EPA Designates Forever Chemicals as Hazardous Substances

Synthetic human-made chemicals called PFAS have been rapidly infiltrating many of the world’s vital water supplies, damaging Earth’s environment in the process. These per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are incredibly difficult to break down, often lasting for thousands of years, even contaminating rainfall in certain regions. With increasing knowledge over the last few decades, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to submit an official proposal to classify many of these chemicals as hazardous substances, influencing many additional federal protocols associated with their use and disposal. The decision also comes as new research has been exploring better ways for PFAS management and disposal. 

Many PFAS are common household products like cooking pans, oils, cleaning supplies, and abrasives. PFAS chemicals often produce coatings and products that can repel water, oil, heat, and grease. The chemicals are dangerous because they break down slowly and have been observed leaching into water and soil, leaving trace amounts detectable in the blood of humans and animals. 

Recent studies about the effects of exposure to PFAS suggest earlier assumptions were incredibly limited concerning the risks and knowledge of dangerous exposure levels. Prolonged exposure can result in reproductive complications, heart issues, respiratory disease, cancer, and immunosuppressant responses in communities. PFAS causes various complications as they primarily settle in the body’s blood, kidneys, and liver. These chemicals have been in the commercial market since the 1940s, and previous studies suggest they are present in more than 98 percent of the US population. 

The EPA’s submitted proposal will list at least two of these harmful PFAS as hazardous substances, encouraging effective waste management at facilities that handle these chemicals, with much more likely to be added later. The Federal Drug Administration and many chemical manufacturers have already voluntarily phased out the use of these chemicals, especially in commodities that deal directly with food products. However, the unfortunate reality still suggests more than 70 percent of imported products still contain remnants of older PFAS. Since these chemicals are so slow to break down, they easily contaminate products transported into air, dust, food, ground soil, and water.  

The EPA’s decision to begin managing PFAS use and disposal has had to navigate complicated relationships with the prominent chemical industry leaders, but at the neglect of community and environmental health. Critics of the EPA’s new proposal claim the action is a little too late, without any real repercussions or plans to mitigate the damages from the prolonged incorporation of these harmful chemicals in American communities. The other misfall of the EPA’s new proposal is that it fails to address any future solutions, only acknowledging current problems and only a few harmful PFAS. 

There is little acknowledgment in the proposal to develop plans for future mitigation as these hazardous chemicals continue to leach into the environment and are already waning vital resources of fresh water. Although the proposal may lack future mitigation efforts, chemical scientists have been researching how to dispose of these chemicals effectively, and there may still be some good news. 

Scientists have discovered that effective use of heat in contaminated water can initiate a chemical reaction to break down the strong PFAS bonds, removing them from the water without any remaining byproducts. This new information means water processing plants can effectively remove the harmful PFAS from water without releasing any byproducts into the environment, gradually diminishing their communal effects globally.

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Polarizing Employee Health Risks in America

A new study published by Hinge Health, State of MSK 2022, recently investigated the alarming percentage of American employees experiencing musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and currently seeking treatment. The published study surveyed more than 252 million American citizens, defying the alarming statistic that every 1 in 2 Americans experiences some form of chronic MSK. 

Industries, where employees are constantly exposed to MSK diagnoses include software businesses, utility management, retail, transportation, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and more. The most afflicted industries often require employees to conduct hard manual labor or remain inactive in sedentary positions for long periods of the day.

MSK is commonly observed in full-time employees as back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. These symptoms often accompany the hazards associated with sitting and working at a desk, impacting the employee over long periods. The study also analyzed the economic expenditure on MSK-related inquiries and discovered its national costs have more than doubled over the last decade. The cost to treat MSK is one of the third largest industries in the United States healthcare system, totaling more than $600 billion annually.

The Hinge study also acknowledged that the driving factor behind increasing costs is the undeniable connection between MSK and mental health treatments, as affected employees often use double the average worker’s sick days.  The average worker misses 8.2 days of work, while employees experiencing symptoms of MSK miss up to 13 days annually to deal with their treatment and mental health. The sheer absence of millions of workers for extended durations of time throughout the annual work year alone costs businesses and the greater US economy millions of dollars.

