|
|
|
Our local air monitors indicate violations of health standards for ozone and particulate matter today.
The graph shows how high we are, so far today, above the federal health standard for PM 2.5. The red line is the level where damage to heart and lungs begins to be noticed. ...
|
Comments [0] - Views [25]
|
|
|
|
Our Air District totally miscalled the air quality for today as Moderate
The federal standard for the PM 2.5, 24-hour average, is 35 ppm but the average today in Bakersfield is going to be well above 50 ppm. It is clearly an unhealthy air day.
We will also experience a violation...
|
Comments [1] - Views [36]
|
|
|
|
What is the nature of our particulate problem?
This time of year begins an almost daily period of high particulate levels in the air we breathe. Also, the problem is much worse at midnight than at noon.
The health effects are many. Ultra-fine particulates are linked to...
|
Comments [13] - Views [78]
|
|
|
|
Swayze Put His Faith In Conventional Cancer Treatments
Natural News
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
www.naturalnews.com/027030_cancer_chemotherapy_Patrick_Swayze.html
(NaturalNews) Beloved actor Patrick Swayze died...
|
Comments [6] - Views [90]
|
|
|
|
Hello again! It has been a while since I posted here mainly because haven't had very much really good news. On March 5th I slipped in the mud at work. Normally this would have been a oh woops, but I fell pretty hard and unbeknownst to me my entire life changed that very moment.
It took over...
|
Comments [1] - Views [45]
|
|
|
|
Our Air is getting better?
Wishful thinking on the part of the air district. You would think our air should be better with the economic downturn. But, whatever the air district thinks it has been doing is not helping. With a day to go, we already have 26 violations of...
|
Comments [12] - Views [91]
|
|
|
|
Carbon in Soil is Important Climate Stabilizer
Organic Agriculture has been on the fringe in America for too long. The Rodale Institute, a well-known promoter of organic methods, was not taken seriously at all back in the 70’s and 80’s. Today,...
|
Comments [12] - Views [71]
|
|
|
|
I am not sure what to think about this health care reform. Everyone knows that we all need it. With all of the spills, diseases,viruses,pollution, etc. it has made our people ill. I read an article on the Presidents doctor and he stated that there should be a cap of 1 million a year,...
|
Comments [3] - Views [42]
|
|
|
|
What's Going On?
I realize the air district said we won't have clean air until 2024 but can't we expect some progress along the way?
Violations of the federal health standard for ozone are supposed to be decreasing. Comparing the SJV violations in May for the past six years...
|
Comments [1] - Views [30]
|
|
|
|
Are the drug companies out of control or what? We are teaching our children to manage everything through chemistry. Antibiotics every time they sneeze to Ritalin so they won't burden the school system. Inhalers and steroids for asthma. Is it just me, or does it seem...
|
Comments [10] - Views [88]
|
|
|
|
Dairyman Admits Lack of Rule Changes Nothing
Because they care so much about the environment (ha, ha), a dairy industry group requested today that dairies continue to follow the recently rescinded air district rule regulating their pollution.
The problem is there is nothing in the rule they...
|
Comments [0] - Views [22]
|
|
|
|
Are Residents in Danger of Higher Pollution Rates from the Judge's Ruling?
The answer is absolutely not. The rule (4570) which a Judge recently rescinded did nothing to decrease VOC emissions at dairies. It only put into rule form common practices at dairies which are good...
|
Comments [1] - Views [34]
|
|
|
|
This weekend's paper featured a story about a local family who received a visit from CPS after taking their newborn to urgent care and then declining treatment.
The couple wanted to consult their own pediatrician before agreeing to a spinal tap and intravenous antibiotics for their newborn.
I'm...
|
Comments [6] - Views [165]
|
|
|
|
Gardening is Good
What do you do when the economy is bad, commercial food is unhealthy, and your carbon footprint is way too big? Dig up the lawn and grow a garden.
It saves energy and water. It is also good for the body, mind, and soul.
|
Comments [11] - Views [72]
|
|
|
|
Study is not Good News for People Exposed to Diesel Pollution
In spite of naysayers like Lois Henry scoffing at epidemiological studies when they don't like the results, there are more and more studies showing strong links between exposure to air pollution and health problems.
This...
|
Comments [2] - Views [41]
|
|
|
|
This is worth repeating
In light of a vicious onslaught by a writer at this newspaper on the validity of claims that poor air quality damages health, I thought I would repeat a reference to a study that indicates living in Kern County will shorten your lifespan. Notice, I am not...
|
Comments [0] - Views [27]
|
|
|
|
I'm working on a story for this weekend on ways people can reduce their spending on food while still staying healthy. One of the first bits of advice offered by a UC Davis food expert I talked today was to cut out organic products.
