Earth Week Tips of the Day: You are What You Eat
Throughout the week, geology/oceanography/environmental science instructor Gwyn Jones has been mailing an "Earth Week Tip of the Day". With her permission, I have posted the emails and their links below. Also see Gwyn's Earth Week Tips from 2008.
Earth Week Tip of the Day - You Are What You Eat...Uh-Oh!
"The choices we makes, one meal at a time, add up. Together, we can make a big difference." (MBAq) ... to our health and to the environment
TIP #1 -- MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM'S SEAFOOD WATCH -- http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
Which seafoods are healthier for you? Which ones are more sustainably harvested? Is wild better than farmed? The Monterey Bay Aquarium addresses these questions and many more. They have handy wallet-sized SEAFOOD GUIDES and fantastic WEBSITE about ocean issues, conservation research, seafood & health, and how to help educate your favorite restaurants about environmentally friendly seafood choices.
--> You can print your own Seafood Guide cards (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx), or let me know and I'll send you some via campus mail.
(In addition, Rhonda Gilliam also suggests Oceana.org - "they also have a website with a handy seafood guide that rates not only the seafood by whether they are abundant, sustainably harvested, or overfished but also by whether their farming methods cause damage to habitat and other wildlife." - http://oceana.org/north-america/publications/seafood-miniguide/.)
TIP #2 -- ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP'S SHOPPER'S GUIDE TO PESTICIDES -- http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
What are the DIRTY DOZEN? How about the CLEAN FIFTEEN? "The EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides features the fruits and veggies with the most and the least pesticides, so you'll know which to buy organic and which conventionally grown ones are okay if organic isn't available." [[see below for the lists]]
--> You can print your own guide, and/or download it to your iPhone.
**Why care about pesticides?... "Pesticides are unique among the chemicals we release into the environment; they have inherent toxicity because they are designed to kill living organisms – insects, plants, and fungi that are considered "pests." Because they are toxic by design, many pesticides pose health risks to people, risks that have been acknowledged by independent research scientists and physicians across the world. ... As acknowledged by the U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked with a variety of toxic effects, including: --Nervous system effects. --Carcinogenic effects. --Hormone system effects. --Skin, eye and lung irritation." (http://www.foodnews.org/reduce.php)
"DIRTY DOZEN": Peach. Apple. Bell pepper. Celery. Nectarine. Strawberries. Cherries. Kale. Lettuce. Grapes (imported). Carrot. Pear.
"CLEAN FIFTEEN": Onion. Avocado. Sweet corn. Pineapple. Mango. Asparagus. Sweet peas. Kiwi. Cabbage. Eggplant. Papaya. Watermelon. Broccoli. Tomato. Sweet potato.
TIP #3 -- THE BATTLE OVER THE BOTTLE.... Tap vs. Bottled Water.... -- http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/faq.html#bw
Bottled water is NOT necessarily safer than tap water*
-- EPA sets tap water standards
-- FDA sets bottled water standards (based on EPA)
Some bottled water is treated more than tap water… Some is treated less, or not at all
*And it creates A LOT of nonbiodegradable, petroleum-based plastic waste!
Earth Week Tip of the Day - What am I breathing?
What are you breathing?...Air, of course.
But did you know that INDOOR air pollution can be even more significant than outdoor air pollution?
WEBSITE #1 -- EPA -- http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
"In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.
"In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
"There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
"If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems."
WEBSITE #2 -- OSHA -- http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality/
"Concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) increased when energy conservation measures instituted in office buildings during the 1970s, minimized the introduction of outside air and contributed to the buildup of indoor air contaminants. IAQ generally refers to the quality of the air in an office environment. Other terms related to IAQ include indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and "sick building syndrome" (SBS)."
OKAY, SO, WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?!
WEBSITE #3 -- CPSC -- http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/iaq.html
--> The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has quite a few publications, including "Tips for Purchasing and Installing New Carpet" and "What You Should Know About Using Paint Strippers".
WEBSITE #4 -- ALA -- http://www.lungusa.org
--> Click on "Air Quality" in the upper-right corner of the American Lung Association's main page, to find information such as:
* Top Ten Tips for a Healthy Home [[see below for the list]]
* Air Quality in the Workplace
* Air Quality in the Schools [[includes a link to the EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools ACTION KIT: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tools4s2.html]]
WEBSITE #5 - ALA OF WASHINGTON --
http://www.alaw.org:80/air_quality/master_home_environmentalist/home_health_assessment.html
http://www.alaw.org/air_quality/master_home_environmentalist/do-it-yourself-heal-form
--> Get a FREE Home Health Assessment from a trained volunteer! Or do it yourself with their training materials!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35698
Top Ten Tips for a Healthy Home
- Declare your home a smoke-free zone. Secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems, especially for children. Ask smokers to take it outside.
