Erfanesia

Seasonal Air Pollutant Calendar

2009-02-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

October 1 - March 31 • Carbon Monoxide & Particulates
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced mainly by automobiles, which tends to build up especially
during stagnant temperature inversions common during the winter months. It hinders the body's ability to carry
oxygen in the blood causing serious problems for those with cardiovascular diseases. At high concentrations,
carbon monoxide also can increase fatigue, reduce work capacity, and may adversely affect fetal development.
Particulate matter, which includes acid sulfates, toxic organic compounds and metals, and insoluble dusts are
capable of penetrating to the deeper portions of the respiratory system and producing acute reductions in lung
function, increasing the incidence of respiratory disease in children. It can also increase the risk of premature
mortality in elderly and ill persons. Traffic on unpaved roads, windblown dust, construction and demolition are
all major contributors.
April 1 - September 30 • Ozone & Particulates
"Smog" ozone (as opposed to the protective ozone in the stratosphere) is a major health hazard at high
concentrations. Especially troublesome during our hot summer months, ozone causes inflammation of the lungs,
impaired breathing, coughing, chest pain, nausea, and throat irritation. Long-term effects from exposure include
increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and permanent damage to lung tissues. Ozone also causes severe
damage to commercial crops and forests.

2009-01-29T01:14:00.000-08:00

2008-03-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Air Pollution Causes and Effects

2008-03-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Until recently, environmental pollution problems have been local and minor because of the Earth's own ability to absorb and purify minor quantities of pollutants. The industrialization of society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the population, are factors contributing toward the growing air pollution problem. At this time it is urgent that we find methods to clean up the air.

The primary air pollutants found in most urban areas are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (both solid and liquid). These pollutants are dispersed throughout the world's atmosphere in concentrations high enough to gradually cause serious health problems. Serious health problems can occur quickly when air pollutants are concentrated, such as when massive injections of sulfur dioxide and suspended particulate matter are emitted by a large volcanic eruption.

The two main sources of pollutants in urban areas are transportation (predominantly automobiles) and fuel combustion in stationary sources, including residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling and coal-burning power plants.

Motor vehicles produce high levels of carbon monoxides (CO) and a major source of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Whereas, fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of sulfur dioxide (SO2).We can help to reduce global air pollution and climate change by driving a car that gets at least 35 miles a gallon, walking, bicycling, and using mass transit when possible. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, make our home more energy efficient, and buy only energy efficient appliances. Recycle newspapers, aluminum, and other materials.

Plant trees and avoid purchasing products such as Styrofoam that contain CFCs. Support much stricter clean air laws and enforcement of international treaties to reduce ozone depletion and slow global warming. Earth is everybody's home and nobody likes living in a dirty home. Together, we can make the earth a cleaner, healthier and more pleasant place to live. I think my presentation is enough, thank’s for your attention. ”Good day.”

Tips for Community Living

2008-03-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

“Yikes! Where did that kid come from?” You don’t want these to be the words you’re screaming while you slam on the brakes in your apartment parking lot. The fact is that living in an apartment community can be a much different experience than other types of neighborhoods. Special considerations need to be taken for children, elderly and others who may have physical impairments. The staff at Apartments.com has assembled some apartment manners for those who mean well but need to make the adjustment to community living. After all, you don’t want to be banned from the block party this year.

Tip 1: There are people around—watch out!
We understand you’re multitasking these days and those precious minutes you spend in the car every day on your way home are a great time to catch up on calls or texts. Hopefully you’re using an earpiece on the phone and NOT texting while driving, but once you get near your apartment, hang up! The National Safety Council recommends only making calls in emergencies and not while behind the wheel. This goes double for apartment living. Children often have no where else to play but the in street in front of your building or in the parking lot. Adults, including the elderly, may enjoy walks outside of their apartment and other recreational activities. A person with a handicap may have to travel to the central mailbox near the street. These are all reasons to slow down and pay extra attention when you approach your apartment.

Tip 2: Be courteous
In your college town, parents’ house or first home, you may not have been very concerned about things like taking care of your trash in a timely manner or keeping the noise down. In your new apartment, these little considerations could become major annoyances for your neighbors. Garbage bags should never be left sitting in outdoor areas. It may seem petty but if there are multiple dumpsters for your complex, use only those that are close to your unit. Neighbors tend to think it rude if you are constantly dumping your trash into someone else’s dumpsters, even if you consider all the dumpsters fair game.
When it comes to noise, it’s not just loud parties that will have 4F sneering at you in the hall. You and your roommate may love your raucous midnight monopoly tournaments which often end in belly-shaking laughter but the mom with three kids who shares living room walls with you might not find it so hysterical. The same goes for late-night cleaning sprees—vacuum cleaners are VERY loud. Remember that apartment walls tend to be thinner than you think. When it starts to get late, keep it down.

