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Could gas flaring from Woodfibre LNG pose a health threat to Squamish residents?

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Monday, November 25, 2024

As construction begins on the Woodfibre LNG facility in Squamish, B.C., residents are worried about air pollution and health impacts from flaring — the process of burning off excess gas. Missing environmental assessment data doesn’t quell their fears

As construction begins on the Woodfibre LNG facility in Squamish, B.C., residents are worried about air pollution and health impacts from flaring — the process of burning off excess gas. Missing environmental assessment data doesn’t quell their fears

As construction begins on the Woodfibre LNG facility in Squamish, B.C., residents are worried about air pollution and health impacts from flaring — the process of burning off excess gas. Missing environmental assessment data doesn’t quell their fears
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Scientists identify potential link between wildfire smoke exposure and dementia diagnoses

Exposure to the tiny pollutants emitted by wildfires may be increasing the older adult population’s odds of dementia diagnosis, a new study has found. Among more than 1.2 million people tracked over a decade in Southern California, each microgram-per-cubic-meter rise in wildfire-borne particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure was associated with an 18 percent increase in...

Exposure to the tiny pollutants emitted by wildfires may be increasing the older adult population’s odds of dementia diagnosis, a new study has found. Among more than 1.2 million people tracked over a decade in Southern California, each microgram-per-cubic-meter rise in wildfire-borne particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure was associated with an 18 percent increase in the odds of dementia diagnosis.  Prior research has already suggested that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 — fine particles present in the emissions of fossil fuel combustion — is associated with incident dementia: the first visit in which a patient receives a clinical diagnosis of this condition. But the study authors sought to explore the specific links between both long-term wildfire and non-wildfire PM 2.5 exposure with incident dementia among older adults, as wildfire events become more intense and frequent in the U.S. and around the world.  To do so, the scientists explored the electronic health records of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members aged 60 years and older, from January 2008 to December 2019. They calculated exposure levels by looking at three-year rolling mean wildfire and non-wildfire PM 2.5 levels in member census tracts before and during the study period. This data, they explained, is updated quarterly and compiled through monitoring, remote-sensing data and statistical tools. Of the total 1.2 million individuals deemed eligible for the study, nearly 81,000 Kaiser Permanente members — or 6.6 percent — received dementia diagnoses during follow-up clinical visits. The scientists determined that for every microgram-per-cubic meter increase in the three-year mean concentration of wildfire-borne PM 2.5, eligible members endured an 18 percent surge in their risk of dementia diagnosis. In comparison, for every microgram-per-cubic meter rise in non-wildfire PM 2.5 — fine particulate pollution from other sources, such as fossil fuel production or transportation — participants only show a 1 percent increase in odds. Analyzing these differences, the authors said that the results were in keeping with existing theories "suggesting unique toxic neurologic effects of wildfire PM 2.5." Particles emitted by wildfires, they explained, are produced by the combustion of organic materials at much higher temperatures and also contain higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory compounds. While the scientists found that wildfire PM 2.5 exposure was only associated with increased dementia diagnosis in individuals younger than 75, they noted that members over the age of 75 may be spending less time outdoors. In addition, they hypothesized that patients most susceptible to wildfire PM 2.5 exposure may have died sooner and were therefore not present in the study pool. As far as differences in race, ethnicity and poverty factors were concerned, the researchers noted that "in the U.S., environmental exposures disproportionately impact racially and economically marginalized groups." "Lower-quality housing may increase smoke infiltration, and poorer families may have constrained economic choices that limit their ability to pay for air filtration systems to improve air quality during smoke events," the authors stated. Members of such groups also may endure more intense physiological responses to environmental exposures and have worse baseline health — conditions that the authors attributed to "the cumulative result of discrimination and chronic exposure to psychosocial stressors."

Health
Pollution
Transportation

Wildfire Smoke Exposure Linked to Dementia Risk

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Nov. 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- People in Southern California with relatively high exposures to...

