Indoor air quality has been determined to be up to ten times more contaminated than outdoor air in numerous studies conducted by reputable laboratories and research institutes. It happens all the time, especially in poorly ventilated enclosures. Sick building syndrome is caused solely by these improperly aerated enclosures.

Previously, while planning a building, the most efficient use of space took precedence above ventilation. Such structures are unhealthy to live in, and the most efficient approach to make them habitable is to renovate them with appropriate ventilation alternatives. To tackle the problem, foresight at the time of design is required. It’s important to remember the proper amount of airing and sunlight.

The following considerations are extremely significant when renovating or ventilating a home:

Ventilation

There are three ways that outside air enters and exits a home:

Infiltration: Air enters the house through gaps around windows and doors, as well as joints, apertures, and cracks in the ceilings, walls, and floors, in a process known as infiltration.

Natural Ventilation: Air travels in and out of a room through open vents, windows, and doors in natural ventilation.

Mechanical Ventilation: Mechanical ventilation involves forcing air into and out of enclosed spaces using mechanical mechanisms.

The air exchange rate (AER), or the rate at which outdoor air replaces inside air, is the most critical component to consider while designing. Appropriate AER could be attained in one of the three techniques listed above.

Leakage is minimized in new residential and office buildings to save energy, increase comfort, and prevent moisture and pollutants from entering. Mechanical ventilation should be installed in these structures to eliminate interior contaminants and deliver controlled external air. People who live in a building emit carbon dioxide, and the higher the occupancy in a space, the more CO2 is emitted. It is also a significant issue to take into account. The building, current heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and the air changes required for the building and specific function, such as seizing aerosol pollution, determine if a mechanical ventilation system is required. Which will be challenging and costly.

Sunlight

Sunlight is a powerful germicide that is both natural and effective. It minimizes the danger of sick building syndrome by destroying bacteria. The possibility of maximum sunshine reaching all rooms should be considered and accomplished when planning a building. Even when remodelling, it’s important to keep in mind that sunshine should be allowed to enter different parts of the building.

Moisture

Appropriate moisture should be maintained in a building for the health of those who live or work there.

Less humidity causes sour throat and other respiratory problems, while too much moisture promotes the growth of mould, fungi, algae, bacteria, and other germs in the structure. Ensure that all pipes are leak-proof and that water does not seep into the wall during construction. The roof must be watertight.

Sanitary connections and washrooms must be impenetrable to contamination. A mechanical dehumidifier might be used if the environmental humidity is higher in a certain location, while a humidifier could be used if it is lower.

Paints

Lead levels in many paints are extremely high. Exposure to high levels of lead in paints can disrupt a child’s brain development and impede nervous system development, resulting in learning impairments and hearing loss. Lead in paintings can raise blood pressure in adults as well. Aside from lead, most paints emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which evaporate in the air and worsen indoor air quality (Indoor Air Quality). VOCs are carcinogenic and can have a negative impact on one’s health. Many factors influence the effect, including the chemical concentration in the air, the duration of exposure to the chemical, medical conditions, age, and vulnerability. Use paints that are devoid of lead and mercury.

It’s also a good idea to use the exhaust fans for 2-3 days to eliminate paint fumes from the building.

Paints should not be kept near heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning systems.

Fixture and Furniture

VOCs are found in paints, varnishes, sealants, and adhesives used in fixtures and furniture. VOCs can also be found in cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetics, and aerosol-based air fresheners. VOCs are constantly released into the building’s air by these substances and components. Reduced use of these elements in the building aids in the reduction of volatile compound emissions. Furthermore, both natural and mechanical ventilation aid in the removal of cancer-causing substances from the structure.

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Views expressed above are the author’s own.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When you turn on the faucet and fill up your water bottle, you may notice a difference in the odor or taste of the tap, depending on where you’re located in the state of Missouri. 

Each year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts a census of public water systems across the state to determine how different chemical levels impact the aesthetics of water distributed throughout various systems. 

The census analyzes secondary maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), referring to biological, chemical or physical characteristics of water that may adversely affect the taste, odor, color or appearance. Secondary MCLs are not regulated by the EPA, but the agency does have recommended guidelines for water systems to follow in order to appease its consumers.

Primary MCLs, on the other hand, refer to harmful contaminants that are regulated and strictly monitored under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

New study to look at lead exposure in Kansas City

The census doesn’t test for the majority of regulated contaminants listed under the EPA, but it does provide insight to customers as to how different water treatment methods impact the aesthetics of the final product.