"That's an arena that has a pretty hefty premium, around...
|
Comments [10] - Views [237]
|
|
|
|
Lauren, my heart has broken in two. I've lost friends to eating disorders, yes, but they were girls I had known for a few months. You were a beaming light of pure gold, a friend to me since day one- that was over 2 and a half years ago, now...Do you remember? I know that talking to you like...
|
Comments [0] - Views [60]
|
|
|
|
Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; 12:00 AM
MONDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup...
|
Comments [0] - Views [23]
|
|
|
|
Pollution Hurts Crop Yield
A recent peer reviewed study at Cal State Fullerton gives us the cost of ozone and particle pollution on our health and economy. business.fullerton.edu/centers/iees/reports/Benefits%20of%20Meeting%20Clean%20Air%20Standards.pdf It places the cost...
|
Comments [0] - Views [34]
|
|
|
|
Can't Be Proven
The tobacco companies tried for years to fight evidence that showed tobacco was harmful to health. They hired doctors and lawyers to say that smoking a cigarette never killed anyone. Of course they were technically correct but they were also guilty of deceiving the...
|
Comments [2] - Views [43]
|
|
|
|
Interesting Research for Kern County
Since 2001, Kern County has seen an increase of over 100,000 dairy animals due to our supervisors agreeing to give out dozens of dairy permits without environmental review in the late 1990's. Has this had any effect on infant...
|
Comments [10] - Views [137]
|
|
|
|
Misleading Commentary by Lois Henry
In her weekly column, Lois Henry writes that our air quality is getting better and that science is misleading us into over estimating the health effects of bad air. She claims that environmentalists need to face reality.
This is not the kind...
|
Comments [10] - Views [106]
|
|
|
|
Over Ninety Percent Local
According to the air district, which is required to do extensive studies on the matter, over ninety percent of our local air pollution problem in Kern County is not transported from outside the region. Excuses are made by the uninformed that we get...
|
Comments [5] - Views [80]
|
|
|
|
I went into my new dietitian with fear and doubt in my heart.
I came out with hope.
She was totally young and friendly, and was definitely healthy (at least by all outward appearances). Although she has never had an...
|
Comments [0] - Views [58]
|
|
|
|
Gunk in Air is Awful this Week
The dairies must be pumping their lagoons again. They tend to do that this time of year. The ammonia gases emitted from these lagoons is tremendous. Of course, without car and truck exhaust the ammonia would be relatively harmless. ...
|
Comments [5] - Views [76]
|
|
|
|
Garden Solves Problems
I don't mean to brag but this photo of my small garden taken this morning says a thousand words.
Green leaf gardens grow their best in this valley in the Fall. We have been eating nightly salads from this small 4 x 8 foot garden for 3 weeks already. ...
|
Comments [4] - Views [56]
|
|
|
|
Appeals Court Rules In Favor of Local Group
The Association of Irritated Residents, a local air quality group, has prevailed over the San Joaquin Valley Air District. They got the state appeals court to rule in their favor regarding the inadequacy of a rule regulating large dairies...
|
Comments [0] - Views [26]
|
|
|
|
Six Billion Dollars and Counting
An independent study by economists shows an outrageous cost to the San Joaquin Valley of at least $6.3 billion dollars every year for our failure to meet clean air standards.
Benefits of Meeting Clean Air Standards Nov 2008
The cost arises from premature...
|
Comments [0] - Views [12]
|
|
|
|
CNBC Host Recommends Statins be Put in the Water Supply
Youtube
Monday, Nov 10, 2008
video link: www.youtube.com/watch
Makers of Crestor now claim that people with normal cholesterol are also at risk for heart attack. Their...
|
Comments [1] - Views [57]
|
|
|
|
Worse Air Than LA
The San Joaquin Valley beat LA again for worst air in the nation. Barring a November heat wave, the ozone season has finally come to a close with us in first place.
This link will show you the numbers. We had, unofficially, 127 violations of the...
|
Comments [1] - Views [18]
|
|
|
|
Air Got Even Worse !!
From Friday through Sunday, the air quality in the San Joaquin Valley was being polluted seriously by all three of the major categories of contaminants which are ozone, dust (PM 10), and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM 2.5).
The last two days (Monday and Tuesday)...
|
Comments [5] - Views [74]
|
|
|
|
Triple Whammy !!!
The San Joaquin Valley has violated the federal ozone standard the past three days with a high yesterday (10.26.08) of 84 parts per billion. The standard is 75 ppb.