Tip 3: Do your part to keep the building safe
You have an extra responsibility to your neighbors in addition to yourself to prevent a fire. Don’t smoke in bed and never leave candles or any other burning devices unattended—these are both leading causes of fires. Unplug all appliances as soon as you are done using them. This includes toasters, curling irons, irons and any other device that produces heat. In addition, don’t run extension cords under carpets or from unit to unit. They can easily overheat and should only be used temporarily. You may even want to consider holding a building meeting and planning an escape route in the event that a fire occurs. Be sure that children, the elderly and anyone with a handicap will have assistance in the event of a fire. It should go without saying, but make sure that neither you, nor anyone else in your building, is parking in front of fire hydrants or fire lanes. Some apartment dwellers can be ignorant of this fact because apartment parking is well off the street and the chance of getting a ticket is slim. If someone is ignoring this law, politely remind them of it and express your concern. If that doesn’t work, make your building management aware or call the local authorities.

Tip 4: Know how to handle crime issues

It is your responsibility as a community resident to report any suspicious or criminal behavior that you see. If your complex or street has a neighborhood watch, show your concern by attending a meeting. If a watch doesn’t exist, you can start one. Follow these recommendations from the National Crime Prevention Council:

Form a small planning committee to discuss the need and level of interest.

Contact the local police and ask them to send an officer to your meeting to discuss local crime problems.

Publicize with flyers and go door-to-door to inform neighbors of the meeting.

Select a meeting place that is convenient and accessible to everyone.

Hold an initial meeting to establish the purpose of the group and begin to identify issues that need to be addressed.

Elect a chairperson and ask for block captain volunteers. Captains can take responsibility for looking out for those who are vulnerable to crime and can work with the police to relay information to neighbors when a crime happens.

Establish a regular means of communicating with neighbors and create a map with contact information for all residents.

Eventually members can be trained in home security techniques, observation skills and crime reporting with the help of the local law enforcement agency.

apartemens.com

Apartement, why rent?

2008-03-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

As the demand for apartment housing rises, Apartments.com conducted a survey to current renters to find out why they choose to rent. The results of the survey reveal that maintenance free living, cost and flexibility are the most common reasons to rent!

The largest number of respondents (43.7%) rent primarily for the maintenance free living apartments provide. Many respondents have a strong desire for the convenience of a maintenance person available for common household repairs as well as the freedom of not needing to tend to a lawn, garden or landscaping.

More than twenty-three percent of renters choose to rent for financial reasons. According to the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC), if an individual plans to live in one place for less than five years, it may make the most financial sense to rent. The costs of buying and selling a home can total 10 percent or more of the price of the home. Additionally, home ownership in a desired neighborhood may be much more expensive than renting in the same neighborhood. Some of the survey respondents indicated that they chose to rent in a preferred school district when owning in the area was not within their budget. Renting also affords individuals the freedom to invest in a variety of stocks, bonds and mutual funds that can provide a higher return on investment as opposed to property ownership. According to the NMHC the average home value increases only five percent each year, whereas the average stock value increases seven percent and bond value increases eight percent each year.

Nineteen percent of respondents indicate that relocation flexibility and the lack of a long term commitment in an apartment is the primary reason they choose to rent.

The NMHC suggests that renting may be a good choice for the following types of individuals:
Young adults just beginning their careers.
Single parents who do not have time for maintenance or the money to buy a house in a desired school district.
Empty nesters who want to travel.
Anyone tired of long commutes to work.
Anyone who wants abundant amenities and social activities where they live.
Professionals who transfer often.

For those who choose to rent, apartment selection hinges on specific available amenities and community features. Our survey revealed that in-unit washers and dryers and air conditioning are the most desirable amenities. Properties that allow pets and have ample parking for tenants top the list of community features that increase renter satisfaction.

Let us know why you choose to rent!

Apartment House Lifts Barriers for the Disabled

2008-03-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Independence can creep up on you. Judy Bowman found that out when she spilled the tea on herself one Saturday night last spring, about a year after she moved into a special apartment building here for people with disabilities. She had been visiting another tenant down the hall when "a whole pitcher of iced tea ended up on me."

It could have been more than an inconvenience: she has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an ailment that causes slow degeneration of the muscles in the limbs, forcing her to use a wheelchair.

In the past, Ms. Bowman would have called her aide for help, but she didn't want to bother him over the weekend. So she guided her motorized scooter back to her apartment, took off her leg braces, undressed and got into a motorized lift that carried her into the bathroom, where she showered and washed her hair. She picked up the wet clothes, put them in the laundry basket, put on a nightgown and got into bed.

The process, full of trial and error, do-overs, frustration and triumph, took four hours, and she didn't get into bed until 3:30 in the morning.

Recalling that night, she said, "You can't imagine how happy I was." It was the first time she had been able to take a shower on her own in 25 years. "Geez. It was like, 'I'm free!' "

"Free" is what the Supported Independent Living program is about, said Sally Gammon, the chief executive of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. The hospital built the complex of 18 apartments as an alternative to a nursing home for people who are disabled but crave a measure of self-determination.

Renters must be at least 18 years old and have a physical disability, impaired mobility or a traumatic brain injury.

People living with diseases like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis may prefer to live outside the completely dependent world of a nursing home, but they would probably have trouble living in standard houses or apartments, with their many barriers to access - awkward knobs and handles, for instance, and counters designed for adults who can stand.

