Blogging as an effective teaching tool

From the start of the semester I already knew that I was going to like this class more than any other one I had taken this past year. And to make that even more incredible was when the teacher on day one took the whole class by surprise when he said that there would be no tests and the only amount of work we had to do was blogging on the topic discussed in class. When we were told this however I was pretty optimistic about blogging because I have never blogged before and didn’t really know what it was about. A few weeks into the semester and a few blog posts later I started to realize that blogging was an excellent way to teach the student without the teacher having to provide tests to the students. When using blogging to teach a certain topic it makes the student actively search and learn everything they can about a topic so then that they are able to write about it in a blog. While one may be thinking this is a dumb way of teaching because you’re not testing the students’ knowledge you’re just having them write about it would be wrong in my opinion. With blogging they are responsible to know a lot about a topic in order to be able to explain it to the intended audience which is in turn the test. You are not able to write a blog well without taking the time to learn everything you can about it. So in conclusion when It comes to blogging I believe that is a great tool to use when trying to teach a topic to someone because it makes them do all the work learning everything they can about the topic so that they can then write as well thought out informative blog post. 

Penetrations and Permeation

When working around dangerous chemicals and other toxins one may experience exposure to them that may lead to poisonings. To protect the worker from these they often wear gloves or other protective garments to keep the chemicals away from their skin. However what happens when these chemicals have the ability to go through the protective garments and become exposed to the skin?  Many companies have to deal with this problem in order to make protective clothing options for the workers the need to use them.  This process where the chemicals move through the different layers of protection is called permeation.  Chemical permeation is the passage of a chemical through a barrier layer at a molecular level. Molecules of the chemical are absorbed by the barrier material and as the number of molecules absorbed increases, the chemical gradually works its way through the material and out of the other side. By way of illustration, imagine a layer of dry sponge that has a trickle of water poured upon it. At first the water sits on the surface of the sponge. It then starts to soak in and as it does so it spreads out throughout the sponge.   As you continue to add more water is spilled on the sponge until the volume held reaches the point of saturation and water starts to trickle from the opposite side. The trickle of water emerging will increase in volume until a steady rate of flow is reached. On the other hand chemicals can get into the skin by the ways of penetration as well. This is simply when something breaks the skin barrier and enters the bloodstream. Both of these ways for chemicals to get into the bloodstream can be potentially life threatening and it is important to know if your protective garments are strong enough to be dealing with the chemicals you’re using.     

Wet-Bulb globe temperature

For many industrial hygienists across the United States and the world they use a plethora of different utensils to measure different atmospheric temperatures and conditions.  These devices are used for a various amount of different conditions.  Of these devices there are none is more important than a wet-bulb temperature device. This unique devices measure the outdoors temperature to make sure that it is safe to do work while working in the elements hot or cold. Make makes this machine so unique is the multitude of tests it completes in order to determine if it is safe to work outside. The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature is a device that measures the effects of heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover and solar radiation. This is more accurate than the regularly used heat index because it has the ability to take into account the temperature and working conditions in shady areas as well as ones in direct sunlight. The Wet-bulb globe uses three different temperament recording devices the first being a wet-bulb temperature device that measures the amount of humidity present in the air. The second is a globe thermometer which measures the amount radiation in the air that could cause damage to the skin and even form cancer is left untreated. The third is a dry bulb device that measures the actual temperature in the air around it. This type of temperature devices are used by a variety of professionals around the world including Athletes, military’s personals and industrial hygienists. Now most wouldn't think that these devices are important but you would be wrong. These devices are very important in making sure that workers have the safest conditions available to them so they can complete their job quickly and more importantly safely.  

Radon levels and testing

Throughout our lives we are constantly exposed to a variety of different chemicals and toxins on a daily basis. Most of which we are not even aware of. Of these toxins present in the atmosphere none are more discreet or dangerous as the noble gas element known as radon. Radon which comes from radium is a radioactive element that naturally occurs in nature.  The reason as to why it is so dangerous is due to its radioactivity. That as well as the fact that it is an odorless, colorless gas that when exposed to people goes unnoticed until the levels of radiation keep dangerously high and damaging to the health of a person. The average national indoor rating for radon in the United States is roughly 1.3 pCi/l. However in Athens County the average levels are much higher than the nation average coming in at over 5 pCi/l with the levels being this high one should look into reducing these dangerous levels of radon through a system called radon mitigation. Mitigation of radon in the air is accomplished through ventilation, either collected below a concrete floor slab or membrane on the ground, or by increasing the air changes per hour in the building. Treatment systems using aeration or activated charcoal are available to remove radon from domestic water supplies.  Before you go out and buy yourself a radon mitigation system you should first consult a licensed contractor who know how to correctly monitor radon levels in the home or place of work to keep yourself and your employees safe from radon exposure because remember it is very hard to detect radon without the proper utensils and equipment specifically designed to test for radon in the home. If one suspects a concentrated level of radon in their home they should call for help immediately to keep exposure levels low.  

