All Healthy News

Clean Air. Pure Water. Healthy Home.

HEALTH BEGINS WITH:
Clean Air. Pure Water. Healthy Homes.

Staff Reporter

Henley Hall Institute for Energy Efficiency Offers a Lesson in Natural Ventilation 

by

The active block’s north elevation has a stucco-clad exterior with punched windows to minimize solar gain in its more light-sensitive laboratory spaces. Its north side incorporates the expansive glazed facade found on the passive block’s north elevation, but without operable windows. Since the labs produce high internal heat loads, the project’s engineers, Buro Happold, optimized the U-value performance and surface area of the glazing for the north-facing labs so those spaces could lose heat during Santa Barbara’s mostly cool days. The glazed facade also exposes the inner workings of the labs to the wider campus community, a realization of a desire for “science on display,” as Smith says. 

Kim Fiffer, Buro Happold’s mechanical engineer for the project, says the labs vary between active chilled beams in spaces without fume hoods and variable air volume systems where fume hoods require higher air demands. All chilled water is provided by centralized campus systems, while hot water is heated by gas-fired boilers located in a mechanical penthouse. 

FLEXING FOR SCIENCE
Flexible, open labs contain large glass walls as well as exposed utilities in anticipation of future upgrades. COURTESY BRUCE DAMONTE

The team credits a relentless focus on energy efficiency with helping them reach an ambitious target—an energy use intensity (EUI) of only 100 kBtu/sf-year compared with the university’s average for existing labs of nearly 300. That achievement is one of the reasons it’s a rare lab building to achieve a LEED Platinum rating, even rarer to include natural ventilation. Currently, the team is reviewing metered operational data, but it has taken more time given the uneven occupancy of the building with pandemic shutdowns. Smith says the engineers who work in the building call it “fresh and clean,” which has struck a particular chord as designers everywhere have started paying more attention to indoor air quality during the pandemic. 

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Jhonelly Gil Named 2021 Amazing Employee of the Year

by

Jhonelly Gil, a Housekeeping Aide, Selected As NYC Health + Hospitals 2021 Amazing Employee of the Year

Gil was selected from among a workforce of 44,000 health care heroes

Gil’s selection underscores vital role of behind-the-scenes,
non-clinical workers who support the front lines of patient care and safety

New York, NY

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that Jhonelly Gil, a housekeeping aide in the Department of Environmental Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, was voted “2021 Amazing Employee of the Year,” representing the public health system’s 44,000 workforce. Gil has been at NYC Health + Hospitals for 14 years and is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the Emergency Department rooms, a job that was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is beloved by his work family and won the hearts of all the NYC Health + Hospitals employees who this month voted for Gil from a final group of 35 nominees selected for distinguished service, significant achievements, and for displaying extraordinary care and compassion to their colleagues and patients. Gil was born in Manhattan, grew up in the Dominican Republic, and returned to New York City at age 17.

“This is an honor. Of all the hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and all these people doing great things, for me to win has to be God’s work,” said Gil. “I love Bellevue and the staff members I work with in the emergency room. I always say ‘Good Morning’ to everybody even if I don’t know the person. When I step in the elevator or pass by someone, I try to keep a positive spirit and positive mindset, regardless of whatever I’m going through. It’s like an echo. If you show someone respect and you show them love, you’re going to get it back.”

“Especially during the pandemic, Jhonelly Gil’s positivity and motivating presence helped boost his co-workers’ spirits to allow them to get through some dark times,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Jhonelly represents the amazing, compassionate workers across our health system and the fact that he was voted in by all our employees, competing with many others on the front lines of patient care, is a great acknowledgement of the vital role of behind-the-scenes, non-clinical workers in patient care and safety.”

“Jhonelly treats everyone with courtesy and respect, it doesn’t matter who they are, employees, patients or visitors,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Operating Officer Marcia Peters. “His work ethic, helpful attitude and serene demeanor have secured him the Employee of the Month recognition on two occasions. Jhonelly is not only an amazing employee, he has an amazing influence on all who have the honor of interacting with him. We are extremely proud of him!”

Contact: Press Office, 212-788-3339

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine, the 844-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with its 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. It sees more than 110,000 emergency room visits and 500,000 outpatient visits annually. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Comprehensive Children’s Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue or find us on twitter.com/BellevueHosp.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.