Cobbling together funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the affordable housing program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and private donations, the hospital was able to erect the $4 million building in 2003 with $2.1 million in so-called assistive technologies.

There are small things that, taken together, make a difference. Motorized slings carry people from their beds to their bathrooms and over to their wheelchairs. Counter height can be adjusted, and the counters are low enough to reach from a sitting position. The oven doors open to the side, and water taps and water temperature are controlled with push buttons instead of faucets.

The washer-dryer is a single unit so that heavy, wet clothes don't have to be moved. In some apartments, tenants can turn lights on and off, answer the phone or open the door with a remote control or with voice commands.

Mary Jane Frick, Good Shepherd's coordinator of occupational therapy for long-term care, said the apartments were not designed to meet every need, nor did they incorporate the newest or most gee-whiz technologies. Instead, the center tried to find the appropriate level of technology for the greatest range of residents.

The gadgets add up, removing barriers one by one, so "they don't have to rely on someone who won't show up in a snowstorm," said Cindy Lambert, the hospital's corporate director for government and community relations.

Ms. Gammon, the chief executive, says the project has saved money, too. A newly published study done for Good Shepherd by the Center for Outcome Analysis, a nonprofit research organization in Havertown, Pa., found that over the first year, those in the Good Shepherd apartments required 61 percent less public financing to live - about $26,000 per year compared with $67,000 for people who were qualified to move into the apartments but did not.

Rent for the apartments, which range from 540 square feet to 780 square feet, supplemented through federal grants, is less than $500 a month.

Still, the project has been a tough sell for the hospital, which found no federal reimbursement for incorporating the assistance technologies into the apartments. Medicaid, for example, pays for medical care, but the apartments are considered housing and are not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, despite the medical savings they bring.

Under the current federal rules for reimbursement, "we're going to end up paying more for lower quality of life because we only pay for medical care," said Harry Ting, senior vice president for strategic planning and business development for Good Shepherd.

Allison Pfingstl, 26, has lived in the apartments for a year. She has cerebral palsy and was living with her parents in their home in Allentown until she read about the apartments and applied for a lease. In her house, her parents had to carry her up and down the stairs to go to bed or take a shower.

"This was my dream, to actually get my own apartment," she said. "I wanted to be out on my own, have my own independence, do what I want, when I want," she said.

Her mother does the grocery shopping, and she receives help from attendants during the day, but she no longer requires the round-the-clock care her parents provided. "I figure, you know, my parents aren't going to be around forever," she said. "Start now while they are living, and don't be stuck when they are gone."

At first, she said, her mother was worried about someone who needed so much care going out on her own, she recalled, but "my dad was just like, 'Go for it, girl!' "

Her apartment is one of the most gadget-heavy in the building. A remote-control device on her wheelchair opens the front door, turns the lights and ceiling fan on and off and helps her use the phone. Another remote lets her raise and lower the blinds with the press of a button. "Isn't that cool?" she says. "This is so awesome!"

But not everything, she explains, is entirely awesome. She recalled an accident with the sling that carries her into the bathroom. One day, it continued to lower itself after she was seated on the toilet. The lift bumped her head and left her unsupported on the seat.

"I hate that thing, really," she said. "I get panicky. I'm afraid I'm going to fall."

Other tenants in the building say the technologies make their disabilities easier to live with. Jeff and Marie Butz had increasing trouble living in regular housing; Mrs. Butz's diabetes has left her nearly blind, and both legs have been amputated. Mr. Butz has multiple sclerosis, which can cause spells of intense weakness. He does most of the cooking and laundry.

"I've got to keep him busy," Mrs. Butz said.

Ms. Bowman says that some of the technologies were not thought through completely. For instance, the knob on the washer-dryer is hard to turn. "I use a pliers for that," she said.

But, she says with great pride, these days she can take a shower in just half an hour.

By JOHN SCHWARTZ

Air Pollution

2008-03-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

All around the earth there is a thick blanket of air called the atmosphere. Air, like other gases, does not have a fixed shape. It spreads out to fill any available space so nothing is really empty. But air cannot escape from the atmosphere as the force of gravity keeps it from floating away from the earth.

Ever since people first gathered in settlements there has been pollution. Pollution usually refers to the presence of substances that are either present in the environment where it doesn't belong or at levels greater than it should be.

Air pollution is caused by any undesirable substance, which enters the atmosphere. Air pollution is a major problem in modern society. Even though air pollution is usually a greater problem in cities, pollutants contaminate air everywhere. These substances include various gases and tiny particles, or particulates that can harm human health and damage the environment. They may be gases, liquids, or solids. Many pollutants are given off into the air as a result of human behavior. Pollution occurs on different levels: personal, national, and global.

Some pollutants come from natural sources.
Forest fires emit particulates, gases, and VOCs (substances that vaporize into the atmosphere)
Ultra-fine dust particles created by soil erosion when water and weather loosen layers of soil, increase airborne particulate levels.
Volcanoes spew out sulfur dioxide and large amounts of pulverized lava rock known as volcanic ash.

