Greenversations

Each week we write about the science behind environmental protection. Previous Science Wednesdays.

Recognizing that there is a need for more scientific studies characterizing the mechanistic pathways linking social stressors (deforestation, habitat fragmentation, climate change), biodiversity, and human disease transmission, EPA developed a Biodiversity and Human Health research initiative to develop and sponsor long-term and pilot research projects.

The Biodiversity and Human Health research projects are the first of their kind at EPA, in subject matter and approach. The approach is interdisciplinary, involving ecologists, public health specialists, social scientists, and earth scientists. One unique part of the studies is that decision-makers are included in the research process, so that new findings of scientific knowledge can quickly be put into practice.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be making a field site visit to one EPA-sponsored research project.

Rick Ostfeld, of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is leading a project entitled “Mechanisms Linking Host Biodiversity to Lyme Disease Risk: An Experimental Approach” to investigate how differences in animal community composition affect Lyme disease transmission in Duchess County, NY.

People get Lyme disease by being bitten by a tick infected with the spirochete bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks acquire the Lyme disease bacterium by feeding on small mammals such as white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and chipmunks that are already infected.

Not all mammals are equally efficient or competent at transmitting the bacteria to ticks when fed upon. In fact, white-footed mice appear to be the most competent animal host reservoir of Lyme disease in the northeastern U.S. So, the more white-footed mice that are in the forest, the greater chance more ticks will be infected, and the greater chance you have of getting bitten by an infected tick.

In a previous blog, I mentioned that forest destruction and fragmentation in the U.S. have been shown to reduce mammalian species diversity, and to increase populations of the white-footed mouse. Rick and his team will be manipulating the composition of small mammals across a variety of forest plot types to see how high and low levels of mammal diversity may affect Lyme disease infection rates among feeding ticks.

In a seminal paper, Rick and his colleagues proposed the “dilution hypothesis” to help explain how high biodiversity can decrease the risk of Lyme disease transmission. It predicts that infection rates for a specific pathogen (e.g. Lyme disease bacterium) will be lower in highly diverse host communities. Why? The “incompetent” reservoir hosts dilute rates of transmission between vectors (ticks) and competent hosts (white-footed mice). With EPA support, Rick’s team will be collecting and analyzing field data to help characterize the scientific mechanisms that can explain how different levels of biodiversity affect Lyme disease risk.

For more information on EPA’s Biodiversity and Human Health activities, see:
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/biodiversity

About the author: Montira Pongsiri, PhD, MPH, is an Environmental Health Scientist in EPA’s Office of the Science Advisor.

NOTE: Tweet! Tweet!
Follow the action from our field trip. We’ll posting updates from EPA’s new research Twitter account: @useparesearch.

I’ve always liked ceramics and earthenware. The color pottery sold in ethnic markets or overseas has a special appeal to me. There are even special recipes that are supposed to be cooked using earthenware such as cazuela de mariscos (seafood casserole) among others.

While some of these pottery and dishes might decorate many a kitchen across America, there is a risk that these ceramics may contain a dangerous element—lead. Yes, lead is a heavy metal that has harmful health effects, especially among babies and young children. Lead can cause serious damage to the brain and nervous system in young children. It also causes behavioral and learning problems and deafness. In adults, it can cause reproductive disorders and hypertension among other health problems. Although dust and paint chips from old lead based paint are the primary source of exposure, this toxic metal can come from other sources as well. Lead is occasionally used in the terra cotta clay or colorful glaze that decorates earthenware. If it is not baked properly, it can leach into the food or liquids contained in the pottery. Furthermore, with the daily wear and tear, the pottery can chip or crack enabling the lead to come in contact with the food. Many pottery makers, even overseas, are taking increasing measures to eliminate lead from ceramic glazes, but there are always risks.

So, we’re not telling you to dispose of all family heirlooms made of pottery or all the earthenware and ceramics purchased from abroad. We recommend, however, that you put these ceramics aside if you believe they might have some lead content. Use them for decorative purposes. Just don’t use them for cooking or holding food or beverages.

If you live in a home built before 1978 when the federal government banned lead-based paint in residential housing or you fear other routes of exposure, you can have blood test to allay your fears. Lead poisoning in children is preventable. A simple blood test is the first step.