[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Air Sponge Filter Company Welcomes Rachel Rosen

by

Coral Springs, FL, April 07, 2022 –(PR.com)– Air Sponge Filter Company is proud to announce their newest addition, Rachel Rosen, as Marketing Director. She will oversee the company’s promotional and advertising efforts to drive sales and build overall brand awareness.

“We are constantly looking to grow and better our business with hard-working, innovative individuals like Rachel,” said Elissa Epstein, Vice President at Air Sponge Filter Company. “In addition to her exceptional work ethic and dedication, she also possesses the drive that is needed to take our company to the next level. We are so excited to have Rachel on board, and we can’t wait to watch all of her plans come to life.”

Prior to joining Air Sponge Filter Company, Rosen served as a Senior Project Manager at BPD Advertising in Boca Raton, FL. During her years there, she oversaw and managed multiple marketing projects for various healthcare systems across the United States.

A Florida resident, Rosen graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

“I am so excited to be joining a company that I feel so aligned with,” said Rosen. “I truly stand by Air Sponge Filter Company’s mission, which is to eliminate airborne illnesses caused by contaminated indoor air. I want to bring more awareness to the air quality issues we face, and to hopefully inspire action to combat these issues.”

For more information, please visit www.airsponge.com.

About Air Sponge Filter Company

Air Sponge Filter Company is a high-efficiency air filter manufacturer, with over 25 years of industry experience. We have received multiple patents for our innovations, and continue to improve our products for our customers. At Air Sponge Filter Company, our mission is simple – to eliminate airborne illnesses caused by contaminated indoor air. We aim to achieve this by designing, developing, and delivering the most effective air filtration products and making them accessible to everyone. Advocating for proper air filtration and ensuring everyone breathes clean air is and always will be our priority.

For more information, please visit www.airsponge.com or call 954-752-1836.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Another Curious Case for the Supreme Court; A Test for Textualism • farmdoc daily

by

The Supreme Court recently granted certiorari in a case reviewing the Clean Air Act and its application to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the effort to address climate change (West Virginia v. EPA, No. 20-1530; ).  The following is a review of the statutory interpretation question before the Court.

Background

The question posed to the Supreme Court involves the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate stationary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  In particular, the case involves an interpretation of Section 7411(d), which provides a form of catch-all authority—for air pollution not regulated under other provisions—to prescribe regulations that establish “standards of performance for any existing source for any air pollutant” (42 U.S.C. §7411(d)(1)).  Congress defined standards of performance as “standard for emissions of air pollutants which reflects the degree of emission limitation achievable through the application of the best system of emission reduction” and takes into account the cost of the system (42 U.S.C. §7411(a)(1)).  Figure 1 summarizes the statutory provisions.

West Virginia, other states and the power-generation industry are seeking Supreme Court review of a decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (Am. Lung Ass’n. v. EPA, 985 F.3d 914 (DC Cir. 2021)).  In brief, the appellate court decision reviewed the Trump Administration EPA’s 2019 decision to rescind an earlier regulation (known as the Clean Power Plan) and replace it with the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule.  One key issue before the Court is the 2019 EPA interpretation of the statutory definition for standards of performance.  EPA limited regulation to only what can be “put into operation at a building, structure, facility, or installation” but not to include any off-site or other measures (Id., at 938).  EPA based its interpretation on the meaning of the words “best system of emission reduction” as applicable only to the site of the emissions.  Figure 2 adds the EPA interpretation.

Discussion

Textualism is a judicially created method for interpreting statutes that is largely credited to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.  Briefly, textualism works from the premise that only the actual words of legislative text were voted on by Congress and enacted into law.  Moreover, all words are to be interpreted or understood in their ordinary, everyday meaning (unless technical) and they should be given the meaning the words had at the time the text was enacted.  Textualists tend to oppose the use of other legislative materials, records or history, such as committee reports, for interpretation (Scalia and Garner, 2012; Barrett 2017; Nourse 2019).  Textualism offers the appearance of common-sense simplicity.  Its actual application to the varieties, vagaries and complexities of statutes can be far more challenging.  Far too often, courts become stuck in a battle of dictionary definitions over one or a few individual words within a large, complex statute (see e.g., Bostock v. Clayton County, 140 S. Ct. 1731 (2020); Yates v. U.S., 574 U.S. 528 (2015); Rapanos v. U.S., 547 U.S. 715 (2006); MCI Telecomms. Corp. v. AT&T Co., 512 U.S. 218 (1994)).  The case of the ACE rule offers a good example, as well as an interesting test for textualism.