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Nov. 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- People in Southern California with relatively high exposures to wildfire smoke over a decade also had significantly higher risks for dementia, a new study warns.In fact, the fine-particle pollution created by these fires seems more closely tied to brain trouble than similar pollutants from factories and car exhaust, the researchers noted.Over the long-term, every one-microgram-per-square-meter increase of wildfire-generated air pollution "was associated with an 18% increase in the odds of dementia diagnosis," concluded a team led by Joan Casey. She's an associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.The new study looked at health data on more than 1.2 million members of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system. Participants were tracked for the years 2008 through 2019.Casey's team correlated changes in each member's neurological health against exposures to local wildfires. These blazes have been on the rise in southern California in recent years due to climate change.Investigators looked specifically at an airborne pollutant called PM 2.5. It's a product of combustion that's so tiny it can permeate deep into the lungs, and is even thought able to cross the protective brain-blood barrier.Studies on PM 2.5 generated by industry or motor vehicles have long shown it to be "associated with incident dementia," the researchers noted.Would PM 2.5 generated by wildfires be any different?According to the study results, it could be much more harmful to the brain than other forms of PM 2.5.While long-term high exposure to wildfire particulate matter upped the odds of dementia by 18%, similar exposures to PM 2.5 generated by other source upped people's risk by just 1%, the researchers calculated.Of the more than 1.2 million Californians covered by the study, certain groups seemed to be at particular risk.People who were younger than 75 when they entered the study appeared more prone to smoke-linked brain harm compared to older people, and folks living in poorer areas also faced higher risk for dementia linked to wildfire smoke.Why would poverty make a difference?As the researchers explained, people are advised to stay indoors whenever wildfire smoke clouds the air, but poorer families may have "lower-quality housing [that] may increase smoke infiltration." They may also be unable to afford pricey air-filtering devices, Casey's team said.Poverty and race are often interconnected, so the finding that the link between wildfire smoke and dementia was stronger among Black and Hispanic participants, compared to whites, was not surprising, the study authors added.Because of hotter, drier conditions brought on by climate change, "wildfires, once rare and geographicaly confined, now regularly impact populations across the US," Casey's team noted.Helping to prevent these fires and beter shield residents from smoke when they do occur, "may reduce dementia diagnoses" in years to come, they believe.The study was published Nov. 25 in the journal JAMA Neurology.SOURCE: JAMA Neurology, Nov. 25, 2024Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Health
Climate
Science

E.P.A. Proposes Limits on Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides, a group of gases from the burning of fossil fuels, is linked to a range of health effects.

A rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday could better protect communities against pollution from natural gas plants.For the first time in almost two decades, the rule would update emission limits of nitrogen oxides, a group of gases that are harmful air pollutants produced from burning fossil fuels. The emissions can contribute to asthma and respiratory infections, especially in children, older people and those who are immunocompromised.“These stronger standards are necessary to better protect nearby communities’ health, and the power sector has already shown that the additional pollution controls can affordably and reliably do the job,” said Joseph Goffman, the E.P.A.’s assistant administrator for air and radiation, in a statement.The proposal was created to limit nitrogen oxide emissions from all new turbines built at power plants and industrial facilities, along with any existing turbines that are modified or reconstructed after the proposal takes effect.The stricter standards could also lead to reductions in other types of pollution, like particulate matter and ozone, by lowering the amount available to react with other volatile organic compounds.“Ultimately, the healthiest option for families across the nation is for power plants to stop burning fossil fuels altogether and for utilities to invest in clean and reliable renewable energy,” said Holly Bender, the Sierra Club’s chief energy officer, in a statement.Despite advancements in pollution control technology and an increased understanding of how nitrogen oxide harms human health, limits on the amount of nitrogen oxide that can be released have not been updated since 2006.While the Clean Air Act requires the E.P.A. to review protections against air pollution from power plants every eight years, the nitrogen oxide limits lagged for 18 years. The new standard is the result of a 2022 lawsuit brought by the Environmental Defense Fund and the Sierra Club that requires the E.P.A. to take a final action on new limits by November 2025, following a public comment period.The fate of the proposed standard is uncertain after January, when the Trump administration takes over.“It should not go without noting that the incoming Trump administration has repeatedly vowed to slash rules and regulations issued by agencies across the government,” said Julie McNamara, deputy policy director for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement.The E.P.A. estimates the proposed standard would reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 2,600 tons by 2032, producing roughly $45 million in public health benefits each year.