We are also experiencing violations the past few days of the federal standard for PM 2.5 caused by...
|
Comments [3] - Views [40]
|
|
|
|
The dog lay prone in the road directly in front of my house. She was very still, although a gentle breeze ruffled her fur and mimicked movement. In the light of the nearly full moon, I easily recognized the unfortunate dog as Tasha, the Welsh corgi who belonged to one of our favorite neighbors, a...
|
Comments [5] - Views [18]
|
|
|
|
Blowing dust prompts health warning; Air district cautions that air pollution levels climbing
Gusty winds in the San Joaquin Valley have prompted local air-pollution officials to issue a health cautionary statement from Thursday afternoon through Friday evening.
Winds in the San...
|
Comments [0] - Views [406]
|
|
|
|
Several state agencies are lamenting their cuts in funding.
Nona Tolentino, director of long-term care services at Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance and program director of Kern's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, wrote via e-mail about the unfunded mandates she is left with in wake of the...
|
Comments [0] - Views [115]
|
|
|
|
Mosquitoes, while small, have caused big problems in Kern. Recently it was West Nile virus, and 70 years ago, it was malaria.
Local history buff George Gilbert Lynch sent me this history on malaria in the county. Interesting reading.
The last epidemic of mosquito-born malaria in Bakersfield...
|
Comments [1] - Views [103]
|
|
|
|
Are they kindred spirits bridging the coasts with their undying commitment to their health beats?
The Wall Street Journal health blog is apparently a fan of our very own health reporter Emily Hagedorn. They "follow" each other on Twitter and now he's given her a shoutout on his blog....
|
Comments [1] - Views [85]
|
|
|
|
The complaint filed against Dr. Jeff Freesemann and the others charged in the investigation of drugs at local nightclubs was sparse but offered a few clues.
From Aug. 24 through Aug. 26, Tessa Galvan, Stephen Galvan, Phil Nunez, Dr. Freesemann and Shelly Freesemann conspired together to...
|
Comments [10] - Views [801]
|
|
|
|
In a tearful press conference last week, a few people affected by hospital infections thanked the governor for signing bills that will, hopefully, limit the infections' spread.
(Read "Widow thanks governor for bill to curb health care infections" on Bakersfield.com)
Senate Bill 158,...
|
Comments [1] - Views [76]
|
|
|
|
The district attorney's office expects files to be charged Friday against Dr. Jeff Freesemann and his wife Shelly.
The couple, along with five other people, were arrested Sept. 17 after a nearly yearlong investigation by the police into the sale of Ecstasy, meth and cocaine at local nightclubs....
|
Comments [56] - Views [1322]
|
|
|
|
Health insurance woes abound in this country, but people with eating disorders often face an even steeper uphill battle with insurers, many of whom provide very limited coverage for what doctors call a very complex disease to treat.
---
DOUG KRIZNER: The cost healthcare is an...
|
Comments [1] - Views [39]
|
|
|
|
Binge eating and purging can occur in boys and girls at a variety of ages, but the risk factors for these behaviors largely vary by age group and gender, according to an article released on June 02, 2008 in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives...
|
Comments [0] - Views [22]
|
|
|
|
A recent study published by the International Journal of Eating Disorders reveals that university undergraduate women who actively participate in sports and exercise-related activities tend to have higher rates of attitudes and behaviors related to eating disorders compared to...
|
Comments [4] - Views [54]
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, Sep 24 (Psych Central) -- After over a decade of struggling and aborted attempts, Congress passed a bill yesterday that provides for equal treatment of mental health, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, ending a decades’ long practice of discrimination against these...
|
Comments [2] - Views [18]
|
|
|
|
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the tardiest state budget ever today.
The $144.5 billion spending plan did see some line-item vetoes from the governor, including cuts to a program that lowered prescription drug prices for low-income residents.
(Read "Schwarzenegger signs Calif. budget 85...
|
Comments [5] - Views [98]
|
|
|
|
No Improvement This Year
There are many ways to compare air quality from year to year. One way is to look at "good" days vs. "very unhealthy" days which are the extremes in our air quality forecasts.
Last summer (June 22 to September 22, 2007) we had zero...
|
Comments [10] - Views [57]
|
|
|
|
The Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC is participating in a new study comparing the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral therapy, delivered through a Web site and augmented with therapist-moderated, weekly online chat sessions, to that of face-to-face group therapy...
|
Comments [1] - Views [52]
|
|
|
|
Prominent physician Dr. Jeff Freesemann and his wife were among several people arrested after a nearly year-long drug investigation by Bakersfield Police.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, possession of drugs for sale and transportation of drugs.
(Read "Prominent doctor, six...
|
Comments [25] - Views [901]
|
|
|
|
To curb heavy drinking, the Department of Health in England has identified nine types of heavy drinkers.
The hope is that by helping people understand their urges, they can learn to control them, according to the BBC.
"Heavy drinking" is defined as consuming 35 units a week for women,...
|
Comments [0] - Views [69]
|
|
|