In the decision being reviewed by the Supreme Court, the DC Circuit looked to the ordinary meaning of the words “system” or “best” in the definition and found that EPA’s interpretation was not reasonable, nor supported by the statutory text (Am. Lung Ass’n., 985 F.3d at 946 (citing Sandifer v. U.S. Steel Corp., 571 U.S. 220, 227 (2014)).  The court concluded that EPA ignored the actual words of the text, and their meaning, in its “own newfound version” and that it failed to “offer any sound justification for importing language from a different provision” for its interpretation of a “best system” (Id., at 947).  Additionally, the appellate court admonished EPA for attempting to rewrite the statute by replacing the “preposition ‘for’ that actually appears in the text” with the “prepositions ‘at’ and ‘to’” for that text in the ACE rule (Id., at 950).

In general, the Supreme Court has found that the CAA includes GHG emissions within the broad, expansive definition of air pollutant and EPA has made the requisite finding that such emissions contribute to climate change and endanger public health or welfare (Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007); Am. Elec. Power Co. v. Connecticut, 564 U.S. 410 (2011); Util. Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 573 U.S. 302 (2014);Michigan v. EPA, 576 U.S. 743, 751 (2015)).  Moreover, the “mere fact that an agency interpretation contradicts a prior agency position is not fatal” (Smiley v. Citibank (S.D.), N.A, 517 U.S. 735, 742 (1996)) because “Agencies are free to change their existing policies as long as they provide a reasoned explanation for the change” (Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro, 579 U.S. 211, 222 (2016) (citing Nat’l Cable & Telecomms. Ass’n v. Brand X Internet Servs., 545 U.S. 967, 981-82 (2005)).  Agencies have a degree of flexibility or latitude to adapt rules to changing circumstances (See e.g., Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 42 (1983)).

What makes the West Virginia case an interesting test for textualism is that the 2019 EPA interpretation was an effort to significantly curtail EPA’s regulatory authority, rather than the more typical interpretative effort to expand its regulatory authority.  The judicial work of textualists has more-often-than-not worked to limit any expansion of agency authority to regulate through narrow, limited interpretations of the delegation of authority by Congress (see e.g., Rapanos v. U.S., 547 U.S. 715 (2006)). The question for the Supreme Court in this case is whether textualism works as an ideological or purposive effort in which it only applies to agency interpretations that the Court deems as seeking to expand authority, or is it an agnostic exercise of interpreting words and phrases regardless of whether the result expands or contracts the authorization?  For example, the Supreme Court has instructed that Congress does not “alter the fundamental details of a regulatory scheme in vague terms or ancillary provisions—it does not, one might say, hide elephants in mouseholes” (Whitman v. Am. Trucking Ass’ns, 531 U.S. 457, 468 (2001)).  In other words, the test for textualism is whether an unreasonable interpretation remains unreasonable when it narrows or curtails authority to regulate, or does it only apply to expansive interpretations.

Ultimately, the point of statutory interpretation is to uphold the intent of Congress.  Statutory words should not be read in isolation or as unrelated terms or phrases (see, Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243, 273 (2006)).  Courts are not to read words in a vacuum (see, Gundy v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2116, 2126 (2019).  Courts should look to the “principle evil Congress was concerned with when it enacted” the statute (Bostok, 140 S. Ct. at 1744).  For the Clean Air Act, the principle evil was the regulation of any air pollutant.  That term now includes GHG emissions and Congress understood “that without regulatory flexibility, changing circumstances and scientific developments would soon render the Clean Air Act obsolete” (Massachusetts, 549 U.S., at 532).  EPA cannot use an interpretation that reconfigures the statute in a manner that contradicts what Congress intended (Michigan, 576 U.S., at 757).  Nor can EPA use an interpretation “to shirk its environmental responsibilities” (Massachusetts, 549 U.S., at 532).

