Beware: Public Swimming Pools Contain Toxins, May Lead To Death

Contrary to popular belief that swimming pools treated with chlorines are safe and free from toxins, recent research has just discovered that Sodium hypochlorite and similar chlorine compounds used in treating pool water can cause liver and kidney cancer, severe infections as well as death.

The research conducted by America’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed that these chemicals react with organic material (such as urines, feaces, sweat from swimmer’s body) to form toxic substances that later develop into a number of diseases in humans. It listed the most common diseases incurred from chlorinated water to include respiratory defects, eye and skin infections, gastrointestinal defects, neurological dysfunctions and injuries of the kidney and liver. It also linked excessive exposure to chlorine compounds to kidney and liver cancers.

The research also discovered that chlorine does not kill all germs in the water and swallowing just a little water that contains these germs can cause sickness. In the past two decades, there has been a substantial increase in the number of infections associated with swimming. The most commonly reported is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses are caused by germs such as Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli O157:H7.

Crypto, which can stay alive for days even in well-maintained pools, has become the leading cause of swimming pool-related outbreaks of diarrheal illness.
Few days ago, Reno Gazette Journal published the story of a 21-year-old woman from California, who died from an infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) which she contracted after going swimming in Reno, Nevada. The woman woke up from a nap on June 16 with symptoms including a headache, nausea and vomiting. Few days later her condition deteriorated until she suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

Aside from contracting germs, fatal illness can also develop after heavy exposure to chlorinated water. According to the CDC research, 2% of the total victims of chlorinated water suffered from severe liver and kidney infections. Risks of renal cancer due to chlorinated water were highlighted by the researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health some years back. The report estimated that these disinfectants are causing at least about 10,700 cases of kidney cancers every year. This figure also estimated that the number of cases will rise continuously, if adequate measures are not taken.

To analyze the scope of damage from water disinfectants, America’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences tested trihalomethanes, an important unit of water disinfectants on rats. The chemical was mixed in their food. A large number of rats developed colorectal and renal cancer while others developed kidney and liver infections from the toxic food.

Subsequent research corroborated the fact that chlorinated water causes potential health risks to people.
Again, the CDC notes that when chlorine binds with sweat, urine, and other waste from swimmers, air irritants increase. Depending on the concentration and how long a person is exposed to them, everything from asthma aggravation and skin problems to neurological problems and diarrhea can develop.
However, the problem goes beyond inhaling air irritants. Researchers from Purdue University say that swimming in a public pool is a health concern because of the multiple ways people can absorb infections; through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Furthermore, they explained that chemicals in makeup, insect repellants and sunscreens also make their way into the pool environment, increasing a person’s exposure to health-aggravating compounds.

“You can inhale, you can ingest and it can go through your skin. So the exposure you receive in a swimming pool setting is potentially much more extensive than the exposure you would receive by just one route alone.
These factors can compound existing health problems or potentially play a role in the onset of new ones,” says Ernest R. Blatchley, a professor at the Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University.

On the solution to this mounting issue, Michele Hlavsa, chief of the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program has advised that swimmers need to take an active role in protecting themselves by observing hygiene in the pool. “Swimmers should use the pool to swim, the restroom to pee and the showers to wash up before getting in the pool" he says.

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Prevent Malaria, Cold And Cholera This Rainy Season

If you have been coughing and wheezing lately, you may have contracted one of the illnesses that come along with the rainy season. After months of experiencing the scorching heat of the sun, the first showers of rain in the year brought relief to many; however, the downpour will now experience could pose some challenges to health.

Scientists say the rainy season invites lots of illnesses and infections which include cold, flu, diarrhoea and some other water-borne and air-borne diseases.

Chest physician, Dr. Anthony Anisuba, identifies the sudden change in temperature and the presence of air and water impurities in the environment as factors that increase fever and other respiratory infections this time of the year.

He notes that water- and food-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are also widespread during the wet season, adding that the likelihood of ingesting contaminated food or water —especially by those who eat in roadside restaurants — is very high this period.

Anisuba states, “The air and water in our homes and environment are likely to be contaminated and polluted this period more than ever before. When one inhales or ingests these impurities and germs, they weaken the body’s antibodies.

“In trying to cope with the infections, the body fights back and this reduces its immunity levels and it may eventually succumb to infections such as malaria, cold and typhoid.”

Though many are aware that illnesses like malaria, cholera and pneumonia infections are rampant this season, they have yet to take steps to protect their kids and families.

While some common illnesses cannot be avoided during the rainy season, experts say if one can take certain precautions, many infections would be kept at bay.

