My Earth, My Life

MY EARTH By Jill Sell

Breathe in ... Breathe out …

Clevelanders hate to be one-upped by Columbus for anything, and that includes outdoor air quality. In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati as areas of “marginal nonattainment” for ozone air quality concerns. The cities had three years to make the grade. Columbus achieved the ozone standards in 2019. Cleveland and Cincy not so much.

“The current air quality in Cleveland is much improved over past years, but is in nonattainment for the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Ozone concentrations have continued to decline over the years, but the standards have also become more restrictive,” according to Ohio EPA spokesman Anthony Chenault.

Not especially good news for anyone who breathes outdoors and especially not for those with pre-existing health conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer or cardiovascular disease, the young and elderly.

In 2020, Cleveland’s worst months for air quality were December, November and July, according to Swiss-based IQAir, an air quality technology company that operates in more than 100 countries. The company cites U.S. EPA information that names particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide as the main air pollutants in Cleveland.

Chenault points the finger at “mobile sources (vehicles), industry and emissions from consumer products” as three significant sources of Ohio air pollution. The Ohio EPA suggests individuals can do their part when either high ozone or high particle levels are expected. Avoid excessive idling of your vehicle, set air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees, reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use, and trade in gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

Turn in a Polluter

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its revised air quality guidelines in September 2021, the first major changes in 15 years. Basically, the report said no amount of air pollution is safe for anyone.

Contact the Cleveland Department of Public Health’s Cleveland Division of Air Quality to register a citizen’s complaint about air quality. Some exceptions do exist, but generally open burning outdoors is not permitted. Yard waste, pressured or treated wood, rubber materials, garbage or dead animals are never permitted to be burned. Complaints about debris and dirt dragged out to public roadways, as well as dry cutting concrete without watering to control the dust, are also investigated.

Improving Indoor Air

Some air quality experts say the air we breathe indoors is worse than the air we inhale outdoors. Cleveland Clinic says there are ways to help lessen indoor air pollutants, which “can increase a person’s chances of having flares of chronic lung problems, including COPD and asthma.” You already know cigarette smoking is a major culprit, and that includes electronic cigarettes. And although we love them, wood burning fireplaces and stoves can be big indoor air polluters. Cleveland Clinic pulmonologists and other experts also recognize additional pollutants that can make health conditions worse.

They suggest: • Not using scented candles • Avoiding harsh smelling household cleaners • Creating adequate ventilation for home offices and craft areas that create their own pollutant odors from ink toners, glues and paint • Understanding wall-to-wall carpeting is a great home for dirt, dust and dust mites, and we don’t want to think about what else

MY HEALTH By Lynne Thompson

Losing the Metabolism Myth

According to a study published in a recent issue of Science, metabolic rates actually remain stable throughout most adults’ lives. Research involving over 6,400 people ranging in age from eight days to 95 years revealed that metabolism plateaus from about ages 20 to 60. Then it begins to drop, but only by approximately 1% annually.

The real culprits? Changes in lifestyle factors that alter the body’s weight set point, according to Dr. Marcio Griebeler, director of the Diabetes Center and Obesity Initiatives at Cleveland Clinic’s Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute.

Dr. Griebeler explains that the weight set point, a product of the brain-gut connection, helps the body maintain a relatively constant weight, even as short-term calorie intake fluctuates. But, that set point gradually increases as days of unrelenting stress, high-calorie meals, less physical activity, sleepless nights, etc. become the norm and the bathroom scale registers another pound that subsequently remains unshed.

A key to maintaining the weight set point, Dr. Griebeler says, is preserving muscle mass, a calorie-burning powerhouse that decreases due to physical inactivity. He stresses that decreasing (improving) the set point is a gradual process, one that requires patience and lifestyle changes rather than crash diets.

Marcio Griebeler

Take a Shot at Pneumonia

Add one more vaccine to the to-get list: the one for pneumococcal (bacterial) pneumonia. Dr. Christine Alexander, chair of MetroHealth’s department of family medicine, describes it as a lung infection, generally more deadly than its viral counterparts, characterized by a buildup of mucous, fever, coughing and shortness of breath.

Dr. Alexander suggests healthy adults who as children received the PCV-13

vaccine, which helps protect against 13 bacterial antigens, get the PPSV-23 vaccine, which targets an additional 23 bacterial antigens commonly found in older adults, when they turn 65. Healthy unvaccinated adults should get Christine the PCV-13 at age 65, then schedule the Alexander PPSV-23 a year later. Unvaccinated adults at greater risk for developing pneumonia — those with respiratory issues, for example — should get the PPSV-23 vaccine before age 65, schedule a PCV-13 vaccine at 65, then return for a PPSV-23 booster a year later.

Cooking Up a Problem?

Dr. Aparna Bole, a pediatrician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, cautions gas stoves pose a potential hazard, particularly to children.

“The link between nitrogen dioxide and causing and exacerbating lung conditions like asthma is established,” she explains.

According to a recent National Public Radio report, cooking pasta at 375 degrees Fahrenheit produced nitrogen dioxide 60% over recommended levels in just 12 minutes. She suggests ameliorating the situation by increasing ventilation, either by installing an exhaust system vented to the outdoors or opening a kitchen window while cooking, and minimizing oven preheating. Aparna Bole