Vital Technologies, Inc.

This information comes from www.nationaljewish.org

I wanted to do some research on whether or not the food you eat has a very large effect on asthma and this is just some of the information I came across. Eating healthy is important no matter what, so please, have a look...

Pull up a chair! It's time to eat.
If you find yourself short of breath at mealtimes, this section is for you. Shortness of breath can make eating hard work. If you use all your energy preparing a healthy meal, you may find yourself unable to eat and/or enjoy what you have prepared. Here are a few practical suggestions on how to conserve energy and get the most from your meals.

Eat six smaller meals instead of three big meals. Smaller, more frequent meals are recommended for people with chronic lung problems. Many people with chronic lung disease feel more short of breath when their stomach is full. This is because the diaphragm can not work as well when the stomach is full. You can satisfy your nutritional needs, keep your stomach comfortable and help your diaphragm to work better by eating smaller, more frequent meals. Small, frequent meals also reduce the chance of reflux.
Plan to eat before you are too hungry or tired. Refuel before you hit empty.
Breathe evenly while you are chewing and eating. Stop eating if you need to catch your breath. Relax at mealtime.
When cooking or baking, double or triple your favorite recipes to keep your freezer full for times when you do not feel like cooking.
Use prepared foods to save time and energy in the kitchen. Frozen meals, prepared foods or take-out meals from a restaurant can make your life easier. Remember, the sugar, salt or fat content of these foods may be higher than homemade. Be sure to ask if you are following a special diet.

Ocean Dead Zones Expanding Worldwide (study)
(From AFP news brief list www.France24.com )

Oceanic "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive have been steadily increasing over the past five decades and now encompass 400 coastal areas of the world, a US-Swedish study said Friday.

The number of these areas, in which aquatic ecosystems disappear due to lack of oxygen in the water, have "approximately doubled each decade since the 1960s," said the study in the journal Science.

Dead zones now comprise around 245,000 square kilometers (95,000 square miles), according to researchers Robert Diaz of the Marine Sciences Institute at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and Rutger Rosenberg, a marine scientist at Gothenburg University in Sweden.

"The formation of dead zones has been exacerbated by the increase in (pollution) ... fueled by riverine runoff of fertilizers and the burning of fossil fuels," the study said.

The phenomenon, called eutrophication, is caused by industrial pollution as well as runoff of water containing phosphates and nitrates into the oceans.

Oceans react to the boost in pollution by growing more algae and vegetation in coastal areas.

When the algae dies and sinks to the bottom, it decreases the amount of oxygen available in the bottom waters, a process called hypoxia, eventually wiping out fish and crustaceans that live there, as well as the foods they eat.

Dead zones tend to creep up in calm waters that see lower water exchange, but have more recently been affecting major fishery areas in the Baltic, Kattegat, and Black Seas as well as the Gulf of Mexico and East China Sea, the study said.

The researchers said the expansion of dead zones in these areas threatens commercial fishing and shrimping near the coastlines.

The phenomenon was first noted along the Adriatic Coast in the 1950s.

Seasonal dead zones affect the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay and Scandinavian waters.

There are different medications you can take once asthma strikes. However, you don't need to let it get that far. Here are some more tips on how to allergy proof your environment...

At Home

Keep windows closed and use air conditioning if you're allergic to pollen. Don't use fans since they can stir up dust.
Filter the air. Cover air conditioning vents with cheesecloth to filter pollen and use high efficiency particulate air filters. Clean air filters frequently and air ducts at least once a year.
Keep the humidity in your house below 50% to prevent mold growth.
If you have pets, consider keeping them outside or perhaps ask someone else to take care of them. Animal dander and saliva are common allergens for many people. If you must keep your pets indoors, do not allow them in the bedroom and be sure to bathe them often.
Avoid areas where molds may collect, including basements, garages, crawl spaces, barns and compost heaps. Have someone else clean these areas often.
Install dehumidifiers in basements and other areas of the house where molds tend to collect. Clean these devices every week.
Air out damp clothes and shoes (in the house) before storing.
Remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Don't leave wet clothes in the washer where mold can quickly grow.
Wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles with mold-killing solutions.
Don't collect too many indoor plants as soil encourages mold growth.
Store firewood outside.
Use plastic covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs. Avoid overstuffed furniture and down-filled bedding or pillows.
Wash your bedding every week in hot water.
Don't allow smoking in your house.
Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming or painting to limit dust and chemical exposure.
Vacuum twice a week.
Limit throw rugs to reduce dust and mold. If you do have rugs, make sure they are washable.

A Hole in the Ocean to Store Energy (from ENN.com)

Imagine you’re looking for treasure on a small island in the middle of an ocean. The highest elevation on the island is just above sea level, which is rising because of global warming. (You’d rather not see that happen.)