“If you get too much iron in your water (for example), it can make your water orangish-redish, so when you wash your clothes, you could actually have some whites that come out stained in that color,” Medlock said. “It’s not harmful to it, other than the fact that you probably don’t want orange clothes or to be drinking water that looks like iced tea when it’s not iced, that type of thing.”

Where does my water come from?

While some water systems collect, treat and distribute their own water from the source, other systems purchase water from larger systems that have collected and treated the water for them.

“The census is designed to give people information (about) where the water’s from, where it originated from,” Medlock said.

He said Kansas City is one of several water systems that sells water to other water systems that then resell the water to their own customers. Because some water systems do not produce their own water, some systems are exempt from submitting samples for analysis to the census, as it would be deemed redundant.

Kansas City hospital care ranked 3rd most segregated, St. Louis ranks 2nd: report

“They’re just basically getting water from Kansas City, so Kansas City does all the testing because the EPA and the regulations require that entry point after treatment testing, because a lot of these contaminants don’t change once it gets into the distribution system,” Medlock said.

Data shows the DNR tested at least 42, or 37%, of public water systems that distribute and serve the Kansas City area, with 26 of those systems submitting samples that exceed the recommended secondary MCLs for one or more chemicals.

Unity Village public water system in Jackson County, for example, submitted results indicating its secondary MCL chloride was at 341 mg/L, while the recommended limit is 250 mg/l, 36.4% less than what was found in Unity Village.

“If you have a high chloride content (for example), it’ll be more of a salty taste or just different taste. So it’s kind of a recommendation and you can see that in these reports, why your water might taste a little different,” said Eric Medlock, environmental program manager with Missouri’s Public Drinking Water Branch.

Unity Village also tested high for sodium and total dissolved solids (TDS), which is a measurement of the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in a solution of water. TDS can impact the taste and smell of water if a chemical, like chlorine, for instance, interacts with organic matter in a water system for too long.

“There’s a disinfection byproduct rule where we’re actually looking out in the distribution system for levels of that (contamination after treatment) because the longer chlorine has to react with that organic matter, you can actually have higher levels of those disinfection byproducts,” he said.

KC-area leaders, EPA spreading awareness of ‘silent killer’ radon

Medlock said treatment methods for water are different for varying water sources. For example, surface water, referring to water taken from rivers, lakes and other reservoirs exposed to air, typically must be treated more than groundwater.

“Because we have good quality water, Missouri does not have a standard for those types of groundwater systems to disinfect that water, so there’s sometimes very little treatment that’s needed when you tap into that type of water,” he said.

“Unlike a surface water system, where you’re basically getting exposed to the air, other potential contaminants, there’s a lot of treatment processes that are a part of a surface water system that makes that water safe — meeting those maximum contaminant levels before it’s served to the public.”

Medlock said the Missouri River functions as a border for water system sources, as the majority of water sourced from north of the river comes from surface water sources, while those south of the river come from groundwater sources, like the Ozark aquifer. 

While surface water sources tend to require more treatment, Medlock said some groundwater sources, especially those close to the bootheel area of southern Missouri, may experience palatability concerns as well. 

WHO now tracking hybrid COVID-19 variant: ‘deltacron’

“The water table is very high, so you don’t have to dig very deep to get a high quantity of water. But because it’s shallow, you can get other contaminants like iron and manganese that can be very high in concentration in those areas,” he said. 

Is my water safe?

Medlock said if consumers notice a change in the taste or smell of their water, though it may be a slight inconvenience, it does not mean it is unsafe to drink. He said consumers can mitigate water aesthetic concerns straight from home.

“There’s filters out there you can put in your home and things to remove some of the secondary type things, but the water’s still considered safe. So it’s not something the department would necessarily step in and make a water system correct, unlike a maximum contaminant level, where you exceed something like arsenic or benzene, one of those regulated contaminants, we will step in,” Medlock said.

Citizens interested in learning more about harmful contaminants found in their public water systems can visit the Drinking Water Watch online to track contamination results in real time.

“As soon as we get a result in that database, the public can actually see it in real time and that has every regulated contaminant that they can see,” Medlock said.

Customers should also browse through their water system’s annual consumer confidence report to track their system’s MCL violations. Medlock said this can provide consumers with transparency in regard to harmful chemicals that may pop up in their taps.

