Category: Health

Earth Day, A Call to Action for Our Planet

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Blue Marble 2000. Credit: NASA, Image created by Reto Stockli with the help of Alan Nelson, under the leadership of Fritz Hasler. CC 2.0.

Earth Day, observed on April 22, is a global movement focused on protecting our planet. This year, as the collective acknowledgment of environmental degradation’s profound impact, we are also presented with an opportunity to champion a cause that could significantly alter the course of our environmental future—the Global Plastics Treaty.

Origins & Significance of Earth Day

Earth Day first emerged in 1970, initiated by Senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing the catastrophic effects of an oil spill in Santa Barbara. The first Earth Day mobilized 20 million Americans and led to the creation of significant environmental policies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Today, Earth Day engages millions of people worldwide in activities aimed at preserving our planet, underscoring the power of collective action in tackling global challenges.

Why Earth Day Matters

Earth Day is crucial for several reasons:

  • Environmental Education: It raises awareness about pressing environmental issues and promotes sustainable practices.
  • Global Solidarity: Earth Day unites people across the globe, emphasizing that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility.
  • Action and Advocacy: The day inspires individuals and organizations to engage in activities that protect the environment, from local clean-ups to global initiatives.

Earth Day 2024: End Plastic Pollution

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is the urgent need to combat plastic pollution. Plastics, particularly single-use plastics, are a severe threat to the environment, filling our oceans, killing wildlife, and disrupting ecosystems. The focus is on reducing plastic production by 60% by 2040 and eliminating single-use plastics by 2030.

The Urgent Call for the Global Plastics Treaty

In conjunction with Earth Day’s efforts, there is a significant push for the Global Plastics Treaty, a comprehensive international agreement aimed at tackling plastic pollution globally. With over 14,905 signatures, this petition calls on the United Nations and government organizations to adopt stringent measures against plastic pollution, including:

  • Reducing fossil fuel-based plastic production by 60% by 2040.
  • Holding producers accountable for environmental and health-related damages.
  • Banning plastic waste exports and incineration.
  • Promoting innovation in alternatives to plastic.

If we do not change our current habits, we will see a rise in hormonal diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular damage linked to the production and consumption of plastics. However, this bleak future is not inevitable; we have the ability to redirect our path and avoid this looming crisis.

How You Can Help

This Earth Day, let your actions speak louder than words:

  • Sign the Global Plastics Treaty Petition: Join the global movement to push for a binding international agreement that addresses plastic pollution head-on.
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Make personal changes to minimize your plastic usage.
  • Participate in Community Actions: Engage in local Earth Day events that focus on cleaning up and reducing plastics and help spread the word.

Final Thoughts

Celebrating Earth Day means committing to protect our planet continuously. By supporting initiatives like the Global Plastics Treaty, we can take significant steps towards a sustainable future free from plastic pollution. This Earth Day, let’s not just celebrate our planet; let’s take concrete steps to save it. Together, we can make a difference, but only if we act now. Join the movement, sign the treaty, and be part of the solution. We have the power to change our environmental destiny and ensure a healthier planet for future generations.

Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all living creatures.

—Gaylord Nelson

The Real Cost of Fossil Fuels on Our Health

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Pump-jack
Pump-jack mining crude oil with the sunset. Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash.

Fossil-Fuel Pollution and Its Dire Impact on Global Health

Let’s talk about how burning fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and gas, isn’t just bad for the planet—they are harmful to our health too, particularly through the production of petrochemicals that are foundational to many industrial and everyday products. When we talk about climate change, we’re also talking about something that directly touches our lives, through the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the products we use every day. Drawing directly from the insights from the New England Journal of Medicine‘s review article, “Health Effects of Fossil Fuel–Derived Endocrine Disruptors” by Dr. Tracey J. Woodruff, it’s evident that the adverse health impacts of fossil-fuel pollution include harmful health implications, including cancer.

Global Impact of Pollution on Health

Did you know that pollution from chemicals is a top reason people are dying prematurely, especially in poorer countries? Most of these deaths come from places that can least afford to deal with these problems. Pollution disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, with over 90% of pollution-related deaths occurring in these regions. Experts think over 1.8 million people die each year because of this pollution, and that number might even be too low since we don’t know the full effects of all the chemicals due to the lack of comprehensive studies.