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

Siempre me han gustado las cerámicas y vasijas hechas de cristal vidriado. Las vasijas coloridas vendidas por artesanos en mercados en Estados Unidos y el exterior siempre me han atraído. Incluso hay algunas recetas especiales que requieren estas cazuelas de cerámica como las cazuelas de mariscos, por ejemplo, entre otras.

Mientras algunas de estas cerámicas y vajillas se encuentran en muchas cocinas, existe el riesgo de que algunas de estas piezas de cerámica pueden contener un elemento peligroso—el plomo [http://www.epa.gov/espanol/saludhispana/plomo.htm] Sí, el plomo es un metal pesado que tiene efectos de salud dañinos especialmente en los bebés y niños pequeños. El plomo puede ocasionar daño al cerebro y al sistema nervioso en niños pequeños. También ocasiona problemas de comportamiento y aprendizaje y sordera. En adultos, puede ocasionar problemas en el sistema reproductivo o hipertensión. A pesar de que el polvo y pedazos de la pintura vieja a base de plomo son las principales fuentes de exposición, este metal tóxico puede provenir de otras fuentes también. El plomo ocasionalmente se utiliza en el barro terra cotta o el barniz colorido que decora envases de cristal vidriado. Si no se hornea adecuadamente, puede contaminar los alimentos o líquidos contenidos en estas vasijas o cerámicas. Además, como parte del uso y desgaste diario, estas vasijas se pueden descascarar o agrietar lo cual facilitaría el contacto del plomo con los alimentos. Muchos de los alfareros, aún los que trabajan en el exterior, están empezando a tomar mayores medidas de seguridad para eliminar el plomo de los barnices, pero todavía pueden existir riesgos a la salud.

Por lo tanto, no estamos insistiendo en disponer de todas esas cerámicas y vasijas del tiempo de nuestras abuelas o que compramos en el extranjero. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1247400] Sin embargo, recomendamos que no utilice estas cazuelas para cocinar ni guardar alimentos. Sólo utilícelos para propósitos decorativos.

Si usted vive en una residencia construida antes de 1978 cuando el gobierno federal prohibió el uso de la pintura a ase de plomo en residencias privadas o si usted teme otras vías de exposición, usted puede pedirle a su médico que le haga la prueba de sangre para el plomo para calmar su preocupación. El envenenamiento por plomo en niños se puede prevenir. [http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/spanish/sp_plomo.htm] Una prueba de sangre es el primer paso.

Sobre la autor: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la EPA desde el 2002 y está a cargo del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Comunicaciones Multilingües. Como periodista, dirigió la oficina en Washington de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales.

About the author: Brenda Reyes Tomassini joined EPA in 2002. She is a public affairs specialist in the San Juan, Puerto Rico office and also handles community relations for the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division.

It’s time for the dreaded task again: time to paint our house. As I discussed with my husband the possibility of hiring a contractor to paint the house exterior and for us to paint inside, our son’s asthma became a sudden concern. Paints, stains and varnishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application . These toxic emissions stem from a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are a by-product of petrochemical-based solvents used in paints. Exposure to VOC’s in paint can trigger asthma attacks, eye, throat and nose irritation, respiratory problems, nausea, allergic skin reactions and dizziness among other symptoms. As one can imagine, painting our house would require extreme planning, including a temporary move.

EPA studies indicate that when people use and store products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels. These elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed, thus causing the quality of indoor air to deteriorate.

Given our concerns, I decided to embark on an internet research of our alternatives for painting the house without affecting our son’s health. These is a list of the suggestions I found on various sites, including EPA’s

• Low VOC or No VOC paints are an excellent alternative for painting the inside of our house.
• Ventilation is very important while painting.
• Warnings in the labels are extremely important since these are aimed at reducing exposure of the user.
• Buying limited quantities might save us something more than money. By buying only what we need we won’t have to worry about the fumes and toxic materials emitted by these paints while being on storage. Gases can leak even when the containers are closed.
• By using the right equipment-including masks–as with any other household project–we can reduce our exposure to hazardous substances while completing our task.