- Good ventilation reduces indoor air pollution. Leave doors between rooms open most of the time for better air circulation. Open windows when possible to allow for a good supply of outdoor air. Install exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove moisture and chemicals from the house.
- Keep humidity levels low with a dehumidifier or air conditioner, as needed. Clean both regularly so they don't become a source of pollutants themselves. Fix all leaks and drips in the home, as standing water and high humidity encourages the growth of mold and other biological pollutants.
- To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, have all fuel burning appliances inspected by a qualified technician once a year. Install a carbon monoxide detector near your sleeping rooms.
- To keep dust mites and other allergens to a minimum, clean regularly. Wash bedding materials in hot water (at least 130°). Consider replacing carpet with area rugs that can be taken up and washed often.
- Fit your gas range with a hood fan that exhausts the air outside. Use the fan or open a window when cooking to remove gas fumes.
- Check commercial cleaning products and pesticides for toxic ingredients, and use according to manufacturers directions. Keep your home well ventilated when using these products. Consider switching to less toxic alternatives.
- Test your home for radon. Use a radon test kit labeled "Meets EPA requirements".
- Never leave a car or lawn mower running in an attached garage or shed. Avoid the use of unvented heaters or charcoal grills indoors.
- Call you local Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA for more information about avoiding indoor air hazards in the home
[[ 25 tips from the ALA are at: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/indoor-air-quality-47020101?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist ]]
Earth Week Tip of the Day - Don't Pester Me?
Are garden pests being pesky and indoor bugs bugging you? Weeds getting you down?
Before reaching for a can of something with long chemical names in it, you may want consider whether there are less-toxic alternatives...
TIP #1 -- IPMopedia [IPM = Integrated Pest Management...] -- Founder and managing editor Steve Gilbert spoke at Earth Week yesterday
http://toxipedia.org/wiki/display/ipmopedia/IPM+Education+Project
--> IPMopedia is a comprehensive, reliable, science-based (but readable!) website that will help you identify insects, fungi, weeds, and other pests; select less-toxic solutions; and plan gardens that invite good bugs (such as butterflies) to help keep the pesky ones under control.
--> Did you know?... "Caffeine ... acts as a natural pesticide, paralyzing and killing certain insects." (http://toxipedia.org)
TIP #2 -- 5 Ways to Fight an Ant Invasion:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072001873_pf.html
(Short answer: vinegar; lemons; spices; coffee grounds; petroleum jelly)
BONUS TIP -- From Faisal and Teresa:
"Teresa uses undiluted white vinegar in our yard (as a weed killer etc) and it seems to work great, just something to share with you and your readers :) "
Earth Week Tip of the Day - Reduce, Reuse, Freecycle!
Recycling is great, but did you know that you can have an even greater impact by "reducing" and "reusing" (also)!
TIP #1 -- FREECYCLE
One way to keep stuff out of landfills and get items into the hands of people who would like them... FREECYCLE:
It's like craigslist, but -- even better -- everything offered and requested is FREE. The whole concept is not for profit:
"The Freecycle Network is made up of 4,726 groups with 6,626,276 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free, and everything posted must be FREE, legal and appropriate for all ages."
Items include everything from kids' toys, to grownups' clothes, from light fixtures from remodels, to extra garden plants.
Organized by location: http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/Washington
TIP #2 -- B.C. EARTH WEEK CLOTHING SWAP
Take part in our campus's CLOTHING SWAP -- today, tomorrow, and Wednesday:
http://www.scidiv.bcc.ctc.edu/rv/earthweek/2009/fashion09.html#Swap
"Upcycle your old clothing by bringing it to the Earth Week clothing swap. If you are lucky you may also find something new to take home in your size. Bring your gently used clothing to a drop off box in the Student Programs office between now and Wednesday, April 22. Clothing that has been dropped off will be at a table in the cafeteria during Earth Week and available free to students and employees of BCC (Tuesday and Wednesday). Anyone who drops off clothing will be eligible for the Clothing Swap Raffle, and any unclaimed clothes will go to Value Village (any profits will support Earth Week activities) or Goodwill. No bathing suits, socks or underwear, please!"
BCC Earth Week is organized by the BCC Student Science Association. For more information contact Rob Viens in the BCC Science Division at rviens@bellevuecollege.edu or (425) 564-3158.