Water systems will be releasing their 2021 consumer confidence report in early April. They can be found on the EPA’s website.

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A Fredericton mother has filed a complaint with the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission on behalf of her 12-year-old son with disabilities over the province’s decision to lift COVID-19 mask and isolation requirements in schools.

Jessica Bleasdale says New Brunswick has an inclusive education policy, which stipulates accommodations should be made to ensure all children can participate in the classroom.

She contends River, who has a neurodevelopmental disability, cannot safely participate without the protection of universal masking and a policy requiring COVID-positive people to stay home.

He has to work in close proximity to his aides and has other conditions that could put him at risk of further complications and learning deficits if he contracts the virus, Bleasdale said.

She pointed to a new study by an international team of researchers that found one in four children with COVID-19 develop long COVID, including cognitive symptoms, such as impaired concentration, learning difficulties, confusion and memory loss. The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, looked at the status of more than 80,000 children with COVID-19 on four continents.  

Mother doesn’t want to take risk

“My son already doesn’t get the health care and education supports that he needs,” Bleasdale said.

“To place him in an environment where he could contract COVID because kids are attending school with COVID and not wearing masks, that puts my son at too high of a risk.”

It’s a risk Bleasdale is not willing to take.

“So I am asking the education minister to uphold the inclusion policy, for which New Brunswick is internationally recognized, and ensure that universal masking takes place so a child like mine — and every other child with disabilities in New Brunswick — is supported and protected in the classroom.”

She noted politicians in the legislature are still protected by mask rules, and she questioned why children are not being provided the same protections, particularly the most vulnerable ones.

How about we keep the easy, effective, proven, scientifically supported, medical expert-supported universal masking to protect children’s mental wellness and physical well-being?– Jessica Bleasdale, complainant

Bleasdale filed her complaint Wednesday against Premier Blaine Higgs, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell and Education Minister Dominic Cardy.

Earlier this month she filed a complaint against Russell with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, arguing the province’s top doctor has provided no medical evidence or scientific data to support her recommendation to lift mandatory masking, particularly in schools. Bleasdale alleges the decision will cause the “reckless endangerment” of children and people with disabilities, among others.

The Premier’s Office and Department of Health did not respond to a request for comment.

The Department of Education has not received formal notification of a complaint from the Human Rights Commission, said spokesperson Flavio Nienow. “As such, it would be inappropriate to comment,” he said in an emailed statement.

New Brunswick Human Rights Commission registrar Megan Griffith said she could not comment on any specific complaint, citing confidentiality.

Could take at least 11 months

Bleasdale, who has kept River home from school since restrictions were lifted Monday, said she was told by the commission it will likely take three months before her file gets assigned to somebody and at least 11 months before there’s any resolution.

“So that was quite disheartening because this is an urgent matter,” she said. “My kid needs to be able to go to school now, not 11 months from now, in a safe environment that accommodates his disabilities.”

Griffith confirmed it can take up to three months.

“Our average wait time right now is about two months. However, because complaints are triaged, if it’s what we consider an active incident, then … it would likely be triaged higher and can be assigned, you know, within a week,” she said.

The next step is to review a complaint to determine whether it falls under the commission’s jurisdiction.

“Do we have the ability to accept this based on [the New Brunswick Human Rights Act]? And have they established what we call prima facie discrimination, which is essentially, do they have a protected ground? Did they suffer an adverse impact because of that protected ground? And can we clearly see a link where it’s likely or possible that that protected ground was a factor in the adverse impact?”

The act covers 16 grounds, such as physical or mental disability, race, colour, ancestry, and family status.

If a complaint passes that initial test and the form is complete, it proceeds to the next stage — notification of the respondent, said Griffith.

Mediation can expedite process

They usually have two weeks to respond. They can indicate if they’re interested in mediation, and if both parties are interested, “it’s a process that we strongly recommend,” she said.

It expedites a settlement, usually taking less than six weeks. Neither party admits wrongdoing and the terms of the settlement cannot be disclosed.

If the respondent doesn’t want to settle, the complainant gets an opportunity for rebuttal before the file goes to Griffith’s office to decide whether it should be closed or proceed to investigation.

Investigators have the power to conduct interviews and request documentation.

The goal is to complete investigations within one year, said Griffith. “That happens in some cases, but not all.”