Wear protective gear

When you are going out, you should be prepared and well geared so that even if you are caught in rain, you do not get drenched.

When rain starts pouring in, you first look for a shelter and try to save yourself from getting drenched. However, a shelter can save you from getting wet in rain, but it will not protect you from catching any kind of infection. This is especially when your immune system is very low.

This is very important. This will save you from many infections.

Drink purified water

To save yourself from water-borne diseases, try to purify the drinking water up to the maximum level. There are many new and improved water filters available in the market. They are economical and useful. If you do not have any water purifying system at home, you should buy one of these this rainy season. You can also drink boiled water in the absence of water filter to get somewhat relief from infections.

Take extra care

Anisuba says though no one wants to get sick, if anyone falls ill, they should visit the doctor if the cold or flu persists even after 24 hours.

“Do not take any kind of risk; and if the temperature or the symptoms do not subside after 24 hours, consult the doctor. The person may be infected with cholera, typiod or pneumonia.”

Stay clean 

If the cause of disease is lack of cleanliness either inside or outside the house, get it rectified first. Cleanliness in every aspect is extremely important during rainy season.

Always wear clean and dry clothes. If possible, keep one extra set of clothing with you when you go out so that even if you get caught in rain, you can change into dry clothes.

Avoid eating outside, stay fit 

It is good to eat easily digestible food items in this season. Avoid eating out at all costs. Increase intake of green vegetables and fruits. Try to make your life disciplined and exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. This will help you keep away many diseases.

Wash the rain away

If you are caught in rains and get drenched, you should take bath after getting home and get your hair and body dry completely. Wear dry and clean clothes and if you have been in rain for more time, drink some hot drink, preferably hot milk, soup or so. This will save you from catching cold. A glass of hot milk with one teaspoonful of turmeric powder is a very good remedy and you should drink this at night before going to bed.

Also, when a person is sick, he or she might feel depressed and so you can put on light, soothing music so that it helps them feel relaxed.

Anisuba adds that if you follow these tips and stay protected, you will ward away infections, allergies and diseases during rainy seasons.

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"Be Vigilant As Ebola Resurfaces In Liberia" - FG Tells Nigerians

Following the resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia, the Federal Government has advised all state ministries of health and health facilities across the country to raise their alert level and report any suspected case to the Federal Ministry of Health.
 
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Health, Ayo Adesugba. The federal government however urged Nigerians not to panic but should rather be aware and be vigilant.
“Members of the public are advised to observe basic hygiene and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.”
“It must be noted that the main symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease are fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Patients in some cases, also have neurological symptoms of becoming confused and restless. To address the challenges of the development in neighbouring Liberia, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is reactivating its response mechanism and increasing the level of its alert,” the statement noted.

The statement further explained that: “A new case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been reported in Liberia. This means that the country which was certified EVD free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 9, 2015 has witnessed a resurgence of the disease. A 17-year-old boy from a village near the Liberian capital died of Ebola. He had no history of travelling out of Liberia and no history of coming into contact with any known Ebola case. The boy has since been buried but Liberian health officials are worried that he may have transmitted the virus to many other people who came into contact with him. The resurgence of EVD in Liberia confirms that the Ebola Virus is still circulating in that country and transmission from person-to-person is possible.”

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Corn: Good For The Health But... Side Effects!

It is again the season of corn and, all over Nigeria and most part of Africa, you can see it being sold by roadside food vendors. Corn is a food crop that contain a lot of nutritional health benefits but also devastating side effect when eaten too much. Apart from the nutritional benefits, corn provides various health benefits too. Corn, being a rich source of folate, is found to beneficial for the formation of new cells. Folate is also helpful in preventing birth defects, colon cancer and heart diseases. Thiamine in corn is good for carbohydrate metabolism, energy production and cognitive functions. Fiber content helps to reduce cholesterol, constipation and the risk of colon cancer. Corn contains a carotenoid called beta-cryptoxanthin, which is good for the health of the lungs and also prevents lung cancer. Corn can promote cardiovascular health, if consumed in moderate quantities, regularly. It is also good for people with renal problems.

Corn can be boiled, steamed or roasted or can be used to make healthy snacks, like, popcorn (without butter or sugar). You can also use any food products made of corn, like cornflakes, puddy or any other kind of corn meal. Not only does corn tastes good, but also comes with a high nutritional value, which is beneficial for human health.

