Blog #5

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 with the people of the Himalayas was so incredible, I cannot imagine the loss of this beautiful culture and mountain living. The most disturbing part is that the people who will experience the adverse effects are those who have not contributed to the problem. They have maintained simple lives with consciousness and conservation as a community value. We must continue to lift up communities like the Hindu Kush where change is inevitable and help prepare them for a possible future. At the same time we must lead change to slow this process, and even reverse its effects.

*I have a personal love for this region and it's people. I spent over a month climbing and hiking (and even got engaged at Tengboche Monastery)--this will be devastating for the sherpa people who have created their lives to share their beautiful region.

Oh Dove deodorant coconut scent, how I love thee. You are well priced, smell nice and keep my pits dry in any weather. But why must you contain ingredients I have to look up? Your fragrance ranks at a toxic 8 on the EWG skin deep guide. Your overall ranking is moderately toxic at a 4. I had to give you up last week. I went Native. Trying to eliminate the aluminum and fragrance from my sweat glands. 

I explored several of my household product rankings on the Household products database. This was not a user friendly site for me. I had a hard time discerning the rank of products. It seems that each chemical must be looked up individually to understand the risk. When a product contains multiple ingredients, this can be an arduous process. Im hoping the updated TSCA law will help to reconcile this? Consumers need to understand risk of products and not just the individual chemical. If synergistic reactions by compounds increase risk, then knowing data on a singular chemical is not helpful to the average consumer. I felt like I needed a chemistry degree to fully comprehend my risk. That said...

After listening to the talk on nail salons and the respiratory and neurologic symptoms associated with

 them, I decided to dig a little deeper into the products I put on my 5 year old. I typically use an "insta-dry" product that will dry quickly on a wiggly 5 year old. We are not "girly-girls" in my household, but going to get a pedicure or painting nails at night happens at least monthly. I checked out the Avon product for safety. It ranks "N" for not rated by manufacturer, yet it contains more than 40 chemicals and multiple dyes. I also read a few articles on risks of going to a nail salon. One in US News and World report writes,

 “Basically, they are organic solvents. And organic solvents, in general, have a high potential for two things: carcinogenesis-causing cancer, and in sensitive people, irritation of the airways,” says Norman Edelman​, a pulmonologist, senior medical consultant with the American Lung Association and ​professor at​ Stoneybrook University's School of Medicine. 

These locations may trigger asthma or headaches in children. 

What you can do: Nail salons should avoid using products with the “toxic trio:” toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. ​ Staff should also consider using a respirator when working, as surgical masks only protect from loose particles and make no difference when inhaling toxic fumes.

I also have a new perspective after hearing more about the health concerns related to nail salons. In a NY Times article from 2015, workers are not only at risk for being victims of human trafficking-- cancer, birth defects, endocrine, respiratory and neurological disorders. There is very little protection for them in this industry. Alternatives are available for salons to change products. They can also increase ventilation, require the manicurists to wear appropriate masks, provide frequent breaks and days off. 

I found a fantastic resource in CA to do just that! California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative  is an organization that was founded in 2005 by Asian community health workers who sounded the alarm on the health risks associated with this industry. They have received awards for their comittment to providing worker protection, researching healthier environmental practices, and providing healthcare access for workers. Unfortunately, of the 200 healthy salons listed on their website, San Diego does not yet have one. I would like to see more lobbying for this vulnerable population, and I may have to start my own campaign by boycotting salons that do not follow healthy practices. 

As nurses, we must advocate for communities, not just patients. Empowering ourselves with knowledge, resources and tools to promote health that improves outcomes should be integrated into our daily practice. No matter where we work, this can be done. Knowledge sharing through community outreach, participating in campaigns for healthier policies, representing vulnerable populations at the table in our regions, are all ways we can be advocates for the greater population. My goal as an educator is to empower nurses beyond the bedside to share their passion for health and use EBP to be agents of change.