Health
Climate
Government

Eating less sugar would be great for the planet as well as our health

"Globally, sugar intake has quadrupled over the last 60 years . . ."

Sugar addiction is on the rise. Globally, sugar intake has quadrupled over the last 60 years, and it now makes up around 8% of all our calories. This sounds like sugar's keeping us fed, but added sugars are actually empty calories – they are bereft of any nutrients like vitamins or fibers. The result is massive health costs, with sugars linked to obesity around the world. Some estimates suggest that half the global population could be obese by 2035. A limited 20% reduction in sugar is estimated to save US$10.3 billion (£8.1 billion) of health costs in the US alone. Yet, sugar's impacts go far beyond just health and money. There are also many environmental problems from growing the sugar, like habitat and biodiversity loss and water pollution from fertilizers and mills. But overall, sugar hasn't received a lot of attention from the scientific community despite being the largest cultivated crop by mass on the planet. In a recent article, we evaluated sugar's environmental impacts and explored avenues for reducing sugar in the diet to recommended levels either through reducing production or using the saved sugar in environmentally beneficial ways. By phasing out sugar, we could spare land that could be rewilded and stock up on carbon. This is especially important in biodiverse tropical regions where sugar production is concentrated such as Brazil and India. But a different, more politically palatable option might be redirecting sugar away from diets to other environmentally-beneficial uses such as bioplastics or biofuels. Our study shows that the biggest opportunity is using sugar to feed microbes that make protein. Using saved sugar for this microbial protein could produce enough plant-based, protein-rich food products to regularly feed 521 million people. And if this replaced animal protein it could also have huge emission and water benefits. We estimate that if this protein replaced chicken, it could reduce emissions by almost 250 million tons, and we'd see even bigger savings for replacing beef (for reference, the UK's national fossil fuel emissions are around 300 million tons). Given sugar has a far lower climate impact than meat, this makes a lot of sense. Another alternative is to use the redirected sugar to produce bioplastics, which would replace around 20% of the total market for polyethelyne, one of the most common forms of plastic and used to produce anything from packaging to pipes. Or to produce biofuels, producing around 198 million barrels of ethanol for transportation. Brazil already produces around 85% of the world's ethanol and they produce it from sugar, but instead of having to grow more sugar for ethanol we could redirect the sugar from diets instead. This estimation is based on a world where we reduce dietary sugar to the maximum in dietary recommendations (5% of daily calories). The benefits would be even larger if we reduced sugar consumption even further. Supply chain challenges This sounds like a big win-win: cut sugar to reduce obesity and help the environment. But these changes present a huge challenge in a sugar supply chain spanning more than 100 countries and the millions of people that depend on sugar's income. National policies like sugar taxes are vital, but having international coordination is also important in such a sprawling supply chain. Sustainable agriculture is being discussed at the UN's climate summit, Cop29, in Azerbaijan this week. Sustainable sugar production should factor into these global talks given the many environmental problems and opportunities from changing the way we grow and consume sugar. We also suggest that groups of countries could come together in sugar transition partnerships between producers and consumers that encourage a diversion of sugar away from peoples' diets to more beneficial uses. This could be coordinated by the World Health Organization which has called for a reduction in sugar consumption. Some of the money to fund these efforts could even come from part of the health savings in national budgets. We can't hope to transition the way we produce and eat sugar overnight. But by exploring other uses of sugar, we can highlight what environmental benefits we are missing out on and help policymakers map a resource-efficient path forward to the industry while improving public health.   Don't have time to read about climate change as much as you'd like? Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation's environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who've subscribed so far. Paul Behrens, British Academy Global Professor, Future of Food, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford and Alon Shepon, Principal Investigator, Department of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Health
Agriculture
Climate

CDC warns cruise passengers of hot tub disease outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has alerted cruise-goers of the dangers of hot tub usage on ships. The post CDC warns cruise passengers of hot tub disease outbreak appeared first on SA People.

