Water Quality

After running a Google search on “Ohio Department of Health” I selected the first link to www.odh.ohio.gov. Once on the site I chose “Data and Statistics” which lead be to an alphabetical prompt from A to Z of Data and Statistical Reports. Knowing that my search was headed in the direction of water quality and wells, I clicked on the “W” and sure enough the first link under “W” was “Wells and Private Water Systems.

Once re-directed to the page, the web document title came up “Private Water Systems." The first information provided to users is Ohio Department of Health’s relation to the Private Water Systems, which is that they formally regulate and administer local and private water systems.

Private Water systems include, wells, springs, ponds, cisterns and water tanks under the conditions that they provide potable water for human consumption. However to be classified as a “Private” water system, those systems must provide water to fewer than 25 individuals on a daily basis.  The “Potable” water coming from these sources doesn’t have to exclusively provide drinking water, but also water used for bathing, waste disposal or even uses such as laundry. Private Water systems can support a few family homes, small businesses or even barns.

The Ohio Department of Health inspects water quality for residents to be sure that it isn’t filled with contaminants. A common microorganism that is checked for in the water is E. Coli, which can cause disease in otherwise healthy people.

Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli is a bacterium that exists everywhere in the environment. Some bacteria can be found in our intestines to help us digest food. Because E. coli exists within the human body, it exists within our waste. Testing for E. coli in our water can show us if the water we use to drink, cook, and wash has been contaminated by water used for waste disposal.

Some strains of E. coli can be extremely dangerous for humans. Monitoring E. coli in Private Water Systems is therefore very beneficial to our health.

"E. coli Answers to Frequently asked Health Questions." Bureau of Environmental Health, Oct. 2004. Google. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. <https://www.odh.ohio.gov/~/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/eh/HAS/ecoli.ashx>.

"Private Water Systems." Ohio Department of Health. Bureau of Environmental Health, 21 Oct. 2014. Google. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. <https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/eh/water/PrivateWaterSystems/main.aspx>.

Fukushima Today

After a nuclear power plant exploded in March of 2011, the Japanese government has worked hard to rebuild the land that was destroyed. Unprecedented, if the land becomes occupied again it will have been the most successful clean up and restoration of land after a nuclear explosion. There are 105 cities that need cleaning as a result of the 2011 incident.

Today, even four years later, workers head out in protective gear everyday to wipe down rain gutters and roofs. One major over haul that has to take place is the landscape. Leaves and soil need to be cleaned up. Large black trash bags are filled with contaminated soil and leaves to be disposed of elsewhere, while new fresh healthy soil and wood chips are laid in place.

Around 120,000 people still remain displaced from their homes, due to the dangerous health risks in the area and radioactive contamination. It is estimated that the removal of nuclear fuel debris will take until 2022. Both private sector and governmental agencies are working on the clean up, including The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Tokyo Electric Power Company. TEPCo is working to decommission all six reactors released at the site. So far TEPCo has treated approximately half of the water on the site, and a 770 meter wall to help protect the site from the ocean.

TEPCo's original plans expected to use approximately 150 billion dollars. Many of the local citizens however are upset with the recovery plan that TEPCo is managing. The locals think that the money to restore the land and the properties could be put to better use helping take care of the people who's health has been compromised as a result of the incident. Many citizens have an increased risk for diagnosis of cancer, tumors, or other genetic disorders, on top of being evacuated from their homes.

The number of reported deaths related to this disaster continue to rise, as the numbers pour in from various surrounding cities in the hundreds.

"After 4 Years, Fukushima Nuclear Cleanup Remains Daunting and Vast." Fukushima Update. Las Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2015. Google. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://fukushimaupdate.com/after-4-years-fukushima-nuclear-cleanup-remains-daunting-and-vast/>.

"What is Happening at the Fukushima Daiichi Site Now?." Fukushima Update. NEI, 11 Mar. 2015. Google. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://fukushimaupdate.com/what-is-happening-at-the-fukushima-daiichi-site-now/>. 

"Deaths Tied to Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Up 18%." Fukushima Update. Press TV, 10 Mar. 2014. Google. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://fukushimaupdate.com/deaths-tied-to-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-up-18/>.

Glyphosate in Food

Many herbicides come in contact with the food we put in our body every day. From the corn we put on the grill to the bacon we fry on Sunday mornings, evidence of the use of herbicide is left behind, and consequently put on our plates.

Over generations the popularity of genetically modified or engineered food has become more common and wide spread across Western tables. Herbicides help produce more food, resulting in more money for the farmers. The conversation that comes to the table is quality over quantity, what do we value more in these modern days where we have the liberty to choose. When herbicides were first introduced they seemed like a miracle drug, the perfect solution, but has since unraveled and transformed into the problem itself.

While the use of herbicides such as Roundup hit the market in the 1970's. Designed to kill weeds and other surrounding plants known to compete with commercial crops, was quickly transformed into a staple product for all farmers. Monsanto, the original company marketing Roundup worked to develop crops that were resistant to the killing agent, glyphosate, in the Roundup, therefore killing the weeds around the crops while leaving the crops growing healthy. The introduction of crops resistant to glyphosate entered the Western world into a modern era of concerns surrounding genetically modified and engineered foods. As soon as farmers began planting the glyphosate resistant crops they could apply the Roundup herbicide to their farms in much higher volumes.

The heavy application of Roundup, kills all competing plants, and allows the farmers to yield the maximum crop production from their fields. But the crops still come to our grocery stores, our farmers markets, our tables, and most importantly our mouths with glyphosate inside. It is even reported that over 80% of the U.S. food supply is contaminated with glyphosate.

"Roundup in Food: Are You Eating this Toxic Contaminant?." Mercola. Ed. Mercola. N.p., May 2014. Google. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/20/glyphosate-roundup-levels.aspx>. 

"Alert: Certified Organic Food Grown in U.S. Found Contaminated with Glyphosate Herbicide." Health Impact News. Ed. Brian Shilhavy. HIN, n.d. Google. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/alert-certified-organic-food-grown-in-u-s-found-contaminated-with-glyphosate-herbicide/>.