In the CAA, Congress intended a broad scope of authority for EPA that was flexible and adaptable. That intent would presumably apply when it authorized the use of a standard based on what is achievable through the best system of emission reduction.  Arguably that standard should be understood as an intent to push the regulated industry to undertake substantial efforts to reduce pollution in order to promote clean air; to drive adaptation and the adoption of increasingly new, improved or more advanced technologies throughout the sector.  If so, it would be an unreasonable interpretation for EPA to restrict the broad, expansive scope enacted by Congress (See, U.S. v. Gonzales, 520 U.S. 1, 5 (1997); Ams. for Clean Energy v. EPA, 864 F.3d 691, 712 (D.C. Cir., 2017)).  The principle goal of the Clean Air Act was to reduce air pollution that endangers public health and welfare.  That goal does not square well with an interpretation by the agency allowing the agency tasked with the work to unduly limit itself.  If the text enacted by Congress was expansive, it should be unreasonable for EPA to narrow or limit it through regulation; an unreasonable interpretation is an unreasonable interpretation regardless of the ideological appeal of it (See e.g., MCI Telecomms. Corp. v. AT&T Co., 512 U.S. 218 (1994)).

Concluding Thoughts

Among the difficult and interesting questions for the Supreme Court in its review of the D.C. Circuit Court decision is whether statutory interpretation is to be agnostic as to the ideological outcome.  Whether the interpretation limits an agency’s authority or expands it should not matter if major modifications with substantial economic and political significance constitute an unreasonable interpretation because such decisions were not delegated to an agency in cryptic fashion.  Neither the Clean Air Act, in general, nor the provision for specifically achieving reductions in the emissions of air pollution through the best system of emission reduction, fit comfortably within a narrow interpretation of the statutory text.  It is ultimately a question of power among Congress, the Executive and the Judiciary.  Arguably, an agency should not exercise its power in a manner too limited for what Congress intended any more than it should do so to expand beyond what Congress intended.  A deeper, more difficult issue is whether the courts should be in the role of determining these questions because they increasingly risk the promotion of regulation and policymaking by litigation.  Behind such esoteric questions of law are vast and profound consequences.

[A note of appreciation to the students taking Agricultural Law (ACE 403) this spring semester for reviewing this case and other questions of statutory interpretation.  Their questions and discussions were helpful to working through this difficult case.]

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

School sports: RGS shooter Zhang Aiyan rediscovers her form to win air pistol gold

by

SINGAPORE – What was supposed to be an exciting return to the National School Games turned into worry for Zhang Aiyan, as the air pistol shooter saw her training scores dipping inexplicably a few weeks before the B division girls’ competition.

No matter what she tried, the Secondary 4 student from Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) was only able to hit scores in the 530s range instead of her usual 547 to 552 points.

The 15-year-old said: “I actually kind of panicked, I was worried that my scores wouldn’t be able to recover. It was quite frustrating because no matter what I tried, it was not getting better.”

Thankfully for Aiyan, she was able to rediscover her form in time to clinch the gold medal in the girls’ 10m air pistol at the Safra Yishun Indoor Air Weapon Range on Thursday (April 7).

Things began looking up for her when her coach, who had been overseas for a competition, returned and changed her approach to training. Instead of shooting one pellet at a time, the teenager began shooting five to 10 pellets at once before looking at where her shots landed.

She said: “When I was shooting shot by shot, I actually got very frustrated when I saw the shot not hitting 10s or just hitting nines.”

But on Thursday, Aiyan put the frustration of the past few weeks behind her as she shot a 556 with 13 inner-10s, pipping Singapore Sports Schools’ (SSP) Clarice Lee to the gold by a point.

National Junior College’s Kulandaivel Udayar Senthilkumar Lakshayaa was third with 542 points.

Aiyan said: “I feel quite happy because today my performance is actually better than usual in training, I’m quite surprised by my scores today. I wasn’t really aiming for any title – my goal was to do the best that I can do.”

While SSP’s Clarice was disappointed after narrowly missing out on the gold medal, there were still some aspects of her performance that she was pleased with.

The Secondary 3 student said: “I am grateful that I was able to win silver, but I was also disappointed that I missed gold by one point. Overall, I’m still very happy with my results.

“Honestly I’m not very satisfied with my performance today as I felt very lost during the first three series, but I managed to pick myself up and regain my confidence to continue for the rest of the shots.”

SSP’s bid for a clean sweep of four team golds fell short on Thursday as the air pistol team title went to Xinmin Secondary School, who scored 1602 to finish ahead of RGS (1597) and the Australian International School (1578).

