OSHA Occupational Chemical Database

"This chemical inventory is OSHA's premier one-stop shop for occupational chemical information. It compiles information from several government agencies and organizations. Information available on the pages includes:

• Chemical identification and physical properties
• Exposure limits
• Sampling information, and
• Additional resources.

OSHA Standards and Exposure Limits

Employers must comply with a number of standards where employees are potentially exposed to chemical hazards. These include OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits PELs for about 400 substances, which can be found as follows:

• General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
  • Air contaminants and Z1, Z2, Z3 tables
  • 29 CFR 1910.1001 - 29 CFR 1910.1018
  • 29 CFR 1910.1025- 29 CFR 1910.1053
• Construction: 29 CFR 1926.1101, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
  • 29 CFR 1926.1101 – 29 CFR 1926.1153
• Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
  • Substance-specific standards

OSHA's PELs are included in the "Exposure Limits" table for individual chemicals in the database. In addition, OSHA has separate substance-specific standards, which can be found in the "Notes" section of the "Exposure Limits" table.

Other OSHA standards that generally apply to hazardous substances include the Hazard Communication standard (1910.1200) and the Respiratory Protection standard (1910.134). Employers may also need to provide personal protective clothing (1910.132) where there is a potential hazard from skin contact with chemicals, or eye and face protection to guard against chemical splashes (1910.133)..."
OSHA chemical database

How Job-Related Data Benefits You

"Use the Worker Health Charts to learn how work affects health. Worker Health Charts allows users to chart hard-to-find work-related health data. Anyone can use this free web application to learn about work-related safety and health.

How Worker Health Charts can answer your job safety and health questions

There are many things that cause sickness and injuries. We can get sick when our kids bring home a virus, sprain our ankles when we fall down the back porch steps, or feel stressed when we buy and sell a house. But, we often forget that our jobs can also take a toll on our:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Social well-being

The workplace may expose you to many types of hazards:

• biological (e.g., viruses)
• chemical (e.g., pesticides)
• physical (e.g., falls)
• psychosocial (e.g., job stress).."
  Worker charts

Success Stories in Environmental Health

"Learn more about how CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) protect and promote environmental health across the United States.

Your environment is everything around you—the air you breathe, the water you drink, the places where your food is grown or prepared, your workplace, and your home. When your environment is safe and healthy, you are more likely to stay healthy. But when your environment exposes you to dangerous events or harmful amounts of toxic substances, your health can be affected. In fact, 25% of all diseases worldwide are caused by something harmful in the environment.

How can my environment affect my health?

Here are some actual examples of the many ways your environment can affect your health.

• Your drinking water well is contaminated by benzene from industrial activities near your home.
• Your seven-year-old child suffers from severe asthma, and you don’t know how to help him.
• Your child’s school is contaminated by mercury found in a science lab.
• You are suffering from depression following a man-made disaster near your community.

e National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a sister agency to the CDC, are committed to keeping people safe from environmental hazards. Each agency works to:

• promote healthy environments,
• respond to natural and man-made disasters,
• support public health workers,
• educate communities, and
• provide scientific knowledge..."
  Environmental health

10 Reasons to Get Moving Today!

"Sure, you’ve heard that physical activity might help keep the weight off, but are you familiar with the other reasons physical activity is so important? Here’s a look at 10 benefits of physical activity and why you should get moving today!

1. Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes or Diabetes ComplicationsMore than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and another 84 million US adults have a condition called prediabetes, which puts them at risk of type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity helps prevent type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes (type 1 or type 2), you can help control your blood sugar levels by staying active.

2. Better Brain FunctionRegular physical activity can keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp and delay the decline of these skills as you age.

3. More Money in Your Wallet$117 billion – That’s how much our country spends each year in health care costs associated with levels of physical activity that are too low. Not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk of developing a chronic disease, which comes with higher health care costs. Staying active is good for your health and your wallet, too.

4. Lower Risk of Some CancersGetting the recommended amount of physical activity can lower the risk of many cancers.  These include cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach..."
   Health and exercise

Tetanus: Protect Your Family with Vaccines

"Tetanus is an uncommon but very serious disease caused by spores of bacteria found in the environment. Make sure your family is up to date with their tetanus vaccine so they can enjoy being outdoors safely.