However, despite all these health benefits, corn has some disturbing side effects.The major points against consumption of corn include a possibility of fungal and microbial infection and toxicity and skewed Omega 6 : Omega 3 ratio. Besides these, some other concerns over consumption of corn happen to stem from the sugar and starch content of corn which gives this grain high calorific value. Not a very good news for weight watchers! This concern also gives rise to a very serious question - is corn oil good for you? Considering the ubiquity of corn oil in just about every processed and fried food and given its high trans fat content, corn oil is not at all a good option for daily cooking purposes. If you are a discretionary snacker and binge on those fries not more twice or thrice a month then it won't be very harmful for you! Regular consumption should be avoided. Is corn good for you? Not always!

Canned sweet corn can be high in salt, with some brands containing as much as 545 mg of sodium per cup -- close to a quarter of the recommended dietary allowance. MayoClinic reports that excessive dietary salt can lead to fluid retention and increased blood pressure in sodium-sensitive individuals; it recommends getting no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day.  Look for canned corn with no added salt; the sodium level drops to a modest 31 mg per cup.

Although corn isn't fattening, it is a starchy vegetable, meaning it does contain carbohydrates. Consuming too many carbohydrates and overall calories can lead to weight and fat gain. If you're overweight, the  Dietetic Associations encourage you to reduce your daily calorie intake by 500 to 1,000 calories per day for a weight loss of one to two pounds per week.

Corn allergies are seen in adults as well as in children. When a person becomes allergic to corn, his body develops antibodies against corn proteins. Therefore, as soon as the person consumes corn products or even inhales corn particles or pollen, the immune system reacts against it, which gives rise to allergic reactions on the body. As corn is consumed by a large number of Nigerians, the number of corn allergy cases is increasing.

Symptoms of corn allergy vary from very mild to severe ones. They are also found to differ from person to person. When a person is over sensitive to corn, consuming even a small quantity of corn can result in development of symptoms.

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Consumers Of Imported Chicken Risk Kidney Failure

Nigerians who delight in eating imported chicken, should be wary at this time as scientist have discovered that individuals who consume high amount of imported poultry meat especially chicken and turkey are at risk of kidney diseases, food borne diseases like typhoid and if care is not taken it could lead to death.

The scientists say they have been able to link the isolation of Salmonelia spp with imported poultry meat, which is a leading cause of death among those with high consumption of smuggled poultry meat.

They confirmed that these bacteria can provoke a number of symptoms of disease within 72 hours of exposure and could last four to seven days, necessitating hospital admission in some cases.

They affirmed: “Infection with Salmonella spp could be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems such as infants and the elderly. Chronic exposure to the bacteria could result in arthritic symptoms.”

The National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who disclosed this at a workshop on “the Economic and Health Implications of Smuggled Poultry Product,” said that while locally-farmed poultry meat is sold without any preservatives, the smuggled poultry meat is preserved with hazardous chemicals.

“Formalin load in all smuggled poultry products ranges from 42.9 to 63.3ml/kg, according to survey.
Improperly imported poultry products pose grave dangers to consumers, handlers and environment. The break in cold chains during smuggling encourages a build-up of high microbial load, rendering such consignments unhealthy and unfit for human consumption,” Oduntan stated.

Oduntan while canvassing that locally produced chickens are safe for consumption, said locally-farmed poultry meat is sold without any  preservatives unlike the smuggled poultry meat which is preserved with hazardous chemicals that portend serious danger to the consumers as some of the chemicals are known to be carcinogenic.

On the economic implication of smuggling of frozen chickens, Oduntan stated that about one million jobs will be created if government manages to reduce smuggling by just 30 per cent.

He noted that to fully utilise the balance of the industry’s installed capacity of additional 350,000 metric tonnes will translate  to significant benefits through more job creation in form of 350,000 new jobs in maize production, 75,000 new jobs in processing and 500,000 new jobs in ancillary raw materials, products and services.

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Insecticide Causes Cancer - WHO

A common insecticide has been found to cause cancer in humans, according to a World Health Organization review. The product, lindane, was once widely used in agriculture and continues to be found in some treatments for head lice and scabies. The WHO concluded yesterday that the substance is carcinogenic and specifically said that exposure to the chemical could increase the risk of the rare immune cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, by 60%.

Although agricultural use of the chemical is heavily restricted in Britain, consumers may still be exposed through foods imported from some developing countries, where it continues to be used in agriculture.
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also said that the insecticide DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, “probably causes cancer”, after finding evidence that it could increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), testicular cancer and liver cancer.

Lindane has been banned or restricted in most countries since 2009 under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. It was previously used extensively for insect control in agriculture and continues to be used in some developing countries, Nigeria included.