The investigator then makes a recommendation to commission members that the complaint be dismissed or continue to a board of inquiry, which is generally held within six months to a year, she said.

The board of inquiry, done through the Labour and Employment Board, is the only entity that can say whether what happened to someone was discriminatory, and it can award damages, said Griffith.

Not up to principal or superintendent

Bleasdale said she still hopes something can be worked out.

She understood the principal had planned to maintain masking after provincial restrictions were lifted on March 14.

But in an email, Anglophone West School District superintendent David McTimoney told her he advised all principals in the district it would be “important to welcome and respect the choices of all.

Bleasdale argues the lifting of masking in schools has left her and her husband to make the ‘impossible choice’ between the health and safety of their son and the necessary support services and personalized learning plans he receives at school. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

“If some decide they wish to wear a mask, then it must be welcome and respected. The same goes for those who choose not to wear a mask … as of March 14, it will be their choice,” he wrote.

“It is not my decision to make when it comes to the mask mandate. This is a provincial decision that will be implemented across the province (with some exceptions) and includes the school system.”

Impact on mental health

Bleasdale has been home schooling River this week, but said that’s not an option long-term.

“My child needs to be in school. His mental health is being impacted this week. He misses his peers. He doesn’t understand why he can’t be kept safe at school. I haven’t seen this level of anxiety from him before.

“Our chief medical officer of health keeps talking about children’s mental wellness. How about we protect them in school?

“How about we keep the easy, effective, proven, scientifically supported, medical expert-supported universal masking to protect children’s mental wellness and physical well-being?”

In an about-face Friday, Nova Scotia announced it will keep mandatory mask rules in schools until mid-April. Masking was set to be dropped Monday, when students return from March Break. But Premier Tim Houston said it was clear continued masking was the best decision, referencing a pediatric advisory group’s recent recommendation.

Bleasdale pointed out some private New Brunswick schools, such as Rothesay Netherwood School, have maintained masking.

RNS spokesperson Heather MacLean confirmed masking indoors remained in place this week, along with other COVID measures. These include physical distancing, self-isolation after a positive rapid test until symptom-free, capacity limitations, and hand hygiene.

The only change announced by head of school Paul McLellan, she said, was the option to remove masks outdoors.

Paul McLellan, head of school at Rothesay Netherwood School, sent a message to families before March Break, advising them COVID-19 protocols, including masking indoors, would remain in place, despite the provincial restrictions being lifted. (Submitted by RNS)

Starting Monday, students and employees will continue to be masked indoors, except when seated in class and physical distancing can be maintained. 

Lunch break remains at half-capacity and masked, and masking protocols remain in place at the campus fitness centre, she said. Meanwhile, the morning chapel service, which has been virtual, will return to half capacity with masks.

Students and staff who feel unwell are advised to stay home until their symptoms improve.

“We intend to introduce changes to our community gradually,” MacLean said in an email. “Health and safety remain our top priority, and as such, we are taking a cautious, phased approach to ensure the continuity of our academic year.”

Absenteeism rates not released

The Department of Education declined to provide school absenteeism rates for the first week of lifted restrictions.

Students may be absent for a variety of reasons, such as “people struggling to make the pivot to endemic measures,” recent March Break travel and community events, said Nienow. Absenteeism data takes time to review, he said.

The department understands some families have concerns about the lifted restrictions, he said, but school-age children are required to attend public school. If families do not wish to send students to school, they must apply for an exemption to homeschool or attend private school.

“Families who choose these options are responsible for ensuring their children receive effective instruction so they are prepared for continuing education or employment.”

Safety measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting protocols and reduced class sizes, remain in place, said Nienow. 

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Home is, indeed, where the heart is as it is literally where we and all our loved ones reside. And to keep a home happy and safe, we must keep those we love healthy as well. 

With Homebright disinfectant sprays, you can be assured of full protection at the most affordable cost. Compared to other brands, Homebright is competitively priced and one of only 2 US EPA approved Disinfection sprays in the Philippines that can truly state they kill 99.9% of all viruses including those that lead to Covid-19, ensuring that all Filipinos can provide the best protection for their families.

Offering greater convenience in this time of pandemic, Homebright provides a wide range of protection for every room and surface of your home with disinfectants, sanitizers, space deodorizers, and air fresheners. And for just Php 179 for its disinfectant sprays, you don’t have to sacrifice quality and efficacy for affordability. 