Preventing Hearing loss and Protection

While one may not be aware of it happening to them almost every minute of everyday hearing loss in the work place is becoming more and more prevalent than ever. This has to do in part with the advancement of technology and the creation of the iPod and mp3 players that allow users to listen to music and other recordings at high levels so close to the ear. Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. Approximately 22 million U.S. workers exposed to hazardous noise levels at work. Four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise. Ten million people in the U.S. have a noise-related hearing loss. Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year. It is estimated that over 82% of the noise related hearing loss originates from the manufacturing sector. There are currently 2 main forms of hearing protection available to whomever needs it, they are ear plugs and ear muffs. Ear plugs are good for sounds slightly above 85 decibels due to the fact that they are not perfect at cancelling sounds but whenever sounds get above that it is recommended that one wears ear muffs. This is because ear muffs do a better job at cancelling the sound before it enters the ear drum. For the best protection possible one should pair both ear plugs and muffs to create the best seal possible around the eardrum to stop the damaging noise for ever happening. While one may over look hearing protection and damage because of how light the damage is at a time one should be made aware that prolonged exposure to loud noises and sounds can eventually lead to deafness in the person and when they grow older and totally deafness is possible if no protective hearing measures are taken. 

Occupational Skin Damage and Injury

Everyday across the country workers from all different forms of work are all in close contact with toxic agents and chemicals that could potential harm the user. While working with these items one is put into a dangerous situation regardless of how much protection is available around them. While using these chemicals it is very important for one to watch where the chemical come into contact with because skin exposure is one of the leading risk of contamination in the united states. It is estimated that more than 13 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin.  Dermal exposure to hazardous agents can result in a variety of occupational diseases and disorders, including occupational skin diseases (OSD) and systemic toxicity. Of all the occupations in the world today the leading fields with the most amount of occupational skin diseases are food service, cosmetology, health care, agriculture, cleaning, painting, mechanics and construction jobs due to the fact that most of the work required to be done is still done mostly by hands. The skin while it may not be noticed is actually the largest organ in the human body accounting for over ten percent of the bodies mass. There are currently four different means of contamination when it comes to the skin. The first is chemical agent which is the most basic type due to the fact of the amount of chemicals present in the world and how easy they are to be contacted by the skin. The second form of contamination are physical agents such as extreme hot or cold temperatures and the radiation including the sun and UV rays that come from it. The third and fourth types of contamination are mechanical which includes frictions and cuts of any sorts and biological which include parasites and other organic materials.  

Particulate Matter as a Health Hazard

The single most important thing on this planet for us human and all other living things is air. Air is the sole reason we are able to do anything in life because without it we would all be dead within a matter of minutes. Although we may take for granted the air we breathe on a daily basis we must be concerned with the fact that they’re may be things in our air that can be toxin to our health if we breathe them for a long period of time. The things that I am talking about are known as particulates or little piece of a multitude of different items that can cause many different ailments to form. Particular matter or PM or soot, consists of microscopically small solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can penetrate into the respiratory system and the more hazardous they are to breathe. PM pollution can cause lung irritation, which leads to increased permeability in lung tissue. It may also aggravate the severity of chronic lung diseases, causing rapid loss of airway function. PM can cause inflammation of lung tissue, resulting in the release of chemicals that can impact heart function. This all depends on the size of particulates the smaller the particle the more dangerous it can be to one’s health The smaller-sized particles - those 2.5 micrometers or less called PM2.5 - are of greatest health concern because they can pass through the nose and throat and be absorbed deep inside the lungs. While 2.5 is the smallest and most dangerous type of PM one should not think lightly on other particulates that can range up to sized 10 or 10 micrometers. This is because all can cause harm to an individual if he or she is exposed to them for too long.  