The major types of air pollution are:
Gaseous pollutants: A different mix of vapors and gaseous air pollutants is found in outdoor and indoor environments. The most common gaseous pollutants are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and ozone. A number of sources produce these chemical compounds but the major man-made source is the burning of fossil fuel. Indoor air pollution is caused by cigarette smoking, the use of certain construction materials, cleaning products, and home furnishings. Outdoor gaseous pollutants come from volcanoes, fires, and industry, and in some areas may be substantial. The most commonly recognized type of air pollution is smog. Smog generally refers to a condition caused by the action of sunlight on exhaust gases from motor vehicles and factories.

The Greenhouse effect prevents the sun's heat from rising out of the atmosphere and flowing back into space. This warms the earth's surface causing the green house effect. While a certain amount of green house gases in the atmosphere are necessary to make the earth warm, activities such as the burning of fossil fuels are creating a gaseous layer that is too dense to allow the heat to escape. Many scientists believe this is causing global warming. Other gases contributing to the problem include cholrofluorocarbons (CFC), methane, nitrous oxides, and ozone.

Acid rain forms when moisture in the air interacts with nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide released by factories, power plants, and motor vehicles that burn coal or oil. This interaction of gases with water vapor forms sulfuric acid and nitric acids. Eventually these chemicals fall to earth as precipitation, or acid rain. Acid rain pollutants may travel long distances, with winds carrying them thousands of miles before they fall as dew, drizzle, fog, snow or rain.

Damage to the ozone layer is primarily caused by the use of chloroflurocarbons (CFCs). Ozone is a form of oxygen found in the earth's upper atmosphere. The thin layer of ozone molecules in the atmosphere absorb some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays before it reaches the earth's surface, making life on earth possible. The depletion of ozone is causing higher levels of UV radiation on earth, endangering both plants and animals.

Particulate matter is the general term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small they can be detected only with an electron microscope. When particulate matter is breathed in, it can irritate and damage the lungs causing breathing problems. Fine particles are easily inhaled deeply into the lungs where they can be absorbed into the blood stream or remain embedded for long periods of time.

Climatic effects: Normally pollutants rise or flow away from their sources without building up to unsafe levels. Wind patterns, clouds, rain, and temperature can affect how quickly pollutants move away from an area. Weather patterns that can trap air pollution in valleys or move it across the globe may be able to damage pristine environments far from the original sources.

Song Of The Year

2008-03-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

Artist :
Atlantic Star
Song :
Always

Girl you are to me
All that a woman should be
And I dedicate my life to you always
A love like your's is rare
It must have been sent from up above
And I know you'll stay this way for always
And we both know
That our love will grow
And forever it will be you and me ...hey
Ooh you're like the sun
Chasing all the rain away
When you come around you bring brighter days
You're the perfect one
For me and you forever will be
And I will love you so for always
Come with me my sweet
Let's go make a family
And they will bring us joy for always
Oh boy I love you so
Can't find enough ways to let you know
But you can be sure I'm yours for always
And we both know
That our love will grow
And forever it will be you and me ...hey
Ooh you're like the sun
Chasing all the rain away
When you come around you bring brighter days
You're the perfect one
For me and you forever will be
And I will love you so for always
Oooh
Oooh
I will love you so for always
Oooh
Oooh
I will love you so for always

Artist :
WILL TO POWER
Song :
BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY

Shadows grow so long before my eyes
And they're moving across the page
Suddenly the day turns into night
Far away from the city

But don't hesitate
'Cause your love, your love won't wait ho-no-no

Ooh baby I love your way every day
Ooh wanna tell you I love your way every day
Ooh wanna be with you night and day

Hey yeah
I love your way

If I leave here tomorrow
Will you still remember me
For I must be traveling on now
There's so many places I gotta see

But if I stayed here with you girl
Things just wouldn't be the same
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird will never change,
And this bird will never change...

Shadows grow so long before my eyes
With the help of some fireflies
I wonder how they have the power to shine
I can see them under the pines

But don't hesitate
'Cause your love won't wait

Ooh baby I love your way (every day)
Ooh wanna tell you I love your way (night and day)
Ooh baby I love your way (every day)
Every day now
Ooh wanna tell you I love your way (night and day, night and day)
I love your way
Ooh baby I love your way ('cause I'm as free as a bird now)
Give me you way, wanna tell you I love your way (A free as a bird now)
Ooh baby I love your way

Ooh baby I love your way (every day)
Ooh wanna tell you I love your way (night and day)
Ooh baby I love your way (every day, every day)
Ooh wanna tell you I love your way (night and day, night and day, oh-o)
Ooh baby I love your way (night and day).

Artist :
Jose Mari Chan
Song :
Beautiful Girl

Beautiful girl, wherever you are
I knew when I saw you, you had opened the door
I knew that I'd love again after a long, long while
I'd love again.
You said "hello" and I turned to go
But something in your eyes left my heart beating so
I just knew that I'd love again after a long, long while
I'd love again.

Chorus : It was destiny's game
For when love finally came on
I rushed in line only to find
That you were gone.

Whenever you are, I fear that I might
Have lost you forever like a song in the night
Now that I've loved again after a long, long while
I've loved again.