The impacts of MSK are affecting many aspects of employee health and welfare in the United States, as medical costs and health inequities continue to increase. Access to MSK-associated healthcare, medicines, and affordable treatments have continued to drive up prices, far surpassing the economic costs shared by employers to treat other ailments like heart disease ($309 billion), cancer ($243 billion), and diabetes ($188 billion). It is no surprise that medical costs, insurance, and access to treatments have all become a much larger burden on the lower and middle working class of America.

The nuances of MSK and its lack of study have also prevented many employer insurance companies from effectively covering their employee’s risk of MSK exposure and rehabilitation. The lack of understanding has only recently resulted in studies highlighting the close relation to employee mental health and welfare. Chronic pain can often intensify mental challenges resulting in increased anxiety and depression, worsening the MSK symptoms. Many health insurances fail to fill the gap in social and behavioral support needed to recuperate from mental health symptoms associated with the effects of chronic MSK in the workplace. 

Solutions recommended by the Hinge report and other health professionals suggest filling the gaps in coverage by addressing issues with physical recovery, behavioral support, and medical services. Remote care and support are ultimately important in treating the patient’s physical self-care and mental health. With digital accessibility at an all-time high, connecting patients to health professionals is easier than ever, and acquiring the kind of frequent care needed to recover from MSK complications entirely. 

California in the Dark Amidst Environmental Regulations

Californians are sweating, and in the dark as sweeping new environmental regulations, healthcare, and climate change contribute to rolling blackouts across the state. California is home to the world’s fifth-largest economy, boasting a GDP of more than 3.4 trillion USD. The state is occupied by more than 39 million people and accommodates more than 213 million people annually. 

This state has had its fair share of financial difficulties accommodating such large population sizes as global climate change continues to increase environmental pressures on the region’s resource accessibility. Many of California’s largest cities have suffered ongoing climate changes that have reduced accessible water, energy, and moderate temperatures. The majority of California’s resources are delegated to the densely populated lower two-thirds of the state, where problems were initially acknowledged more than 100 years ago when people started mass settling in the early 1900s. 

Sweeping environmental and renewable energy reforms over the last decade have put the state in a place where it can supply most of its energy needs with solar power during the day. However, the energy storage from the solar sources is insufficient to supply the large demographic at night and in the summer, leading to rolling blackouts and intermittent periods of energy shortages. These unfortunate events often happen during the summer when extremely high temperatures in the state's southern portion exacerbate high energy usage, often fueling high taxing air conditioning units in both the private and public sectors. 

The lack of adequate energy resources and continued climate change increasing environmental pressures on the region have forced lawmakers like California governor Gavin Newsom to sign bills facilitating the implementation of fossil fuel subsidies. The fossil fuel legislation contradicts many of the environmental principles California is slowly shifting toward as they move toward a green economy. The governor argues that the state’s use of fossil fuels is necessary and unavoidable as the current renewable sources do not have the facilities to accommodate the state’s needs effectively. He told reporters that these fossil fuel bills are simply buying time for the state’s residents until additional renewable storage facilities can be produced.

Proponents on the fossil fuel side of the debate argue that the governor’s new legislation proves the state needs to utilize already established oil and gas industries instead of completely switching prematurely to renewables before the industry is fully developed. Energy shortages can be extremely detrimental and even deadly, especially with summer temperatures often exceeding more than 86 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Environmental groups have also criticized the state’s decisions explaining there would have been adequate renewable storage facilities available in the state had moved faster to establish the industry amidst earlier concerns and initial environmental legislation. Many environmentalists also argue the new bills lack clearly observed limits to prevent fossil fuel expansion across the state, and reduced regulations on industry leader’s development protocols can significantly impact local environments. 

Building an electrical infrastructure will be an environmentally safe and effective method for reducing fossil fuel use. California is among the first states to lead the movement and the system’s complex logistical problems. There are many sides to the debate, but the current industry is not supplying enough energy for California residents and businesses. 

The Dangers of Public Wildlife Interactions in National Parks

National park officials and wildlife managers each year stress the importance of maintaining a safe distance from wildlife. Summer traffic causes wildlife encounters to be at an all-time high. Most wildlife encounters occur during the summer between May and September as more than 100 million visitors enter national parks across the United States. These parks host wildlife that can threaten human life, including snakes, mountain lions, moose, bison, bears, and wolves. Wildlife interactions only become dangerous when visitors disregard safety measures put in place by park officials, often getting too close while taking pictures for social media.