“With the current pandemic, the concern for health, safety, and savings is on every Filipinos’ mind. Homebright offers peace of mind and security by delivering protection and impressive efficacy at an affordable price,” says Paolo Castano, from Consumer Insights Inc., the exclusive importer of Homebright Disinfectants.  Homebright Disinfectant Sprays are available in stores nationwide, and come in five amazing scents: Fresh Lavender, Hawaiian, Country, Citrus, and Linen. So regardless of your tastes, you can easily find a scent that suits your home. “With our range, you and your loved ones are truly protected. A healthy home is happy home, too!” ends Paolo.

Homebright is available at SM Supermarkets, HardwareOne, Metro Supermarket, Mercury Drug, All Day Supermarket, NCCC Supermarket, Makati Supermarket, Fisher Mall, Landers, Cash & Carry, Unimart, Ever Supermarket, JC Plaza and FamilyMart plus many stores nationwide.

Follow Homebright on its official social media channels :  @HomebrightPH on Facebook,@homebrightPH on Instagram. #Homebright

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FAQs

How often do you need to clean your home gym?

As a general rule, wipe down “high-touch surfaces,”Dr. Nelson recommends using dumbbells, mats, and a bench for every exercise.

“You probably need to clean your home workout space a lot more frequently than you think,”George Nelson, MD is an infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist. Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “You can serve as an unwitting courier for bacteria from anything you’ve come in contact with during the day — think: subway rail, grocery cart, your coworker’s desk.”

Dr. Nelson explains that sharing equipment with others, even those who live in the same household, will require you to disinfect surfaces as well as wipe them clean after each use. 

Ideally, you should deep clean at least once a month — more often if you use your home gym a lot or if the space has poor circulation or is damp, Dr. Nelson said. 

How do I clean my gym equipment at home?

Dr. Nelson suggests that you clean your equipment with plain soap and water. You can also use a damp cloth or a dry dustcloth depending on the equipment’s capabilities. Visible dirt and particles should be removed. “serve as a barricade to protect any resident bugs,”He elaborates.

Notice: Make sure you unplug all electronics before you get started. Also, avoid getting any electrical input or output (e.g. the display) wet. a spin bike. 

Next, you should choose a disinfectant which kills viruses and bacteria. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for more information. official guidelines for disinfecting your home.

Is it possible to clean all equipment in the same manner?

Not necessarily.

One word of caution “Many clear plastic displays and housings are made from polycarbonate, which has low chemical resistance to base alcohol solutions found in cleaners such as Lysol, Windex, and bleach,”Explained Alex Davis, a former engineer in plastics and a fitness expert.

Many people have seen the results of hard cleaners on kiosks for credit cards and similar devices. These included cracked panels and erasure keys. Davis suggests washing polycarbonate equipment with mild dish soap and soft water. Sponges can scratch.

You can soak your mats and vacuum any items that you do not use often during your monthly deep cleaning. Also, take extra care to clean those areas that may get forgotten, like the floor, handlebars and chairs, foam rollers and resistance bands, as well as the floor and other areas. You should also remember your headphones and phone. 

The most important thing is to let the disinfectant sit for at least a minute on all surfaces. These products are a “dwell time,”Dr. Nelson explains that this refers to the amount of time that the solution must be in contact with bacteria in order for it to work. He suggests that you read the instructions before you use a disinfectant.

Do I need to clean my fitness tracker as well?

Absolutely, yes. Dr. Nelson added: “if you wear the same watch for exercise and daily use, consider taking it off after vigorous exercise to let your skin breath and give it a quick wipe down so sweat and bacteria aren’t trapped up against your skin.”

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It’s a tale as old as time: You spend days waiting for an avocado to ripen only for it to go from an impenetrable, rock-hard round to a brown, mushy mess seemingly overnight. It’s a frustrating reality that’s not only inspired many (many) memes but also sent plenty of people searching for a solution — so much so that the internet’s become home to numerous tricks and tips for slowing down (or speeding up) the avocado-ripening process.

The avocado water storage hack

One of the latest fixes that folks can’t seem to stop talking about? Submerging ripe avocados in water and refrigerating until you’re ready to use them. Apparently, this kitchen hack — which recently went viral on Facebook — is a sure-fire way to maintain peak ripeness for weeks or, in one Facebook user‘s words, “for-freaking-ever.” And people on TikTok and Facebook seem to agree, calling the trick “legit,” asserting that “this shit really works,” and claiming their produce was “perfect” after storing it for four (!!) weeks.

