Nutrition labels

I was taught how to read nutrition labels at a very young age. Not because my parents wanted me to know what percentage of nutrients my food contained, but because of my food allergies to peanuts and various other nut products. Knowing how to find different ingredients, on a food label, has actually saved my life on a few occasions. Reading nutrition labels has carried over to my adult years and I read them now to figure out what healthy and unhealthy ingredients my food contains. This gives me satisfaction knowing how to read them and knowing what percentage of different food groups I should be consuming. I know that many people feel intimidated by looking at the back of common food products because they don't know what exactly each ingredient is and how much of it they should be eating. I wanted to include a link to an FDA website that does a good job at breaking down a nutrition labels and how to read it. I hope this helps those that might not feel comfortable looking at these labels.

http://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/labelingnutrition/ucm274593.htm

Impact of Westernization on Developing Countries, an Environmental Focus

Unfair Trade Policies

Agriculture is often the economic driving force in developing countries and agricultural trade pits wealthy countries against poor countries, with policies affecting not only the health of developing countries, but their economic stability as well. 

Harrison Amukoyi, a local farmer in western Kenya, raises one dairy cow and several crops on two acres of land perched on a hillside. To sell milk, Mr. Amukoyi and his neighbors must compete with wealthy industrialized countries that offload their (cheaper) 

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subsidized milk on local markets, depressing the profits for Kenyan farmers. This unfair conflict happens throughout the developing world, further propelling impoverished conditions (Diao, et al., 2003). According to International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), protectionism (an economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, designed to encourage fair competition) and subsidies received by industrialized nations cost developing countries approximately US $24 billion annually in lost agricultural business. China, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand and India suffer the largest losses due to agricultural policies in developed countries, ranging from US $1.1 billion in India to about US $2.3 billion in China (Diao, et al., 2003). Of particular consequence is the “multiplier effect,” which economists named for the flow of jobs being lost in agriculture, spilling over to other job sectors. Not only are farmers affected by agriculture policies, but the jobs of people who rely on the farms are as well. In the above figure, cotton is "white gold" for families of Burkina Faso and the only cash crop from which they make their living. Increased competition globally has caused declining prices while the cost of inputs are rising and yields are decreasing. In other countries, yields are increasing, causing a productivity gap. 

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Responsibility for agricultural policies in developing countries lies in the European Union (EU), the United States and high-income countries in Asia, with more than half of the blame for total displacement falling on EU countries. In 2001 the U.S. government spent $3.4 billion to subsidize cotton, harming not only the cotton producing farms in Africa but U.S. taxpayers as well. People who reside in the rural areas tend to spend a majority of their income on food. Agricultural security is prominent, with cheaper imports increasing the amount people pay for food due to privately collected taxes that benefit primarily large-scale producers in industrialized nations, further eliminating production potential for local farmers.  Relieving countries of the overproduction of agricultural goods lies in decreasing reliance on industrialization and implementing neutral trade policies. Greater focus is needed on health investments, education, agricultural research, road development and land reform, access to clean water, improved communications, non-farm enterprises, and farmers’ organizations, as well as other forms of social capital for those marginalized and vulnerable (Diao, et al., 2003). 

The Cost of Industrialization

There is nothing quite like taking a long, deep breath of air. It would likely be less enjoyable if the air being inhaled contained sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, or other emitted pollutants. Yet this is the case for people in developing countries, who are facing very real environmental health repercussions as industrialization threatens the quality of air and water, releasing pollutants and hazardous waste byproducts. 

Environmental standards and regulations are practically nonexistent in developing countries, making them cheap and available dumping sites for wealthier developed nations. 

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This means that developing countries face inordinately greater challenges from hazardous industry and technology pollution shipped and transferred from developed countries because of relaxed environmental legislation. Small townships and rural areas become burdened with serious air and water pollution problems because of the lack of knowledge and resources. 

In a case study of air pollution effects on the health of 480 primary school children in Cubatao, Brazil- where large quantities of mixed pollutants were released from 23 industries, (steel mill, chemical industries, cement factory, fertilizer plants, etc.)- 55.3% of the children had decreased pulmonary functioning (Shiru, 2011). Though factories are providing jobs, highly toxic emissions and accidental releases of toxicants into the atmosphere are resulting in serious health risks for people in developing countries due to inadequate safety procedures and planning, lack of skilled technicians to maintain the facilities and difficulty in obtaining parts (Shiru, 2011).


Not So Eco-friendly E-Waste

All over the world printers, scanners and cell phones are being discarded as common trash without regard for the hazardous metals and toxins they contain. Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, is the fastest growing stream of municipal solid waste (MSW), but how it is disposed of is a serious concern. It is estimated that 20-50 million tons of e-waste are generated annually worldwide, ranging from cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions, desktops, laptops, computer monitors, liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, cell phones, keyboards, computer mice, printers and copiers. 