Summertime means family cookouts, long days playing outside, and unfortunately the cuts and scrapes that often come with outdoor fun. Spores of tetanus bacteria are commonly found in soil and can enter the body through these breaks in the skin. Inside the body, the spores become active bacteria and make a toxin (poison) that causes painful muscle stiffness.

Tetanus infection can lead to serious health problems and even death. Make sure everyone in your family is up to date with their tetanus vaccine.

CDC Recommends Tetanus Vaccines for People of All Ages

Several vaccines protect against tetanus, all of which also protect against other diseases.

The vaccine called DTaP helps protect young children from diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis or whooping cough. CDC recommends a DTaP shot for babies at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, and again at 15 through 18 months old. CDC also   recommends a booster shot for children ages 4 through 6 years old..

The vaccine called Tdap also helps protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. CDC recommends that all preteens and teens get a Tdap vaccine, preferably at 11 or 12 years old.

Adults need to get a Td booster shot every 10 years to stay protected. This vaccine protects against tetanus and diphtheria. CDC also recommends one dose of Tdap for adults who have never received it. The easiest thing for adults to do is to get Tdap instead of their next regular Td booster. However, the dose of Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year mark. Talk to a doctor to learn about what’s best for your specific situation..."
Tetanus

21 Tips for Traveling With Diabetes

"Don’t let good diabetes management go on vacation just because you did.
Traveling to new places gets you out of your routine—that’s a big part of the fun. But delayed meals, unfamiliar food, being more active than usual, and different time zones can all disrupt diabetes management. Plan ahead so you can count on more fun and less worry on the way and when you get to your destination.

Before You Go

1. Visit your doctor for a checkup to ensure you’re fit for the trip. Make sure to ask your doctor:
   • How your planned activities could affect your diabetes and what to do about it.
   • How to adjust your insulin doses if you’re traveling to a different time zone.
   • To provide prescriptions for your medicines in case you lose them or run out.
   • If you’ll need any vaccines.
   • To write a letter stating that you have diabetes and why you need your medical supplies.
2. Just in case, locate pharmacies and clinics close to where you’re staying.
3. Get a medical ID bracelet that states you have diabetes and any other health conditions.
4. Get travel insurance in case you miss your flight or need medical care.
5. Order a special meal for the flight that fits with your meal plan, or pack your own.
6. Packing:
   • Put your diabetes supplies in a carry-on bag (insulin could get too cold in your checked luggage). Think about bringing a smaller bag to have at your seat for insulin, glucose tablets, and snacks.
   • Pack twice as much medicine as you think you’ll need. Carry medicines in the pharmacy bottles they came in, or ask your pharmacist to print out extra labels you can attach to plastic bags.
   • Be sure to pack healthy snacks, like fruit, raw veggies, and nuts.
7. Airport security:
   • Get an optional TSA notification card[PDF – 23.8KB] to help the screening process go more quickly and smoothly.
   • Good news: people with diabetes are exempt from the 3.4 oz. liquid rule for medicines, fast-acting carbs like juice, and gel packs to keep insulin cool.
   • A continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump could be damaged going through the X-ray machine. You don’t have to disconnect from either; ask for a hand inspection instead..."
     Travel and diabetes

Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century: Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations

View President Trump's just released proposal for reorganizing various federal departments.
Federal government reorganization

Public Release of CRS Reports: FAQ for Congressional Staff

"On March 23, 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 was signed into law. The law directed the Librarian of Congress, in consultation with the CRS Director, to establish and maintain a public website that will contain written CRS products available on CRS.gov. In response, the Library and CRS immediately started work to ensure products required under this new law will be available at launch by Sept. 18, 2018. They also initiated planning to make additional written products available as expeditiously as possible.

The Library of Congress and CRS are committed to implementing this publication directive while maintaining a consistent and high-level of service to Congress. The law does not change the mission or focus of CRS. The law does not affect the confidentiality of congressional requests or responses (such as confidential memoranda). It does not allow congressional requests or confidential responses to be made available to the public. All CRS reports will continue to be written for a congressional audience and focused on the needs of Congress. More details will be added as planning progresses. For more information, please contact the CRS Congressional Programs and Communications Office.

