Greenversations

By Lina Younes

At the beginning of the year, I decided that 2012 was going to be the year for me to get healthier. I thought that if I used that as my guiding light for the months ahead, this resolution would likely survive beyond the month of January.

Granted that in order to get healthier, I needed to make some changes to my daily habits. Lifestyle changes and making better choices are definitely required to be successful in reaching my goal. There is no doubt that losing weight seems to be in everyone’s top five New Year resolutions. However when the pounds don’t come off as fast as we like, we are likely to be disillusioned and return to our unhealthy practices. So, what are some of the lifestyle changes that I’ve made to achieve my healthier goal? Well, I’ve started by making healthier eating choices. How about eating more fruits and vegetables? How about looking at our  old cookbooks for creative recipes that not only include healthier foods, but add some variety to the menu? How about exercising more? I’m not talking necessarily about going on the treadmill that has been collecting dust in the basement. I mean we can take longer walks even when we walk our dog. That’s a nice way of getting some fresh air and getting some exercise without really trying. Also, don’t forget the sun block even if it’s wintertime.

What other choices can we make to have a healthier lifestyle?

• Well, reducing the amount of clutter around the home is a great start to get in the right state of mind.
• Increasing our recycling rate is another good habit at home and at work.
• Testing your home for radon will also help you to have a healthier home.
• Reading the label first before using household chemical products and pesticides

These are just a few of  the healthy habits that should lead to a healthier 2012. Why don’t you commit to taking action for a healthier you and a healthier environment? Visit EPA’s Pick 5 for some suggestions.

As always, we would like to hear from you. What have you done to make 2012 a healthier year for you and your family?

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and currently serves as EPA’s Multilingual Outreach and Communications Liaison in the Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

Por Lina Younes

A principios del año, decidí que el 2012 sería el año en el cual me dedicaría a ser más saludable. Pensé que si fijaba esa meta como mi norte para los meses venideros, esta resolución tendría mejores posibilidades de sobrevivir más allá de enero.

Admito que para lograr ser más saludable, tendría que hacer algunos cambios en mis hábitos cotidianos. Cambios de estilo de vida y mejores selecciones definitivamente son requeridas para tener éxito en esta tarea. No hay duda que perder peso siempre encabeza la lista de las cinco resoluciones del Nuevo Año más populares. Sin embargo, cuando no vemos que las libras desaparecen al ritmo deseado, nos desilusionamos y regresamos a nuestras prácticas habituales que suelen ser nocivas a la salud. Entonces, ¿cuáles son algunos de los cambios en estilo de vida que necesitamos para alcanzar nuestra meta de ser más saludable? Bueno, yo comencé por hacer mejores selecciones al momento de comer. Por ejemplo, ¿qué tal le parece comer más frutas y vegetales? ¿Qué tal le parece consultar los viejos libros de cocina en busca de recetas creativas que sean no tan sólo más saludables sino también ofrezcan mayor variedad para el menú? Otro buen hábito—hacer más ejercicios. No estoy hablando necesariamente de buscar la trotadora que ha estado cogiendo polvo en el sótano, recomiendo el salir a caminar. Tomar caminatas más largas cuando saca el perro a pasear, por ejemplo. Es una buena manera de respirar aire fresco y hacer ejercicios sin un esfuerzo mayor. Y no se olvide de usar la crema para protegerse del sol aún en el invierno.

¿Quiere otras sugerencias para adoptar un estilo de vida más saludable? He aquí algunas:

• Bueno, el reducir el exceso de papeleo y cosas amontonadas en el hogar es una buena manera de poner orden y crear un ambiente más sano y un estilo de vida más saludable.
• El reciclar más es también un buen hábito en el hogar y en el trabajo.
• Hacer la prueba del radón le ayudará.
• El leer la etiqueta de productos químicos caseros antes de utilizarlos es esencial para proteger a su familia.

Estos son tan sólo algunos buenos hábitos para logar un 2012 más saludable. ¿Por qué no se compromete a tomar acción para ser más saludable y proteger el medio ambiente también? Visite la página de Pick5 de EPA (Elija 5) para ver algunas sugerencias.