CDC issues warning of hot tub-caused Legionnaires’ Disease The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a health warning following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease among passengers who had been on cruises.  As reported by Travel News, the CDC found that a number of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease were connected by an unnamed cruise ship, between November 2022 and April 2024 of this year. Private outdoor hot tubs on the balconies of two cruise ships were pinpointed as the source of the bacteria for multiple infections between the period, as stated in a report last month from the CDC. “Epidemiologic, environmental and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease among cruise ship passengers,” the CDC said in the report.   “These devices are subject to less stringent operating requirements than public hot tubs, and operating protocols were insufficient to prevent Legionella growth.” they added. What is Legionnaires’ Disease? According to Cleveland Clinic: “Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia you get when Legionella bacteria infect your lungs. Symptoms include high fever, cough, diarrhea and confusion. You can get Legionnaires’ disease from water or cooling systems in large buildings, like hospitals or hotels.” Legionella is found naturally in lakes, streams and soil, but it can also contaminate drinking water and air systems, especially in large buildings. You can breathe small droplets of water directly into your lungs, or water in your mouth can get into your lungs accidentally You also have an increased risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease if you: Are older than 50. Smoke or used to smoke cigarettes. Have a weakened immune system. Certain medical conditions (like HIV, diabetes, cancer and kidney or liver disease) and medications can compromise your immune system. Have a long-term respiratory illness, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema. Live in a long-term care facility. Have stayed in a hospital recently. Have had surgery requiring anesthesia recently. Have received an organ transplant recently. The post CDC warns cruise passengers of hot tub disease outbreak appeared first on SA People.

Health
Water

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Allergy Alert: Paranoia in Our Immune System

From peanuts and pollen to cats and dust mites, allergy rates are soaring dramatically all over the globe, with inoffensive substances triggering life-threatening physical responses. Experts are predicting that by 2050, one in two will suffer from an allergy. Why are our immune systems overreacting in this way? To stem the tide of the epidemic, scientists are investigating the interface between genetics, environmental factors and our modern lifestyle, and developing revolutionary new approaches to prevention and treatment.

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We Are Nature

We made this short film under lockdown conditions throughout the pandemic of Covid-19. The film argues that policies are not enough to prevent a future outbreak. We need a paradigm shift in how we view nature and the rest of life on this planet. The film was made remotely via zoom, a fact made clear in the style of the film. Our speakers appear on screens, which we filmed from inside our homes. Each speaker offers a different perspective on the origins of the pandemic in the ways we see and value nature. If humans can’t escape their connection to the natural world, it’s time for a better one. The health of us and the planet depends on it.

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STOPPING THE NEXT PANDEMIC

Stopping the next pandemic is a new challenge to the most prominent scientists. Their field studies around the world are showing that our health as humans depends on animal and environmental health. Diseases that occur in the remotest places are now our concern. We live in a connected world. We will have to preserve the environment to prevent future pandemics.

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The Connection Between Bats and Coronavirus: Wildlife is not to blame

What exactly is the connection between bats and coronavirus? And how has sheltering-in-place disrupted field research in California and beyond? State and local governments have set restrictions on bat research and rescue in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Winifred Frick, chief scientist of Bat Conservation International, describes how the new restrictions have affected conservation efforts.

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Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields

Combat veterans from the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan find a new mission and personal healing with new careers as organic farmers and ranchers.

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