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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has recently issued a report about our National
environment. For the most part, the news is positive.
The United States has been evaluating environmental
health risks for several decades. Until now, the news
has generally been discouraging, showing that we have
been, and are still, exposed to various harmful
chemicals, everything from cadmium to pyrethroids.
The CDC has just completed a very large study
evaluating the effects of environmental chemicals on
humans. Its the third such study that they have
performed and the results are encouraging,
specifically in terms of tobacco smoke and lead.
We are making progress in our overall environmental
living conditions. smoking exposure is coming down.
Lead exposure is down, and so is mercury.
In the United States children are being exposed to far
less cigarette smoke than in years past. Presumably,
laws that require retailers to check the ages of
persons who by cigarettes, and the anti-smoking
campaigns have been working.
Added to these efforts are our legislative and
cultural changes. In many places, smokers have been
made to feel like second-class citizens and sometimes
even criminals. While I'm not convinced that this
rings right and, people are nevertheless able to smoke
in less places. And overall this is reducing the
amount of second hand smoke our youth take in on a
daily basis.
There is also good news on the lead front. Young
children are generally exposed to less lead now than
before. This is evidenced by the reduction in
percentage lead found in their bodies during studies.
Lead exposure can cause severe neurological problems
in young children that can have lifelong effects.
Prevalence of leadless gasoline and paints claim
partial responsibility in reduced cases.
There have also been laws designed to abate
residential lead problems all over the US. Several
decades of implementing these laws appear to have
yielded a beneficial result.
While these results give much reason for applaud, the
report isn't all sweet.
With regard to pesticide exposures, studies indicate
that many Americans are still exposed to a variety of
pesticides. And the fact that we Americans love our
green lawns means that pesticide exposure will likely
continue until we figure out how to conquer this
problem.
Of course, pesticides are not easy to eliminate. They
are used in over abundance. When it rains they end up
in our storm drains and from there migrate slowly, but
surely, to our food supply and our drinking water
supply. It will be very difficult to eliminate
pesticide exposure in modern America.
Ultimately, safer better grade pesticides will have to
be developed. In addition, stronger laws designed to
require more efficient use of pesticides, and to
eliminate run off containing pesticides will have to
be developed and enforced.
Mercury exposure also continues to be a problem in
America, with no real fixes in sight.
On the whole, the news from the CDC is welcomed news.
While there is work to be done, and while many federal
initiatives will have to be redirected, we can choose
to see this report as proof that even small changes
can have lasting effects.
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