University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2019, October 19). US air pollution deaths nearly halved between 1990 and 2010. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 8, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181019120726.htm

A new study based at the University of North Carolina has shown that air quality improvement, as well as medical advances in the United States over the last 30 years have brought many public health benefits, but levels of air pollution are still too high. The study explains that the increased federal air quality regulations since 1990 have cut down on the amount of pollutants allowed in the air, like particulate matter which penetrates deep into lung tissue causing damage. The study says there have been clear improvements made since 1990 in terms of reducing deaths caused by air pollution, but there is still lots of work to be done, given that the health consequences of air pollution are still widespread and lethal. The study says that new federal policies reducing air pollution regulations will “ slow the improvement in air quality or possibly make air quality worse”.

It is good to hear some positive news regarding the status of air pollution. The positive advances show that there is hope in reducing air pollution to a liveable and safe level, but there is also a lot of work to be done to reach that point. The study said that even though there have been improvements over the last 30 years, there are still 71,000 people dying from air pollution related medical issues every year in the US. Which, notably, is “as many deaths as we see from all traffic accidents and all gun shootings combined”. I do have hope that within the next couple years, and with the coming election, we will put into place new regulations which will put us on the right track to stopping air pollution related deaths. But first, everyone must go out and vote, the importance of the election in terms of environmentally related disease cannot be overstated.

Carnegie Mellon University. (2019, October 24). 30,000-plus U.S. lives could be saved by reducing air pollution levels below current standard. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 8, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190724104010.htm

A new study based at Carnegie Mellon University has found significant human health benefits “when air quality is better than the current national ambient air quality standard” in the United States. The study details that the complex mixture of chemicals of particulate matter caused by burning fossil fuels can “penetrate deep into the lungs”. The study explains that this can contribute to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and in severe cases, premature death. The study says that reducing the levels of particulate matter below the currently used standards would save nearly 30,000 lives, which is “similar to the number of deaths from car accidents each year.” The study claims that because of the rampant and widespread exposure to air pollution in the United States, everyone should be focused on air pollution and how to handle it as an urgent national issue. 

I completely agree with the researchers claiming that air pollution is a real national priority. Because of how widespread and dangerous the consequences of air pollution can be, we must come together, regardless of political party, and face this issue head on. Our children are being exposed to unhealthy levels of particulate matter before they have left the womb, and thousands of cases of adverse health effects have been reported throughout populations in the United States. We must take action as citizens and demand better standards for the amount of air pollution from our government. It is our right to be protected by our government, even if the threat is on our land and being produced by our corporations. 

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. (2019, December 20). A mountain of evidence on air pollution’s harms to children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 7, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181220111818.htm

A new study led by the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH) investigated the effects of air pollution in the US on children’s health. The study details the most prevalent outcomes in children as “adverse birth outcomes, cognitive and behavioral problems, and asthma”. The study also details the main perpetrators of the health consequences as fuel combustion by-products, additionally, toxic air pollutants such as particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide. The study also mentions that many of the adverse health effects caused by air pollution hurt children the most, claiming that “40 percent of the burden of environmentally related disease and about 90 percent of the burden of climate change is borne by children under five”.

The adverse effects of air pollution are obvious, given this study and so many others similar to it which detail the negative health effects of air pollution. But this article was especially compelling because it touched on the fact that a large majority of the victims of air pollution and climate change are innocent children. Children who have not done anything to contribute to the horrible state of the world and are simply a victim of their surroundings. It is very upsetting to know that they are defenseless victims and also know that currently, more children are becoming victims to air pollution and climate change. The way I fight against this is by being environmentally aware and to support legislation which will limit coal combustion and thus help the health of many children in the United States.

University of Massachusetts Amherst. (2019, December 13). Perinatal exposure to flame retardant alters epigenome, predisposing metabolic disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 8, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213115438.htm

A new study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst examined perinatal exposure to flame retardants found in common household items in the United States. The study, which used rats as test subjects, found that exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) through the “umbilical cord and breast milk permanently changed liver metabolism in rats”. The study subjected the rats to amounts of PBDE similar to those found in people living in big cities. The study says that these findings are applicable to humans and other organisms. Moreover, the study detailed that PBDE can be found in common household items like baby pajamas, plastics and furniture. The study asserts that the exposure could cause an “increased risk in adulthood of diabetes, metabolic disorders and heart disease”.