Como siempre, nos encantaría escuchar su sentir sobre este tema. ¿Qué está haciendo para lograr un año más saludable para usted y su familia en el 2012?

Acerca de la autora: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la EPA desde el 2002 y se desempeña la persona encargada de alcance público y comunicaciones multilingües en la Oficina de Asuntos Externos y Educación Ambiental de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU. Antes de integrarse a la labor de la EPA, trabajó como periodista dirigiendo la oficina en Washington de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales.

By Nancy Grundahl

I won’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of the Philadelphia sculptor, Daniel Kornbau. I hadn’t either until I began researching my ancestry. I learned that Daniel was the brother of my great grandmother Emma. His most famous work is the Mullen Monument, which was commissioned by the millionaire William James Mullen. It was, in fact, on display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park. You can see it today in Laurel Hill Cemetery, where its location is marked on the visitors’ map. For Rocky fans, Laurel Hill is the cemetery where Adrian Balboa was buried.

After seeing many photos of the Mullen Monument on the web, I was surprised to see how weathered it was “in person.” Sharp edges were rounded. You can barely read Daniel’s name and address under the seated woman. Years of acid rain have not been kind to my great uncle’s work of art.

Philadelphia is downwind of many industrial sources of sulfur dioxides (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, particularly power plants that burn fossil fuels. These pollutants combine with moisture in the air to form the acid rain that reacts with the calcite in marble and limestone, causing the calcite to dissolve, destroying the fine details that Daniel worked so well to create.

The good news is that in the last few years, pollutants causing acid rain in the Philadelphia area have been reduced by actions including installing additional controls on power plants and burning cleaner coal. And, it was a pleasure to see Administrator Jackson’s recent announcement about requiring significant new reductions in power plant mercury and toxic emissions.

What can we do to help? Conserve energy, since energy production causes the largest portion of the acid rain problem. In this way we can help preserve fine works of art for future generations.

About the author: Nancy Grundahl has worked for the Philadelphia office of EPA since the mid-80’s. She currently works in Program Support for the Water Protection Division. Nancy believes in looking at environmental problems in a holistic, multi-media way and is a strong advocate of preventing pollution instead of dealing with it after it has been created.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

Each week we write about the science behind environmental protection.Previous Science Wednesdays.

By Katie Lubinsky

Imagine the swooshing sound of air being vacuumed. This is what I heard the second I stepped into the car. As I looked inside, I noticed the jungle of wires, plugs and Back to the Future-like machines. While maybe not as cool as a DeLorean, the vehicle I just stepped into might just be a clean air scientist’s dream ride.

Lucky for me I was riding with one—EPA’s own Gayle Hagler (someone I’ve blogged about previously). Gayle invited me to ride along with her in EPA’s tripped out science vehicle, so I could learn more about the Geospatial Mapping of Air Pollutants (GMAP) project.

Through the project, Gayle and other researchers are designing, developing and utilizing state-of-the-art mobile measurement systems to gain insights into the sources of air pollution and the impacts emissions have on public health.

This isn’t your ordinary car. What started out as an everyday, economy-sized, gasoline-powered vehicle was transformed into an electric-powered, zero emissions, air quality ‘sniffing’ machine that can travel up to 100 miles, give or take depending on the speed. Gayle and her EPA colleagues use it to measure air pollution on and near highways.

From the outside, the car looks normal except for a small sphere-like ‘hat’ on top. This is where the high-tech GPS antenna sits and gives the car’s location by the second. Inside is where you really notice the differences. Here, there are many machines that take in outside air as the car drives, which analyze the amount and types of pollutants being emitted by other vehicles.

I’ve never ridden in an electric car before and especially one with top-of-the-line air pollution monitoring equipment in it. I felt as if I were a character in Back to the Future with all the science going on but relieved to notice Gayle was way more down to earth than crazed “Doc Brown.” As we rolled, she explained some of the data activities going on around us like how she and her colleagues collect measurements on pollutants important to the Agency, including black carbon, carbon monoxide and fine particles.

