Greenversations

By Cathy Davis

When I was about eight years old, I actually loved standardized tests. (Trust me, I know that’s strange.) My dad developed the student assessment program for the state board of education. He loved his job, and I loved hearing about it, so I loved standardized tests. He used to tell me about all the different factors outside a student’s innate ability that could affect their scores: having nutritious meals, family stability and support, family income, having a safe place to study and read, and so many other social and economic factors.

What I’ve learned since then is that there is growing evidence that the environment where children learn can also affect their achievement (see Greening America’s Schools: Costs and Benefits ). When schools have good indoor air quality, safe chemicals management programs (including pesticides and other chemicals), safe drinking water, and well-maintained facilities, the students are better learners. They don’t miss as much school, and it’s easier for them to pay attention when they’re in school. But many school buildings contain environmental conditions that may inhibit learning and pose increased risks to the health of children and staff.

Creating healthy school environments can seem like a daunting task. There are over 120,000 schools in the country, and there are many potential environmental hazards. But I think the benefits to children’s health now and their success in the future far outweigh the short-term cost and effort. EPA has many programs and tools that parents, teachers, and school administrators can use to improve the environmental health of schools. So here’s my question to you, which of these programs (or similar programs run by your state or community) are you going to put into action to make your community’s schools healthier places to learn?

Learn how you to promote healthy communities for healthy children, during Children’s Health Month and every month, at www.epa.gov/children.

About the author: Cathy Davis works on healthy schools and other children’s environmental health issues in EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection. She comes from a family of educators (and a couple of lawyers).

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 Lina Younes

In these times, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Whether it’s saving energy, cutting coupons or reusing certain items, we all want to limit our expenses. So, for those who are handy with tools, the do-it-yourself-way might be the most economical option for making repairs at home. While many home improvement stores provide useful kits and information to update the look around the house, one word of caution: make sure that the simple steps you take in your home will not adversely affect your health or your family’s. Let me explain.

For example, if you live in a home that was built before 1978, it is likely that at some point your house had lead-based paint. Why should you be concerned about this? Well, lead paint poisoning affects over a million children in the United States today and it can lead to learning disabilities, hearing loss, and other serious health effects. If you are going to renovate, repair or paint your home, make sure that you use lead-safe practices to contain the work area, minimize dust, and clean up thoroughly after the paint or renovation job is over. Your best bet might be to hire a lead-safe certified contractor.

On another issue, some common home problems like drafty rooms, poorly maintained air-conditioning or heating equipment can all contribute to high energy bills. Simple repairs around the home like sealing air leaks, cleaning air ducts, and properly maintaining cooling equipment and appliances will go a long way to improve your health and save money. Here you will find additional tips to improve energy efficiency and better protect the environment.

During the summer, we see an increase in creepy crawlers inside and around the home. For some, the initial reaction is to grab the closest pesticide and spray it all over regardless of the annoying pest at hand. For others, they prefer to call professional exterminators to do the job. Regardless, the best advice is to prevent pests from invading your household in the first place. If pesticides are still necessary, follow the instructions correctly and safely.

Now, for doing-yourself auto repairs, I guess I’ll leave that for another blog. Your comments are always welcomed. Talk to you next week.

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

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 Lina Younes

Many a night I’ve put my children to bed while saying the rhyme “Night-night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” But it wasn’t until recently that I actually saw these little pests when I accompanied a Spanish language TV crew to a residence in Baltimore MD which had a bed bug infestation. The crew was going to interview the owner of the house who had been waging a war against these bugs for over a year. My role was to give tips in Spanish on how to resolve the problem in a manner that would not be harmful to the environment nor human health.

In preparing for the interview, I learned of this growing problem and the difficulties in addressing it properly. These pests cause itchy bites to people and pets alike. While extremely annoying, they are not known for transmitting or spreading disease. EPA recommends using a comprehensive approach to address bed bug infestations Integrated pest management combined with the use of pesticides is a must! However, beware of misleading marketing ploys making false claims which will not solve the problem. If you are to use pesticides, read the label first to make sure the product is identified for use on bed bugs. If these pests are not listed on the label, the product might not effectively treat the infestation. Make sure you apply the appropriate pesticide correctly and that you remove children AND pets from the areas where the pesticides are being applied.

Another thing that I learned is that these pests like to travel! They latch on to suitcases, hence the growing problem plaguing dorms and even the fanciest hotels. You can check the mattress for signs of bed bugs. See some additional tips.