The outcome of this study is not surprising to me, but it is saddening. It is very upsetting that such toxic chemicals are found in items like baby pajamas, which one would hope are safe to have in your house. I wonder how many items that I use everyday which expose me to toxic chemicals. I think many household items and items which I use at work, like cleaning chemicals, must expose me to toxins. I would hope that they aren’t too much to cause genuine damage, but it seems like I cannot be completely sure. The study said that it may be difficult to predict what would happen further in the life of children exposed to the toxins, and I believe much more research should be done to help assess the treatment necessary to help those exposed to these toxins. 

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. (2019, December 12). Study highlights high cost of fossil fuel pollution on children’s health. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191212163336.htm

A new study by the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health examined the cost estimates of health consequences of “prenatal and early childhood exposure to air pollution” in the United States. The study claims that nearly 80 percent of these health consequences are “attributable to burning of coal, oil, diesel and gas”. The study notes the main health consequences to be premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and IQ reduction in children. The study claims that the range of costs of these health consequences is from “$23,573 to $3,109,096”. The study also estimates that if the particulate matter released by combustion involved with coal burning were reduced by just 1 percent, United States citizens could save $267 million on premature birth health costs.

This article was eye opening because I’ve never thought about the measurable cost of air pollution in terms of health consequences. The sheer monetary loss which this unsustainable practice brings to citizens is very shocking and I wonder how we can mitigate this loss. The obvious solution would be to reduce coal burning and combustion which causes increase in particulate matter, but this is hard to do because citizens often don’t have much say in how much coal gets burned. Children are being adversely affected by air pollution before they are even born, and their parents are paying immense amounts of money for it. It is an injustice by our energy system to keep causing these health issues and not helping the citizens hurt by their actions.

University of Southern California. (2019, September 17). Air pollution affects thyroid development in fetuses: Particle pollution is the culprit, raising concern about health impacts later in life. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/18091710107.htm

A new study based in Southern California has found a link between pollution and altered thyroid development in fetuses. The study touched on how pollution can affect fetuses, their conclusion being that before “a doctor cuts the umbilical cord… air pollution [has] already reached the womb’s inner sanctum”. The study says that the airborne particulate matter are especially dangerous to the fetus, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. The thyroid gland is very important for lots of bodily processes such as growth and cognitive abilities. Researchers say that  “tweaking [the thyroid] in utero may have lifelong consequences.” that should be studied further. The study explained that small changes in thyroid development in utero have been linked to “reduced fetal growth and cognitive deficits in children”. The findings are important because they show that air pollution permeates deep into the body, affecting a fetus which is protected by the womb. 

This article was pretty upsetting to read, as it paints a grim future for the children of the world. They are getting exposed to pollutants before they are even born and it is affecting their health negatively. It’s surprising to me how deep the pollution can permeate into your body, that it can adversely affect a baby protected by a womb. This article really makes me wonder if it is sustainable to have children while these environmental problems surge. It would be undoubtedly  safer for the earth if more people weren’t born, but then again I don’t know if having children is something people are willing to give up to have a healthy planet. I think the realistic way to respond to findings such as these is to do more research and advocate for less pollution and environmental standards for pollution.

University of California – Los Angeles Health Sciences. (2019, June 15). Scientists discover protective strategy against pesticide-linked Parkinson’s disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 2, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/10615100352.htm

A recent study has found a link between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to common fungicides and pesticides called dithiocarbamates. The study was centered around the fungicide called ziram, a commonly used fungicide in California’s Central Valley. This fungicide causes the  “loss of the main source of dopamine in the central nervous system”, which is linked to Parkinson’s disease. But more inspiring, the researchers have found a protective strategy which blocks zirams negative properties in zebrafish. The researchers “genetically knocked out” the protein    (α-synuclein) which is affected by the ziram and causes the loss of dopamine, and they were able to expose the fish to ziram without and negative effects. This is important because “it establishes that environmental toxins work on same pathway” that are connected Parkinson’s, and that there are ways in science to help combat the effects of certain toxins which we didn’t know about before.

This article was inspiring to read, I enjoyed that it gave a positive outlook/strategy for the issue rather than just stating the issue. I think that if more research like this continues, we will be able to truly combat environmentally related disease caused by excessive use of pesticide or fungicide. The only other option in my opinion is to find a sustainable alternative to pesticides/fungicides, but that takes lots of time and funding and would probably not be completely realistic to implement, so for now these preventative measures are a step in the right direction.The irritating thing about these issues is that when standards for pesticides have already been set and the WHO and EPA don’t recognize pesticides or pollution as bad, the pesticides go unchecked and hurt the people involved. Also, if the farmers don’t use pesticides they may not be able to compete with the other farmers so its somewhat of a tragedy of the commons.