I felt very privileged to ride in such style—an innovative EPA vehicle that measures air quality as part of our effort to inform policy from a local to national level.

About the author: Katie Lubinsky is a student contractor working with EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

By Dr Susan Conrath

Throughout my career as a Public Health Service Officer and EPA employee, I have always been surprised by the relatively low level of radon awareness throughout the country. Radon is a Class A carcinogen- we know that it causes cancer in humans. But, this huge environmental risk is not on most individuals’ “radar screens.” Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil. Since it is a gas it can easily move through spaces in the soil and escape into the air where it is diluted. However, when radon enters a home through cracks in the foundation or other openings, it becomes trapped inside and can accumulate. You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it’s there. In fact, its discovery as an indoor air issue occurred when an individual, Stanley Watras, set off radiation alarms in a nuclear power plant because his home’s levels were so high.

Many people do not realize that radon is the number two cause of lung cancer in the U.S.; exceeded only by smoking. For never-smokers radon is the number one cause of lung cancer. Scientific studies have confirmed the risk and show no evidence that there is any “safe” level of radon.

As shown on our Health Risks Page radon-induced lung cancer deaths [at the U.S. average indoor air concentration of 1.3 picocuries/Liter of air [1.3pCi/L]] are in the same general range as deaths from leukemia and lymphoma and are greater than a number of selected cancers that we currently spend large amounts of money to research and/or combat.

Protect your family! The only way to know if you have radon in your home is to test. Testing is easy and inexpensive. If your level is high fix the problem. It’s one of the best investments you can make for your family’s health and it will enhance the future sales potential of your home by making it a healthier place to live. Learn more about how to test and fix for radon.

If you are building a house or having one built, radon-resistant new construction [RRNC] techniques can be used to avoid having to deal with high radon concentrations. It’s less expensive to install RRNC during construction than to have to fix a radon problem at a later date.

About the author: Dr Susan Conrath is a CAPTAIN with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She works in the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air as an epidemiologist and international expert on radon risk.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

A lo largo de mi carrera como militar en salud pública y como empleada de la EPA, siempre me ha sorprendido el nivel relativamente bajo del conocimiento sobre el radón en todo el país. El radón es un carcinógeno de clase A, que se sabe que causa cáncer en los seres humanos. Sin embargo este enorme riesgo medioambiental no está en la mayoría de las “pantallas de radar” de las personas. El radón es un gas radioactivo que proviene de la descomposición del uranio en el suelo. Ya que es un gas se puede mover fácilmente a través de los espacios en el suelo y escapar al aire donde se diluye. Sin embargo, cuando el radón entra a una casa a través de grietas en los cimientos u otras aberturas, queda atrapado en el interior de la misma y puede acumularse. Usted no puede ver, oler ni percibir el radón, pero está ahí. De hecho, se descubrió como un problema en el medio ambiente interior cuando un individuo. Stanley Watras, hizo activar las alarmas al entrar a una planta de energía nuclear debido a que los niveles de radón en su casa eran muy altos.

Muchas personas no se dan cuenta de que el radón es la segunda causa de cáncer pulmonar en los EE.UU., superado solamente por el tabaquismo. Para los no fumadores el radón es la causa número uno de cáncer pulmonar. Los estudios científicos han confirmado el riesgo y no se ha descubierto ninguna evidencia de que existe algún nivel seguro de radón.

Si nos fijamos en la tabla de abajo se puede ver que las muertes de cáncer pulmonar causadas por el radón [la concentración promedio en los EE UU es de 1.3 picocuries /litro de aire (1.3pCi/L)] están en el mismo rango general que las muertes por leucemia y linfoma y son mayores que en los canceres seleccionados actualmente donde se gastan grandes cantidades de dinero en la investigación y/o combatiéndolos.