I know when I read about these pests, I start itching all over. I hope that I have at least piqued your curiosity to learn more about the problem. There are cyber tools available on the Internet which will provide information on bed bug reports before booking a hotel room or renting an apartment—a useful tool to avoid bringing these uninvited guests home.

As always, we would like to hear about your experiences dealing with these unwanted critters.

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

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 Lina Younes

En muchas ocasiones he dicho a mis hijas a la hora de acostarse la rima en inglés– “Night-night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite” que básicamente significa—que duermas bien, pero no dejes que las chinches te piquen. (Bueno, en inglés suena bien al menos.) Sin embargo, no fue hasta hace poco que vi estas plagas cuando acompañé unos periodistas hispanos para filmar un reportaje sobre ese tema en una residencia en Baltimore, MD que tenía un problema de chiches. Los periodistas iban a entrevistar a la dueña de la casa que llevaba casi un año luchando contra estos insectos. Mi función consistía de brindar consejos en español sobre cómo resolver el problema en una manera que no fuera dañina para el medio ambiente ni la salud humana.

Al prepararme para la entrevista, aprendí cuán grave era el creciente problema y las dificultades en paliarlo. Estas plagas ocasionan picaduras muy molestosas en las personas y las mascotas. EPA recomienda un enfoque global para abordar las infestaciones de chinches. ¡El manejo integrado de plagas combinado con el uso de pesticidas es esencial! Sin embargo, preste atención a las campañas de publicidad engañosas que hacen falsas alegaciones que no resolverán el problema. Si va usar plaguicidas, lea la etiqueta primero para asegurarse que el producto indique que se puede utilizar eficazmente para tratar una infestación de chinches. Asegúrese de aplicar el plaguicida de manera correcta y de que no haya niños NI mascotas en las áreas donde los plaguicidas serán aplicados.

Otra cosa que aprendí es que a estas plagas les encanta viajar! Se agarran de las maletas y muebles tapizados. Por dicha razón, en Estados Unidos están apareciendo estas chinches en las camas de dormitorios universitarios y hasta en los hoteles más lujosos. Si mira detenidamente el colchón podrá ver si hay señales de chinches. He aquí algunos consejos adicionales.

Sé que cuando leo un artículo sobre estas chinches de cama, me empieza a picar por todas partes. Espero al menos haberle picado la curiosidad para que aprenda más acerca del tema. Hay herramientas cibernéticas disponibles que le brindaran más información sobre los lugares donde se han registrado infestaciones de chinches antes de hacer reservaciones de hotel o alquilar un apartamento—una herramienta útil para evitar llevar estos huéspedes a su casa sin invitación.

Como siempre, quisiéramos escuchar acerca de sus experiencias con estos insectos indeseables.

Sobre la autor: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la EPA desde el 2002 y está a cargo del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Comunicaciones Multilingües. Como periodista, dirigió la oficina en Washington de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales

Nota del editor: Las opiniones expresadas en Greenversations son del autor del blog. No reflejan la política, respaldo, o acción de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU. (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés). EPA no verifica la exactitud ni la ciencia en el contenido del blog.

How many times have you seen a cockroach in your home and attempted to spray an entire can of bug killer to get rid of all cockroaches once and for all? How many times of you seen a little field mouse venture into your home and resorted to using tons of rat poison to eliminate any possible infestation from here to the end of time? How many times have you used excessive amounts of cleaners in an attempt to make things cleaner and brighter? Well, the reality is that more is not always better. In fact, excessive use of pesticides or household cleaners can be counterproductive and even put your entire family at risk.

One basic principle for using pesticides and household cleaners safely is to read the label first!  By reading the product label, you will get the necessary information to use the product properly and minimize exposure to these chemicals. Furthermore, the label provides first aid information in the event of an accidental poisoning.

While I have made the point of reading the label when using pesticide products, I wasn’t aware of the need to follow the label’s instructions with the same care when using other common soaps and household products. In fact, I recently watched a program that illustrated how excessive amounts of laundry detergent actually produced the opposite effect by leaving cloths dingy from too much soap. Excessive soap could also produce soap scum in some washing machines which, unfortunately, serves as a breeding ground for bacteria. The consumer show also stressed the need to read the instructions manual for the household appliance to maximize use and efficiency. Similar guidelines also apply when using other appliances such as dishwashers.

Therefore, emptying an entire container of pesticides will not keep the pests at bay. Good integrated pest management practices will.

So, why not start today?

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

Following up on last week’s blog post, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of comments sent in favor of the “catch and release” school when it comes to eliminating rodents. Since my last blog, I’m pleased to report that we have not had any other unwanted visitors of the rodent family. It’s obvious that the pesky creature found its way into the house when I left the garage and kitchen doors open.

