Food Contamination

There are three types of food contamination: chemical, physical and biological. Any type of food can get contaminated, causing whoever eats it to become sick. Chemical contamination is food contaminated by any kind of chemical substance. This is mainly a direct result of the use of chemicals to clean kitchens. Some substances may not be properly labels, therefore leading them to be misused. Another example of chemical contamination is a natural contamination such as toxins in fish. These foods should not be eaten unless the toxins have been properly removed. The second type of food contamination is physical. Physical contamination is when the food has been contaminated by a foreign object. These foreign objects are things that are not usually consumed, and that can harm someone that eats it. The third type is biological contamination. This is when the food is contaminated by something living. This includes contaminants like saliva and blood. The five categories of biological contaminants are:

1. Bacteria: Bacteria is everywhere, even in the air. These bacteria grow in the conditions referred to as the acronym FAT TOM.
1. F= Food. In order to live, bacteria needs the energy from foods such as eggs, poultry, meat, fish, and much more.
2. A= Acidity. Bacteria grows well in lightly acidic environments.
3. T= Temperature. 41 to 135 degrees fahrenheit is the temperature that best promotes bacteria growth.
4. T= Time. Bacteria can grow insanely fast.
5. O= Oxygen. Some bacteria need oxygen to grow.
6. M= Moisture helps bacteria grow.
7. The three most contagious bacteria are Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp, and E Coli.
2. Viruses: These can be spread from person to person. This includes viruses like Hepatitis A and and Norovirus. Hepatitis A is spread by human feces. Just one of many reasons why all restaurants have signs in the bathroom that say, “all employees must wash hands.”
3. Parasites: Parasites need to latch on to foods to survive. These can be destroyed by cooking and freezing. This is why raw meats can be dangerous.
4. Fungi: Fungi can be found in air, water, soil, plants, animals, and food. These are things like molds and yeasts. These also grow well in acidic areas.
   
5. Protozoa: These are more commonly transmitted in underdeveloped countries. It is rare to see these as a problem in developed countries such as the United States.

One of the most common transmitted diseases from people to food is respiratory illness by people coughing or not washing their hands. The five most common causes of foodborne illnesses are:

1. When temperature sensitive foods are stored at the wrong temperatures. This could be from lack of knowledge or lack of proper equipment.
2. Cooking foods at the wrong temperature. Not all contaminants can be fixed by heating the food.
3. Failing to follow personal hygiene rules. This is why health inspectors make sure proper procedures are being followed.
4. Use of contaminated equipment. Dirty utensils are obviously not ideal. Proper sanitation and cleaning is required when it comes to food.
5. When the consumer purchases food from unsafe sources. It is always smart to know where your food is from and who the supplier is.

Air Quality

Do you ever wonder what is floating in the air you breathe? The quality of the air around you is crucial to your health. Air quality refers to the cleanliness of the surrounding air. For example, clean, unpolluted air would be considered good air quality. Poor air quality is when pollution levels become dangerous to humans or the environment. To measure the air quality, people use what is called the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI releases daily reports of the air quality. It also focuses on the concerns you should have about each level of air quality. The EPA calculates the AQI for the five most common air pollutants: ground level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The AQI is measure on a scale for 0-500 and is divided into six categories.

1. Good: (Green) this level ranges from 0-50. In this state, the air level is considered satisfactory and are not dangerous to humans nor the environment
2. Moderate: (Yellow) this level ranges from 51-100 AQI. This air is alright to live in, it won’t kill you. However, it can bring about health concerns to a small amount of sensitive people breathing in this air.
3. Unhealthy for sensitive groups: (Orange) This level ranges from 101-150. People with lung disease, or elderly adults and children would not be very safe breathing in this air. The general public however would be fine.
4. Unhealthy: (Red) Ranges from 151-200. Just about everyone would experience some kind of negative health effects from this air.
5. Very Unhealthy: (Purple) AQI is 201-300. Can bring about serious health concerns. Public notifications would be sent out.
6. Hazardous: (maroon) Any AQI greater than 300. This level of pollution would be an emergency.

The AQI lists five of the highest ranking polluted air as of today, March 23, 2017.

1. (From lowest to highest) C San Bernardino, California. It has a moderate AQI of 68.
2. Nogales, Arizona. This city also has a moderate AQI of 68.
3. Metro Riverside, California. The air level is still moderate, but has an AQI of 70. Since California is on this list twice out of all 50 states!
4. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Moderate air level with an AQI as high as 80.
5. The city with the highest level of air pollution is Miami, Florida. This air level is actually listed as unhealthy. A health message to sensitive people was posted on the EPA’s AQI forecast website.

