Module 5.7 My Sewage Facilities

    There are two wastewater treatment facilities in Roseville, CA. One of which is designated as a regional facility that purifies water for residences and businesses in west Placer. The City of Roseville's Wastewater Utility is responsible for operation and maintenance of all wastewater facilities owned by the city. This facility is responsible for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works, the wastewater collection system, the water quality lab and the recycled water utility. The Wastewater Collection Division is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance, and capacity assurance of the city of Roseville'ssanitary sewer collection system. The wastewater utility system encourages "living sewer smart." The city of Roseville informs its residents how to save their pipes and protect the sewer system. The three practices they encourage are to properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease; avoid disposable disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, and even "flushable" wipes; and not planting tree roots near sewer pipes.

Below is a great resource on living sewer smart:  https://cityofroseville.hosted.civiclive.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=7964922&pageId=9788336 

Module 5.5 Campaign for Tap Water

Slogan: The difference is NOT drastic. DON'T use plastic.




Corporate companies have "manufactured" the need and demand for bottled water. Bottled water is comparable in quality to tap water. Neither the EPA or FDA certify bottled water (EPA, 2005). The EPA says that, "Whether it travels through a pipe to your home or comes packaged in a bottle, safe drinking water is essential to good health. All our drinking water comes from the similar sources, either from sources we can see, such as rivers and lakes, or from sources we can't see, such as underground aquifers."

Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-11/documents/2005_09_14_faq_fs_healthseries_bottledwater.pdf

Module 5.4 Consumer Confidence Report and Water Quality Report for Roseville, CA

Below is the Consumer Confidence Report and Water Quality Report for Roseville, CA. 

The source of my drinking water comes from 3 primary sources. The first primary source of drinking water is the city of Roseville surface water. This surface water came from the snowmelt water of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and stored in Folsom Lake. The second source of drinking water comes from Placer County Water Agency's surface water, primarily a treatment plant in from the Yuba-Bear and American River watersheds. The third source of drinking water is a groundwater source that is used in cases of emergencies. This groundwater source is a six-aquifer storage and recovery facility. 

According to the report, there are no violations of elevated levels of any substances as of 2017. Because I previously worked in an environmental lab that tested drinking water for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, I am familiar with most of the chemicals present in this report. Chemicals I am not familiar with are Vanadium and Hexavalent Chromium. Surprisingly, high levels of Vanadium and Hexavalent Chromium are associated with a risk of cancer. However, according to toxnet.gov, the data in the toxicology profile of Vanadium is limited and under further review. Hexavalent Chromium has increased support from various agencies discussing its potential carcinogenicity. Hexavalent Chromium is classified as a D carcinogen by the oral route, not classifiable to human carcinogenicity, and classified as an A carcinogen by inhalation, a known human carcinogen. 

I discovered that my own water quality falls under EPA and the State Water Resources Control Board's regulations. My family does own a water filter. We are primarily trying to filter out microorganisms and potentially unsafe waste and minerals that may result from pipes or other means. I very rarely drink bottled water. I know the environmental risk of the mass production of plastic. I only use bottled water if I am out of the country in an area that is known for unsafe tap water or if I forgot my own water container. If I do forget my own water container, I reuse the bottle for as long as I can. 

Module 5.2 Public Health Importance of Clean Drinking Water

Potable water lies at the center of every aspect of our life. The purpose of the clean water act is to control and protect the quality of drinking water in the United States. It is our government's responsibility to maintain the public's health through standardized regulations. I have previously worked as a laboratory analyst in a water quality laboratory. Some laboratory tests I performed on drinking water samples are the presence of lead and metals, and turbidity. This module was interesting where I can see the public health policy side of this subject.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1976 was passed in order to raise the standards and quality of drinking water in the United States. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996. To ensure our drinking water is safe, one of the major steps in protection is setting regulations on pollution. The act separates three distinct types of pollution into, point-source pollution, non-point source pollution, and infill material. Point-source pollution is created by discernable confined and discrete conveyance. Examples of point-source pollution are waste materials coming out from a factor or a sewage facility emitting wastes. An example of non-point-source pollution is runoff that comes from a diffused source, such as construction sites, parking lots, and other areas of sources. Infill material point is placing material in a wetland or other water sources for the purpose of creating dry land section. An example of the EPA regulation is that the SDWA makes it a federal crime to discharge from a point source without an explicit permit. Another example of the SDWA is the importance of regulatory testing to ensure that community water systems are responsible for the contaminants in water to not exceed standards.