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

InsuranceMarket.ae and Healthy Home team up to provide health and home wellness – News

by

Grishma Apte, General Manager, myAlfred LLC and Hisham Jaber, Co-founder and Head of Strategy, The Healthy Home

Published: Thu 7 Apr 2022, 12:12 PM

Two years on from the pandemic, and it’s fair to say there’s a couple of things that have left their mark on us all. First, the need to keep our homes clean and sanitised, to create a healthy indoor environment. Second, to keep us and our families safe and well. The need to protect ourselves is rising to prominence, and it’s no wonder that there’s a link between health, wellness and insurance. So, we were excited to hear more about the latest collaboration insurance giant InsuranceMarket.ae has announced with leading health and wellness provider, The Healthy Home. We asked members of the executive team at the two companies to tell us more:

“At InsuranceMarket.ae, we’re always keen to promote the services of companies who share our ethos and ethics when it comes to business. The Healthy Home shares our vision to take care of home, health and family so there’s an obvious synergy between us, aligned by a desire to provide products and services that promote peace of mind at affordable prices”, said Avinash Babur, CEO at InsuranceMarket.ae.

Grishma Apte, general manager, myAlfred, said: “Aside from the great insurance deals InsuranceMarket.ae offers its customers, we’re proud to bring them great rewards through our myAlfred collaboration and from our portfolio of partners. We’re excited to have secured a 15 per cent discount on The Healthy Home’s great range of health and wellness services which we’re sure will prove popular with our customers.”

Commenting further, Hisham Jaber, co-founder and head of strategy at Healthy Home, said: “As a health and wellness-based company committed to creating better living, all our treatments are eco-friendly, child-safe and offer medically endorsed benefits like improved sleep, respiratory and energy levels for individuals and families. From AC deep cleaning services to pest control, we’ve got a solution for all situations and are excited to showcase them through this partnership with myAlfred.”

With such a fantastic promotion available, we are heading to The Healthy Home and InsuranceMarket.ae to get our house in order.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Water conservation to be a mass movement in Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow News

by

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government is sparing no efforts to make water conservation a mass movement. It has issued instructions to organise meetings and training programmes in 550 gram panchayats of 26 development blocks of 10 selected districts of the state under the ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’.
In its second innings, the Yogi Adityanath government has once again made all the preparations to rapidly expand the groundwater conservation schemes across the state.
The responsibility for this has been entrusted to Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department.
It has been decided that programmes will be expedited to complete village to village water conservation schemes on a war footing.
People will be made aware of how to save water and how it can be reused. In this regard, meetings will be held and training sessions will be organised for people.
The state government is ensuring the availability of pure drinking water along with water conservation in various districts. Under the ‘Khet Tal Scheme’, work is being done at a rapid pace to ensure that the water of the farm goes back to the field and the roof water comes back to the earth.
It is worth mentioning that like the Swachh Bharat Mission, preparations are being made to make water conservation a mass movement. Due to the attempt of the Yogi Adityanath government and the schemes like ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, the efforts going on in the villages have started paying off. The work of water conservation schemes in villages is being completed at a rapid pace.
Formation of water committees and conservation of water leaking from pipelines and construction of rainwater harvesting pits are also being done on a war footing, so that rainwater can be conserved and the conserved water can be reused.
[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Examples of common lung irritants and how to avoid them

by

Lung irritants are substances in the environment that have a negative effect on the lungs. They can be present in everyday substances found indoors and outdoors.

Lung irritants are particles in the environment that can make breathing worse and trigger symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. It is particularly important for people with chronic lung conditions to avoid lung irritants because they can exacerbate symptoms.

Potential irritants can consist of substances found indoors, such as cleaning products containing certain chemicals, dust mites, or secondhand smoke. Outdoor lung irritants can include weather, air pollution, and pollen.

People may also have exposure to lung irritants at their workplace, particularly in the construction, textiles, or farming industries.

In this article, we look at the different types of lung irritants people may come across, how to avoid or manage them safely, and tips to keep the lungs healthy.

Lung irritants, also known as respiratory irritants, are substances in the environment, both indoors and outdoors, that negatively affect the lungs when people inhale them. These irritants can cause inflammation or other adverse reactions in the respiratory system.

As these substances can cause damage to the lungs, sensors present in the airways trigger sneezing or coughing to try to remove the irritants and reduce the risk of inflammation.

These irritants can affect breathing and may worsen any existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In some cases, they can also result in the development of respiratory conditions.