To control air quality throughout the country, states have a State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP is a plan of control strategies to keep the air quality at a healthy level. Once this plan is created it must be approved by the EPA. The Clean Air Act also requires that the EPA set a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for harmful pollutants. These standards are designed to protect human health nationally. Below are the set standards for common pollutants:

1. Ozone: 0.070ppm
2. PM 2.5: 12.0 ug/m3
3. Sulfur Dioxide: 75ppb
4. Nitrogen Dioxide: 100 ppb
5. Lead: 0.15 ug/m3

Potential Health Effects From Cell Phone Use

The use of cell phones has begun to become a concern to many people because the phones emit radiofrequency energy from their antennas. Tissues near the antenna can absorb this energy. These radio waves are a form of non-ionizing radiation. Radiation can be classified into two groups: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. The difference between these two groups is

related to the wavelength and frequency of the radio waves. Ionizing radiation is high frequency and high energy. Exposure to ionizing radiation can be known to increase the risk of cancer. Two common ways to be exposed to this kind of radiation are by X-rays and ultraviolet light from things such as the sun and tanning beds. Ionizing radiation can damage internal tissues and organs. This type of radiation is far more dangerous than non-ionizing radiation. Non- ionizing radiation is low frequency and low energy. Currently, there is no evidence to show that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer at all. However, there are other potential threats to exposing ourselves to so much non-ionizing radiation. We expose ourselves to non-ionizing radiation almost everyday through cell phones, microwaves, televisions, radios, and more.
One of the biggest hazards that comes from cell phone radiofrequency energy is heating, for example, the way a microwave can heat food. The energy from the cell phone can heat the area that it is touching, like our hands and ears. Directions to cell phones actually tell you to hold the phone away from your ear. It is suggested that the cell phone should be held at least two inches from your head. It is actually recommended that you keep your phone away from your entire body as much as possible. A study published in 2012 stated that studies on people who had used cell phones for 10 years or more had a constant pattern of increased risk of getting cancerous brain tumors. These tumors were most commonly on the side of the head that they usually held their phone. However, another study from 2014 stated that cell phones were not linked to cancerous brain tumors at all. Much of the information published about cell phone usage is contradicting to other information published. For this reason, it has not yet been concretely decided whether or not cell phones are of any danger. Along with cell phone radiation comes radiation from Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi routers send and receive information through radio waves just like cell phones. This radiation is also suspected to promote tumor growth. This is dangerous because so many people spend huge amounts of time on a desktop computer near Wi-Fi routers. Although

these waves are not visible to the human eye, they are very real. These areas of high energy can be called electromagnetic fields. EMFs can cause light symptoms stress, fatigue, sleep disorders, rashes, muscle aches, and much more. However, they can also cause more serious problems like infertility and various types of cancer. You can protect yourself from these hazards by buying bio-electric shields to neutralize this energy. You can also do smaller things like unplugging appliances when they are not in use and keeping technological devices out of the room that you sleep in. Since cell phones, Wi-Fi, and technologies of that such are a generally new creation, none of the long term effects have been solidified yet.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate is an herbicide that is applied to the leaves of plants to kill certain plants and grasses. It is the active chemical in the very popular weed killer called Roundup. There are three patents on Glyphosate. It was first patented in 1964 by Stauffer Chemical as a metal chelator. The chelator was used to clean commercial boilers and pipes. It was then patented again in 1974 as an herbicide by Monsanto, a sustainable agriculture company. The third patent was granted in 2010 for the same company, Monsanto, to be used for parasitic control. It is interesting, what was once used as a means of cleaning pipes is now being applied to the food that we eat! According to a report published in Environmental Science Europe, Roundup is the “most heavily used weed killer in the history of chemical agriculture in both the United States and globally.” Since 1974, when Monsanto patented glyphosate in Roundup, more than 3.5 billion pounds of glyphosate has been used in the United States. Furthermore, over 18.9 billion pounds of glyphosate has been applied globally. The usage of glyphosate in the United States makes up nineteen percent of usage worldwide. Roundup is spread by being mass-sprayed over crops on farms. This rids the farmers of unwanted plants and weeds.

Roundup can also be used to dry out crops so that they can be harvested quicker. Since glyphosate is being applied in such large quantities, it has begun to concern people.

