Promoting the safety of reusables to protect human and environmental health
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new ‘normal’ level of dependence on single-use plastics. Online shopping, takeouts, and deliveries took over as people’s mobility was greatly limited during the lockdowns. However, while human safety is of utmost priority and importance, we must also be mindful of its effects on the environment. Plastic waste may cause more risks to human health if left unchecked. This has brought to life questions single-use vs. reusable goods in the context of a global public health crisis. The Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, represented by Dr. Geminn Louis C. Apostol, a leading Environmental Health Specialist, joins 125 experts from all over the world in supporting Greenpeace’s statement regarding the safety of reusables during COVID-19. Dr. Apostol explains, “While ensuring adequate access to PPE is paramount, the pandemic has exposed how both the medical and nonmedical community have an unnecessary and dangerous reliance on disposable, single-use materials. Widespread use of single-use PPE has resulted in enormous quantities entering waste management streams, contaminating both public spaces and natural environments and creating additional threats to public health and safety.” With proper hygiene and disinfection practices, reusable products can safely be used, protecting both human and environmental health.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hands-with-latex-gloves-holding-a-globe-with-a-face-mask-4167544/
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Hands-On Learning, Hands-Off Hazards: Chemical Safety in the Classroom
On June 11, 2024, the EcoWaste Coalition and Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) Centre for Research and Innovation (ACRI) held a seminar at Caloocan High School on chemical safety in classrooms, attended by around 100 teachers and school leaders. Dr. Geminn Louis C. Apostol led a plenary on potential chemical hazards and mitigation strategies, followed by interactive breakout sessions where teachers identified hazards and created educational materials promoting chemical safety. Facilitators, including experts from ACRI and SEAOHUN, supported the discussions. EcoWaste's Sir Manny Calonzo emphasized the risks of heavy metals in tarpaulins, crayons, and markers, advocating for toxic-free materials. The event is part of an ongoing partnership to empower educators in creating safer learning environments for Filipino children.
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A TAALe of Arsenic: Sharing the narrative through an interactive map
Arsenic is a highly toxic and carcinogenic trace metal that can potentially contaminate groundwater sources in volcanic regions and affect communities in the area, like those residing around the Taal Volcano. The volcano’s eruption last 2020 encouraged an investigation into the quality of groundwater sources in communities surrounding the volcano. In response, the EnviHealth team in ACRI conducted a comparative documentation, “Arsenic in Groundwater Sources from Selected Communities Surrounding Taal Volcano, Philippines”. Water samples from 26 wells were collected across 11 municipalities and 1 city in Batangas province within danger zones from the volcano which were used to analyze total arsenic levels of the samples. Geographic coordinates of the sampling points were also recorded for mapping.