Due to a lack of environmental regulation and protection laws for workers, toxicants in e-waste cause air, dust, soil, and water contamination. Recycling activities allow gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron and tin to be recovered at a profit; however, the dismantling process can involve cutting, heating, burning and acid leaching which expose workers and residents in small town and village workshops to dangerous mixtures of pollutants and metals (Chen, et al., 2011). Electronic waste materials contain heavy metals, lead, mercury, cadmium and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which, when disposed of or recycled inappropriately or irresponsibly, can lead to severe health issues and developmental neurotoxicity.

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Children living in communities or villages in close proximity to e-waste dumping and processing sites are at particularly high risk of exposure, as they are at critical stages of neuronal growth. Recognized adverse effects include impaired cognitive function, behavioral disturbances, attention deficits, hyperactivity and conduct problems (as qtd. in Chen, et al., 2011). 

Many of the countries affected are within Asia. Taizhou, China has two e-waste sites containing high levels of PBDEs—a group of brominated flame-retardants used in electronic products to reduce flammability, and correlated with thyroid hormone disruption and memory impairment. Also, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have been banned in product use since 1970, are known to affect neuropsychological functions in children, including cognition, visual-spatial function, memory, attention, and motor function (Chen et al., 2011). Pregnant women and nursing mothers are at higher risk if they grew up in recycling sites because their history of exposure is longer. Exposure to e-waste toxicants lasts a long time, therefore the cognitive and neurodevelopmental consequences are rarely temporary, particularly when a child is born and raised in or near an e-waste site. Wildlife is also affected by e-waste; in bodies of water methylmecury (MeHg) may occur in organic and inorganic forms and is the primary route of exposure in the general population. E-waste has emerged as a global environmental health issue and with few organizations tackling e-waste handling or using preventive measures to ensure it is discarded properly, much more research is needed. 


Toxic Stew in India

While most of us in the United States have access to clean drinking and bathing water, people in other parts of the world do not. In India, people are living with polluted water and soil due to all the industry that has come to the country from the developed world. The relaxed enforcement of pollution control has made it possible for these industries to dump their waste into the water supply rather than treating it first. 

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A prime example of what is getting dumped into the waterways is from the tannery industry. It is reported that in Hazaribagh, a city and municipality in the Indian state of Jharkhand, that tanneries dump an estimated 21,600 cubic meters of pollutants into the water system every day. In Hazaribagh alone, it is estimated that there are 150 tanneries ranging in size, employing anywhere from 8000 to 12,000 people (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Water pollutants comprise animal fats, hair and flesh, and contain hazardous chemicals such as sulfur, chromium, ammonium and other chemicals (Human Rights Watch, 2012). A study was done in 1997 that compared self-reported health problems in 112 households in Hazaribagh with those from 100 households in a neighboring community.

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The residents from Hazaribagh reported 31% more cases of skin diseases, 21% more cases of jaundice, 17% more cases of kidney-related disease, 15% more cases of diarrhea, and 10% more cases of fever than that of other neighborhoods (Human Rights Watch, 2012). The industrial pollution of Hazaribaghs's air, water and soil is causing illness among local residents and though there is public awareness, it hasn't led to any significant changes. 

Collaborative Efforts by PHE Group FourPlusOne: 

Danielle Ali-Cassim, Laurie Kerridge,  Patrick Tupper, Kayley Guay, Jessica Ngin.

Innovation in Global Health

Here is a fantastic story on NPR about the Gates Foundation's Grand Challenges Explorations. Three words: beef. tendon. condoms. What will they think of next?!

Education Accessibility

Hi, I'm Viktoria and I live in Vancouver. This being my first quarter at PSU and taking public health classes I have been really reflecting on my educational pursuits and the accessibility and opportunities that are available to me. After learning about the social determinants of health I became very aware of the importance of education and really started thinking about how different people have different levels of access to education. Being an out of state student means that I have to pay out of state tuition: which is more than 3 times the amount than in state tuition. PSU was pretty much my only choice for pursuing a public health career and being able to stay in Vancouver. I really started thinking about how people finance their education and how people living in poverty can even access education. It frustrates me that someone who is simply trying to accomplish their educational goals has such big obstacles in the way. I am blessed enough to be able to have this problem solved but I would assume that there are many people that are not so fortunate. It seems like people in poverty who want to attend school out of state are simply set up to fail in even attending it. They obviously won't have enough money to pay for school out of pocket and if they apply to financial aid and get the maximum amount they still won't have enough to cover their tuition bill. On top of that, the additional maximum federal student loans that they are allowed to take out are not enough to cover the cost of a 12 credit quarter.. they are left with taking out either a Parent Plus Loan or a private bank loan. A private bank loan would require them to get a cosigner- someone living in poverty would probably have a very hard time finding a person who has a good credit history and good credit to debt ratio who also trusts them enough to put their name down on such a document. If that person's parents don't qualify to be the cosigners (most people living in poverty don't) then that person has to go through a stressful experience of finding someone who does. A Parent Plus loan requires the parent to have a good credit history; also somewhat unlikely if they are living in poverty. I'm not saying this applies to everyone, but it is reasonable that this would happen. Now think about it? If you had to go through so much trouble would you still try to go to school? I really feel like out of state students living in poverty are set up to fail if they really want to pursue their educational goals. We wonder why we have such health disparities in impoverished communities and the answer is because we aren't doing much to help them succeed in the one thing that can change that- education.