Glyphosate has found its way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Research has been able to connect high levels of glyphosate to a number of illnesses. One article from ecowatch.com lists known health problems that may be linked to exposure to glyphosate:

1. ADHD- There is a strong correlation between Roundup exposure and ADHD in farming communities.
2. Anencephaly- Babies born to women who live within 1,000 meters of pesticide application are more likely to have this birth defect.
3. Autism-  Glyphosate has a number of known biological effects that align with the known pathologies associated with autism.
4. Birth defects- Roundup and Glyphosate can disrupt the babies ability to get Vitamin A.
5. Brain cancer- Chances of developing brain cancer doubled in with parents exposure to Glyphosate up to two years before the child’s birth.
6. Breast cancer- Glyphosate is known to induce human breast cancer cell growth.
7. Cancer (in general)
8. Celiac disease and Gluten intolerance
9. Chronic kidney disease- There has been a recent surge in kidney failure among agricultural workers in Central America. Many think that the recent growth in Glyphosate use may be the cause.
10. Heart Disease- Glyphosate can disrupt the body’s enzymes, causing lysosomal dysfunction, a major factor in cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
11. Respiratory Illness- House-to-house surveys in Argentina have shown that communities where Roundup is used, there are higher rates of chronic respiratory illness.
12. Glyphosate has been called, by some scientists, an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with human hormonal systems. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors and birth defects, as listed above.

Aside from health problems related to Glyphosate use, there is also a number of environmental concerns. Glyphosate can stay in the soil for up to six months! Some vegetables, such as carrots and lettuce, can take up the Glyphosate in the soil when growing. Some weedkillers that have Glyphosate in them can even be toxic to the wildlife. The farming industry has gone as far as to create Roundup Ready crops. These crops are genetically modified to withstand herbicides such as Roundup. The first of these crops were created in the 1990s. Since they are fairly new, many people are concerned about the long term effects these genetically modified foods will have. Some of the most common Roundup Ready crops are soybeans, corn, cotton, and wheat.

Water Quality

Do you ever think about how clean the water you are drinking is? Most of the time we just assume the water we receive is clean enough to drink simply because it is coming out of our faucets. This is why the quality of the water must be checked. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s website, Water Quality is the measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Bacterias and harmful substances can often find their way into the water making it unsuitable to drink. Some of the most common problems Ohio has with water are the following: Coliform bacteria, Turbidity, Radon, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Harmful Algal Bloom Cyanotoxins.

1. Coliform bacteria can be found in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans. There is a total of 16 different Coliform bacteria that can be found in plants, soil, and waste. E. Coli is a subgroup of fecal Coliform bacteria. Most E. Coli is harmless, however some strains can make you sick. If Coliform bacteria is found in water, it is investigated immediately. This bacteria is commonly found in well water because of sewage and manure. This can be prevented by making sure your water is properly filtered. The public health goal of amounts of E. Coli and other forms of fecal Coliform is none. 
   The Maximum Contaminate Level: 0
   
   
   
   
   
2. Turbidity is the measure of cloudiness of the water. Cloudiness can be caused by harmless substances such as organic matter, or can be caused by disease-causing organisms like parasites and viruses. Therefore, it is smart to keep Turbidity levels low to be safe. The EPA has set the water Turbidity standard at 1 NTU (nephelolometric turbidity unit). Also, public waters must not exceed 0.3 NTU.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon is odorless and invisible in water. There is also a goal to have absolutely no Radium in drinking water since it can increase chances of developing cancer.
   Maximum Contaminate Level: 5 pCi/L
4. Cryptosporidium is a primary diarrheal pathogenic microorganism that can bring disease to previously healthy people. It is caused by a parasite that can live in the intestines in humans and animals. You can get rid of the cryptosporidium by boiling your water. The EPA requires that there be 0mg/L in drinking water.
5. Giardia is also a diarrheal illness caused by a parasite. It is one of the most common causes of waterborne diseases in humans in the United States. Millions of Giardia parasites can be passed by just one infected human or animal. The water can be contaminated by sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoffs, and flooding. The contaminated water can be cleaned by boiling and then refrigerating it. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Once again, the standard amount of Giardia in water is zero.
6. Harmful Algal Bloom Cyanotoxins can be naturally found in Ohio lakes. It is often called blue-green algae. It occurs in shallow bodies of warm water. You should not drink this water.

Lead Poisoning

Lead is a toxic metal and can be very poisonous. Many old houses and toys contain lead-based paint and when a person is exposed to the paint for a long period of time, they can get lead poisoning. Young children are most vulnerable to this poisoning and the damage is irreversible. Many children are exposed to lead when they touch an object containing lead, and then put their fingers into their mouth. Lead is primarily harmful to children because their bodies are still developing. Getting lead poisoning from one single contact with lead is very uncommon, they poisoning develops over time. After a person has experienced extended exposure, symptoms will begin to emerge. Just some symptoms of lead poisoning include: abdominal pain, aggressive behavior, constipation, sleep problems, headaches, memory loss, kidney dysfunction, and anemia. Furthermore, in a child, the damage can become much worse. Lead can lead to a variety of intellectual disabilities. For example: behavioral problems, low IQs, poor academic grades, hearing problems, learning difficulties, and growth delays. Extreme cases can even result in seizures and comas.