That leads me to today’s issue—how to control pests without poisons. Among the do’s and don’ts of pest control, create physical barriers that will prevent these pests from entering the homes. It’s obvious that they do not need an invitation to come into your home nor will they always choose to come in through the front door. To create these physical barriers, it’s important to close off entryways and hiding places for these pests. You should caulk cracks and crevices around cabinets and baseboards. Use wire mesh to fill holes around where pipes go through the wall, ceiling or floor. Although they might seem like very small spaces, openings along pipes serve as excellent pathways for these unwanted creatures.

Since National Poison Prevention Week is fast approaching, I wanted to share additional information on preventing poisonings in your home.  These accidental poisonings can be prevented if we store household pesticide products away from the reach of children and pets. By using pesticides properly, we can keep our family and pets safe.

And for those of you who were asking about my cats last week, here’s an update. After the raucous created from capturing the small mouse in the toy box and dumping everything on the deck, the three cats made their appearance flexing there muscles. Where were they when we needed them the most? It really was a comical scene.

About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.

Hey Pick 5’ers, it’s time again for you to share what you’ve done and how you did it.  If you haven’t done it yet, Pick 5 for the Environment and then come back to comment. Today we cover action #7: Use Chemicals Safely! Please share your stories as comments below.

After reading more about chemicals, I realize the harm I was bringing to my home. Because my oven isn’t a self cleaning oven, I have to clean it myself. When cleaning my oven I was unaware of the danger of the chemicals. I always use a spray oven cleaner along with gloves. But what I never knew was how harmful it is for pets. It states on the can that pets should not to be in the area while the oven is being cleaned, and that pets should be removed from the area until the smoke and fumes dissipate. So now I no longer clean my oven with my pets around.

My experience with the oven cleaner has been an eye opener for me. I now read labels on products and make sure I use them properly. I also make sure that I store my cleaners, paints and pesticides where my kids can’t reach them. Learn more about using toxics and pesticides safely and about protecting your pets from pesticides and toxics .

Don’t hesitate to share your other Pick 5 tips on how you save water, commute without polluting , save electricity , reduce, reuse, recycle , test your home for radon and how do you check your local air quality.

Note: to ward off advertisers using our blog as a platform, we don’t allow specific product endorsements.  But feel free to suggest Web sites that review products, suggest types of products, and share your experiences using them!

About the author: Denise Owens has worked at EPA for over twenty years. She is currently working in the Office of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.

While watching television the other night, I caught a glimpse of a movie about a certain kind of pest: rodents. I know that horror films clearly over exaggerate and are intended to scare people but it did bring back some memories for me. Last year I lived in a new apartment with two of my best friends back at school. One night as we were having a movie night, one of my roommates yelped that she saw a mouse run across our kitchen floor. My other roommate and I went to check it out and as we stood there anxiously awaiting the arrival of our four legged visitor, it suddenly ran across the edge of the floor disappearing into a wall. We all immediately jumped on our kitchen table and screamed. It was a scene straight out of a movie. Girly, I know. I’m sure the mouse was just as scared we were. Needless to say, we discovered later that we had more than just one mouse and a pest problem. Our ordeal with mice lasted a month or so until we had carefully and safely eliminated all rodents and sealed up any possible nook and cranny that they could get in. I will be forever grateful to the roommate that was brave enough to ‘take out the trash’. Moral of the story, though, is that we handled our situation safely. It should be noted that as young adults we were able to take care of the situations ourselves and young children should definitely not. This brings up a few good tips to keep in mind when handling pest infestations of your own, especially when children are around.

• Always keep pesticides and other household chemicals out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
• Never transfer pesticides to other containers that children may associate with food or drink.
• Never place rodent or insect baits where small children can easily get to them.
• If you are interrupted while using a pesticide or household chemical, make sure to properly reclose the container and put it out of children’s reach.

Remember that pesticides aren’t just limited to those used for rodents but apply to many other products that may be in your house. You can visit a virtual house where you can learn about various chemicals and pesticides, health and safety tips, and what to do if an accident occurs. Take a stand against those pests but do so in a safe way!

About the author: Emily Bruckmann is an intern at the Office of Children’s Health Protection. She is a senior attending Indiana University who will graduate with a degree in public health this spring.

Six years ago someone poisoned our beloved cat with an illegal pesticide called Tres Pasitos causing her immediate death. This fatal incident made me more aware of the proliferation of these products in our neighborhoods. While I have always keep a close eye on labels to make greener choices, our surroundings are not totally free of harmful products.