In the middle of that island you dig a hole where the tattered map says the treasure should be. Dig, dig and dig you go, and soon you’re way over your head and all you can see is the blue sky above, and the walls of sand and dirt around you.

No treasure to be found.

Suddenly you have a revelation. The hole you’ve dug is deeper than the surface of the ocean around your little island. Should the skies turn cloudy and a storm come in, the ocean could come pouring into your hole. You’d be in deep trouble in your hole in the middle of the ocean.

But you have a second revelation, you’ve invented an energy storage device. What if you dug a large and deep hole in an island - on an ocean or big lake - and purposely allowed the surrounding body of water to flow in, but at your discretion and through pipes and hydroelectric turbines. As the water flowed you be generating power. When filled your deep hole, or reservoir, would be pumped out into the surrounding ocean by another source of energy, perhaps wind turbines or excess capacity on the shore-side power grid. In effect you be storing the energy from those sources.

Your little island with a deep lake in the middle is your energy storage device, your energy island. In the long term it could provide more revenue than the chest of gold you never found.

Avoiding Asthma Triggers

By Jodi Razgaitis (www.health.healthology.com)

Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from chronic asthma. Exposure to environmental triggers, which irritate breathing airways, can bring about episodes of wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. Asthma experts recommend limiting contact with triggers as part of a program of good asthma control to prevent or reduce episodes. This is especially important during pregnancy. Although it may be impossible to eliminate all triggers, keeping a record of known triggers can help you develop strategies to minimize exposure. The best strategy for asthma control is trigger avoidance, maintaining medical therapy, and open communication with your asthma specialist.

Potential Outdoor Asthma Triggers

Pollen: Avoid going outdoors before 10am when the pollen is at its highest during pollen season (which varies depending on where you live). If you exercise outside, try exercising later in the day. If you drive to work, roll up your car windows to avoid exposure. Staying indoors with the air conditioning on can also help alleviate symptoms. These measures also help reduce contact with outdoor molds, another asthma trigger.

Cold Weather: During the winter months, wear a scarf and breathe into the scarf so the cold air warms before entering your airways. Breathing through your nose instead of your mouth often helps.

Smoke: Avoid wood burning (bonfires), cigarette smoke, and fireplaces.

Pollution: Exhaust, smog and ozone are important environmental triggers. Stay indoors during smog alerts and avoid midday activities.

Potential Indoor Asthma Triggers

I was doing some research on asthma and mold and I came across this article from the University of Nebraska. It does a really great job in pointing out the most effective ways to help reduce asthma triggers in the home. It also gives information on how to keep your home healthier by reducing mold and dust mites.

Asthma and Mold
by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

How Healthy is your Home? October is National Home Indoor Air Quality Action & Awareness Month. October 1-6 is Asthma & Mold—Children’s Action & Awareness Week. This week is set aside to increase awareness of things in the home that can irritate asthma and other respiratory diseases in youth and adults.

According to estimates of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some 4.8 million children and youth under the age of 18 have asthma, which has increased by 160% over the last 15 years. Some of the main pollutants which trigger asthma are molds and dust mites.

Molds and dust mites thrive in similar conditions. Mold grows on organic materials, such as paper, textiles, grease, dirt and soap scum. It requires moisture or high humidity. When a mold colony has been established (for example, on a bathroom wall), it generates mold spores that float through the air, land on other surfaces, and if conditions are right, form new colonies. Mold can also grow in standing water, such as in the reservoirs of humidifiers or dehumidifiers. Mist from some types of humidifiers can spread the mold throughout the house.

Dust mites need a food source of dead human skin cells and high humidity levels. They often thrive in soft textiles such as bedding, carpet and upholstery. When the textiles are disturbed (vacuuming, making beds, or walking across carpeting) dust mite particles become airborne. Cleaning surfaces where dust mite particles accumulate can help reduce concentration in the air. Dust mites have been identified as the single most important trigger for asthma attacks.

Okay, so you've already built your bin, but now you need some help actually getting the compost started. Here are some easy steps for you to follow:

1. Choose or construct a bin for your compost. While you can compost successfully in a pile on the ground, a bin will keep the process a bit neater and help to discourage animals if you are composting food scraps. Depending on the construction of the bin, it can also help to regulate moisture and temperature. A good minimum size for a pile is at least 1 cubic yard or 1 cubic meter, though a pile can go larger than this, and smaller-scale composting can be made to work.

2. Fill your bin with a balanced mixture for best results:

Green stuff (high in nitrogen) to activate the heat process in your compost. Perfect heat-generating materials include: young weeds (before they develop seeds); comfrey leaves; yarrow; chicken, rabbit or pigeon manure; grass cuttings; etc. Other green items that compost well include fruit and vegetables; fruit and vegetable scraps; coffee grounds and tea leaves (including tea bags - remove the staple if you wish); vegetable plant remains; plants.

