Ticks – Sars and Zika: ticks are the next global health threat

“Since the beginning of our species we have been at war. It’s a continuous, never ending fight against the smallest of adversaries: armies of pathogens and parasites. As we have developed new ways to survive and stop them, they have evolved ever more complex and ingenious methods to thwart our efforts.

Humans have faced numerous attempts to challenge our dominance on planet Earth , and from the Black Death to the Spanish flu, we have weathered them all. However, since the start of the 21st century, with its trend towards global interconnection, these onslaughts are ever-increasing. In the past 17 years we have battled Sars, the Ebola virus, Mers, and more recently the mysterious mosquito-borne Zika virus. These diseases seeming to appear from nowhere and rapidly ravage our populations. One commonality is that they almost always originate in animals before jumping across to people, and few parasites are as good at jumping between animals and people as the tick.”

Read More

 

Ticks in Pennsylvania

1) PA Department of Health – Lyme Disease
2) Sawyer Products SP6572 Twin Pack Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Trigger Spray, 24 oz,Yellow

Farm Bureau Statement on WOTUS Jurisdiction Decision

The following may be attributed to Ellen Steen, General Counsel of the American Farm Bureau Federation:

“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled correctly today that federal district courts—not federal courts of appeals—have jurisdiction to review the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. This Supreme Court decision brings greater clarity to an important issue that has bogged down the litigation over this and other Clean Water Act regulations for years. That is a positive result, but it also creates uncertainty and confusion in the short term, because the Sixth Circuit must soon lift its nationwide stay of the 2015 rule.

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“At this time, the Environmental Protection Agency has not yet finalized its proposed rule to delay the application of the unlawful and dangerous 2015 WOTUS rule while the agency considers whether to permanently repeal that rule. AFBF is considering its options to avoid application of the 2015 rule while EPA moves forward with an appropriate long-term solution that provides clear rules and clean water without requiring a federal permit to plow a field.”

Master Watershed Steward Program Monroe County Pennsylvania

January 8, 2018
Penn State Extension and the Monroe County Conservation District are excited to launch the Master Watershed Steward Program.
The Master Watershed Steward program is a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension, Monroe County Conservation District, and local conservation groups. It is similar to the Master Gardener program and is designed to train people in a formal way about the basics of water resource stewardship, creating an energized and educated group of citizens. Currently, the MWS program is in 13 counties across the state and has 194 volunteers that have contributed over 7,500 volunteer hours in 2017.
We are recruiting 20-25 interested people for the class of 2018. The class will consist of 40 hours of training on various topics, including water quality, stream health, groundwater, native plants, and recreational resources. Once this part of the training is complete, trainees perform 50 hours of volunteer service on selected projects such as:
– Organizing and executing stream cleanups.
– Designing and installing demonstration rain gardens.
– Assist in stream restorations.
– Organize educational workshops addressing topics such as rain barrels, pollution prevention, invasive plant control, and stormwater management.

 

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Applicants are welcome from all walks of life. If under 18, you must be accompanied by a guardian or adult. The program will start on Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6:00-8:30 pm and will continue every Thursday through May. There will be several Saturday field trips.
An informational session at 6:30 pm will be held on January18 at:
Monroe County Conservation District
8050 Running Valley Rd.
Stroudsburg, Pa.
If interested, please contact:

Jim Vogt
Phone: 570-421-6430
Email: jav45@psu.edu
Web: extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards/counties/monroe
Penn State Extension
Monroe County
724 Phillips Street, Suite 201
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Plastics – Stop Littering – We need to make a change !

by S. Oram (new blogger)

Where do you throw your plastics and trash when you are done with it?   I would hope you say you RECYCLE ! Because just throwing that container away by mixing it with the normal trash or discarding out the window creates problems.  Part of this problem is POLLUTION.  This pollution creates visual aesthetic issues, but also damages habitat and threatens the land, air, and sea animals.  Did you ever stop and think about how these things can affect the animals outside?   Most plastic waste comes from third world countries especially in China, but we can still make a difference.

https://goo.gl/images/38xfsv   Online Source – 

In the 1970s, the National Academy of Sciences estimated about 45,000 tons of garbage and waste was being tossed and thrown in the ocean.   Since initial estimate, it has gotten even worse. Many people throw things in the ocean and don’t think about the animals in it or the other uses downstream.  The materials can get wrapped around the animals or some of the animals eat.  The animals become hurt, sick, and die. Littering can kill marine life and destroy habits.  Some people don’t stop to think about the animals and their safety.  Over 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million sea birds are killed each year from plastic pollution and  6 million tons of debris, i.e., a ton is 200 lbs , enters the ocean each year.  It is time to say – Enough!

Sad there is no reason to create this type of pain and suffering.

Did you know it can take up to 450 years for plastic bottles to decompose?  This does not appear to be true.  “Scientists Thought It Took Thousands of Years for Plastic to Decompose – It May Only Be Decades” and “A more recent study revealed that PET degrades more rapidly than previously thought in ocean water due to the presence of metal ions in the water. Fifty percent degradation was said to occur in 4.5 years and 100% degradation in 72 years.”

Where is most of this plastic?  (Operation Seanet)

 

Here is a list of wastes that go in the ocean and how long it takes to decompose.

Foam cups and tin cans – up to 50 years.
Plastic bottles depending on type and environment could be up to 450 years  (Source)
Fine fishing net up to 600 years (much longer for heavier nets).
Cigarette butts- 1 – 5 years.
Plastic bags- 10 – 20 years (Some putting this debris in a plastic bag is not good enough) .  The bags breakdown and this it may take 100s of years for the content to decompose.

SO – Simply Bagging the Trash is Not a Solution and Putting the Plastic in a Landfill is the Wrong Choice.  We must make every effort to recycle, reuse, and then put our young minds together and help to clean up our oceans, beaches, and landscapes and develop better solutions.

My call to action:

1. Please think twice before littering and think twice before throwing stuff away, especially plastic bottles.
2. Try Going Bottleless  –We tried and we saved money.
3. Pick up litter and Recycle – Participate in local clean up events.
4.  Try to kick the plastic habit.
5. Check out Operation – Seanet

other Articles

PFAS Cycle – https://shop.knowyourh2o.com/blogs/news/pfas-and-forever-chemicals-a-new-man-made-cycle-the-pfas-cycle-that-must-be-broken

Plastics and the Environment – Debunking Myths and Responsible Practices

Wildlife and Lead Poisoning – Lead is not Just a Problem for Humans

Do Birds Eat Plastic?

Sources:
http://www.perseus-net.eu/site/content.php?locale=1&sel=517&artid=565
https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/marine/marine-parks-wa
http://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/Ocean_Plastic_International_Rescue/Logistics_Recycling_Plastic_Ocean_Cleanup_Cargo_Operations.htm

 

Keystone Clean Water Team – Groundwater Foundation Library – Links to Educational Webinars – Groundwater Guardians Pennsylvania

“The Groundwater Foundation’s library of FREE educational webinars, available on-demand.”

The Keystone Clean Water Team (KCWT) -Carbon County Groundwater Guardian Program (CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer, environmental education organization which provides homeowners with information on private wells, water quality and quantity, and septic systems. We are dedicated to protecting private well owners from illnesses caused by our drinking water. We advance good groundwater stewardship by raising awareness on a variety of groundwater issues that affects everyone with a private water supply. We can help you get your water tested at the lab of your choice and explain the test results.

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Click on the webinar title for a description, presenter information, length, and link to view.

Our Educational Booklet on Groundwater

Looking for a speaker related to Well Issues, Septic Systems, or Groundwater in Pennsylvania – contact:  http://www.pacleanwater.org