating an outbreak of norovirus across multiple states linked to raw oysters. As of today, 103 illnesses have been reported across 13 states.
The infected oysters were most likely harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, and distributed to be sold in restaurants and retailers in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The FDA adds that there is a possibility other states may have contaminated seafood as well.
The FDA and other regulatory organizations have traced the virus back to the British Columbia distributor and are working to remove the infected oysters from the food supply, recommending retailers to not serve raw oysters harvested from British Columbia, BC 14-8 and BC 14-15 with harvesting starting January 31, 2022. They encourage people to throw away or return any questionable product.
Oysters that have been infected with norovirus will likely look, smell, and taste normal, the FDA warns. They suggest avoiding oysters harvested from the previously mentioned locations and throwing any away if you have them in your home.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus, sometimes referred to as the stomach flu (though it’s unrelated to influenza) or the stomach bug. It can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, touching a contaminated surface and then your mouth, or through person-to-person contact, according to the CDC. The virus causes an inflammation of the stomach or intestines (called acute gastroenteritis). You can get norovirus at any age and multiple times in your life.
Norovirus symptoms
Most people develop symptoms in the first 12 to 48 hours of exposure and recover within one to three days. The most common symptoms when infected with norovirus include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Body aches
- Fever
- Headaches
Because the symptoms cause a loss of fluids and may make it difficult to keep fluids down, those suffering from norovirus may also experience dehydration. Severe dehydration may lead to the need for IV fluids to be administered. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Decrease in urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
If you’re concerned you may be sick from an infected oyster, you should contact your healthcare provider. Though there’s no specific medication that can ease your symptoms right away, the CDC recommends drinking plenty of liquids to help replace the fluids you lost from vomiting and diarrhea, to avoid dehydration. You may choose to sip on a sports drink or other non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverage to help replenish electrolytes, and some find that following a BRAT diet as you slowly reintroduce solid foods into your diet can help.
Preventing norovirus
The best thing you can do to prevent norovirus is to practice proper hygiene. Be sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before eating or handling food. Additionally, the CDC recommends carefully washing fruits and vegetables before preparing them and cooking shellfish well before eating. If you are worried a food you have may be contaminated, you should throw it away. Additionally, if you become ill, you should not prepare food for others and thoroughly clean and disinfect surfaces.
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