Brown stuff (high in carbon) to serve as the "fiber" for your compost. Brown stuff includes fall (autumn) leaves; dead plants and weeds; sawdust; cardboard & cardboard tubes (from foil wraps etc); old flowers (including dried floral displays, minus plastic/foam attachments); old straw and hay; and small animal bedding.

Other items that can be composted but you may not have thought of before: paper towels; paper bags; cotton clothing (torn up); egg shells; hair (human, dog, cat etc.) Use all these items in moderation.
Air. It is possible to compost without air (anaerobically), but the process employs different bacteria and an anaerobic compost pile will take on a sour smell like vinegar. If you believe your compost pile needs more air, turn it, and consider adding more dry or brown stuff to open up the structure.

A compost bin can be constructed from many different materials: bricks, concrete blocks, wire, snow fencing or wood. The design we have selected comprises two side by side bins made of pressure treated lumber and welded wire mesh attached with plated fasteners. The two bin design allows the use of material from one bin while material in the other bin is composting. Another use for the second bin is transferring the material from one side to the other when turning.

Before you begin construction you will want to give careful attention to the location of your compost bin. Choose a fairly level spot with reasonably good drainage. Your location also should be close to a water supply-or at least within reach of your garden hose, so if it becomes too dry, you can easily sprinkle it down. A shady spot also is preferable because too much sun will dry out your pile too frequently. The bin should also be close to your garden and accessible to a wheelbarrow.

When you are preparing the site, you won't have to worry about either a floor or a cover for the bin because microbes and earthworms coming up from soil beneath are necessary parts of the process. After you have assembled the materials and tools you are ready to begin construction.

This article is from Enn.com

Swiss schoolteacher doing his part to change the world pulled his "Solartaxi" up to the curb on July 22 at UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, the latest stop in his 50,000-kilometer, around-the-world drive to draw international attention to the present-day potential of alternative energy sources.

Louis Palmer, who launched his journey last July from his hometown of Lucerne, Switzerland, talked with students, faculty, media and others who gathered to take a look at — and take a ride in — the unique vehicle. The low-slung two-seater has the look and feel of a sports car, but its top speed is only about 55 miles per hour. What's more, it tows a flatbed trailer-sized panel of solar cells that sucks up sun power.

These limitations aside, the car offers Palmer the ability to accurately boast: "I have not paid a single cent for gasoline after driving two-thirds around the world so far!" (Ocean crossings, however, are made by ship, and a mechanic, crew and supplies accompanying him are transported in a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.)

Palmer's visit to campus was hosted by engineering Ph.D. candidate Tony Pereira and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Pereira, who has had a longtime interest in solutions to global warming, posed the rhetorical question, "If Louis can go 30,000 around the planet on solar energy, why can't we make it 10 miles to work?"

Palmer, who teaches math, French and German to young students in Switzerland, took his rudimentary ideas for a solar car to four Swiss universities: University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich; University of Applied Sciences, Aargau; and University of Applied Sciences, Berne. Faculty and students at all four institutions spent two years designing, building and testing the vehicle.

I found this article during a search for "allergens" and I thought it was both interesting and frightening. It's amazing how many harmful chemicals go into making furniture and other household items today...

Published Date:
15 July 2008
By Tim Booler
A great-grandmother is suing a furniture retailer after claiming she went through hell because of a "toxic" sofa.
Vera Short suffered a severe skin allergy, allegedly triggered by the leather three-piece, that left her back and buttocks red raw.

The 64-year-old, who bought the Chinese-made furniture from Walmsleys, in Sunderland city centre, is part of 750 people in a group litigation order against a number of retailers.

It is claimed that certain batches of the sofas, made by Linkwise, contained a chemical substance known as a fumarate – to prevent mould – which has been blamed for violent reactions in babies, adults and households pets.

It is said to have left them with scars akin to scalding water or chronic sunburn injuries.

Vera, who is represented by Sweeney Miller Solicitors, in Mowbray Road, bought the brown three-piece for her home in New Penshaw last year, for about £600.

Days later, a painful rash develop on her back, which quickly spread.
"I was in real discomfort with it," said Vera. "Within two weeks I was having to go to the doctors every day."

The rash blistered and began watering heavily. "I was having to get up four or five times a night to change the sheets because they were wet," said Vera.

After six weeks she saw a skin specialist at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
"Straight away he said 'have you bought a leather three-piece lately?'

"I was gobsmacked. I told him I had. and he said 'That three-piece has got to be out of your house today'."

Vera - whose husband George died two years ago - said she would not have got through the sofa ordeal without the help of her friend Anita Moody.