While the hack has gone viral (and seemingly for good reason), you might want to think twice before bathing your avos in containers of H2O for days, at least according to TODAY. Here’s why: “The main concern is with the possibility that any residual human pathogens (i.e. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., etc.) that may be residing on the avocado surface, may potentially multiply during the storage when submerged in water,” a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration told the publication.

ICYDK, Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can survive a range of conditions and environments, including refrigeration and even freezing temperatures, and cause the infection, listeriosis. More commonly known as “listeria,” this foodborne illness can lead to severe sickness, especially in pregnant people, folks over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Similarly, Salmonella is another bacteria that can cause symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, chills, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications.

But can’t you just disinfect or wash the rinds of the avocados before submerging them in water to prevent the spread of listeria? Sure, you can but it might not make much of a difference. See, studies performed by FDA scientists have shown that the bacteria “has the potential to infiltrate and internalise into the pulp of avocados when submerged in refrigerated dump tanks within 15 days during refrigerated storage,” the organisation’s spokesperson told TODAY. “In this case, even surface disinfecting the avocado skin prior to slicing would not be able to remove the contamination.”

Image Credit: Dainis Graveris/Unsplash

In one word? Womp. But just because this particular hack comes with a heavy dose of caution from the FDA, doesn’t mean you have to resign to a life of short-lived green avocados. There are other tips and tricks that can preserve your produce without posing potential health risks. For example, placing a ripe or almost ripe avocado in the refrigerator can extend the lifespan of the fruit (yes, fruit!) for a few days. You can also try freezing avocados, which is an effective long-term method for maintaining ideal ripeness, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

If your avo is already cut open, make sure to leave the pit and skin intact, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap or seal in an airtight container to prevent oxidation and browning, and store it in the fridge like such to get an extra day or two, according to the University of Nebraska Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Splashing it with lemon or lime juice can also fend off browning and keep you ‘cados green, Morgan Bolling, senior editor at Cook’s Country Magazine, previously told Shape.

The bottom line: With so many methods for making your produce last longer, why risk it with one that’s an avocadon’t?

This story first appeared on www.shape.com

© 2021 Meredith Corporation.  All rights reserved.  Licensed from Shape.com and published with permission of Meredith Corporation.  Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

Shape and the Shape Logo are registered trademarks of Meredith Corporation. Used under License.

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Originally Appeared Here

(The Daily Dish) Beehive Meals offers healthy, home cooked meals delivered directly to your doorstep. Saving you time, money and allowing you to spend the quality time you need with those most important in your life – Family.

For some of us, we are fortunate enough to have someone at home who has the extra time (and energy) to make home-cooked meals and we can all sit down and create these same memories we had as children. The sad thing is that we all aren’t this fortunate and as prices rise across the nation, more and more parents are having to go back to work or are working longer hours or multiple jobs to be able to provide for their families.

Not only are we faced with more families where both parents are having to go back to work but also where there is a single parent taking care of all of the responsibilities in the house. After working a full day, you have homework, cleaning, laundry… The list goes on and on. Why not take some of the stress off by removing the hassle of making a shopping list, going to the store and then making dinner?

Those are precious minutes that can be spent with your loved ones, talking about their day and laughing or teaching them about the importance of togetherness. Because when you find something that works for you, you want to share it, and Beehive Meals was created for this exact reason.

A company designed to make it as easy as possible for busy parents looking to still spend quality time around the dinner table with their family while still enjoying homecooked meals and also make it affordable.

Customers simply find an open date within their county and place an order. They then prepare all the meals about 48 hours before the reserved delivery date, seal them in vacuumed-sealed packaging, freezer them, and deliver them straight to your front door.

Because of their extremely loyal customer base, they do tend to sell out quickly. Customers remove the ingredients from the bag, cook them in the crockpot, maybe add a side or two, and then enjoy together as a family.

If you would like to sign up to receive your meals or for additional information visit their website. Don’t forget to use CODE: JBCOOKINGHOST and get $10 off any regular order.

*Sponsored Content.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When you turn on the faucet and fill up your water bottle, you may notice a difference in the odor or taste of the tap, depending on where you’re located in the state of Missouri. 

Each year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts a census of public water systems across the state to determine how different chemical levels impact the aesthetics of water distributed throughout various systems. 