The findings, published in the Lancet Oncology, showed that there is strong evidence that a third chemical, the herbicide 2,4-D, causes an imbalance in the body called oxidative stress. However, the panel stopped short of concluding there was a definite link to cancer, saying there was insufficient information.

The IARC said high exposures to lindane have previously been reported among agricultural workers and pesticide applicators. “Large epidemiological studies of agricultural exposures in the United States and Canada showed a 60% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in those exposed to lindane,” it said. Lower risks were observed for those who had been less heavily exposed to the chemical.

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“This agricultural usage of lindane has been severely restricted starting in the 1970s and current general population exposure is mainly through the diet or when treated for scabies or lice,” said Dr Kurt Straif, Head of the IARC. “There are currently no epidemiological studies to quantify the lymphoma risk from these exposures.”

DDT was introduced for the control of insect-borne diseases during the second world war and was later applied widely to eradicate malaria and in agriculture. Although most uses of it were banned from the 1970s, IARC cautioned that DDT and its breakdown products are “highly persistent and can be found in the environment and in animal and human tissues throughout the world”. “Exposure to DDT still occurs, mainly through diet,” it said, adding that DDT is still used, mainly for malaria control in parts of Africa, although under very strict conditions.

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Mushrooms Can Help Reduce Body Fat

In almost every village in Nigeria, Mushrooms can be found, especially in the southern part of the country where oil palm trees are mostly located. Mushrooms provide valuable nutrients, including fiber, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, selenium and copper. They are also low in both calories and energy density, making them a good way to fill up without going over your daily calorie limit. This allows you to lose weight and fat without feeling deprived.

You can eat quite a few mushrooms without consuming many calories. A cup of raw sliced white mushrooms has just 15 calories, a cup of grilled sliced portabella mushrooms has 35 calories and a cup of cooked sliced shiitake mushrooms has 81 calories. Cooking mushrooms increases their volume, which is why a cup of cooked mushrooms has more calories than a cup of raw mushrooms.

Foods low in energy density, like mushrooms, have relatively few calories per gram, making them very diet-friendly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the volume of food you put in your stomach that fills you up, not the number of calories. So if you fill up on foods low in energy density, you can eat fewer calories per meal and lose weight without feeling hungry between meals. Without exercise, however, about 25 percent of each pound you lose will come from muscle instead of fat.

Switch out some of the meat in each of your meals with mushrooms, and you'll probably achieve better weight- and fat-loss results. A study published in "Appetite" found that people who substituted mushrooms for red meat consumed fewer calories and lost more weight and body fat than those who followed the control diet.

Add raw or cooked mushrooms to salads, wraps, soups or pasta. Swap out the pepperoni or sausage on your pizza for mushrooms and other low-calorie vegetables. For the best body-fat-loss results, use mushrooms instead of higher-calorie foods rather than just adding them to foods you already eat. If you don't want to replace all of the meat in your main dish with mushrooms, try replacing just part of the meat to lower the fat and calories while increasing the fiber. That way, you'll feel fuller on less food.

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Why Junk Foods Can Lead To Memory Loss

Eating junk food could harm the memory and may even lead to brain damage, a study has found.
Foods laden with sugar and fat appear to reduce levels of a natural brain chemical crucial for learning, say scientists. People whose diets are high in fat and sugar could unwittingly be harming their minds.
The study, carried out at the University of California's Brain Injury Research Centre, is published in the journal Neuroscience. A team led by neurosurgeon Fernando Gomez-Pinilla of UCLA carried out a series of experiments on rats.
One group of rats was fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet and allowed no exercise for two months. The second had the same diet but could exercise on a wheel. The third had a healthy diet and the fourth a healthy diet plus exercise.
The rats fed fatty, sugary foods fared significantly worse than those given healthy foods. However, exercise appeared to counteract the harm caused by too much junk food.
The rats in the first group were found to have a reduced level of a brain chemical called BDNF, which protects the adult brain from damage and allows it to respond to stimuli.
In order to learn or remember, the brain converts electrical impulses into chemical impulses, in a process called a synapse. A lack of BDNF affects the responsiveness of the brain during synapse - and this is associated with cognitive decline.
In memory tests involving a water maze, the rats on the high-fat diet were less able to remember to swim to a platform.
When the platform was removed, the rats on the healthy diet plus exercise spent 70 per cent of their time swimming where the platform had been - as if they were looking for it.
Those on the healthy diet alone spent half their time swimming where the platform should be, as did the rats on a high-fat diet plus exercise.
But the junk food-only group seemed to swim randomly around the pool, demonstrating their poor memory.

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"Beware Of Expired Yoghurts, Fake Wines And Siprits Currently In The Market" - NAFDAC

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the agency in charge of food and drug regulation in Nigeria, yesterday alerted the public about the circulation of revalidated expired yoghurt, unregistered wines and spirits in the market.

 

Director-General of the agency, Paul Orhii, made the disclosure at a news briefing in Lagos.

According to Mr Orhii, "the agency has launched an investigation into the alteration of the expiry date of the yoghurt known as Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt".

 

According to NAFDAC, a firm tampered with the expiry date of March 2015 of the yoghurt by carefully altering the last number in the date to read March 2016. Announcing that the suspects had been arrested by the agency, Orhii said NAFDAC was working to get the source of the product and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said: “The public is, hereby, informed that the validity of yoghurt is six months. Buyers and consumers should be watchful of processed foods and always collect receipts upon purchase of any item.” 

Meanwhile, the agency has intercepted a truckload of various suspected counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits belonging to a businessman (names withheld) along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Orhii said the most worrisome thing was that the importer used official government number plate, OGFZA (Regd.No.RV885FZE) assigned to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, to deceive security operatives, adding that the interception was made possible by vigilant officers of the agency.

On examination, he said, the truck was found to contain counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits (J&P Wine, Red Label, Villiera Fired Earth Wine and Jelzin Assorted Flavours). 

Others are JP Chernet Wine, Cask and Cream, E and J Brey, among others.

Orhii further revealed that the agency had concluded plans to re-present its proposed Anti-Counterfeit Bill to the eighth Assembly with a view to getting stiffer punishments for counterfeiters of registered products.
The new bill is proposing a lifetime jail sentence for convicted counterfeiters, and also recommending the confiscation of their assets and the use of some of the confiscated assets to compensate victims.

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Ogogoro Killings In Nigeria: The Disastrous Effects Of Methanol In The Local Gin

Ogogoro or local gin is a common alcoholic beverage locally consumed in most rural areas and city suburbs in Nigeria, especially in the riverine communities of the Niger Delta region. Ogogoro is usually made from palm wine, in natural drink made from oil palm trees. However, when the news recently broke out that ogogoro was killing people in some states in Nigeria, eye-brows were raised. It has now been confirmed by health authorities that the killer ogogoro is made not from palm wine but from methanol.

You can't see, smell or taste methanol, but drink a small amount and it could make you very ill or even kill you. Methanol has recently been linked to a number of deaths in Australia and overseas.
But what exactly is methanol, how is it produced, and, more importantly, how would you know if you have drunk it?

Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol. It is closely related to ethanol, the type of alcohol normally found in beer, wine and spirits – but much more toxic. The potential for its presence in drinks made from home-distilled spirits is a serious health risk.
Methanol is formed in very small amounts during fermentation, the process by which alcohol is made from plant products like grape juice or cereal grains. There are small amounts in wine and beer, but not enough to cause problems when these products are made at home, says Leigh Schmidtke, a senior lecturer in wine microbiology and production at Charles Sturt University. But home distillation to make spirits like gin or rum concentrates the levels of both ethanol and methanol.
Commercially-made spirits are very safe because manufacturers use technologies specifically designed to ensure methanol is separated from the ethanol. But home brew systems are typically not so technically advanced, which makes separation more difficult.
"There are no really safe ways of differentiating methanol from ethanol at home," says Schmidtke.

Methanol is converted in the body into formic acid, the same toxin that is found in the venom of ants. It's the buildup of this in the blood that causes the devastating problems, says Professor Paul Haber, the head of Drug and Alcohol Services at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
These include:

• kidney failure
• problems with your heart and circulation,
• liver damage
• visual disturbances such as blurred vision, tunnel vision, changes in colour perception, and temporary or permanent blindness.
• nerve and brain damage

"As time progresses, you lose your vision, you're losing integrity of your thinking processes, maybe other organs are affected. It is a very, very unpleasant process," says toxicologist Professor Chris Winder.

The earliest signs of methanol poisoning can be hard to distinguish from the normal effects of alcohol. You can develop mild symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication within an hour, along with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
After 12 to 24 hours, the more significant symptoms can develop, such as headache, dizziness, vertigo and blurred vision.
"The bad thing is that it takes 12 to 24 hours, and often people have been solidly drunk and sleeping," says Gordian Fulde.
Ignorance of the issue can also lead to misdiagnosis or critical delays in diagnosis.
If eye symptoms such as blurred vision or difficulty looking a bright light develop, then "they really are in trouble," says Fulde. "That's when they really need to do something."

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