The National Environmental Health Association has named Chris Wiant, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.E.H.S. as its 2007 Mangold award winner. The prestigious Mangold Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in the environmental health profession. Wiant is a former NEHA president and board director and a former environmental health director and health officer. He is currently the president and CEO of the Caring for Colorado Foundation. The award was presented at NEHA's June 2007 Annual Education Conference Presidents Banquet.

The first ever country-by-country analyses of the impact environmental factors have on health were recently released by The World Health Organization (WHO). The report found that reducing environmental risks could potentially prevent 13 million deaths a year across the world. For this analysis, environmental factors include pollution, occupational factors, UV radiation, noise, agricultural methods, climate and ecosystem change, the built environment and people's behavior.

The analysis showed that in 23 countries worldwide, more than 10 percent of deaths are due to just two environmental factors: unsafe water, including poor sanitation and hygiene, and indoor air pollution due to solid fuel use for cooking. Children under five are primary victims and comprise 74 percent of deaths from diarrhoeal disease and lower respiratory infections.

The report stated that interventions at household, community and national levels could dramatically reduce the death rate. WHO highlighted promotion of household water treatment and safe storage, as well as improved home cooking methods as highly effective health interventions.

To read more about the report, please go to:
WHO Report

The United Nations habitat program has dedicated $1.5m million to urban areas with water shortages and poor sanitation in Rwanda. The funding was identified and agreed upon earlier this year in March with the objective of elevating awareness about water and sanitation issues in the African country, and ultimately increasing the number of people who have access to clean drinking water from 66% to above 70% by the end of this year.

Next month the region of Kigali is expected to have an additional 11.000 cubic meters of water supply per day, largely from the Karenge Bicumbi district in Western region. Kigali city, according to estimates by Electrogaz-the sole supplier of water, is supplied with 45, 000 cubic meters of water-far below what is enough for the approximately one million people currently residing there.

The nation hopes to exceed the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which set a timetable of 2015 for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. Safe water and sanitation are key factors among the goals and can attract foreign investment to the country.

To read more on this story, please go to:
UN Habitat Funding for Rwanda

A pool's physical condition, as well as swimmer comfort, safety and filtration, is largely dictated by the water's chemical balance. An article in the June 18 issue of Chemical & Engineering News highlights a broad range of products used to maintain water quality in pools and spas.

For many, chlorine is the first product that comes to people's minds when discussing pool chemicals because of its "smell." However, the article notes that this odor is actually from chloramines, produced by chlorine's reaction with contaminants introduced by swimmers. A pool with enough added chlorine to oxidize the chloramines would have no smell.

Most major pool chemical suppliers offer product lines targeting different distribution channels and consumers. In addition to chlorine and other chemicals that offer basic sanitation, pH tuning, and calcium adjustment, there are also biocides, oxidizers, scale inhibitors, clarifiers, flocculants, metal removers, surface cleaners, and defoamers. For the spa or hot tub market, softeners and fragrances exist.

Determining which reagents to use is just a small part of a larger process for pool and spa/hot tub owners. Other factors that must be considered include:

• Pool volume and type;
• Circulation, brushing, and vacuuming rates;
• Climate, weather, and water temperature;
• Nearby plants, critters, and bather load;
• Owner diligence

To read more about different types of pool chemicals, please go to:
Keeping Pool Water Clean

Two Michigan State University professors are leading an international partnership of environmental engineers and scientists to create and develop new technologies, which will seek to purify the world's waters. The partnership is comprised of participants from two U.S. research universities, two research centers in France, and three institutions in Ukraine and Russia.

This project will look at ways to develop new types of membranes and membrane systems that perform better in water treatment applications. Supported by a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the team brings together domestic and international expertise, as well as students, to develop water purifying strategies derived from so-called "membrane-based" technologies. The grant is for five years but the partnership is working with organizations to sustain funding beyond its current length.

Development of robust membranes is a significant opportunity to enhance the quality of water and, ultimately, public health, especially in developing countries. Membrane-based technologies are analogous to filters except they remove things that are smaller and separate on the basis of chemistry and size. Consequently, membranes can produce ultrapure water.

To learn more about this international partnership, please go to:
International Partnership for Membrane Technology

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