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. (2019, August 8). Chronic kidney disease epidemic in agricultural workers: High heat, toxins. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508185839.htm

A recent study has found a link between chronic kidney disease and exposure to toxins and infections in agricultural workers and manual laborers in California. Researchers say that the disease could be caused by “heat, a direct health impact of climate change, as well as pesticides like glyphosate”. The researchers say that the pesticides are nephrotoxic, meaning they are toxic to the kidneys. They hypothesize that the  pesticides “could possibly contaminate the water supply” that the laborers drink, affecting their kidneys. The study suggests that the overseers of the farm should “maintain a clean water supply, free of chemicals toxic to the kidneys” to keep their workers safe. Additionally, they say that if there are large clusters of the illness in a certain area or from a certain employer, public health professionals should be notified in order to promote healthy work environments for the laborers.

This article didn’t surprise me in that I am aware of the many different ways that working in the environment and with agriculture can lead to health issues. It made me upset to read about the people who are working in these conditions, and the way they make money and a living is simultaneously killing or hurting them. There has to be a way to find healthy ways to farm, because damaging workers lungs isn’t going to work forever. Just like the last article, I think that research into alternatives to pesticides is the best response to this rise in disease because of pesticides. We should be proactive about how we are hurting our workforce because the issues will catch up to the agriculture community eventually and we cannot support and collapse in agriculture, our entire economy will fail if we don’t support sustainable agriculture.

University of California – Berkeley. (2019, August 16). Heavily-used pesticide linked to breathing problems in farmworkers’ children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170816143259.htm

A recent study of an agricultural community in Salinas Valley, California, has found a significant link between “elemental sulfur use and poorer respiratory health”. Elemental sulfur is the most used pesticide in California, with more than “21 million kilograms of elemental sulfur” used in 2013. It is used to keep fungus and pest population in check on farms and agricultural areas.  The study tested children living near an agricultural area which uses elemental sulfur, and children who were unexposed to elemental sulfur. The study found that “reduced lung function, more asthma-related symptoms and higher asthma medication use” were all associated with exposure to elemental sulfur. Notably, the EPA considers elemental sulfur to be safe “for the environment and human health”, but evidence from many studies have shown the opposite to be true.

I am not surprised that pesticides cause lung issues in children living near them or working on farms, but what does surprise me is that the EPA thinks that sulfur is safe for the environment and for humans. This is blatantly false and it is discouraging to see that large corporations who are in charge of keeping citizens safe are not considering research and in turn putting their citizens at risk. It shouldn’t be legal to use these pesticides in large amounts if their side effects are compromising children’s health. I’m also surprised by the sheer amount of pesticides that we use every year in California. We need a better and more sustainable alternative to pesticides and the first step to finding an alternative is to do research.

Wiley. (2018, September 19). Chemicals linked to endocrine disorder in older pet cats. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 11, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180919083502.htm

A new study based in Northern California has found a link between “higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and higher levels of hyperthyroidism in pet cats”. PFAS are chemicals used in many industrial processes and the production of consumer products, and are more prevalent in urban areas. PFAS are common in household items, for example they can be found in “protective coatings for carpets, furniture and apparel, paper coatings, insecticide formulations” and much more. During the study, researchers tested the blood samples of senior cats and compared the levels of PFAS they came in contact with and if they had hypothyroidism, which is a “very common endocrine disorder in senior cats”. They found a link between a cat’s exposure to certain PFAS and their likelihood to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and they say more studies would be helpful to confirm their findings.

These findings do not surprise me but they do certainly make me worried for my cats. I have two cats and I worry about the environmental exposure to pollutants being more severe for them because their bodies aren’t equipped to deal with this kind of pollution even more so than ours because they are so small and easily affected by pollution. For example, their lungs are much smaller and when they contract some of the pollution particulates, their reaction is more severe because their lungs are much more sensitive. When the air quality is bad in Menlo Park, we usually don’t let the cats out to avoid the pollution, but it is pretty hard to avoid the households items which bring PFAS pollution, like “protective coatings for carpets, furniture and apparel”. This article touched on the more covert ways that pollution can be present in your life or your animal’s life.