Dirty Industries Have a Long Tail of Consequences

In recent years there has been a great deal of national attention focused on the improvement of industrial environmental standards. Even as we attempt to rebuild our economy, we seem to be focused on not only restoring industry, but also using this as an opportunity to do it in a way that is not environmentally destructive. This provides us the opportunity to improve all aspects of these industries, including the workplace hazards among workers and the health hazards affecting members of the surrounding communities that were all too common.

What many people may fail to realize is that not only does the health of our planet depend on improved environmental standards, but our health may as well. Health complications of industry can essentially be divided into two categories, both direct and indirect.

Direct health conditions which have arisen as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, for instant, are increased asthmas rates in areas with high smog indices. Even mild cases of asthma can deteriorate overall respiratory capacity over time and leave breathing seriously diminished if the quality of the air people breathe is unimproved. Release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere has shown to lower our filtered sunlight, increasing ultraviolet light exposure. Ultraviolet light has been conclusively link to skin cancer. Perhaps it is no surprise then that skin cancer incidence in countries like South Africa and Australia, where the atmosphere is most diminished, is much higher than other areas of the earth.

Indirect health consequences include those which can be attributed to antiquated industrial infrastructure, including toxin exposure among workers. Oil refinery workers, for instance, are shown to have a much higher chance of developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, than those in cleaner industries. While asbestos was banned for most uses in the late 1970s several of these refineries and factories are still using pre-ban equipment which is exposing workers to harmful asbestos fibers.

We see then, that there is a clear advantage to implementation of cleaner, more sustainable energy policies and environmental attitudes, not only for the health or our planet and our posterity, but that of world’s population even today.

June 18, 2009

Written by Bill Hawthorne, representative of maacenter, the web's leading organization for relevant and authoritative information regarding asbestos and health complications associated with asbestos exposure, including the rare cancer mesothelioma. Our organization is staffed entirely by writers and other developers who recognize the importance of building awareness in the fight against cancer.

Sustainable living tip of the day

Sustainable living tip of the day is to Deep soak your lawn instead of light sprinkling. It’s sustainable to let the water seep to the roots. Sprinkling is not sustainable as the water tends to evaporate faster and results in shallow root system.

Concept of Sustainability

Sustainability is usually associated with using renewable sources of energy for fulfilling our electricity needs. Sustainability is about being amazingly capable and self-sufficient. Sustainability is some thing very close to human nature and desire of being self-governing and independent, yet sustainability is not arrogant like autonomy as it possesses the remedial humbleness of sharing and dignity of freedom.

Just yesterday during an interview a discussion on sustainability and renewable energy started and I was asked/complained that solar panels worth $xxx are not efficient enough to be run X-number of air-cons. Now a simpler answer could have been an advice to increase the number of solar panels or the storage capacity. Once again this was a case of not understanding the concept of sustainability and environment friendliness. To a lot of us it environment friendly to keep the central cooling on 24/7 as long as the electricity is being generated through renewable sources of energy, just the way its quite satisfying for many to pull there super expensive hybrids out to grab eggs & cheese. Sustainability is about insulating walls to avoid the need of an air-con, and introducing sky light instead of expensive chandlers.
My last statement of the interview was a simple definition of sustainability being the art of utmost consciousness not only environmentally but also personally as humans are responsible for mega cities and their carbon feet print. I’ve been told to join this new job from Monday July 21st 08 and I plan to ride my bicycle to work, hoping to adopt a bit of sustainable life style.