Module 4.6 Radon

In a previous course, I created an awareness campaign for Radon called, the "Breath Better" campaign. 

Several studies have been conducted that demonstrate the apathy of population response to radon exposure. This apathy stems from two main causes; through the fact that most people don't know about the issue and the little amount that do, actually do not consider the radon risk as a public health concern (Molla & Wampler, 2017). To bridge this gap, I would center an awareness campaign on evicting an emotional response. However, individuals might find it off-putting to spend $800-$2500 on radon mitigation. This is an expensive investment and may hinder the target population's cue to action. As a result, the vision of the Breath Better Campaign is to increase the public knowledge, perceived severity, and perceived susceptibility. It is essential for the public to know that Radon is the second leading cause of cancer, and know radon gas occurrences and geographic distribution.

Some critical stakeholders I would include in this campaign are the American Lung Association and national government entities like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The U.S. government has established a working action plan that is to span between 2015-2020, known as the Federal Radon Action Plan (FRAP). It would be of best interest to collaborate with FRAP or use FRAP as a resource for future Radon Prevention measures.

Module 4.2 National Library ToxNet

The videos and lectures in the enviRN-Evidence program are insightful for my career development. Although I have taken pharmacology in the past, this program is an excellent course on toxicology with thorough examples of how to describe characteristics of toxic chemicals, identifying exposure, relevant legislature/policies, and prevention methods.
In this blog, I will discuss the toxicology of urea formaldehyde and bleach.

Urea Formaldehyde 

Using, the National Library, ToxNet I was able to identify multiple health effects associated with urea formaldehyde. The most alarming health effects associated with urea formaldehyde is its carcinogenicity in humans. It is associated with cancers of the nasopharynx, sinonasal, and leukaemia. It classified as a Group B1 probable human carcinogen. This means that there is limited evidence in humans, and sufficient evidence in animals. Other acute effects of formaldehyde exposure are irritation in the eyes and upper respiratory system. These associations have also been shown in various animal studies.

Sodium Hypochlorite is the active ingredient in common bleach disinfectant solutions. Bleach is known for being a common household cleaner. In some households, it is diluted to diminish the smell and other common health hazards associated with bleach. The major toxicology affects are pain and irritation to exposure to sensitive areas, such as skin, mouth, upper respiratory system, and digestive system. Toxnet documents various excerpts that exemplify the toxicology of sodium hypochlorite exposure. The saddest story is of an 18 month old girl who swallowed a "few tablespoons" of liquid household bleach and passed away. This increases the importance of being mindful of the dangers of chlorine. This includes, keeping dangerous materials away from children, as well as being mindful and careful when using bleach. Protective wear is the most important protective measure when using bleach.


Toxnet is a great resource for a summary of the human health effects. It does an incredible job of summarizing hazardous materials and materials potential toxicity.

Module 3.5 Transportation

Growing up in Lubbock, Texas public transportation was inefficient and rarely available. Although Lubbock does have a small bus system, other means of public transportation are essentially nonexistent. Most of my friends lived across town and would have to rely on cars as the primary rode of transportation. I only had a few friends who lived a reasonable biking distance away from me. It wasn't until I went to Austin, Texas where I relied on public transport, ridesharing, and walking as my modes of transportation. Fortunately, our tuition at the University of Texas in Austin paid for our bus fare during our tenure at the university. I primarily used the bus to run errands or such. I only had, at most, a fifteen-minute walk to campus during my time in Austin. Walking is obviously the most environmentally conscious means of transportation and it was refreshing to get that morning fresh air on the way to my dreaded 8 am class.

It wasn't until my adventures in Europe in I experienced subways and trains. I personally enjoyed commuting via subway to get to my destinations. My favorite public transport was in Copenhagen, Denmark. With one pass, an individual was able to use the train, metro, buses, and harbor buses to one's desired destination. The public transport system was very clean, environmentally conscious, friendly, and relatively cheap.

Module 3.4 Air Pollution

For this module, instead of analyzing Placer County, I wanted to investigate my hometown of Lubbock, TX (Lubbock County). According to scorecard.goodguide.com, here are the following results with regards to air pollution:

As you can see, in the results above, only 2 percent of houses in Lubbock County have a high risk of lead hazards, and Lubbock County does not have any Superfund Sites. Superfund Sites are waste disposal sites that are designated by the EPA to be hazardous to human health or the environment. The air quality of Lubbock is ranked the dirtiest/worst 10% of all counties in the U.S. 