The census analyzes secondary maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), referring to biological, chemical or physical characteristics of water that may adversely affect the taste, odor, color or appearance. Secondary MCLs are not regulated by the EPA, but the agency does have recommended guidelines for water systems to follow in order to appease its consumers.

Primary MCLs, on the other hand, refer to harmful contaminants that are regulated and strictly monitored under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

New study to look at lead exposure in Kansas City

The census doesn’t test for the majority of regulated contaminants listed under the EPA, but it does provide insight to customers as to how different water treatment methods impact the aesthetics of the final product.

“If you get too much iron in your water (for example), it can make your water orangish-redish, so when you wash your clothes, you could actually have some whites that come out stained in that color,” Medlock said. “It’s not harmful to it, other than the fact that you probably don’t want orange clothes or to be drinking water that looks like iced tea when it’s not iced, that type of thing.”

Where does my water come from?

While some water systems collect, treat and distribute their own water from the source, other systems purchase water from larger systems that have collected and treated the water for them.

“The census is designed to give people information (about) where the water’s from, where it originated from,” Medlock said.

He said Kansas City is one of several water systems that sells water to other water systems that then resell the water to their own customers. Because some water systems do not produce their own water, some systems are exempt from submitting samples for analysis to the census, as it would be deemed redundant.

Kansas City hospital care ranked 3rd most segregated, St. Louis ranks 2nd: report

“They’re just basically getting water from Kansas City, so Kansas City does all the testing because the EPA and the regulations require that entry point after treatment testing, because a lot of these contaminants don’t change once it gets into the distribution system,” Medlock said.

Data shows the DNR tested at least 42, or 37%, of public water systems that distribute and serve the Kansas City area, with 26 of those systems submitting samples that exceed the recommended secondary MCLs for one or more chemicals.

Unity Village public water system in Jackson County, for example, submitted results indicating its secondary MCL chloride was at 341 mg/L, while the recommended limit is 250 mg/l, 36.4% less than what was found in Unity Village.

“If you have a high chloride content (for example), it’ll be more of a salty taste or just different taste. So it’s kind of a recommendation and you can see that in these reports, why your water might taste a little different,” said Eric Medlock, environmental program manager with Missouri’s Public Drinking Water Branch.

Unity Village also tested high for sodium and total dissolved solids (TDS), which is a measurement of the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in a solution of water. TDS can impact the taste and smell of water if a chemical, like chlorine, for instance, interacts with organic matter in a water system for too long.

“There’s a disinfection byproduct rule where we’re actually looking out in the distribution system for levels of that (contamination after treatment) because the longer chlorine has to react with that organic matter, you can actually have higher levels of those disinfection byproducts,” he said.

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Medlock said treatment methods for water are different for varying water sources. For example, surface water, referring to water taken from rivers, lakes and other reservoirs exposed to air, typically must be treated more than groundwater.

“Because we have good quality water, Missouri does not have a standard for those types of groundwater systems to disinfect that water, so there’s sometimes very little treatment that’s needed when you tap into that type of water,” he said.

“Unlike a surface water system, where you’re basically getting exposed to the air, other potential contaminants, there’s a lot of treatment processes that are a part of a surface water system that makes that water safe — meeting those maximum contaminant levels before it’s served to the public.”

Medlock said the Missouri River functions as a border for water system sources, as the majority of water sourced from north of the river comes from surface water sources, while those south of the river come from groundwater sources, like the Ozark aquifer. 

While surface water sources tend to require more treatment, Medlock said some groundwater sources, especially those close to the bootheel area of southern Missouri, may experience palatability concerns as well. 

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“The water table is very high, so you don’t have to dig very deep to get a high quantity of water. But because it’s shallow, you can get other contaminants like iron and manganese that can be very high in concentration in those areas,” he said. 

Is my water safe?

Medlock said if consumers notice a change in the taste or smell of their water, though it may be a slight inconvenience, it does not mean it is unsafe to drink. He said consumers can mitigate water aesthetic concerns straight from home.

“There’s filters out there you can put in your home and things to remove some of the secondary type things, but the water’s still considered safe. So it’s not something the department would necessarily step in and make a water system correct, unlike a maximum contaminant level, where you exceed something like arsenic or benzene, one of those regulated contaminants, we will step in,” Medlock said.

Citizens interested in learning more about harmful contaminants found in their public water systems can visit the Drinking Water Watch online to track contamination results in real time.