So before mixing that paint, take the necessary steps to protect your family.

About the author: A skin cancer survivor, Stephene Moore is the wife of Congressman Dennis Moore and a member of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program. She has been helping EPA’s SunWise Program since 2006. As part of this year’s Don’t Fry Day campaign, sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, EPA asked her to share her personal experience with skin cancer as a guest blogger on Greenversations. The Friday before Memorial Day is Don’t Fry Day.

Stephene Moore, hours after Mohs surgery to remove a skin cancer above her lip, giving a radio interview.

With Don’t Fry Day just three days away, it’s important to remember to Slip on a shirt! Slop on some sunscreen! Slap on a hat! ® and Wrap on some sunglasses today and every day. I’ve learned the importance of being smart in the sun the hard way.

As a teen, I used to cover myself in baby oil that we girls all added iodine to, and sit out in the sun by the pool or in the backyard. As an adult, I even hopped into a tanning bed once in awhile to get a “safe tan” so I wouldn’t burn on a beach vacation! Little did I know at the time that there’s no such thing as a “safe tan,” unless it comes from a bottle.

My sun-seeking and tanning caught up with me in November, 2007. I was taking off my makeup and noticed a tiny black spot that I couldn’t wipe off. I waited a month before visiting my dermatologist in the hopes it would go away. When it didn’t, I set up an appointment. Just a few days after the doctor biopsied the spot on my nose, a nurse called with the results: it was skin cancer!

A small pit in my stomach began to form after hearing the “C” word: cancer. Hearing the word “cancer” used in the same sentence as my own name is a little unsettling. Luckily, the cancer I had was very treatable. I’ll never be able to say I’m cancer-free, but after three surgeries, the doctor was able to remove all the cancer they could find. The experience has left a lasting impression—literally and figuratively.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are responsible for most skin cancers. UV reaches the Earth’s surface in two forms: UVA and UVB. UVA is associated with premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. UVB, which is associated with sunburn, is mostly blocked by the ozone layer. Unfortunately, the ozone layer isn’t perfect. While on behalf of the United States, EPA works with 194 other countries to heal the ozone layer, it’s more important than ever to be smart in the sun.

To protect my skin and eyes, I wear a hat and sunglasses, and keep extra sunscreen all over the house and in the car, so I remember to put it on year round. I’ll never know which day by the pool or trip to the tanning bed gave me cancer, but please learn from my mistakes and remember to Slip! Slop! Slap! ® and Wrap! each time you spend time outside.

For more sun safety tips from the SunWise Program.

About the author: Brenda Reyes Tomassini joined EPA in 2002. She is a public affairs specialist in the San Juan, Puerto Rico office and also handles community relations for the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, my husband and I took the kids kite flying to El Morro Fort in San Juan. Our three year-old marveled at the hundreds of kites in the sky and flew his with our help. But what caught his attention and gave him the most thrills throughout the sunny afternoon was rolling down the hills that surround the El Morro’s esplanade. Soon he forgot about his colorful kite and left his father and sister to enjoy the afternoon while I watched him roll in the grass. By Sunday morning all fun had disappeared from his face as he had developed a full blown asthma attack. While trying to pinpoint what had been the trigger and reviewing our daily routine, only one thing stood out: rolling on the grass. I know that mold, strong odors, second hand smoke and Sahara dust particles can trigger an asthma attack in my son, but I was dumbfounded this time. After some research I found out that nearly 80% of adults and children with asthma are allergic to trees, pollen and grass. While browsing for information I stumbled upon EPA’s Asthma Research Strategy where scientists study and develop an understanding of exposure, health effects, risk assessment, and risk management of indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants linked to asthma. This site was very helpful since it provides additional resources and publications related to projects supported by EPA. Among the studies that caught my attention were those that linked susceptibility and genetic factors with environmental exposures.

Even though I have identified most indoor triggers, and EPA provides a great wealth of information in that area, I was working on identifying outdoor environmental stressors. My search yielded the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health site. One interesting, but simple thing I learned on its website was to avoid outdoor activities on windy days. That made perfect sense since February through April is the windy or “kite” season in Puerto Rico. I also learned that most common grasses can trigger an allergic reaction in asthma patients. Now armed with this new information I can work better on identifying other outdoor environmental asthma stressors for my child.