What will the site look like and what content will it include?

The Library plans to make the collection of CRS reports publicly available on the official website for U.S. federal legislative information, Congress.gov (congress.gov/crsreports). The website will employ a simple, Google-like search and will include options for viewing all reports and bulk download. The search results page will look similar to CRS.gov's search results page and feature the same search sorting, filter by category, and display mechanisms.

For the initial public release, the Library will make available in PDF format all of CRS's R-series of "active" reports that were published since the enactment date, as well as the Appropriations Status Table. The publication directive specifically mandates that the public website is to be "updated contemporaneously, automatically, and electronically, to include each new or updated CRS report released on or after" the date on which the Library makes the website available for public access. The Library and CRS will ensure that every CRS report that is published or updated once the public website is active will be so included. The Library and CRS are additionally committed to presenting the full inventory of reports appearing on CRS.gov on the public website as soon as is practicable (with a full migration targeted for completion by spring 2019). After the R-series reports are published, the Library will work to make other written products, such as In Focus products, available..."
CRS Reports

Your Healthy Home

"Keep your home free from tobacco smoke.

June is National Healthy Homes Month, the perfect time to make your home smokefree. Let visitors know that, for your family’s health, smoking is not allowed in your home. It’s not enough to open a window or turn on a fan to try to blow the smoke away. Even moving to a different room away from a smoker does not prevent you from being exposed to secondhand smoke. Keeping your home free from tobacco smoke helps keep you and your family healthy.

How Is Secondhand Smoke Harmful?

Exposure to secondhand smoke is harmful. In adult nonsmokers, it causes heart disease, lung cancer, and other diseases. It can also result in premature death. In fact, about 41,000 nonsmoking adults die from heart disease and lung cancer every year because of secondhand smoke.

Children who breathe in secondhand smoke are more likely to get sick, including respiratory and ear infections. In babies, secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Secondhand smoke kills more than 400 infants from SIDS each year.

About 58 million nonsmokers in the U.S. are still exposed to secondhand smoke, many of whom are exposed in their homes. Completely eliminating tobacco smoke indoors is the only way to fully protect those in your household from this preventable health risk.
Tobacco smoke in homes

Explore Travel Health with the CDC Yellow Book

"CDC Health Information for International Travel (commonly called the Yellow Book) is published every two years as a reference for health professionals providing care to international travelers and is a useful resource for anyone interested in staying healthy abroad. The fully revised and updated CDC Yellow Book 2018 codifies the U.S. government's most current travel health guidelines, including pretravel vaccine recommendations, destination-specific health advice, and easy-to-reference maps, tables, and charts.

The 2018 Yellow Book includes important travel medicine updates:

• The latest information about emerging infectious disease threats such as Zika, Ebola, and MERS
• New cholera vaccine recommendations
• Updated guidance on the use of antibiotics in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea
• Special considerations for unique types of travel, such as wilderness expeditions, work-related travel, and study abroad
• Destination-specific recommendations for popular itineraries, including new sections for travelers to Cuba and Burma..."
  Yellow Book

ICD-11: International Classification of Diseases

[via: World Health Organization ]

"ICD is the foundation for the identification of health trends and statistics globally, and the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions. It is the diagnostic classification standard for all clinical and research purposes. ICD defines the universe of diseases, disorders, injuries and other related health conditions, listed in a comprehensive, hierarchical fashion that allows for:

• easy storage, retrieval and analysis of health information for evidenced-based decision-making;
• sharing and comparing health information between hospitals, regions, settings and countries; and
• data comparisons in the same location across different time periods.

Uses include monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of diseases, observing reimbursements and resource allocation trends, and keeping track of safety and quality guidelines. They also include the counting of deaths as well as diseases, injuries, symptoms, reasons for encounter, factors that influence health status, and external causes of disease..".
International classification Diseases

Oysters and Vibriosis

"Raw oysters can ruin your summer. That’s because you can get very sick from eating raw oysters. Learn about vibriosis, a disease linked to raw oysters – and how to protect your health when it comes to oysters and certain other shellfish.