*Repeat Chorus

Beautiful girl, I'll search on for you
'Til all of your loveliness in my arms come true
You've made me love again after a long, long while
In love again
And I'm glad that it's you
Hmm, beautiful girl.

Healthy Traveling

2008-03-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

NABILITY TO SLEEP DURING A FLIGHT

There are many factors experienced during air travel that make it difficult to sleep during a long haul flight. A lack of rest is a problem for many passengers and can compound the effects of the other environmental factors experienced by passengers; this in turn often exacerbates the symptoms of jet lag at the end of a trip. Alcohol is frequently used to help promote sleep but will often only allow a short period of sleep and can result in a continued feeling of fatigue on waking.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS [DVT]

Although not exclusive to air travel, DVT is however, one of the best known complications associated with long haul flight. Commonly and misguidedly referred to as ‘economy class syndrome’, it can affect any passenger who is prone to poor circulation wherever they are sitting.

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

Large numbers of the population suffer with ailments of this kind. Flying can often exacerbate them for a number of reasons. Changes in air pressure during ascent of the aircraft can cause expansion of air in body cavities (barotrauma) and digestive discomfort (descent can also cause problems). Digestive discomfort can also be caused by eating unfamiliar food on the flight or through nervousness and general stress that many experience when travelling by air. Other people may simply be prone to indigestion when they eat and if this is the case it can be made worse by flying and eating in unfamiliar surroundings.

DEHYDRATION

A combination of dry air, not drinking enough water or consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages makes dehydration a problem for many people. Mile High offers a delicious alternative to these drinks with the added bonus of its beneficial ingredients and can be taken in conjunction with water or other non-diuretic drinks throughout the journey to help combat dehydration.

VIRUSES AND BACTERIA

A report in the Lancet in March 2005 indicated that aircraft like any confined space make transmission of viruses more likely. This is exacerbated because only approximately 50% of the air during flight is filtered through high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA filters). There is also the issue of bacteria on frequently used surfaces thriving.

HYPOBARIC HYPOXIA

This is an effect that is virtually unknown to the general public; nevertheless, everyone who travels in the pressurized environment of an aircraft cabin is exposed to various degrees of hypobaric mild hypoxia depending on their current state of health. Also referred to as mountain sickness, it has varying affects on people. Research is ongoing, but is postulating that hypobaric hypoxia may be a contributory factor in people already at risk from DVT.

TRAVEL SICKNESS/NAUSEA

Travel or motion sickness is a problem encountered regularly by some people who travel by air. It can ruin your flight and exacerbate the effects of jet lag.

JET LAG

By helping to deal with the different factors that can occur during flight in the unique environment of the aircraft cabin their cumulative effect may be reduced, easing the symptoms associated with jet lag.

COSMIC RADIATION

Flying at 35000ft you have less protection from the atmosphere against cosmic radiation than at ground level. Although research is still ongoing with regard to its effect it has been established that frequent flyers and crew are bound to receive higher cumulative doses. It is common airline practice to ground female crew on declaration of pregnancy to avoid any occupational risks to them or to the foetus, primarily from cosmic radiation.

-milehighdrinks-

Healthy Living

2008-03-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Healthy living means making positive choices that enhance your personal physical, mental and spiritual health. You make these choices when you:
Eat nutritiously, choosing a variety of foods from all of the food groups as suggested by Canada's Food Guide;
Build a circle of social contacts to create a supportive environment of people who care for you and respect you;
Stay physically active to keep your body strong, reduce stress, and improve your energy.
Choose not to smoke; and
Put an end to other negative lifestyle practices.

Healthy living choices are affected by where you live, work, learn and play. Keeping yourself informed about positive health practices within your environment is an important way to improve your overall health and sense of well-being.

Minimizing Your Risk

2008-03-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips to help you enjoy safe travel.
Make sure all your regular vaccinations are up to date.
Before you travel, contact a travel clinic or your doctor six to eight weeks before you go, to allow time for any vaccinations you may need. This is especially true if you are going to tropical areas or developing countries.

Arrange for private health insurance while you are away, as your provincial/territorial health insurance may not cover you. Your travel agent can advise you on this.

If you are going to an area where malaria is present, it is important that you take anti-malarial medication as prescribed by your doctor.

Since anti-malarial medication does not guarantee absolute protection against the disease, preventing mosquito bites is very important. Use mosquito repellents when outside, especially between dusk and dawn. Sleep in well-screened or air conditioned accommodation or use a bed net. Wear trousers and long sleeves at dusk.

If you become ill in the first two months to a year after you return, see your doctor immediately and tell her/him that you have visited an area where malaria occurs.

To prevent 'turista', the key principles to remember are: boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it! Always drink purified water or commercially bottled beverages, and pasteurized milk. Avoid ice, salads, re-heated foods, uncooked shellfish, fruit that is not peeled and food from street vendors.
Wash your hands often with soap or a sanitizing agent when travelling, especially before eating or drinking.

Should you experience diarrhea, be sure to drink plenty of liquids to prevent becoming dehydrated, especially in warm climates.