Sobre la autor: Brenda Reyes Tomassini se unió a la EPA en el 2002. Labora como especialista de relaciones públicas en la oficina de EPA en San Juan, Puerto Rico donde también maneja asuntos comunitarios para la División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe.

Recientemente, durante un pasadía un sábado por la tarde, mi esposo y yo llevamos los niños a volar cometas o chiringas como se dice en Puerto Rico frente al Fuerte del Morro en el Viejo San Juan. Nuestro hijo de tres años estaba maravillado con los cientos de cometas que volaban por los cielos y pudo volar la suya con nuestra ayuda. Sin embargo, lo que sí le atrajo más la atención durante esa soleada tarde fue el rodar por las colinas alrededor de los terrenos del Morro. Rápidamente se olvidó de su colorida chiringa y dejó que su padre y hermana disfrutaran la tarde a su manera mientras él se deslizaba y rodaba en la yerba y le observaba atentamente. El domingo por la mañana toda la diversión y el regocijo habían desaparecido de su rostro cuando desarrolló un severo ataque de asma. Mientras tanto, yo estaba repasando todas nuestras actividades matutinas y nuestra rutina cotidiana para ver que le había desencadenado este ataque. Lo único diferente que se destacaba era el hecho de haber rodado por el césped. Yo sé que el moho, ciertos olores fuertes, el tabaquismo pasivo y las partículas de polvo del Sahara pueden desencadenar un ataque de asma en mi hijo, pero esta vez, me quedé atónita. Después de investigar un poco más el tema, encontré que cerca del 80 por ciento de los adultos y niños son alérgicos al polen, a los árboles y a las hierbas. Mientras buscaba mas información, me tropecé con la Estrategia de Investigación de Asma de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) donde científicos estudian y desarrollan un entendimiento mayor de la exposición, efectos de salud, evaluación de riesgos, y manejo de riesgos de los contaminantes medioambientales en entornos interiores y exteriores vinculados al asma. Este sitio Web fue muy útil ya que brinda recursos adicionales y publicaciones relacionadas a los proyectos apoyados por EPA. Entre los estudios que más capturaron mi atención estaban aquellos en los cuales se vinculaban la susceptibilidad y factores genéticos a las exposiciones ambientales.

A pesar de que yo había identificado la mayoría de los factores desencadenantes en entornos interiores, y la EPA brinda amplia información en esta área, estoy trabajando para identificar los estresores ambientales en entornos exteriores. Mi investigación me llevó al sitio Web del Instituto Nacional de las Ciencias de Salud Ambiental de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud.  Algo muy interesante, pero sencillo, que aprendí de este sitio cibernético fue el evitar las actividades al aire libre en los días ventosos. Ahora eso me hace perfecto sentido ya que de febrero a abril es la temporada ventosa en Puerto Rico denominada comúnmente como la “temporada de las chiringas”. También aprendí que algunas hierbas comunes pueden desencadenar reacciones alérgicas en pacientes asmáticos. Armada con esta nueva información ahora puedo trabajar mejor para identificar otros estresores medioambientales de entornos exteriores que afectan a mi hijo.

About the author: Alison Davis is Senior Adviser for Public Affairs in EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards in Research Triangle Park, NC.

With our weather in North Carolina getting suddenly hot, I’ve been thinking more about how air quality affects my daily plans. And I realized that I’d never learned the nitty-gritty of what goes in to that “Code Orange” forecast I get when air quality is expected to worsen.

So the other day, I stopped by the N.C. Division of Air Quality (DAQ) to see George. George (his last name is Bridgers) is one of four meteorologists at the DAQ who issue the daily air quality forecasts that tell me whether ozone levels might make me wheeze – or whether I’m in the clear.

From what I’ve picked up during my years at EPA, I know that forecasters at state and local agencies nationwide use weather models, information on pollution and their own experience to predict the next day’s ozone and particle pollution levels. So I went to see George figuring a forecast would take just an hour or two.

Boy, was I wrong.

“It starts from the moment I wake up,” George told me. “Are there storms I didn’t expect? Is the wind blowing? Is it sunny?”