Proteja a su familia. La única forma de saber si hay radón en su hogar es haciendo la prueba. La prueba es fácil de hacer y de bajo costo. Si el nivel es alto, solucione el problema. Es una de las mejores inversiones que puede hacer por la salud de su familia y también aumentará el potencial de venta de su hogar en el futuro. Para más información de cómo hacer la prueba de radón y corregir los niveles en su hogar visite

Si está construyendo una casa considere emplear las técnicas resistentes al radón en construcciones nuevas (RRNC, por sus siglas en inglés) para evitar tener que lidiar con las concentraciones de radón. Es menos costoso usar estas técnicas (RRNC) durante la construcción, que tener que solucionar un problema de radón en el futuro.

Sobre el autor: La Dra. Susan Conrath es capitana con el Servicio de Salud Pública del Cuerpo de Comisionados de los EE UU. Ella trabaja en la oficina de Aire y Radiación de los interiores como epidemióloga y experta internacional en los riesgos del radón.

By Brittney Gordon

Do you use a programmable thermostat? For many years I would have had to answer no to that question. I always tried to turn down the heat/air conditioning as I left for work in the morning and before I went to bed, but that strategy was 50/50 to say the least. If only I had known that for a very small investment I could have regulated the temperature in my home and saved about $180 a year.

A programmable thermostat comes with settings that allow you set the temperature of your house based on your family’s schedule. Use this chart to get started.

Here are some rules of thumb for properly using these thermostats:

1. Keep the temperature set at its energy-saving set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours).
2. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. Beware: You use more energy and will pay more on energy bills if you consistently override the pre-programmed settings.
3. Units typically have two types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage daily temperature settings. “Hold” or “vacation” features are best when you’re planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e., several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You’ll waste energy and money if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you’re away.
4. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats begin to heat or cool at a set time, reaching set-point temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart) recovery features are an exception to this rule.
5. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you’ll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience, and energy savings throughout the house.
6. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don’t forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

If you need help installing your programmable thermostat, EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has everything you need to get started here.

About the author: Brittney Gordon is a member of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program communications team. The Baltimore native has worked for EPA since 2010.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

By Jeanethe Falvey

To date, most of the photos submitted to State of the Environment have been stunningly beautiful; artistic landscapes and captivating creatures. If that’s what the cumulative picture of our planet is right now, incredible! However, I know there is work to be done and that beauty is one side of the story. You know this too and we’re OK with that. We’re OK with photos that show the environmental challenges and problems that exist. That’s part of the picture and that’s what made Documerica great.

This photographic documentary is an unprecedented opportunity for every one of us to make a statement about our environmental quality right now. What is our drinking water like? Can we fish without overfishing? Swim and enjoy our lakes and beaches without getting sick? Is our air healthy to breathe? Where is our food coming from and what does it take to get it there? Are we protecting wildlife and conserving open space?

These photos show our priorities and our struggles. This documentary is coming together on a scale that can’t be genuinely replicated by a small group of people no matter how well traveled you are. It’s thousands of unfiltered opinions coming right to EPA’s doorstep, resulting in a picture that just may lead to greater awareness and perhaps a better way forward that we can all take ownership in.

Not only is State of the Environment showing what our world looks like now, the result of how we’ve cared for it in the past, but it will show our actions for the future. Based on today, what might our environment look like decades from now?

Not every country is as lucky as we are. We’re an involved public. We’re involved in our government and we’re passionate about what happens inside and outside of our national boundaries. We can expect a lot for our quality of life and we CAN air our discontent. There were times and places in history where doing that would have put you into a moat of lions.

So grab your camera, even your smartphone, sign up on Flickr and show us what you see. The good, the bad, even the ugly.

About the author: Jeanethe Falvey writes from EPA’s Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education, as the project-lead for Pick 5 and the State of the Environment, two projects geared towards learning, sharing and gaining a greater collective connection to our environment.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

By Carmen Torrent

In January, people reflect on their lives and make a list of things they want to get, change or strike out. The tradition of making resolutions comes from ancient times. The Roman Empire established January 1 as the beginning of the year and placed Janus, a mystic god, as the guardian of the door of the New Year, and he became the symbol of the resolution. Janus has two faces representing beginnings and endings, one looking to the past and the other to the future.