In warmer climates, always use a sunblock with a minimum SPF of 15.
To help prevent sexually transmitted diseases, always use a condom if you have sex with someone you meet while travelling.

Never share needles to inject intravenous drugs with anyone.
Swim in fresh water only if you know it is free of biharzia, the parasites that cause schistosomiasis.

Do not walk alone in remote areas, back streets or beaches, where you may be at risk of a personal attack or bag snatching. Valuables should be left at home or deposited in hotel safes. Travellers cheques, cash, passports and tickets should not be carried in bags that can be snatched. It is recommended that you use a body belt.
Do not ride in over-crowded vehicles or on motorcycles, especially at night outside of urban areas.

If you need medication for an existing medical condition, take enough with you to last during your travel. Make sure the containers are clearly marked and carry a copy of the doctor's prescription with you. Essential medication should be carried in two different pieces of luggage, in case one should get lost or stolen.
If your medication requires sterile syringes or needles, carry a doctor's explanation or medical certificate with you. In many countries where drug trafficking is a problem, a traveller found with syringes and without adequate explanation, could be in serious trouble with the police.

For additional articles on health and safety issues go to the It's Your Health Web site.
You can also call toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-267-1245*.

Original: December 2005
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2005

The Health Risks of Travel

2008-03-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

By far the most common complaint while travelling is diarrhea, or 'turista'. This is usually caused by the differences in water purity. Canada's municipal water supplies are treated to remove most waterborne organisms, but some less developed countries may not do this. Travellers may have diarrhea while travelling abroad if they drink the local water or food prepared with local water in these countries.

You can also be at risk for a number of childhood illnesses when you travel, especially if you have not been immunized against them or kept your immunizations up to date. Routine immunizations include:
Diphtheria;
Tetanus;
Polio;
Measles;
Mumps; and
Rubella.

In countries where sanitary conditions are poor, immunizations against typhoid and hepatitis A may be recommended. Depending on your travel activities and the local disease situation, you may need to be immunized against these diseases.
Meningitis;
Japanese encephalitis;
European tick-borne encephalitis;
Hepatitis B; and
Rabies.

Depending on where you are travelling, you may also be at risk of these diseases, among others.
Malaria, caused by infected mosquito bites in many tropical countries;
Yellow fever, caused by infected mosquito bites in Central Africa and South America;
Dengue fever, caused by infected mosquito bites in many tropical countries; and
Schistosomiasis, caused by a parasite in fresh water in the Carribean, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

As well, some sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are more common in some countries than they are in Canada.

You should also be safety conscious when travelling. Economic conditions in developing countries can cause increased crime rates and tourists are often targetted.

Air Travel is Fast Becoming One of the Biggest Causes of Global Warming

2008-03-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

Climb on to a plane and leave your troubles behind. It's a seductive sales pitch and we almost all succumb to it: hundreds of thousands of us will be up in the clouds this bank holiday weekend. But, in doing so, we are increasingly storing up bigger troubles ahead.

For the apparently benign escapism of air travel is emerging as one of the greatest threats to the future of the planet. It is the fastest growing source of the pollution that causes global warming. A planned new generation of aircraft, as revealed on page 1, imperils the ozone layer that shields all life from the sun's deadly ultraviolet rays. And airports outdo almost all factories as sources of dangerous pollution – while the noise from planes blights millions of lives.

And yet it is treated with unparalleled indulgence. Taxing its fuel is banned by international treaty, giving it a unique encouragement to pollute. Emissions from international flights are excluded from the treaties agreed to combat global warming and ozone depletion. Airports in Britain are exempt from pollution control, from getting planning permission for many developments, and – in most cases – from statutory noise regulation. And, to top it all, air travel receives billions of pounds every year in subsidies from the taxpayer.

Air travel is climbing up the political agenda. Ministers are soon to decide on whether to give the go-ahead to a fifth terminal at Heathrow. Concorde is expected to take to the air again before the swallows fly out at the end of the summer. And, most important of all, the Government will publish a White Paper next year setting out aviation policies for the next three decades. So far, there is little sign of any change in the traditional governmental view that the rapid growth of air traffic is an almost unmitigated good. The public debate that has long raged over increasing traffic on the roads has yet to reach for the skies.

The fastest growing form of transport worldwide is air travel. It has soared a hundredfold in the last 50 years, and is expected to multiply 10 times more in the next half century. Meanwhile, the number of passengers passing through British airports has risen five-fold since the mid-1970s, and is expected to more than double again by 2020. We are flying further, as well as more often, as long-haul holidays become ever more popular. Latin America is this year's fashionable destination: Tony Blair's holiday in Mexico seems another case of his flair for catching a trend. Over the past few years, according to the British Airports Authority, there have been similar surges in travel to India, Sri Lanka, Australia and the Far East.

The growth of cheaper flights has produced great benefits, bringing the world within pocket-book range of most Britons, making it possible to visit far-flung friends and relatives – while bringing an ever-wider variety of goods into the shops. But as a report published this month by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) says, "flying by jet plane is the least environmentally sustainable way to travel and transport goods".