Lead must be ingested in order to lead to lead poisoning, you cannot be poisoned by simply touching lead. However, inhaling dust that contains lead can be poisonous. Lead is dangerous because you cannot smell nor taste it. Lead used to be very common in the United States, until people discovered how harmful it could be. Although products containing lead are no longer produced, they can still be found all over the country, most commonly lead-based paint in old houses made before 1978. Other common sources of lead poisoning include: toys and household items painted before 1976 or painted outside of the United States, bullets, pipes and sink faucets, polluted soil, art supplies, jewelry, pottery, and lead figures. Pipes and sink faucets are a big red flag because they can contaminate drinking water.

Although all humans are at risk to lead poisoning, children are at the highest risk. This is because young children are more likely to put objects into their mouth without knowing what it is. This is alarming because children are also the ones most damaged if they are exposed to lead. To be diagnosed with lead poisoning, a blood test must be performed. If one is in fact diagnosed with lead poisoning, they must immediately be treated. The first step is removing the source of lead that has caused the problem. If symptoms are severe, hospitals will perform a procedure called chelation therapy. Chelation therapy is a chemical process where a synthetic solution is injected into contaminated blood to remove harmful metals from the body.

The United States recognizes the danger of lead, however, it is still an issue in every state. In 2014, 153,010 children under the age of six were tested for lead poisoning in Ohio. The majority of these cases were very small amount of micrograms per deciliter. For example, 5 μg/dL is when the contamination is considered a threat. Out of the 153,010 children tested in 2014, 145,859 children had less than 5 μg/dL. 3,298 children’s blood in Ohio contained 5-9 μg/dL. Furthermore, only 1,298 children tested greater than or equal to 10μg/dL. 3 percent of the total tested population had results of dangerous exposure. In Cuyahoga County, where I am from, 2,406 children had blood lead levels of 5-9μg/dL in 2012. 3.21 percent of the children tested in Cuyahoga County had elevated blood lead levels. Lead poisoning can be prevented once people begin to educate themselves on what objects are hazardous. Parents should throw out toys that were painted in foreign countries. Everyone should be sure to wash their hands before eating to prevent contaminating their food. Faucets are aerators should be cleaned regularly to ensure that the air is clean.

The Zika Virus

Zika is a disease that is caused mostly by the bite of a specific mosquito. The Aedes species mosquito can become infected and spread the disease to humans. Within the past year, reports of Zika have been reported most commonly in Central and South America. Reports have also been documented in East Africa, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. Recently, the CDC has reported two areas within the United States that have seen cases of Zika infection. These two area in the United States are South Florida and Brownsville Texas. The CDC suggests that everyone living in or traveling to these countries and areas should seek guidance of prevention.

The transmission of Zika is primarily through a bug bite from the Aedes species mosquito. This is this is the same species of mosquito that can transmit the dengue and chikungunya viruses.These mosquitos lay eggs in standing water and typically bite during the day time. These mosquitoes become infected when they bite someone who is already infected; after a mosquito is infected, it can then spread the virus from person to person. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention’s website, Zika can also be transmitted through sex. Since the first large outbreak of Zika was in 2007, only ten years ago, many studies about the transmission of Zika are still underway.

The Zika virus can also be transmitted in a pregnant woman to her fetus. Being infected with Zika during pregnancy may cause a birth defect called Microcephaly. Mircrocephaly is when a baby’s head is smaller than it should be. This causes their brain to be smaller than expected and not develop properly. Along with Microcephaly, babies infected with Zika can develop Congenital Zika Syndrome. The syndrome is defined by five main features: severe microcephaly, brain damage, damage to the back of the eye, joints with limited motion, and restricted body movement. 

Once a person is infected with Zika, they may experience many symptoms of the virus, or no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms of Zika are: fevers, rashes, joint pain, conjunctivitis, headaches, and muscle pain. Symptoms only last for about a week. Most symptoms are so mild that many people do not know they were even infected. It is very rare for anyone to die of Zika.

The most important prevention tactic to avoid getting Zika is to avoid mosquito bites altogether. This involves using insect repellent, wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and controlling the mosquitoes surrounding your home. It is also important to educate yourself on where Zika outbreaks are occurring. If you plan to travel to any of these places, you will have to be aware of the threat. Lastly, it is helpful to protect yourself while having sex because Zika can be sexually transmitted. If you do all you can to prevent the virus, and still happen to contract Zika, you must consider others around you and protect them from it. There is no direct medicine or vaccine for Zika. If you are infected with Zika, all you can do is treat the symptoms and drink fluids.