In Puerto Rico, EPA has been very active with enforcement actions against those who distribute these highly toxic chemicals. Unfortunately many people don’t even know they are purchasing an illegal product since they are often found in many small neighborhood stores. These non-approved EPA pesticides come in many shapes and forms, such as flea and tick repellents, antibacterial cleansers, and mothballs, as well as products that claim to get rid of household pests. The most common products in our neck of the wood are Tres Pasitos, Chinese Chalk and illegal Naphthalene Mothballs.

Tres Pasitos is imported illegally from Mexico, the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries. Its active ingredient is a chemical called aldicard which is very toxic. Curious by nature, children and pets are vulnerable to poisoning by aldicarb. It is used to kill rats by paralyzing their respiratory system.

Furthermore, insect chalk or Chinese chalk comes in deceiving packaging. This product is imported from China and looks like real chalk. It is extremely dangerous to children who mistakenly play with it. My late grandmother once acquired this dangerous product unknowingly because the vendor told her it was very effective in eliminating cockroaches.

Illegal naphthalene moth repellent balls pose a high risk to children who are very sensitive to toxics because they often mistake it for candy or a toy.

When purchasing a pesticide remember to read the label for proper usage and to find the EPA registration. Prevent children from direct exposure to these products since their biological, neurological and immune systems are still developing. Store pesticides in their original container and in a safe place, preferably high and locked out of the reach from children and pets .  If you have any questions about pesticides, call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. But most importantly, share this information with your family and neighbors to keep our environment and loved ones (including pets) safe from poisoning.

About the author: Brenda Reyes Tomassini joined EPA in 2002. She is a public affairs specialist in the San Juan, Puerto Rico office and also handles community relations for the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division.

Hace seis años alguien envenenó a nuestra mascota felina con un plaguicida ilegal llamado Tres Pasitos causando su muerte inmediata. Este incidente fatal me hizo más consciente de los peligros a los que estamos expuestos en nuestros vecindarios y desconocemos. Aunque siempre leo las etiquetas cuidadosamente para no utilizar productos tóxicos, nuestros entornos no están libres de productos dañinos.

En Puerto Rico, EPA ha estado muy activa en el cumplimiento de la ley penalizando a aquellos que distribuyen estas sustancias químicas y plaguicidas altamente peligrosos.  Desafortunadamente muchas personas no saben que están adquiriendo un producto ilegal ya que están a la venta en tiendas pequeñas en nuestros vecindarios. Estos plaguicidas no aprobados por la EPA vienen en muchas formas y empaques, tales como repelentes de pulgas y garrapatas, jabones antibacteriales y bolas de naftalina, entre otros, que alegan pueden deshacerse de plagas indeseables. En Puerto Rico los tres productos ilegales más comunes son Tres Pasitos, Tiza China y Bolas de Naftalina ilegales.

Tres Pasitos es importado ilegalmente de México, la Republica Dominicana y otros países de América Latina. Su ingrediente activo es una sustancia química llamada aldicarb la cual es sumamente tóxica. Los niños y los animales, por su naturaleza curiosa, son muy susceptibles a envenenamiento por aldicarb. Este se utiliza para eliminar ratas ya que paraliza su sistema respiratorio.

En el caso de la Tiza China, su empaque le hace lucir legítimo. Este producto es importado de China y parece tiza real. Es muy peligroso para los chicos quienes pueden confundirlo con una tiza para jugar. Mi difunta abuela paterna una vez adquirió este producto sin conocer que era ilegal y tóxico ya que el vendedor le indicó que era muy eficaz para matar cucarachas.

Las Bolas de Naftalina ilegales pueden representar un gran riesgo por que sus colores son muy llamativos. Los niños pueden confundirlas con un juguete o goma de mascar.

Cuando adquiera un plaguicida recuerde siempre leer la etiqueta para determinar el uso apropiado y verificar que tenga un número de registro de EPA. Evite que los chicos estén expuestos directamente a plaguicidas ya que su sistema biológico, neurológico e inmune están todavía en desarrollo. Guarde los plaguicidas en su envase original y en un lugar seguro y alto, lejos de los niños y mascotas.  Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre plaguicidas llame al Centro de Información Nacional sobre Plaguicidas al 1-800-858-7378. Pero más importante, comparta esta información con su familia o vecinos para mantener sus alrededores y seres queridos (incluyendo mascotas) libres de envenenamiento.

Sobre la autor: Brenda Reyes Tomassini se unió a la EPA en el 2002. Labora como especialista de relaciones públicas en la oficina de EPA en San Juan, Puerto Rico donde también maneja asuntos comunitarios para la División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe.