Abstract
Experience shows that regulatory intervention can lead to substantial improvement in population health. The history of regulatory intervention in public health suggests that 'tipping points' necessary to catalyse regulatory change may be identified. We examine three areas in which governments have legislated to protect public health: sanitation, building standards, and vehicle emissions. We apply the lessons to regulatory reform addressing obesity and the chronic disease it causes.
Journal of Public Health Policy advance online publication, 20 October 2011; doi:10.1057/jphp.2011.50.
Authors - Walls HL, Walls KL, Loff B.
J Public Health Policy. 2011 Oct 20. doi: 10.1057/jphp.2011.50. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22012068
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Energy-efficient fluorescent lighting may cause eye disease
Eye disease could increase as a result of the global trend towards replacing incandescent globes with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting.
With climate change, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is important. One way to do this is to phase out incandescent lighting in favour of more energy-efficient lighting.
This shift has already taken place in Australia and countries of the European Union. In the United States, federal law stipulates that incandescent lights be phased out by 2014.
In Australia, this change in lighting type has been estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 28 million tons between 2008 and 2020. Thus a global move toward fluorescent lighting in the home will lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gases.
The types of energy-efficient lighting with which incandescent lights are being replaced are high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and fluorescent lighting, including the popular compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
These light sources are all more efficient than the incandescent lamp. HID lamps produce intense light in a small area. They are less energy efficient than fluorescent lights, but are used widely for lighting large areas such as streets and sports facilities. LEDs are energy efficient but not as bright, stable, or cheap as fluorescent lights.
However of all these lighting types, fluorescent lighting is considered most energy-efficient and also produces light most appropriate for working under. CFLs use 75% less energy than do incandescent lamps.
As a result of the popularity of fluorescent lighting, many people are now exposed to artificial sources of UV radiation emitted from these lights.
There is a general public awareness that UV radiation from the sun can damage the eye. For example, most people are aware of the importance of not looking directly at the sun, and operators of arc welders know to wear protective goggles. Less attention has been paid to the potentially damaging effects of UV radiation people are exposed to indoors, in particular from fluorescent lighting, a significant source of UV light.
The safe range of light, to avoid exposing the eye to potentially damaging UV light, is approximately 2000 to 3500K and greater than 500 nanometers. UV wavelengths less than 500 nanometers (and certainly less than 380 nm) are capable of irreparable damage to the eye. Unfortunately, some fluorescent lights currently fall outside this safe range.
CFLs vary in terms of color temperature, and there are variations and inconsistencies among manufacturers. The fluorescent lighting used indoors, particularly in commercial settings, is often in the form of cool-white tubes with a color temperature of 4000K or greater. The warmer CFLs, which are usually less than 3500K, are less damaging to the eye but produce light that is often inadequate for concentration at work.
Fluorescent lighting may increase UV-related eye diseases by up to 12% and, according to our calculations, may cause an additional 3000 cases of cataracts and 7500 cases of pterygia annually in Australia. Thus for Australia alone, we estimate at least 10000 additional cases of eye disease each year.
Our estimates are conservative and crude in that they are limited by the poor information currently available with regard to the incidence and etiology of many eye diseases. We have not included in our estimates age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because there is not yet universal agreement in the literature that it causes UV radiation. But if UV radiation was shown to cause AMD, this would have significant public health implications.
The evidence suggests that the least hazardous approach to lighting is to use warm-white tubes or incandescent bulbs of lower color temperature and longer wavelength light rather than fluorescent lamps. Unfortunately anything other than fluorescent lighting is considered inadequate for many workplaces and in the home.
We recommend that UV filters become a required standard, and that lamp manufacturers should not allow current levels of emission of UV light from fluorescent lighting to increase (and should work toward reducing emissions). Further research is also needed to improve lighting from artificial sources.
The full paper was published by the American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300246
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2011.300246v1?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=walls&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
With climate change, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is important. One way to do this is to phase out incandescent lighting in favour of more energy-efficient lighting.
This shift has already taken place in Australia and countries of the European Union. In the United States, federal law stipulates that incandescent lights be phased out by 2014.
In Australia, this change in lighting type has been estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 28 million tons between 2008 and 2020. Thus a global move toward fluorescent lighting in the home will lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gases.
The types of energy-efficient lighting with which incandescent lights are being replaced are high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and fluorescent lighting, including the popular compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
These light sources are all more efficient than the incandescent lamp. HID lamps produce intense light in a small area. They are less energy efficient than fluorescent lights, but are used widely for lighting large areas such as streets and sports facilities. LEDs are energy efficient but not as bright, stable, or cheap as fluorescent lights.
However of all these lighting types, fluorescent lighting is considered most energy-efficient and also produces light most appropriate for working under. CFLs use 75% less energy than do incandescent lamps.
As a result of the popularity of fluorescent lighting, many people are now exposed to artificial sources of UV radiation emitted from these lights.
There is a general public awareness that UV radiation from the sun can damage the eye. For example, most people are aware of the importance of not looking directly at the sun, and operators of arc welders know to wear protective goggles. Less attention has been paid to the potentially damaging effects of UV radiation people are exposed to indoors, in particular from fluorescent lighting, a significant source of UV light.
The safe range of light, to avoid exposing the eye to potentially damaging UV light, is approximately 2000 to 3500K and greater than 500 nanometers. UV wavelengths less than 500 nanometers (and certainly less than 380 nm) are capable of irreparable damage to the eye. Unfortunately, some fluorescent lights currently fall outside this safe range.
CFLs vary in terms of color temperature, and there are variations and inconsistencies among manufacturers. The fluorescent lighting used indoors, particularly in commercial settings, is often in the form of cool-white tubes with a color temperature of 4000K or greater. The warmer CFLs, which are usually less than 3500K, are less damaging to the eye but produce light that is often inadequate for concentration at work.
Fluorescent lighting may increase UV-related eye diseases by up to 12% and, according to our calculations, may cause an additional 3000 cases of cataracts and 7500 cases of pterygia annually in Australia. Thus for Australia alone, we estimate at least 10000 additional cases of eye disease each year.
Our estimates are conservative and crude in that they are limited by the poor information currently available with regard to the incidence and etiology of many eye diseases. We have not included in our estimates age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because there is not yet universal agreement in the literature that it causes UV radiation. But if UV radiation was shown to cause AMD, this would have significant public health implications.
The evidence suggests that the least hazardous approach to lighting is to use warm-white tubes or incandescent bulbs of lower color temperature and longer wavelength light rather than fluorescent lamps. Unfortunately anything other than fluorescent lighting is considered inadequate for many workplaces and in the home.
We recommend that UV filters become a required standard, and that lamp manufacturers should not allow current levels of emission of UV light from fluorescent lighting to increase (and should work toward reducing emissions). Further research is also needed to improve lighting from artificial sources.
The full paper was published by the American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300246
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2011.300246v1?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=walls&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Building maintenance
DAMPNESS IN BUILDINGS
Roman wisdom states that a fire may be stopped with water but asks with what can you stop water? Water is one of the most destructive forces faced by buildings. It needs to be eliminated by careful design, construction, and regular maintenance. Buildings generally represent the largest investment most of us make in our lives. We use buildings as investments and as a hedge against inflation. It is worth remembering that to enhance the longevity of any building, it must be maintained regularly. Some useful tips in that respect are:
•Ensure that water does not run under the building.
•For floors above the ground, ensure there are vents to facilitate air flow.
•Repaint painted surfaces before the paint coating has broken down too far.
•Ventilate the interior by opening windows.
•Do not vent showers or clothes dryers to the roof space. Ensure they vent to the outside.
Remember, buildings are constructed to provide comfort against the elements of nature. The buildings must be designed and built to resist natural forces of degradation. From the time that a building is completed, it is on the slow downward path of destruction, usually at an infinitesimal rate. But that rate will depend on how well it is cared for. It is that prudent intervention of planned maintenance which gives building owners the optimum return on their investment.
As a harsh assessment of the situation, you could say that all built infrastructure (including buildings) is waste in transit.
Roman wisdom states that a fire may be stopped with water but asks with what can you stop water? Water is one of the most destructive forces faced by buildings. It needs to be eliminated by careful design, construction, and regular maintenance. Buildings generally represent the largest investment most of us make in our lives. We use buildings as investments and as a hedge against inflation. It is worth remembering that to enhance the longevity of any building, it must be maintained regularly. Some useful tips in that respect are:
•Ensure that water does not run under the building.
•For floors above the ground, ensure there are vents to facilitate air flow.
•Repaint painted surfaces before the paint coating has broken down too far.
•Ventilate the interior by opening windows.
•Do not vent showers or clothes dryers to the roof space. Ensure they vent to the outside.