Take global warming. Aircraft pump out carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases high in the atmosphere, where they do more damage. The official Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calculates that they are responsible for at least 3.5 per cent of global warming, equivalent to the emissions from the whole of Canada. And this is only the start: estimates of their contribution by the middle of the century range from 10 to 17 per cent.

True, the industry has cut the amount of fuel it burns to transport each of its passengers by half since the mid-1970s. But this has been far outweighed by the growth of air traffic. The International Civil Aviation Authority is to examine what more can be done to fight global warming at its annual meeting next month. But the exemption given to international flights by the Kyoto Protocol, and the unique ban by the 1944 Chicago Convention on taxing fuel, remove incentives for adequate improvement.

It is the same story with other pollutants. The industry has sharply cut emissions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons from each plane, but again increasing numbers have outpaced the reductions. And aircraft are only part of the problem, for airports also emit massive air pollution from refueling and storing fuel, from maintenance and supply operations, and from the huge amount of road traffic they generate. Research shows that JFK airport is the biggest nitrogen oxides polluter in New York, and that Frankfurt airport contributes nearly three-quarters of its city's emissions of unburnt hydrocarbons and almost half its load of pollution by carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. And, if Terminal 5 is built, Heathrow will emit Britain's second highest amount of volatile organic compounds, many of which cause cancer, after a factory on Teesside.

Ominously, a US government study has found that pollution from aviation has increased rates of cancer around Chicago-Midway airport, about the same size as Gatwick. Yet, scandalously, British airports escape all pollution control, falling outside the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency and of local authorities. Noise, too, is largely unregulated. Only Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are subject to statutory control, though ministers are now drawing up proposals to strengthen regulation. Although individual planes are getting quieter, noise is also increasing with the number of flights.

Though the authorities have tried to underplay its impact, the European Environment Agency last year concluded that 440,000 people around Heathrow are plagued with noise above the standards set down by the World Health Organization. Excessive noise damages health, with effects ranging from hearing damage to heart disease. And it blights children's education. Studies around Munich airport and New York's La Guardia and JFK conclude that it impairs their memory and reading ability.

Meanwhile, the economic benefits of increased air travel, long cited as the justification for its expansion, are looking uncertain with new studies, including one by Transport 2000, undermining old assumptions. And what remains is undermined by vast subsidies such as untaxed fuel, duty-free sales, relief on landing charges and official loans. The IPPR study says these are worth £6bn a year in Britain.

Solutions are hard to find. Fast rail services can replace some short-haul flights, but experience in Germany and from the Channel Tunnel shows these just free up slots for more long-haul ones. Information technology could reduce the need for business travel, but could also increase it by encouraging more international projects.

Subsidies must be ended, aircraft fuel taxed, and exemption from pollution control ended. New charges can be levied on polluting aircraft, as has been done in Switzerland, and on all flights, as in Denmark. But these will only slow, not stop the explosive growth of air travel. Reducing its increasingly devastating impact on the planet would require a reversal of one of the most liberating trends of the last half century. And this bank holiday weekend that's about as likely as pigs taking wing.

by Geoffrey Lean

Indoor air quality (IAQ)

2008-03-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

A lack of ventilation indoors concentrates air pollution where people often spend the majority of their time. Radon (Rn) gas, a carcinogen, is exuded from the Earth in certain locations and trapped inside houses. Building materials including carpeting and plywood emit formaldehyde (H2CO) gas. Paint and solvents give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they dry. Lead paint can degenerate into dust and be inhaled. Intentional air pollution is introduced with the use of air fresheners, incense, and other scented items. Controlled wood fires in stoves and fireplaces can add significant amounts of smoke particulates into the air, inside and out. Indoor pollution fatalities may be caused by using pesticides and other chemical sprays indoors without proper ventilation.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fatalities are often caused by faulty vents and chimneys, or by the burning of charcoal indoors. Chronic carbon monoxide poisoning can result even from poorly adjusted pilot lights. Traps are built into all domestic plumbing to keep sewer gas, hydrogen sulfide, out of interiors. Clothing emits tetrachloroethylene, or other dry cleaning fluids, for days after dry cleaning.

Though its use has now been banned in many countries, the extensive use of asbestos in industrial and domestic environments in the past has left a potentially very dangerous material in many localities. Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos from asbestos-containing materials in structures. Sufferers have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and are at an increased risk regarding several different types of lung cancer. As clear explanations are not always stressed in non-technical literature, care should be taken to distinguish between several forms of relevant diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these may defined as; asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma (generally a very rare form of cancer, when more widespread it is almost always associated with prolonged exposure to asbestos).

Biological sources of air pollution are also found indoors, as gases and airborne particulates. Pets produce dander, people produce dust from minute skin flakes and decomposed hair, dust mites in bedding, carpeting and furniture produce enzymes and micrometre-sized fecal droppings, inhabitants emit methane, mold forms in walls and generates mycotoxins and spores, air conditioning systems can incubate Legionnaires' disease and mold, and houseplants, soil and surrounding gardens can produce pollen, dust, and mold. Indoors, the lack of air circulation allows these airborne pollutants to accumulate more than they would otherwise occur in nature.