“As soon as we get a result in that database, the public can actually see it in real time and that has every regulated contaminant that they can see,” Medlock said.

Customers should also browse through their water system’s annual consumer confidence report to track their system’s MCL violations. Medlock said this can provide consumers with transparency in regard to harmful chemicals that may pop up in their taps.

Water systems will be releasing their 2021 consumer confidence report in early April. They can be found on the EPA’s website.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Wellness features, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and an elevated awareness of indoor environments’ impact on physical and mental health, are no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity in today’s homes, a leading wellness expert contends.

According to Dr. Jie Zhao, executive v.p. of Delos, a New York-based wellness real estate and technology company, COVID-19 has literally reshaped the way homes – including kitchens and baths – will be designed, built, equipped and remodeled in the years to come.

“People are much more cognizant of the important role that homes play in our lives and how these environments can have an impact on the wellness of their inhabitants,”
Jie said.

At the recent “Insights Summit,” an annual event sponsored by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), Jie outlined four key wellness trends that he believes will have the greatest impact on home improvement in the post-pandemic world. Among them:

Indoor Air Quality: Because viruses spread through the air much easier than by surface contact, the pandemic shed light on the importance of indoor air quality, or IAQ, as a component of a healthy home, Jie observed.

“Air filtration is vital to the reduction of particle transmission,” he said. “Not only can air-cleaning technologies improve peace of mind when it comes to invisible health threats like COVID-19, they also tackle visible particles in the air such as smoke and other harmful particles.”

According to Jie, ventilation and/​or ionization technology will be at the forefront of the fight against contaminated air in home spaces. ​“For this reason, IAQ may be the biggest wellness trend to have emerged from the pandemic,” he noted.

Mental Wellness: Mental wellness issues persisted long before the emergence of the coronavirus, but the amount of attention devoted to COVID-19 has increased significantly, Jie said.

He noted that one result for the home-improvement industry is the general migration away from congested cities in favor of larger residences, more nature and less commuting time. Jie also pointed to the effect of mental wellness on increased demand in certain product categories, including home entertainment, artists’ supplies, sports equipment and pets.

Home Offices: Another major change emerging from the pandemic is the increased importance of the home office.

“Many employees have made investments in their home offices and have gotten used to working from home,” Jie said, pointing to surveys which found that 80% of workers want to be able to work from home three days per week, and 92% want at least one remote workday per week.

“There has been a rise in office furniture and accessories that support health and wellness, such as the standing desk or ergonomic keyboard,” Jie said, adding that 20-25% of companies are currently reimbursing their employees for wellness-related home office supplies and furniture, “hinting at the prospect that work-from-home may be around well into the coming years.”

Fitness: While the spread of COVID-19 led to the temporary closure of most gyms and athletic institutions, it also gave rise to new home-based fitness technologies, Jie pointed out.

“Companies like Peloton and MIRROR are changing the way we think about fitness (and) combining the physical and virtual,” he said. “Consumers not only can purchase a piece of gym equipment for their home, but they can buy into an entire online social and content experience.”

“I expect to see more integration with online fitness platforms and home décor,” he said. “People want convertible spaces, so the easier their equipment blends with their home and lifestyle, the better.” ▪

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The TSA announced on Mar. 18 that the face mask requirement for anyone using public transit systems – including DART – would be extended through April 18.

The requirement applies to people at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on buses, and on rail systems.

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In compliance with the order, DART will continue to require a CDC-approved face mask be worn over the mouth and nose by passengers, operators, and contractors at all times while using DART vehicles, including buses, trains and paratransit vehicles, Trinity Railway Express trains, in buildings, and on the Dallas Streetcar.

DART warns that refusing to wear a mask without a CDC exemption is a violation of federal law and could be costly. Violators can be denied boarding or removed and may be subject to fines ranging from $500 to $3,000.

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Passengers concerned about someone not wearing a mask can contact DART Customer Service at (214) 979-1111, or use the “DART Say Something” app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play for free.

Face masks and hand sanitizer will continue to be provided to all passengers on DART vehicles, and officials said they will continue thorough nightly cleanings and periodic deep cleans using hydrogen peroxide to sanitize and disinfect each vehicle.

DART also continues to recommend social distancing, stating that passengers should maintain a six-foot difference between other riders and operators, leaving open seats when able, avoiding large groups, and staying home if sick.

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More information about DART’s health policies can be found on their website.

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