Environmental Health Services in San Francisco

In the San Francisco department of public health website, people can find out many health-related programs, which includes community health program, health education, communicable diseases, environmental health and etc. Under the environmental health section, there are 8 environmental health topic sub-sections providing information on safe and nutritious food, protection from excessive noise, prevention of exposure to chemicals, polluted soil, air and water, habitable housing and quality of neighborhoods. Also, there are some helpful links and resources that provide up-to-date information, reports and videos for the public to read and view.

For me, I am interested in food safety and health promotion, so I look more into the Children’s Environmental Health Promotion Program under the neighborhoods and housing section and the Food Safety Program under the food and agriculture section. For the Children’s Environmental Health Promotion Program, it provides health information on lead, asthma and healthy home for residential homes, childcare, schools, and workplaces. And, for the food safety program, it requires all retail restaurants, markets, and food facilities must obtain a permit to operate and comply all health codes from City and State Governments. Also under the helpful links in the Food Safety Program, there is a restaurant safety scores evaluation. By reviewing on the safety scores, people can realize how well the restaurants perform on food handling and restaurants’ environment.

In San Francisco Environment Department’s website, it also provides lots of environmental health-relative news, videoes and events in San Francisco.  People can also find out many environmental health topics, such as energy, zero waste and climate change and etc.

Scorecard and EPA Facts

I am living in Mission district, San Francisco, and I am wondering how well my community and county’s environmental evaluation are.

Top polluter in Mission District

The major 3 top polluters in Mission district are San Francisco Drydock INC,  Chevron Prods. Co  San Francisco Terminal and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Hunters point power plant.

Percent of the homes in Mission District with lead-based paint

7% of houses in San Francisco have a high risk of lead hazards

Superfund sites in Mission District

According to the Wikipedia, superfund site is “a polluted location requiring a long-term response to clean up hazardous material contaminations. There is one superfund site called “ Treasure Island Naval Station-Hunter Point Annex near Mission district. In this superfund site, Groundwater, sediments, soil and surface water are contaminated with fuels, pesticides, heavy metals, PCBS and volatile organic compounds.

Air and water quality in Mission District

I am surprised that San Francisco is one of the top 10% of dirtiest countries in the U.S. Also, San Francisco is one of the top 10% of countries having an average individual’s added cancer risk from hazardous air pollutant, based on the EPA data.

The major air pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, PM-2.5, PM-10 and volatile organic compounds. For water quality, I am also surprised that San Francisco is one of the dirtiest countries in the U.S.  In California, San Francisco is ranking 14 by percepts of surface water with impaired or threatened uses (29.65%).

Social justice/environmental justice

According to the Scorecard, low-income communities and communities of color may suffer greater impacts from environmental degradation than other groups. The major distribution of Environmental burdens in San Francisco is releases of toxic chemicals. People with color, low-income, and low education have twice risk of health impacts than white people with high income and high education.

Comment on presentation by Jane Hoolihan

What an amazing video from Jane Hoolihan.  She delivers a wonderful presentation on industrial chemicals with a strong association with human diseases, quality of drinking water and foods safety.  In her presentation, I was shocked that many Americans would prefer to spend more money on bottled water than gasoline since many people think bottled water is safer than tap water, containing fewer contaminants, such as industrial chemicals. However, according to a study conducted by the EWG, it shows there are 38 contaminants in 10 popular brands of bottled water. A couple of them even contain Tylenol and substances that can alter hormone level.  In addition, Jane points out another environmental concern from bottle water. Only 24% of water bottles can be recycled, and the lefts of them either go to landfills or incinerators.

In her presentation, I also like how she talk about pesticide affecting food safety. Before I watch her presentation, I seldom choose organic foods due to high price. However, Jane has provided me a better understanding on how to purchase foods wisely. I was surprised that 8 different pesticides could be found when people purchase a conventional peach. Jane encourages people to use Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide to know which 12 fruits or vegetables containing more pesticides, so people know which food items should buy organic or non-organic.

After I watched the presentation, I felt environmental health concerns should be prioritized than other issues in the Untied Stated since those environmental health concerns have a huge impact on the future generations and us. According to Lisa Jackson,  anf EPA administrator, “ a child born in America today will grow up exposed to more chemicals than a child from any other generation in our history.” There are so many unknown harmful chemical compounds existed in the United State for past 50 years. How can we prevent this?

Personal and household products

For my personal care products, I have chosen Dove Men+Care Anti-dandruff shampoo and Irish Spring Body Wash for products reviews.

Irish Spring Body Wash—Aloe

Personally, I like to use Irish Spring Body Wash—Aloe and I have used that body wash for a year since the pleasant scent of the product help me feel relaxed and make me refreshed. I used to think Irish Spring Body Wash—Aloe is safe and right for me. However, until I read the products review from the EWG. I realized how toxic the product is.

According to EWG, Irish Spring Body Wash—Aloe is rating 5 scores. That is, the product is moderate for toxicity. By looking at the ingredients of the product, it has a high concern on allergies and immunotoxicity because it contains fragrance and DMDM hydrantoin. Both products ingredients would cause irritation, allergies and immunotoxicity to people.  Also, based on EWG, products contains fragrance, which is a mixture of various scent chemicals, such as diethyl phthalate.  According to Toxicological Profile Diethyl Phthalate by the U.S Department of health and Human Service, it associated with allergies respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.

Dove Men+Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

My second personal product I looked up to is Dove Men+Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. I like to use this shampoo because it always keeps my hair free of dandruff.  The safety score for the Dove men anti-dandruff shampoo is 4. When I look up the product in EWG, the product also contains fragrance and DMDM hydrantoin, so the product also has high concerns on Irritation, persistence and bioaccumulation.

Household products

Lysol All Purpose 4-in-1 Disinfectant all purpose cleaner, orange

My first household product is Lysol All Purpose 4-in-1 Disinfectant. According to the Nation Library of Medicine’s Household Products Database, the product is hazards to humans and domestic animals. The product is recommended to wear rubber glove when people use it and keep out of children. However, this product does not cause any chronic health effects and carcinogens, while it only causes some acute healthy effects, such as eye irritation. Also, I am surprised that the all-purpose cleaner does not cause any environmental health effects. In addition, the health rating of this product is 2 scores, which is moderate health effect, but the product has the lowest rating in flammability, reactivity and HMIS.

Downy Fabric  Softener. Ultra, April Fresh

My second household product is Downy Fabric Softener. When I look up the product in Nation Library of Medicine’s Household Products Database, it shows the product does not any carcinogen and would not cause any chronic health effect. Therefore, the health rating of this product is 1 score. However, this product is not recommended for children’s sleepwear and garments labeled flame resistance since Downy fabric softener would reduce flame resistance, so the product has slight flammability rating. In addition, the product has the lowest rating in reactivity and HMIS.