Main article: Indoor air quality

Air Pollution Causes and Effects

2008-03-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

Good day ladies and gentleman thank’s for your coming. Humans probably first experienced harm from air pollution when they built fires in poorly ventilated caves. Since then we have gone on to pollute more of the earth's surface. Until recently, environmental pollution problems have been local and minor because of the Earth's own ability to absorb and purify minor quantities of pollutants. The industrialization of society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the population, are factors contributing toward the growing air pollution problem. At this time it is urgent that we find methods to clean up the air.

The primary air pollutants found in most urban areas are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (both solid and liquid). These pollutants are dispersed throughout the world's atmosphere in concentrations high enough to gradually cause serious health problems. Serious health problems can occur quickly when air pollutants are concentrated, such as when massive injections of sulfur dioxide and suspended particulate matter are emitted by a large volcanic eruption. The two main sources of pollutants in urban areas are transportation (predominantly automobiles) and fuel combustion in stationary sources, including residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling and coal-burning power plants. Motor vehicles produce high levels of carbon monoxides (CO) and a major source of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Whereas, fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of sulfur dioxide (SO2).

We can help to reduce global air pollution and climate change by driving a car that gets at least 35 miles a gallon, walking, bicycling, and using mass transit when possible. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, make our home more energy efficient, and buy only energy efficient appliances. Recycle newspapers, aluminum, and other materials. Plant trees and avoid purchasing products such as Styrofoam that contain CFCs. Support much stricter clean air laws and enforcement of international treaties to reduce ozone depletion and slow global warming. Earth is everybody's home and nobody likes living in a dirty home. Together, we can make the earth a cleaner, healthier and more pleasant place to live. I think my presentation is enough, thank’s for your attention. ”Good day.”

Love & ambition

2008-03-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

" Earth is everybody's home and nobody likes living in a dirty home. Together, we can make the earth a cleaner, healthier and more pleasant place to live. "

Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Chicago

2008-03-04T23:57:00.001-08:00

"Everybody needs a little time away," I heard her say, "from eachother.""Even lover's need a holiday far away from each other."Hold me now.It's hard for me to say I'm sorry.I just want you to stay. After all that we've been through,I will make it up to you. I promise to.And after all that's been said and done,You're just the part of me I can't let go. Couldn't stand to be kept away, just for the day, from your body.Wouldn't wanna be swept away, far away. from the one that I love.Hold me now.It's hard for me to say I'm sorry.I just want you to know.Hold me now.I really want to tell you I'm sorry.I could never let you go. After all that we've been through,I will make it up to you. I promise to.And after all that's been said and done,You're just the part of me I can't let go. After all that we've been through,I will make it up to you. I promise to. You're gonna be the lucky one.

Love Is On The Way - Saigon Kick

2008-03-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

Lonely sidewalks, silent nightBring the evening, deep insideHold me darling, touch me nowLet the feelings free tonight Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight baby Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight Time of season, wipes your tearsNo ryhme or reason, no more fearsAnd all the dreamin', is far behindYou are here now, and everythin's alright Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight baby Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight And in the morning I'll be gone awayAll the things I left behindIf you need me I'll come night and dayLet's stop the hands of time Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight baby Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight baby Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight baby Love is on the wayI can see it in your eyesLet's give it one more try tonight

Save The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams

2008-03-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
I see the passion in your eyes
Sometimes it's all a big surprise
'Cause there was a time when all I did was wish
You'd tell me this was love
It's not the way I hoped or how I planned
But somehow it's enough

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

All of the nights you came to me
When some silly girl had set you free
You wondered how you'd make it through
I wondered what was wrong with you

'Cause how could you give your love to someone else
And share your dreams with me
Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last
You went and saved the best for last

George Michael Lyrics

2008-03-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Careless Whisper Lyrics

I feel so unsure as I take your hand an lead you to the dance floor.
As the music dies something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen and you're its sad goodbye.

I'm never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool.

I should have known better than to cheat a friend

And waste a chance that I've been given.
So I'm never gonna dance again
the way I danced with you.

Time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend.
To the heart and mind ignorance is kind.
There's no comfort in the truth
pain is all you'll find.

I'm never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
. . .
Never without your love.
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd.
Maybe it's better this way

We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say.
We could have been so good together

We could have lived this dance forever

But now who's gonna dance with me? - Please stay.
And I'm never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
. . .
No dance
no dance
no dance
you're gone - no dance
you're gone.
This matter is so wrong
so wrong
that you had lo leave me alone.

Sofie " I Love You " lyric

2008-03-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

Since the day we met it seems like heaven come to me
i’ve got this funny sense of humor that delivers me
is it good or bad that i believe each word you say
it feel that nothing can go wrong in your company

Reff:

i’m honest not untauchable
i’m a woman but not free
i’m fighting for my honour
and i’m not so quickly pleased
i’m honest not untauchable
and i don’t like second touch
but i know that since the day i do
it’s gotten out of hand
i love you….

wonder how i know your name it’s wisphered by the breeze
and in a certain way it’s hypnotizing me
how can you size the space that we love in admiration
it is frightening it is something i can see
back to Reff
don’t…
i love you…