Many of these animals will only attack if someone invades their personal space. Far inside what national park officials recommend for safe viewing, a 25-year-old woman was gored to death by a bison in Yellowstone National Park after approaching the animal within less than 10 feet. The park officials stated the woman and two others were threatening the animal by coming within 25 feet, causing it to respond by stampeding and goring her to death. Witnesses stated the woman was tossed more than 10 feet into the air, while the two other people who also approached the animal escaped. 

The tragic encounter prompted officials to restate their recommended boundaries when encountering wildlife in hopes of preventing further interactions this season. Yellowstone officials recommend visitors stay at least 25 yards away when interacting with large animals like bison, deer, bighorn sheep, and elk. When interacting with predatory animals, they recommend maintaining more than 100 yards if possible to avoid deadly encounters with bears, wolves, and mountain lions.

The bison in Yellowstone park have injured more people than any other animal as they stand more than 6 feet tall, weigh more than 2,000 pounds, and can easily run three times faster than a human. They often graze in highly trafficked areas near roads and buildings, leading to more frequent close encounters than other types of wildlife—the bison population numbers more than 20,000 across the United States National Parks. High population densities in some parks have posed challenges for effectively managing human interactions, leading to proponents advocating for population control in certain park areas. 

Dangerous wildlife encounters occur every year in the national parks. Recent wildlife encounters this season have caused the same concerns as many national parks across the United States have begun enforcing daily reservations and timed entry tickets. Reservation implementation originated from efforts to limit the spread of covid amongst park visitors. Park officials are investigating all efforts to keep people safe and continue managing their wildlife.

Here are three safety tips to keep in mind if you venture out into the wilderness this summer. 

1. Do not feed the animals because this could lead to incitement resulting in small bites from even the smallest animals to an all-out predatory attack.

2. Do not pet or approach wild animals as they can be unpredictable and easily provoked.

3. Report close animal encounters to park officials so they can be attentive and monitor the animal's behavior. 

Monkeypox Silently Spreading Around the World

Officials are on high alert as monkeypox outbreaks continue to appear in various parts of the world. These new cases are particularly alarming because of the high transmissibility, and amidst the ongoing covid-19 pandemic still crippling many parts of global society. 

The Monkeypox virus is historically localized to western and central regions in Africa, but scientists think they have traced the current spread to an outbreak in 2017. The World Health Organization has recorded 643 cases in more than a dozen countries. The rapid outbreaks suggest the disease may have undetected transmission, allowing it to spread and appear simultaneously in different locations. The 2017 outbreak resulted in clusters of cases in Singapore, Africa, Israel, and the UK.

Other experts disagree with initial findings stating we do not know how long this virus has spread. Initially, it was thought the disease spread from direct contact with an infected animal like a rodent; however, reports now suggest there are sustained transmission events between humans and back to animals. The rapid transmission between humans and animals contributes to the inconclusive of the outbreak’s origins. If outbreaks continue expanding, it is likely to be transferred from humans into other wildlife populations outside infected regions, resulting in additional undetectable transmissions to larger global populations. 

Most historical breakouts of monkeypox ended after a short period of transmission between humans, while recent cases in new places and populations are cause for concern. The former 2017 cluster was prevalent in men and appeared as lesions on genitalia transmitted through sexual contact. The current outbreak appears as lesions on various parts of the body, and the sexual transmissibility of the disease is inconclusive and not fully understood. This virus is similar to smallpox but much less deadly with treatment. Poverty-stricken areas may experience higher rates of complications resulting in deaths due to the lack of accessible resources. 

The US Centers for Disease Control continues to monitor its spread because it is too early to understand its origins or long-term impacts fully. The response may escalate if it evolves into a human-born pathogen spreading directly to the immunocompromised, young, and elderly, where it will cause the most severe damage. Still, many people following the news coverage and disease investigations feel the stress, as daily life has only recently returned to a sense of normalcy.

If the covid-19 pandemic proved one thing, the world is poorly prepared to deal with any global disease outbreak. Humans have few options to prevent widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases effectively. Officials not wanting a repeat of the global pandemic over the last two years are approaching these cautionary cases with the utmost urgency and attempting to instill measures to prevent another global catastrophe.