Topping my list of resolutions this year is to be healthier, and part of being healthier is to maintain a healthy home. That’s why I decided to test my home for radon. Now that I know radon is the number two cause of lung cancer behind smoking, testing for radon is a high priority for me. While it’s true that we all start the New Year determined to carry out our resolutions, I know that as time goes by some are forgotten. Like my grandmother used to say, “It’s easier said than done.” And I didn’t want to forget this important resolution, so I came up with an idea that would help me achieve my resolutions this year, and I get to have fun using my new smartphone.

I recorded my resolutions on my phone and then I used a mobile application to remind me of my new year’s resolutions: “How do I test for radon?” And the app sent me to find out how to test my home and what to do if I have high radon. Try it; it’s fun! Never thought that I would put this technology to good use to protect the environment.

January marks the beginnings in many ways, and it’s also designated by EPA as National Radon Action Month. Radon is a radioactive gas; it is invisible and odorless. Radon gas enter the lungs when you inhale, the radioactive particles damage your lung tissue and can cause lung cancer. You can have a healthier home simply by testing your home and taking the necessary actions to lower radon levels. The only way to know if you have radon in your home is to test, and what a better time to test than in the New Year? For more information on health risks, visit

Today let’s look to the future. Do not wait; test your home for radon and make the necessary repairs to your home, it could save your life.

About the author: Carmen Torrent a public affairs specialist in EPA’s Office of Indoor Air.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

Por Carmen Torrent

En enero la mayoría de las personas reflexionan sobre su vida y hacen una lista de cosas que quieren conseguir, cambiar o eliminar de sus vidas. La tradición de hacer resoluciones viene de la antigüedad El imperio romano estableció el 1ro de enero como el inicio del año y colocaron a Jano, dios místico, como el guardián de la puerta del nuevo año y éste se convirtió en el símbolo de la resolución. Jano tiene dos caras que representan los comienzos y los finales, una de las caras mira hacia atrás y la otra hacia el futuro.

Encabezando mi lista de resoluciones para este año figura la de ser más saludable y parte de ser saludable es mantener un medio ambiente sano en mi hogar. Es por eso que decidí hacer la prueba de radón. Ahora que sé que el radón es la segunda causa de cáncer pulmonar después del fumar, hacer la prueba de radón en mi hogar es una prioridad primordial para mí. Si bien es cierto que todos comenzamos el año nuevo decididos a lograr nuestras resoluciones, sé que al pasar los meses nos olvidamos de algunas de ellas. Como decía mi abuela “Es más fácil decir que hacer las cosas”. Yo no me quiero olvidar de esta importante resolución, así que se me ocurrió una idea para ayudarme a conseguir mis resoluciones para este año y a la vez divertirme con mi nuevo teléfono inteligente.

Grabé mis resoluciones en mi teléfono usando una aplicación en mi teléfono celular para recordarme, ¿Cómo puedo hacer la prueba de radón? La aplicación móvil me envió a para averiguar cómo hacer la prueba en mi hogar y qué hacer si los niveles son altos. Inténtelo, es muy divertido. Nunca pensé que esta tecnología también podría usarse para el beneficio del medio ambiente.

El mes de enero marca el comienzo en muchas formas,y también ha sido designado por la EPA como el mes nacional para tomar acción en contra del radón. El radón es un gas radioactivo e invisible que no tiene olor ni sabor. El radón penetra a los pulmones por inhalación, sus partículas pueden dañar los tejidos de los pulmones y causar cáncer pulmonar. Usted puede tener un hogar sano simplemente haciendo una prueba de radón en su hogar y tomando la acción necesaria para bajar los niveles de radón. La única manera de saber si hay radón en su hogar es haciendo la prueba, y qué mejor tiempo para hacerlo que en el nuevo año. Para más información sobre el radón

Hoy miremos hacia el futuro. No espere mas, haga la prueba de radón y las reparaciones necesarias en su hogar, le puede salvar la vida.

Sobre la autora: Carmen Torrent es especialista de relaciones públicas en la Oficina de Aire Interior de EPA.