Growing Concern of Petrochemical-Related Illnesses

A big chunk of this problem comes from fossil fuels. When we dig them up and use them, they release a bunch of nasty chemicals. Many of these chemicals interfere with the endocrine system, acting as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Some of these chemicals mess with our hormones, leading to all sorts of health issues, from cancer to problems having babies. It’s a big deal because these chemicals are in so many things around us—from the plastic in toys and bottles to the makeup we might wear to pesticides on our fruits and vegetables.

Over the last seventy years or so, as we’ve used more fossil fuels and made more stuff from petrochemicals, we’ve seen more people getting sick with long-term illnesses. And it’s not just happening in one place but all over the world. This trend underscores the critical need for awareness and action to mitigate the health risks associated with petrochemical exposure.

Cancer and Petrochemical Exposure

Cancer is a big focus here. It’s heartbreaking how common it has become, and part of the blame lies with the chemicals that come from using fossil fuels. Substances like benzene, found in crude oil and gasoline, and formaldehyde, a byproduct of natural gas combustion, have been classified as carcinogens with strong links to leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer, respectively. These and other chemicals, pervasive in our environment and daily lives, are not passive occupants. They sneak into our bodies and mess with the way our cells work, leading to diseases like cancer. You might not even know you’re being exposed to them until it’s too late.

Pervasive Problem of Plastics

Moreover, the production and widespread use of plastics, a hallmark of petrochemical derivatives, contribute to the dispersion of these harmful substances into the environment, food chains, and ultimately, our bodies. Phthalates and bisphenols, used to make plastics softer and more durable, have been under scrutiny for their estrogen-like effects, which can potentially lead to breast and other hormone-related cancers.

Taking Action Against Petrochemical Pollution

So, what can we do? For starters, we need to be mindful of our exposure to these chemicals. But that’s not enough. We need big changes, like laws and policies, to make our environment cleaner and safer for everyone. And we’ve got to think about the future and shift towards sustainable and renewable energy sources.

To wrap it up, the damage from fossil fuels to our health is huge, and it’s something we can’t ignore. It’s time for all of us to pay attention, push for change, and take steps toward a world where we’re not risking our health just by living in it. Together, we can fight for a healthier, cleaner future.

Despite shrinking ‘Dead Zone’, Gulf Coast grapples with massive fish die-off

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A shrimp boat trawls for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)
A shrimp boat trawls for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)

NOAA anticipated a remarkably smaller ‘Dead Zone’ in Gulf of Mexico this summer

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, an oxygen-deprived area spanning about 4,155 square miles that can prove lethal to marine life. This estimate, while significant, is lower than the 36-year average of 5,364 square miles. The dead zone occurs annually due to excessive nutrient pollution from human activities within the Mississippi River watershed.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) tracks key factors such as river discharge and nutrient loading, which contribute to the dead zone. In May 2023, there was a 33% decrease in river discharge, a 42% decrease in nitrate, and a 5% decrease in phosphorus levels compared to the long-term averages from 1980 to 2022. These nutrients instigate an algal bloom that, upon death and decay, depletes water oxygen levels, endangering marine life, especially bottom-dwelling species.

NOAA’s hypoxia forecasts are designed to help coastal managers and stakeholders proactively mitigate the impacts of hypoxia. The data also inform nutrient reduction targets aimed at curbing future dead zones. The Interagency Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force aims to reduce the dead zone to 1,900 square miles by 2035.

Despite smaller ‘Dead Zone’, thousands of fish perish on Texas Gulf Coast

The New York Times along with several other media outlets reported that on Friday, tens of thousands of fish started washing ashore along the Texas Gulf Coast due to a combination of environmental conditions that depleted oxygen levels in the warm waters. The incident was described as a “perfect storm” of poor conditions by Bryan Frazier, the director of Brazoria County Parks Department. Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water, and the calm, cloudy weather obstructed the usual ways oxygen is infused into ocean water. The fish are thought to have been trapped in shallow, warm water where the oxygen supply diminished.

Experts suggest that climate change could be contributing to such incidents as warmer waters become more common. Katie St. Clair, the sea life facility manager at Texas A&M University at Galveston, said that rising water temperatures could lead to more such events, especially in shallow, near-shore environments.

Frazier noted that these fish kills are not uncommon during warmer periods and predicted local water conditions would improve as ocean waves reintroduce oxygen and fish leave low-oxygen areas. However, the United Nations reported in 2019 that warmer ocean waters have increased incidences of hypoxia (low oxygen levels), posing threats to fish populations.

The fish kill could significantly impact the environment as the dead fish, primarily Gulf menhaden, play a crucial role in the local ecosystem. Clean-up operations are ongoing to prevent the dead fish from rotting in the midday heat.