Environmental Health

Household light bulbs include fluorescent and incandescent models. Fluorescent light bulbs, both regular and compact, contain mercury. Mercury is a known hazardous material and should be disposed...

Fungi play a vital role in breaking down dead matter and contributing to the nitrogen cycle. However, certain types of fungi can have a negative health impact on the lungs and the skin of those...

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. Its causes include various strains of streptococcus. This bacteria strain can be found in humans and in several pollutants and as a part of the...

Fluorescent bulbs are energy-efficient light sources that use mercury vapor to produce light. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can harm humans when inhaled as a vapor. The use of...

The water delivered to your house is purified to ensure it is safe to drink. Water treatment plants use a variety of chemicals to remove contaminates that affect the taste, odor, cloudiness and...

Commonly used in both residential and commercial construction for many years, asbestos is still found in many materials. Asbestos has been found to be a contributor to lung cancer and therefore is...

Asbestos is a term used for bundles of naturally occurring mineral fibers that were used in the construction of buildings and homes because of their resilience to heat and chemicals and their low...

Arsenic is a colorless, odorless element represented on the periodic table as As. Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance in volcanic material, and it is also produced by rock erosion and...

There is plenty you can do to slow down the greenhouse gas effect. Most of these steps will save you money too. Former Vice President Al Gore put it clearly in his 2005 Sierra Club Convention...

After a large meal at a restaurant, the server returns to the table with the check and the offer, "Would you like me to box that up for you?" The "box" is most likely made from polystyrene,...

As a hospital worker, whether a doctor, nurse, or nurse's aide, you're responsible for maintaining a safe environment for your fellow employees as well as for your patients. One accidental spill...

With increasing population and industrialization, waste management is becoming a severe problem around the world. Proper means of waste disposal is crucial to public health and the environment....

Many products used in nail salons such as acetone are considered hazardous waste and must be properly disposed of for safety. Check with your local city and county Health Department to see if...

Carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Fire Administration. Installing a carbon monoxide detector in the...

The EPA regulates tap water through standards designed to protect water quality, taste, color and clarity. Public systems treat water with chlorine disinfectants and filters in order to meet...

Mercury lamps provide efficient lighting in many schools, buildings, and households. Although they save a lot of energy and are generally good for the environment, they also--as the name...

Pectin is a group of complex and diverse polysaccharides that are found in the primary cell walls or roots of plant tissue. The compounds found at the concentrations of vegetables, nuts, legumes...

All liquids contain some level of pH, which measures how acidic they are. A watershed is an area where several sources of water, including rainfall, drain into a single outlet. The pH level of a...

According to the Food and Drug Administration, parabens are a group of preservatives used in cosmetics, food and drugs. Usually multiple parabens are used together or with other preservatives. The...

Molds (commonly referred to as black mold) exist everywhere, but are only visible when they have colonized. They can form on almost any surface as long as the environmental conditions are right.

You may have heard that cell phones can have negative health effects, particularly with the human brain. Scientific research on the topic indicates divergent conclusions on the subject.

Any time that you dispose of items that contain personal information you risk becoming the victim of identity theft. That is why it is especially important that you take care when disposing of...

There are various types or sub categories of pollution, including air, water and land pollution. Land pollution occurs when contaminants directly affect the ground surface. Causes of land...

Groundwater, thanks to its protected underground location, is naturally clean and contains no contaminants. However, bacteria and other dangers can leech into groundwater and infiltrate...

Confirming the presence of black mold requires an investigative approach involving several tests. Some companies use several methods in one mold test kit.

Asbestos was used in construction for many years. Though asbestos was banned in the United States in 1989 by the EPA with the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule, many homes built before that time...

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 3,000 types of mold exist. These grow in damp, dark environments indoors and outdoors, including in homes. When the mold spores are present...

Metal halide lamps have bulbs that contain mercury, which enables them to use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular lightbulbs. Metal halide bulbs are considered...

The most pressing environmental health problems are climate change, specifically, global warming, unsafe drinking water, poor air quality (indoors and out), and contaminated food supplies. ...

You have just purchased or been given a beautiful set of melamine dinnerware. The product literature that comes with the dinnerware says melamine dishware does not break or stain easily and is...

Humidity is the amount of water vapor or moisture that is in the air. Even though though too much of it can create a stuffy environment, we still need it for comfort and health. Too much humidity...

Chemicals are both a blessing and a curse. When used improperly they cause great harm; yet, they are an essential component of modern society. Therefore, it is essential that they be stored...

Electrical hazards pose a dangerous threat within a home or work environment. To ensure home safety, it is important to understanding how electric current travels, along with electrical conduction...

Motor oil poisons plants. This common lubricant may keep our car, truck and motorboat engines running smoothly, but it can cause a great deal of damage to plants and their surrounding ecosystem....

Phytoremediation is the use of plants to clean pollutants from soil. Plants can degrade pollutants directly, or microbial communities already in the soil can be enhanced to increase natural...

A primary pollutant emits from the source into the atmosphere directly, retaining the same chemical form. This differs from secondary pollutants, which are formed by atmospheric reactions to...

Indoor air pollution is caused by high levels of contaminants that become trapped indoors because of poor ventilation. Some sources of contamination include asbestos from building materials, lead...

Installing a proper storm water treatment system is one of the important measures businesses, individuals and cities can take to improve the quality of public and private water sources. Treatment...

Any plan to prevent the damaging effects of air pollution needs endeavors designed for every person who pollutes, so each one can reduce their contribution to unhealthy air and ozone depletion. At...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors public drinking water systems to check for contaminants and to ensure treatment processes are protecting human health. Drinking water must meet...

Air pollution is a matter of global concern. Mostly invisible, pollutants in the air can cause serious health hazards and have a serious impact on the environment.

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a variety "staph" bacteria. It resists penicillin and many other common antibiotics. MRSA presents as a virulent skin infection, boils,...

Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and other fluorinated gases (e.g.,...

Natural gas and petroleum products supply nearly two-thirds (66%) of America's energy demand. Pipelines are the method of choice for transporting these products and exceed 2.5 million miles in...

Going green has recently been a big part of many businesses' ways of conducting their daily activities. With an environmental management system (EMS), an organization can continue to operate...

Hazardous waste occurs in all areas of life. Any solid, gas or liquid waste that might cause hard to individuals or the environment is considered hazardous. This means that human...

Diatomaceous earth, otherwise known as Diatomite or DE, is a type of sedimentary rock composed of tiny fossilized organisms called diatoms. It has a number of functions, but is known for its use...

Liquid chlorine bleach is used for a variety of purposes including cleaning surfaces and laundry. It is very effective in eliminating many harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It is considered...

Urea nitrogen is manufactured to be used in fertilizer, in the making of some plastics, in decreasing the emissions of diesel engines and also as a dietary supplement for cattle. Urea nitrogen is...

Forestry management often requires the use of herbicides. Undesirable vegetation, invasive tree species and deadening trees must be removed so that desirable trees can flourish. Some of the...