Household lung irritants may include the following:

Cleaning products

Certain cleaning products may contain chemicals that can irritate the lungs, such as:

  • ammonia
  • chlorine bleach
  • volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

According to the American Lung Association, mixing any products containing bleach with a product containing ammonia can create toxic gases that could cause severe health problems. Even some natural fragrances may combine with ozone to create harmful compounds.

People can look at ingredient lists on cleaning products and avoid flammable ingredients, fragrances, or VOCs. People can also open a window for good ventilation when cleaning and avoid using air fresheners.

Using simple ingredients from around the home, such as baking soda, vinegar, warm water, and soap, can make good cleaning alternatives.

Dust mites and pet dander

Dust mites and pet dander can be a trigger for allergies or asthma. To help avoid irritation, people can:

  • clean and dust the home regularly
  • keep any pets away from bedding and soft furnishings
  • wash bedding in hot water each week
  • use allergen-proof bedding and mattresses

Mold

Mold produces substances that can cause irritation or an allergic response when people inhale or touch them.

Reducing humidity in the home may help to prevent mold. People can try opening the windows if the air is cooler outside, or in warm weather using air conditioning.

Wood-burning stoves

Wood-burning stoves or fireplaces release smoke that contains tiny particles of pollutants such as:

  • carbon monoxide
  • VOCs
  • nitrogen oxides
  • benzene
  • formaldehyde

These particles can harm the lungs and may cause coughing, wheezing, or exacerbate asthma. Using dry wood and pellets can be a cleaner and more efficient option. People may also choose to switch to gas or electric stoves and heaters instead.

Secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke can cause respiratory problems, especially in children. It can come from burning any tobacco product, which includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. To prevent the risks of secondhand smoke, avoid smoking indoors or in a car.

To help clear air pollutants and create cleaner air indoors, people may want to use an air filter. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, filtering the air to remove pollutants is the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. People may choose to use a portable air filter or HVAC filter.

Certain occupations may expose people to substances that can irritate the lungs. These include:

Particles in the air

Fine particles in the air, or particulate matter, may consist of a combination of substances, such as ash, soot, dust, soil, or dirt. These fine particles can irritate the lungs and are easy to inhale. People in certain occupations may have increased exposure to fine particles if they are working in or around:

  • factories
  • exhaust fumes
  • fires
  • mining
  • construction
  • agriculture
  • smokestacks

Asbestos

Certain products, such as heat insulation, contain a fiber called asbestos. Asbestos is harmful to the lungs when it breaks down and the fibers are airborne. Asbestos can lead to asbestosis, which is a scarring of the lungs.

Most products nowadays do not contain asbestos for safety reasons, but many individuals working in construction and industry roles may still risk exposure to it. If people think they are encountering asbestos at work or at home, they can contact a specialized contractor to examine and remove asbestos.

Coal dust

Inhaling coal dust can scar the lungs in a condition called pneumoconiosis. This can cause shortness of breath and long-term lung damage.

Free crystalline silica

The inhalation of free crystalline silica can scar the lungs and increase the risk of lung disease. People may encounter free crystalline silica in the following environments:

  • mines
  • foundries
  • stone, clay, and glass manufacturing sites
  • blasting operations

Hemp, flax, and cotton dust

The dust from hemp, flax, and cotton can irritate the lungs, causing chest tightness and shortness of breath. People working in the textiles industry, particularly those working with unprocessed cotton, may have exposure to this dust.

Organic dust

Organic dust can include molds, pollens, bacteria, animal feed, and bedding particles, in addition to animal particles such as hair, feathers, and droppings.

Other lung irritants in the workplace can include fumes, vapors, and gases, which may come from pesticides or chemical substances such as paints or cleaning products.

To help prevent exposure to occupational lung irritants, people can:

  • wherever possible, avoid being around lung irritants by eliminating harmful substances or swapping out products for safer alternatives
  • wear a mask and protective gear when working with any airborne dust or harmful substances
  • ensure an expert in occupational health inspects the workplace to check for any risks of lung irritants
  • if working in an environment with lung irritants, see a doctor for an evaluation to check lung health and function and discuss any concerns with them
  • avoid smoking as this can increase the risk of occupational lung disease

Other possible lung irritants can include:

Pollen

The inhalation of pollen can cause allergies and irritation and may affect epithelial cells in the lungs. People can encounter pollen through trees, grasses, or weeds.