Turns out George doesn’t just issue the next day’s forecast; he also spends time checking to see if yesterday’s forecast held overnight. If anything changed — weather conditions being the most likely — he might need to issue an update. Plus, what happened yesterday affects air quality tomorrow. During a period of stagnant weather, for example, pollution can build up over several days – and the forecast can go from yellow to orange to red.

Once George is satisfied that yesterday’s forecast was good, he starts looking at a long list of tools to develop tomorrow’s forecast. Weather forecast models. Satellite images. Air monitoring data. Models that estimate how pollution travels on the air. It’s an impressive list that reminds that me of just how much the nearly 300 air quality forecasters across the country have to understand in order issue AQI forecasts every day.

But I’m most struck by George’s dedication. He still remembers sweating it out over a code purple forecast he issued years ago, for example – and how worried he was about getting it right.

So when you check your air quality forecast (and you will, right?), know that in nearly every state, there are people like George, using science, experience and dedication to help you protect your health.

April 27 – May 1 is Air Quality Awareness Week.

About the author: Andrea Drinkard is Web Content Coordinator in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation

I’m a runner. I wasn’t always a runner. But, after my first race this spring, I had to admit it. Running may have been an easy sport to pick up when the first marathon was run in Greece, but today there are many more considerations.

First, what shoes do I get? Are they light and supportive? Will they match my clothes? Sorry, I had to throw it in there.

Then you have to decide where to run. I love that I live so close to the city, but that also means I’m surrounded by busy roads and traffic. On my first run at my new house, I decided to just explore the neighborhood. After a mile, I noticed that it wasn’t as easy as it used to be.

Was I out of shape? Maybe it was just a bad day. After a couple more bad runs, it dawned on me. Maybe it was running next to a busy road.

Running near busy roads exposes you to higher levels of air pollutants. And breathing dirty air makes it harder to do just about everything. So, I made a few changes. I looked for routes that were in or near a park or on back roads. I even woke up earlier so I could beat the traffic.

But it’s not just busy roads that can affect air quality. Air pollution comes from many other sources. And it changes every day, so just like I check the weather, I started checking the Air Quality Index. For me, poor air quality days don’t mean skip the run, they just mean take it easy, slow the pace or cut the distance.

EPA uses a color-coded guide: green means the air quality is good, red means it’s unhealthy for everyone to breathe. You can check it on the Internet, sign up for daily emails, or check out your local weather report.

Cities across the country also have Air Quality Action Days. These days tell you when you should reduce your contribution to pollution. One of he easiest ways to do that is to leave the car at home. You can take public transportation or carpool.

Poor air quality can happen year-round, so no matter when you’re outside, check the AQI.

April 27 – May 1 is Air Quality Awareness Week.

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

I’m lucky to have elderly parents in relatively good health. Recently, I took them for their routine medical tests and they passed them with flying colors. But, in my mother’s case there was one test result that was somewhat surprising. After the good news regarding her cholesterol and sugar levels, he said “…everything is fine, but you’re slightly dehydrated…” But, why? My mother confessed, “I’m simply not thirsty. I have to force myself to drink water.”

In fact, not too long ago I had translated a fact sheet for EPA’s Aging Initiative which dealt with the issue of water and other environmental impacts on adults in their golden years. The fact is that the elderly may be at a greater risk of dehydration because as they age they actually lose the thirst sensation. They do not feel the same urge to drink as often as when they were younger. Furthermore, some of the medications they are taking for other health conditions may increase the risk of dehydration. So, I had to actually explain to her that her lack of thirst was actually part of the process of aging and required special attention.

On the other hand, long term exposure to environmental contaminants in drinking water and recreational activities may further compromise the health of an adult of advanced years. For example, long-term exposure to lead may contribute to high blood pressure as well as memory and concentration problems, among other ailments. Air pollutants may aggravate lung diseases in the elderly, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

So, while we encourage the adults of advanced years to engage in outdoor activities as much as possible, it is wise to consult the Air Quality Index before going out and follow public notices on drinking water to take precautions as necessary.

You may find additional EPA resources which have been translated into 15 languages to help us protect this important segment of the population.