Just Another Nurse with a Passion and a Purpose...

Have you heard of environmental justice before?  Environmental Justice is the right of all people and communities to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment. Have there been any environmental events in your area that would fall under the purview of environmental justice?  In San Diego, we are in the top 10 metropolitan areas of the country growing in population density, poverty and pollution. Being a border community, we have a geographically polarized region in the south and southeast areas of SD. The border regions experience more water pollution from Mexico's fractured sewer system, improper waste disposal sites, inadequate housing and concentrated areas of manufacturing, ship-building and other high polluting industries. A local organization addressing these disparities and the complexity of border living and environmental justice is the "Environmental Health Coalition" .  This organization examines data correlating poor health outcomes with dis...

Bitter sugar The world is searching for cleaner sources of energy. Fossil fuel production is finite, environmentally destructive and politically contentious. These concerns have made growth industries out of alternative energies such as hydroelectricity and biofuel, which  counts sugarcane and African palm among its top sources . Hydro and biofuel industries marketed as "green" energy are leading to widespread destruction of once fertile lands leaving entire communities without basic resources. These industries and literally diverting rivers and creating illegal dams that eliminate clean drinking and irrigation water for hundreds of communities in Guatemala. The demand for biofuel by Europe and the U.S. has increased by 46% since 2001. Diverse agricultural practices that used to provide food and a sustainable economy in Guatemala has shifted to cane and palm oil production that have dessimated the region. The farmers are now in a fight for their land and their lives to ...

This module was overwhelming. The literature describes how we have known for many years which chemicals are toxic at even very low levels. We have evidence that demonstrates toxic chemicals and metals present in nearly all children in America. Since the landmark 2000 publication "In Harm's Way" , by The Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, the understanding of how these environmental exposures explain a multitude of behavioral, neurological and endocrine disorders is clear. The mounting evidence presented in the 2015 UCSF recording at the FIGO conference further supports the need to change policy, and educate expecting families on the risks present in our environment. But here we are- in 2019 and children continue to be exposed. The EPA has not used their position to make this a public health crisis. The greater medical community has not acknowledged this as a public health crisis. We continue to see rising diagnoses of childhood learning & behavior...

How do we explain the # of chemicals found in the cord blood of children who have not yet taken their first breath? How can we prepare a new mother for the multitude of risks during pregnancy and beyond? How can we possibly be versed on every chemical and assure women how to avoid risk and reduce harm to their fetus? This seems like an unsurmountable task. The list below provides a sampling of what has been measured in Human umbilical cord blood. Not long ago, we confidently told mothers that the placenta provided a protective barrier between the outside world and their growing child. We now know this is not the case. CHEMICALS AND POLLUTANTS DETECTED IN HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD Mercury (Hg) - tested for 1, found 1 Pollutant from coal-fired power plants, mercury-containing products, and certain industrial processes. Accumulates in seafood. Harms brain development and function. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - tested for 18, found 9 Pollutants from burning gasoline an...

In a NY Times article this week, the toxic issues facing the CA-Mexico border near Calexico are brought to light. This well know issue of contaminated sewage being dumped into the New River that flows from Mexico's Mexicali valley into the Imperial County's Calexico is a "Pit of Infection". The levels of e.coli and many other communicable diseases are shockingly high. Raw sewage, large industrial waste and illegal dumping by the city of Mexicali into the river have led to "extreme pollution" and "noxious fumes" that do not stop at the border. Communities on both sides are affected by this toxic river. Rates of asthma, allergies and GI illness are higher than other reports across the Imperial county. The groundwater pollution is also noted to be a hazard to the large agricultural business in the region. Since 2007 the EPA has known of the pollutants at this border. Nearly $50 million dollars has been allocated to various projects proposed to addr...

In the News... climate change in the Hindu Kush region in the Himalayas has lead to accelerated glacial melt, much more rapid than predicted. This region is home to two of the worlds highest peaks, Mt Everest and K2.  The area affected spreads across China, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nearly one quarter of the worlds population inhabits this region and relies on climate for agriculture, tourism, water supply and calls the mountains home.  Scientists believe glacial melt could reach up to 90% by the end of the century. Sea rise& catastrophic flooding could displace millions of people. The region is also home to subsistence farmers who already experience food insecurity. Loss of land & climate change could destroy this very way of life. Like many regions most harshly affected by climate change are poor, people of color and already facing many daily stressors including poverty, and lack of safety or protection by their governments. My personal experience wit...

Toxicology v. Pharmacology: Dose effects that are harmful v therapeutic effects. We spend so much time memorizing drugs and pharmacokinetic effects in nursing school..but why not toxicology? Even MD's only study one course in toxicology unless they take on an ED specialty. More education for clinicians is necessary to convey knowledge surrounding the many exposures in our environment. I would like to see this become part of all clinical education. My current confidence in the evidence provided by the EPA is not high. However, they do provide a great resource called "ECOTOX" where a database of nearly 12,000 chemicals exists. You can look up studies and who and what they were tested on. It is very comprehensive, but difficult to apply unless you have your Phd in chemistry..I tried looking up ingredients in most deodorants (since I am on a quest to reduce harm in my daily living) and was not able to find the actual compounds.  Fracking: We do not have any fra...