To help minimize exposure to pollen, people can:

  • limit time outdoors and keep windows closed during high pollen counts
  • use air filters to reduce pollen particles that may come into the home
  • reduce pollen on clothes or on the body by showering before bed, washing clothes after being outdoors, and covering the hair when outside
  • clean or wipe down pets after they have been outside
  • dry clothes inside on an airer rather than outside

Weather

Different weathers can also affect the lungs. Cold, dry air may irritate the lungs and airways and lead to wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Hot and humid weather can increase inflammation of the airways and may worsen any existing lung conditions, such as asthma or COPD.

To help minimize lung irritation from the weather, people can:

  • check weather forecasts in order to take any precautions before going outdoors
  • in cold, dry weather, wrap a scarf loosely around the nose and mouth to warm up the air before inhaling it
  • where possible, have air conditioning on in warmer weather in the home or workplace
  • take any medication for existing lung conditions as a doctor prescribes and keep any quick-relief medications to hand

Air pollution

Air pollution consists of harmful substances in the air that can irritate or damage the lungs. Air pollution can include ground-level ozone smog and soot.

The former refers to a chemical reaction that occurs when VOCs react with nitrogen oxide in sunlight. Levels of ozone are usually at their lowest at sunrise and highest in the evening. Soot, or fine particle matter, is tiny droplets in the air that occur from exhaust fumes, power plants, or wood smoke.

Inhaling air pollutants can irritate the airways, which may lead to:

  • coughing
  • wheezing
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • worsening asthma symptoms

People who may be at higher risk of air-pollution-related health problems include:

  • young children, babies, and older adults, who breathe at an increased rate compared with older children or adults
  • people who are frequently outdoors for work or leisure
  • people with an existing heart or lung condition

To protect the lungs against the effects of air pollution, people can:

  • check air quality forecasts to find out air pollution levels before spending time outdoors
  • avoid exercising outside by high levels of traffic or when air pollution is highest
  • reduce energy use in the home to help tackle air pollution
  • avoid burning wood and trash, and avoid using gasoline-powered engines
  • share car journeys, walk, cycle, or use public transport to reduce emissions

Symptoms of lung irritation may include:

  • coughing
  • wheezing
  • shortness of breath
  • abnormal breathing
  • tight chest
  • chest pain

The American Lung Association offers the following tips for keeping the lungs healthy:

  • avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
  • eliminate sources of indoor air pollution and consider using an air filter
  • check air quality and take precautions to protect against outdoor air pollution, such as avoiding exercising in high-traffic areas
  • prevent the risk of respiratory infections with regular hand washing, practicing good oral hygiene, and getting any recommended vaccines
  • attend regular checkups to monitor lung health
  • stay physically active and exercise regularly to keep the lungs strong and healthy

Substances in the air, both indoors and outdoors, can irritate the lungs when people inhale them. This can include chemicals from cleaning products, tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes, and dust particles. Weather, pollen, and outdoor air pollution can also cause respiratory problems.

To minimize exposure to lung irritants, people can take steps such as using air filters indoors, ensuring good ventilation, and limiting time outdoors during high pollen counts or poor air quality.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo moves birds inside amid avian flu concerns – Sentinel and Enterprise

by

Bird enthusiasts heading to the Franklin Park Zoo won’t be able to see every bird there, as zoo workers have moved many of the bird species inside amid avian flu concerns.

Staff at Stoneham’s Stone Zoo have also relocated birds to indoor spaces to protect them from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) — which, for birds, is highly contagious and poses a serious health risk.

The avian flu has been confirmed in states within the eastern flyway, including Massachusetts. Wild waterbirds, such as shorebirds and waterfowl, are most likely to carry the virus.

“While it may be disappointing to some guests not to see all of the birds, this is an important preventative safety measure for the health of the birds within our care,” said Eric Baitchman, vice president of Animal Health and Conservation at Zoo New England.

The staff at Franklin Park Zoo has moved the cranes, kori bustards, ostriches, emus and free-roaming peacocks to covered spaces, so they are not at risk of coming into contact with wild birds.

Aussie Aviary, the enclosed free-flight aviary home to hundreds of colorful budgies, is currently closed to the public, as is the enclosed walk-through aviary within the Children’s Zoo.