Remember, buildings are constructed to provide comfort against the elements of nature. The buildings must be designed and built to resist natural forces of degradation. From the time that a building is completed, it is on the slow downward path of destruction, usually at an infinitesimal rate. But that rate will depend on how well it is cared for. It is that prudent intervention of planned maintenance which gives building owners the optimum return on their investment.
As a harsh assessment of the situation, you could say that all built infrastructure (including buildings) is waste in transit.
Noisy classrooms
Noise levels in classrooms are distressing preschool children
The problem of noisy classrooms is widespread amongst schools, affecting children of all ages as well as teachers.
With offending buildings it can usually be shown that it is a problem by calculating the reverberation time, as this is often the main problem. It is then a case of proposing some judicious changes by way of introducing some soft furnishings and possibly some changes to floor, wall and/or ceiling surfaces.
New problems often arise from “echo” nuisance experienced in recently refurbished rooms. This produces discomfort and some degree of irritability affecting occupants due to noise characteristics of the rooms.
A good approach is to analyse likely reverberation time of normal speech within classrooms. The value in seconds obtained from such an analysis indicates the time taken for sound to decay a level of 60 decibels (dB). This is a standard method of measuring sound characteristics within built spaces. For many classrooms, the desirable reverberation time is about 0.7 - 1.0 second. The actual calculated value for some rooms we have seen due to the surface materials used is 1.45 seconds, almost twice the optimum value. Such a result is consistent with the reported difficulties experienced by occupants, and of the types of interior surface finishes used in many classrooms.
We have also observed new refurbishment work that has produced considerable noise transfer from the floor of the upper levels. Typically in these cases, before the building work commenced there were acoustic ceiling tiles, and they are replaced with ceiling finishes of smooth plaster-board. The perception of the increased noise from the upper levels is often consistent with the change of ceiling lining type.
Often the answer for acceptable noise levels in classrooms is the judicious selection and use of floor, wall and ceiling surfaces.
The problem of noisy classrooms is widespread amongst schools, affecting children of all ages as well as teachers.
With offending buildings it can usually be shown that it is a problem by calculating the reverberation time, as this is often the main problem. It is then a case of proposing some judicious changes by way of introducing some soft furnishings and possibly some changes to floor, wall and/or ceiling surfaces.
New problems often arise from “echo” nuisance experienced in recently refurbished rooms. This produces discomfort and some degree of irritability affecting occupants due to noise characteristics of the rooms.
A good approach is to analyse likely reverberation time of normal speech within classrooms. The value in seconds obtained from such an analysis indicates the time taken for sound to decay a level of 60 decibels (dB). This is a standard method of measuring sound characteristics within built spaces. For many classrooms, the desirable reverberation time is about 0.7 - 1.0 second. The actual calculated value for some rooms we have seen due to the surface materials used is 1.45 seconds, almost twice the optimum value. Such a result is consistent with the reported difficulties experienced by occupants, and of the types of interior surface finishes used in many classrooms.
We have also observed new refurbishment work that has produced considerable noise transfer from the floor of the upper levels. Typically in these cases, before the building work commenced there were acoustic ceiling tiles, and they are replaced with ceiling finishes of smooth plaster-board. The perception of the increased noise from the upper levels is often consistent with the change of ceiling lining type.
Often the answer for acceptable noise levels in classrooms is the judicious selection and use of floor, wall and ceiling surfaces.
Flooding of properties
Apart from the major flood events around the world which continue to hit the media headlines, the matter of overland flow from neighbouring properties continues to be a vexing problem in all towns and cities. Constantly many areas are put to the test in that respect. At the time, there is often general acceptance of the view that flooding is inevitable. However, in cases we are called in to advise on, the problems generally result from identifiable short-falls in meeting acceptable construction details.
It is important to keep in mind that all drainage systems require a secondary overland flow path to cope with the more extreme storms which cannot be designed against. Having a clear understanding of the location and form of that flow path is important to ensure that it is not dammed by such things as fences, buildings or built-up gardens.
It needs to be kept in mind that landscaping can lead to additional problems of flooding. We see many cases where ground and pavement levels are built up too high, so that water is then able to enter buildings.
It is important to keep in mind that all drainage systems require a secondary overland flow path to cope with the more extreme storms which cannot be designed against. Having a clear understanding of the location and form of that flow path is important to ensure that it is not dammed by such things as fences, buildings or built-up gardens.
It needs to be kept in mind that landscaping can lead to additional problems of flooding. We see many cases where ground and pavement levels are built up too high, so that water is then able to enter buildings.
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