The area has extremely high Carbon Monoxide emissions, Nitrogen Oxides emissions PM-2.5 emissions, PM10 emissions, and Volatile Organic Compound emissions compared to the rest of the counties in the U.S. 

The following are the top polluters and top chemicals in the county:

This isn't too big of a surprise due to the prominence of the cotton industry in Lubbock County. Pyco Industries Inc and Southern Cotton Oil are substantial cotton mills in the area. After some research, I have found that n-hexane is a chemical used to extract certain oils from crops (such as cotton). The mills are also responsible for the poor air quality in such that the cotton mills release Carbon Monoxide emissions, Nitrogen Oxides emissions PM-2.5 emissions, PM10 emissions, and Volatile Organic Compound. 

On the bright side, Lubbock County has comparatively one of the cleanest water quality in the United States. I know that the primary source of drinking water for Lubbock County is the Ogalala Aquifer. This vast Aquifer runs as far north as North Dakota to the Panhandle of Texas. Its width covers Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico up until South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. 

Regarding Environmental Justice, Lubbock County's report shows enormous disparities in particularly the Distribution by Race/Ethnicity "Facilities Emitting Criteria Air Pollutants." There is a 12.90 ratio for people of color vs white in "Facilities Emitting Criteria Air Pollutants." This ratio is alarmingly high and I am curious to see why this is. Other categories have ratios ranging from 1.0 to 3.64, across the board. 

Module 3.3 Environmental Justice

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as, 
"Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.”

For me, the foundations of environmental justice are built upon a population's social determinants of health. These unequal social determinants of health may result in the unequal implementation and enforcement of environmental laws within a given community. 

After reading Environmentalism Was Once a Social Justice: It Can Be Again by Jedediah Purdy (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/how-the-environmental-movement-can-recover-its-soul/509831/), this powerful editorial showed the roots of environmentalism and provided powerful examples of environmental justice. This quotation sums up what Environmental Justice means for me, "In this movement, for more than a century, activists and scholars have been engaging the themes of fairness, inequality, and political and economic power in the human environment" (Purdy, 2016). This shows the connectivity among so many different entities that constitute our environment. The examples that Purdy exhibit, from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson to Robert Marshall, show the lack of accountability in the United States in these different entities. 

The article 8 Horrifying Examples of Corporations Mistreating Black Communities With Environmental Racism by Nick Chiles (https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/02/12/8-horrifying-examples-of-corporations-mistreating-black-communities-with-environmental-racism/) show the lack of accountability and, even more horrifying, the undeniably preventable factors that play into unequal social determinants of health. Whether the policies or practices that target individuals below the policy or practice are intentional or unintentional, the examples provided were astonishing and left me flabbergasted. Particular the example of "The Tragedy of Chester, Pennsylvania show the inexcusable and completely preventable issue of proper disposal. To have the seventh largest garbage-burning incinerators right next to residential areas and public spaces absolutely left me speechless and infuriated. As a future public health professional, examples like this give me drive and purpose to go make a change. 

Module 3.1 Biomonitoring

After visiting my primary care practitioner, I was concerned to get these results from my lab results. I was astonished to see these chemicals and toxins present in my system at unsafe levels. After, receiving these test results, I panicked to see where possible exposure may have occurred. After examining my house, a possible candidate for these hazardous materials may come from the fish I have been eating. I recently switched to a pescatarian diet. After some research and deduction, I have concurred that chemicals Dioxins, DDT and PCBs could have entered my system due to my over consumption of tilapia. Other chemicals like Phthalates and Organophosphates could be found in my pesticides. After reading these lab results, I am extremely concerned about what environmental hazards I may be exposed too.

Module 2.4 Personal Care Products

In this module, we examine these two videos on personal care products that put into context on the realities of toxins and hazards that "every-day" Americans may face on a daily basis. The first video is a video by Sarada Tangirala and the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and the second video is a presentation by Ken Cook and the Environmental Working Group. 

In the Safe Cosmetics 101 video, Tangirala highlights the importance of being mindful when shopping for cosmetics. Tangirala's example of Triclosan in handsoap resonated with me. Tangirala discussed that "plain soap and water" is good enough and that in-fact Triclosan can create specifically-resistant bacteria. Another important message that I took away from this video was the description of "Fragrance." As I mentioned in my previous blog post, "Fragrance" was a high-hazardous material found in the Jack Black All-Over Wash for Face, Hair & Body. A surprising fact to me was that "Fragrance" can be a substitute for "dozens to even hundreds" chemicals that do not have to be disclosed. This lack of transparency was alarming to me. 