Local Exhaust Ventilation

In many industrial work environments across the world the workers are exposed to harmful dust and chemicals on daily basis. These Particulates that are present in the air can cause harm to the worker and could eventually lead to lifelong illnesses which could have been prevented. Local exhaust Ventilation or LEV is one of the many ways that corporations can help minimize these exposures and keep people safe. An LEV is a type of air purification system that removes toxins from the air around an individual/s to make sure that the air they are breathing safe so that it cannot cause harm to them in the work environment. A local exhaust ventilation system consists of five equally important parts the first part of the system is known as the hood. This piece of the system is responsible for the capture and enclosure of contaminants. It reaches out to capture and pull away contaminates from the workers breathing area. This is the most important part of the LEV system. The second part of the system is the duct system, this is responsible for carrying away the contaminants away from the hood. It is crucial however that the velocity of air is strong enough so nothing settles in the duct. The third part of the system is the fan which is responsible for the movement of air throughout the system, it can be either vane axial shaped or centrifugal.  The fourth part is the motor which is responsible in running the fan the pushes the air through the system. The fifth and final part of the system is the stack or exhaust which removes the contaminated air from the system all together. While working with chemicals and other contaminants can be dangerous a well put together Local exhaust ventilation system can make working with these chemicals much safer so the work may be completed. 

Wheatstone Bridge Circuit

One of the many important tasks to an industrial hygiene professional is to detect different gases in the air. Now this may seem to be a fairly simple process due to the fact that most gases have a particular scent associated with them that makes their presence known and felt by people near it. But what happens when the gas your trying to identify does not have a scent and is no able to detect without the use of a meter or detectors. For gases such as carbon dioxide and other gases that are formed from combustion that are odorless certain type of detector is used to find these potentially lethal gases is a special type of detector that uses a circuit called a Wheatstone bridge circuit. This type of circuit is uniquely designed to tests for these odorless gases. What makes it special for testing is the way the filament inside of it heats up and tests the air. The electrical circuit can read the smallest changes in temperature which will tell device that there is an imbalance in the air around it. It is then identified by this change in temperature and is then read on the screen of the device. Often read is a change of percentage that is triggered to database which will tell the user what gases surround them. These tools are very helpful in identifying the gases when they are not able to be detected by our normal senses. Without the use of these sensors there could, potentially have been mass poisoning of people and possible deaths without the person even knowing what is happening to them before it’s already too late. We can thank the advances in technology over the past few hundred years for use to be able to live our lives safely without the fear of getting poisoned by odorless gases. 

Particulate Size and lung diseases

Your respiratory system is one of the most important systems in the human body. This is due to the fact that it is responsible for adding oxygen into the blood and giving our heart and brain all the oxygen we need to function.  Where you work however plays a huge part in the health of your lungs and what enters them on a daily basis. While one may not notice it foreign matter is entering the lung in almost every breath we take. What makes it dangerous to the human body is when those particle sizes get so tiny that they are absorbed into the deep parts of the lungs called the alveoli.  These Alveoli are responsible for gas exchange in the lungs that takes in the needed oxygen and lets out the not needed carbon dioxide. So you could imagine if harmful substances get into these parts of the lungs the damage they can cause to the lungs and entire respiratory system. This all depend on the particle size of the foreign matter.  In general particle sizes of 20 micrometers and less are usually imbedded into the nasopharyngeal region of the respiratory tract also known as nose, nasal cavity and throat. While these may still cause damage to the respiratory system it’s usually very minimal. Its starts to become potentially life threatening when the particulate size drops lower than 5 microns. Here is when they start to become embedded into the alveoli of the lungs and make the gas exchange function much more difficult to happen which can often result in life long diseases such as fibrosis of the lungs, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD and asthma.  People who work in areas where fine dust and particulates in the air should wear respirators or other devices to help with treating the air they breathe before it causes lifelong damage to your lungs. 

"OSH Answers Fact Sheets." Government of Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/lungs_dust.html>.

   

Botox

Botox Is a cosmetic drug used by millions all across the world to help treat the signs of aging mostly in woman but also common use for men to use as well. Botox is created from one of the most poisonous substance known to man; it was created from the bacteria Clostridium Botulism. The toxin is produced by a microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Being infected by botulism can cause a serious potentially fatal disease called botulism poisoning. However medical technology has progressed enough that now people are using it for cosmetic purposes. Botox as it’s known in the cosmetic world is onabotulismtoxinA and is injected into areas of the body to temporarily paralyze the facial muscles to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet in the skin and other forms of wrinkles that form during the ageing process. Botox injections are also used to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms (cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder and some causes of crossed eyes. Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines in some people. Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. The most common side effects include swelling or bruising at the injection site, headache or flu-like symptoms. If the injections aren't placed correctly, the medication may spread into adjacent tissues and cause problems as eyelid drooping, cockeyed eyebrows, crooked smile, dry eyes and possible excessive tearing. Although very unlikely, there is a possibility that the effect of botulinum toxin may spread to other parts of the body and cause botulism-like signs and symptoms. Always check to make sure that if you are going to receive a Botox injection that you make sure you find a reliable, experienced doctor who has plenty of experience in the injection so that you will have no problems with adverse side effects.   

"Botox Injections." Risks. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/botox/basics/risks/prc-20009036>.