Innovation in Aid: Give Directly

All members of the global health system are constantly trying to balance outcomes with cost.  Some recent innovation in how aid is provided to the world's most desperately poor people is producing surprising results.  A relatively new organization, Give Directly, has focused on identifying the poorest people in Kenya and then giving them a one-time gift of money with no strings attached.
The Economist has written a nice piece outlining the outcomes they have seen so far, with comparisons to other common aid structures.  It is well worth the time to read it!

Sugar Consumption

In my opinion one of the most compelling global health issues we are facing is sugar consumption. This issue is striking to me because of the fact that oftentimes it goes unnoticed how much added sugar can be present in foods we eat, and what is consumed on a daily basis. In an average human diet, marketing techniques in combination with lifestyle are large contributors in food choice. A lot of the consumed sugar can be accounted for in soda pop, and empty liquid calories, or candies. Even items such as vitamin water, which we perceive as a healthy alternative to soda, has roughly 13 grams per 8 oz glass, or 33 grams of sugar per 20 oz bottle. Another drink is saturated with sugar is Odwalla’s Original Superfood drink, which contains 37 grams of sugar per 12 oz bottle. This is equal to roughly 10 percent or of the contents being made up of sugar, which isn’t something you would expect from a drink typically thought of as being natural and healthy. Looking closer at the label you can also see that apple juice is listed as the first and main ingredient, which explains the sugar content. Apple juice ranks in as having 26 grams of sugar per 8 oz (http://www.odwalla.com/good-products/superfoods/original, http://www.sugarstacks.com/beverages.htm).

An Apple A Day Is Not Enough - Taylor Mali

"The Future Belongs To The Youth"

"Do you give a sh*t?"

Do you have a toilet at home? If yes, you are already luckier than 2.5 millions of people who don't. Now, imagine if you are one of those people. 

Imagine life without a toilet. [...]

Do you think you could survive? Do you think you could "give a sh*t" out in the open? What is the probability that you'll be spotted by say, your loved one or even a stranger? How would you feel? Have you ever thought about the true meaning of dignity? (WTD)

This is no laughing matter. Around 1.1 billion people in the world practice open defecation. “Without toilets illness and disease win. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five in the world…It kills more children than malaria, AIDS, and measles combined” (TD). 

For those who have access to a toilet, feel grateful, think global and be helpful. How?  

Save the day: November 19^th – World Toilet Day

Learn more

Tell your friend

Show Your Support

Share why you give a shit

Sign Petition

Get Involved

Donate

Social Determinants of Health

A very common misconceptions about good versus poor health is that individual behaviors are the main factor.  Explaining the social determinants of health and their root causes to people who have not had exposure to such subjects before can be a bit difficult. Outlined below is a brief overview of these issues, which could be used to introduce someone you know to the social determinants of health.  

Africa Mercy

This "60 minutes" segment reminds all of us that while there are millions of people who suffer from diseases that can be easily cured, some of us dedicate our lives to help those in need. A truly moving story and a glimpse of hope.

And more good news: $20 million was recently (in October 2013) donated for a second ship. 

What are Social Determinants of Health?

I promise to be brief, for it is normally a very long-winded explanation.

There is a whole vast, complex, and entirely organic system of factors that dictate the health of a person on a daily basis. While many of these factors happen in a completely unpredictable manner based purely on chance, a large portion of these are much more consistent. A few of the more important ones to note are of the social sort: Race, social class, language, education, gender, family status, and age. Chief among these is race... Race has a tremendous impact on the health of a person because it can very often dictate what neighborhood a person may live in, the jobs they can receive, the resistance they experience when climbing society's ladder, etc.. The Neighborhood they live in can dictate what sort of environmental risks they are exposed to, the foods options available, air quality, quality of public infrastructure, and so forth. Social determinants are an integral part of a person's life trajectory and are completely unavoidable.

Emergency Planning & Preparedness

Car accidents, house fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE are all examples of disasters that can happen at any time with out warning. Some of these are common emergencies that people around the world face every day and some of these could be considered complex humanitarian emergencies. No matter the case, it is always important to be prepared for anything. A lot of us have an idea of what we would do in a given emergency situation but are we actually prepared? That is why I would like to focus on the importance of emergency kits.
Making your own emergency kit forces you to think of yourself in the emergency situation you are planning for. How do we know what to put in these emergency kits though? Here are a few specific web sites that list some important emergency supplies for given situations.

Want to be prepared for a car accident or be prepared for winter driving conditions? Look here.
Maybe you're an outdoors enthusiast? Then look here for how to make a wilderness survival kit.
But what about surviving a zombie apocalypse? Then look here. And for fun, here is an awesome scientific video about how a zombie apocalypse could be possible: CLICK ME TO BELIEVE IN ZOMBIES