At Stone Zoo, the whooping crane and black-necked crane were both moved to indoor spaces, and the duck pond was drained to prevent fly-in of wild waterfowl. At both zoos, the birds are being closely monitored by their care teams, and all are currently healthy and well.

“We have well-established plans and protocols for this type of situation and are working closely with our state veterinarians and ornithologist at the USDA, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife,” Baitchman said.

“We appreciate our guests’ understanding of these temporary protective measures,” he added.

In addition to moving birds to indoor spaces, the staff is taking additional preventative measures — including disinfecting foot baths and enhanced cleaning.

The virus is easily tracked on shoes and clothing, so these measures are in place to further protect the birds while they are off exhibit.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently confirmed the virus in a non-commercial, mixed-species backyard flock in Berkshire County. State officials quarantined the site, and birds from the flock of 240 — including ducks, chicken, geese, quail and turkeys — were safely removed and properly disposed, according to officials. Birds from infected flocks do not enter the food system.

The CDC said the recent detections are not an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S.

As a general food safety precaution, officials are reminding people that they should cook poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Solar Nanowire-Nanotube Purification Filter Offers Easy Access To Clean Drinking Water

by

The prototype of the water purificator held by the Master project student Jerome Gabathuler. Credit: EPFL

Even today, clean water is a privilege for many people across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1.8 billion people consume water contaminated with feces, and by 2040, a large portion of the world will endure water stress because of insufficient resources of drinking water. Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), around 1,800 children die every day from diarrhea because of unsafe water supply, which causes diseases like cholera.

It has become imperative then that we develop efficient and cost-efficient ways to decontaminate water. And that is exactly what a team of scientists led by László Forró at EPFL have accomplished, with a new water purification filter that combines titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires and carbon nanotubes powered by nothing but sunlight.

The scientists first show that the TiO2 nanowires by themselves can efficiently purify water in the presence of sunlight. But interweaving the nanowires with carbon nanotubes forms a composite material that adds an extra layer of decontamination by pasteurizing the water – killing off human pathogens such as bacteria and large viruses.

Water Purification Device Filtering and Sterilization Process

The filtering and sterilization process of the water purification device. On the left is an example of microorganisms that commonly contaminate drinking water. The pathogens are trapped at the surface of the nanowire-carbon nanotube composite-based filter. On the right is an illustration of how UV light generates reactive oxygen species on the surface of the filter UV illumination. Credit: Horváth et al.

The idea is that when UV light – from the visible spectrum of sunlight – hits the filter, it causes it to produce a group of molecules called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These include hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxide (OH), and oxygen (O2-), and are known to be effective pathogen killers.

The researchers tested their device with E. Coli, bacteria, the “gold-standard” for bacterial survival studies, but it should work with other bacteria pathogens, such as Campylobacter Jejuni (a common diarrhea-inducing pathogen in the developed world), Giardia Lamblia (a microorganism that causes the intestinal infection giardiasis), Salmonella, Cryptosporidium (causes diarrheal cryptosporidiosis), the Hepatitis A virus, and Legionella Pneumophila (causes Legionnaires’ disease). The device is exceptionally adept at removing all the pathogens from water, and shows promising results even for eliminating micropollutants, such as pesticides, drug residues, cosmetics etc.

“In a close collaboration between chemists, physicists, and biologists, we have developed a very efficient water purification device, which does not need any energy source but sunlight,” says Forró. “Our prototype can supply clean drinking water even at remote places to small populations and could be easily scaled-up. It is a great achievement and an important “side-product” of this project is that it has attracted a large number of talented and motivated students who care for environmental issues, for sustainability.”

In their paper, published in the Nature partner journal Clean Water, the researchers showcase a prototype of the filter and make suggestions for further improvements. “I am convinced that it will create a strong follow-up in versatile scientific communities and hopefully funding agencies,” says Endre Horváth, the lead scientist on the project.

“Solar water purification with photocatalytic nanocomposite filter based on TiO2 nanowires and carbon nanotubes” by E. Horváth, J. Gabathuler, G. Bourdiec, E. Vidal-Revel, M. Benthem Muñiz, M. Gaal, D. Grandjean, F. Breider, L. Rossi, A. Sienkiewicz, L. Forró, 7 April 2022, npj Clean Water.
DOI: 10.1038/s41545-022-00157-2

Funding: Global Water Award of the United Arab Emirates, Swiss-South African collaboration grant, Karl Zeno Schindler Foundation

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here