In the Ken Cook presentation, a quote that surprised me was comparing evidence of health hazards in industrial chemicals to "silent pandemics." This quotation from Lancet (2008) and the visual emphasis had a profound effect on me. The comparison with "stacking pancakes" was interesting and put the environmental risks in perspective. Ken Cook's call to action to make advances in removing hazardous material off of the market was inspirational and relatable. The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act is used to highlight this call to action through safety reviews, bans, and phase-outs. I personally like that the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act presume that chemicals found in umbilical cord blood are unsafe.  

Reference: 

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners - BCPP. (2013, March 20). Safe Cosmetics 101 [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Ee_alZJJw 

Environmental Working Group. (2012, July 23). "10 Americans" by Environmental Working Group [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-kc3AIM_LU 

Module 2.3 Common Household Products

In this blog post, I will discuss my houses two most used household cleaning products, and it's relative toxicity and potentially hazardous ingredients, Fantastik, Scrubbing Bubbles All Purpose Cleaner, Bleach 5-in-1, and Lysol, All Purpose Cleaner 4-in-1, Lemon Scent. These two all-purpose cleaners are used for most surfaces around the house. Lysol is used more frequently for cleaning on various surfaces, from kitchen countertops to tables. Fantastik is used for heavy duty and deep-cleaning when needed.

I was not surprised to see that the Fantastik received a serious HMIS rating. Due to bleach (sodium hypochlorite) being an active ingredient. Bleach is a common household irritant and should be used with caution. Gloves are necessary when cleaning utilizing this solution due to its properties of irritating the skin. 

Lysol received a "moderate/2" rating in the HIMS scale. This moderate rating is due to the irritant properties. 

I, personally, was relieved to find that neither the Fantastik nor the Lysol are carcinogenic or have carcinogenic properties due to inhalation. The National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database is easy to use and I will encourage my friends and family members to check common household items for possible toxicity or the possibilities of various health hazards. Although these products warn us of possible health hazards, The National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database allows consumers to investigate further into the formulas of the products if further information is needed. 

Module 2.2 Personal Care Products

     I have been using Jack Black (TM) skin products consistently for the last 5 years. My most used products of this brand are the Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleaner and the All Over Wash for Face, Hair, and Body. I became a fan of Jack Black skin products because I noticed less acne on my back and face. I also choose to use Jack Black products because they are certified cruelty-free, in which it's products are not tested on animals or contain animal-derived ingredients. Also, I like the quality and smell of their skin care products. In this post, I examine my most used Jack Black products for any potential health risks. 

     The first product I am reviewing is the Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser. This product rates a score of 2 out of 10 and is deemed as a low hazard. EWG rate Benzyl Alcohol as the most dangerous ingredient in this formula due to the "use restrictions" and "organ system toxicity." The label of this product warns users to be careful around the eyes and to wash thoroughly if the facial cleaner gets in one's eyes. When using this item, one must be cautious to not ingest or get this item into one's system. I am happy to know that my favorite facial cleaner is not hazardous to my body. I will continue using this product.

      The next item I am reviewing is the Jack Black All Over Wash for Face, Hair & Body. This item ranked a 6 out of 10 and is deemed a moderate health hazard. The most concerning ingredients in this formula are "retinyl acetate" and "fragrance."

      In this older formula, retinyl acetate can cause developmental & reproductive toxicity. After looking at the newer formula, Jack Black replaced retinyl acetate with retinyl palmitate. Both of these chemicals are deemed a high hazard. 9 out of 10, by EWG. Retinyl derivatives are used as a "skin conditioning agent" but are highly hazardous to the body. These retinyl derivatives are known human reproductive toxicant by the FDA. There is also reproductive toxicity due to retinyl, but this data is limited. According to EWG, these retinyl derivatives are dangerous may yield overexposure of Vitamin A in the skin.

      "Fragrance" was also deemed a high hazard, 8 out of 10, by EWG. This was surprising because Jack Black is known for using natural ingredients like grapefruit extract and aloe extract. The fragrance may be a resporatory irritant in individuals. 

      Although deemed a "moderate" health hazard, I will continue to use the All Over Wash but at lower doses. I will start to monitor how much of the wash I am using and to be careful of over-exposure to retinyl derivatives. 

Through using EWG.org, I think it is essential for individuals to be cautious and wary of what chemicals they are exposing to one's skin. People may not take these steps because there is a notion that this precaution is lengthy and requires research. However, websites like EWG.org allow for the research and hazards to be conveniently located on a single site.