Most illnesses from raw oysters occur in summer. Whenever and wherever you like to enjoy oysters, eating raw oysters and certain other undercooked shellfish, such as clams and mussels, can put you at risk for infections.

Oysters eat by constantly drawing in water and materials in the water, including harmful bacteria and viruses. These bacteria and viruses can become concentrated in an oyster’s body and infect people who eat the oysters raw or undercooked. One of the infections people get from eating raw oysters is caused by some types of Vibrio, bacteria that occur naturally in coastal waters where oysters grow. This infection is called vibrioisis. People also can get vibriosis after exposing a wound to brackish or salt water containing the bacteria. Brackish water is a mixture of fresh and sea water.

About 80,000 people get vibriosis – and 100 people die from it – in the United States every year. Most of these illnesses happen from May through October when water temperatures are warmer. However, you can get sick from eating raw or undercooked oysters during any month of the year, and raw oysters from typically colder waters also can cause vibriosis.

An oyster that contains harmful bacteria doesn’t look, smell, or even taste different from any other oyster. The only way to kill harmful bacteria in oysters is to cook them properly..."
Oysters and Vibriosis

The June 12 Trump-Kim Jong-un Summit

"On June 12, 2018, President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Singapore to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program, building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and the future of U.S. relations with North Korea (known officially as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK). During their summit, the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries, Trump and Kim issued a brief joint statement in which Trump “committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK,” and Kim “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The Singapore document is shorter on details than previous nuclear agreements with North Korea and acts as a statement of principles in four areas:

 Normalization: The two sides “commit to establish” new bilateral relations.
 Peace: The U.S. and DPRK agree to work to build “a lasting and stable peace regime.”
 Denuclearization: North Korea “commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” as was also promised in an April 2018 summit between Kim and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in.
 POW/MIA remains: The two sides will work to recover the remains of thousands of U.S. troops unaccounted for during the Korean War,,:
Trump-Kim Jong-un Summit

Frequently Asked Questions: Zero Tolerance Immigration Prosecutions

"The Attorney General directed United States Attorneys on the Southwest Border to prosecute all amenable adults who illegally enter the country, including those accompanied by their children, for 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a), illegal entry. Children whose parents are referred for prosecution will be placed with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The following are Frequently Asked Questions regarding Zero Tolerance Immigration Prosecutions.

Why Are Parents Being Separated From Their Children?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may separate a parent or legal guardian from his or her child for several reasons, including situations where DHS cannot ascertain the parental relationship, when DHS determines that a child may be at risk with the presumed parent or legal guardian, or if a parent or legal guardian is referred for criminal prosecution, including for illegal entry.

Where Are Children Going?

Alien children who are separated from their parents or legal guardians will be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS ORR).

What Happens to Children in HHS Custody?

HHS ORR provides care for all alien children in its custody, to include medical care, mental health care, educational services, and other services.  HHS also works to locate a sponsor (parent, guardian, other adult relative, or foster care provider) for the children in its custody, for purposes of releasing the child from government custody.

What Happens After Criminal Prosecution?

Parents or legal guardians who are charged with illegal entry will be transferred from DHS to the Department of Justice, where they will be presented to a judge for a hearing on their criminal case.  After completion of criminal proceedings, they will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration proceedings.

Any individual who is subject to removal may, in the course of immigration proceedings, seek asylum or other relief or protection from removal.  The fact that an individual was prosecuted for illegal entry does not affect this right.

HHS and ICE can take steps to facilitate family reunification, for purposes of removal, if the potential sponsor is capable of providing for the physical and mental well-being of the child..and comports with the wishes of the parent or legal guardian. 

Children may also present an individual claim for asylum or other relief or protection from removal, and depending on the circumstances, may undergo separate immigration proceedings.

How Can I Communicate With My Child?

For parents or legal guardians detained in ICE custody, ICE and HHS will work to schedule regular communication with their children in HHS custody, through telephone and/or video conferencing.

Additionally, individuals may locate and communicate with their children through the following methods:

• HHS Parent Hotline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in both English and Spanish):
  • If calling from outside an ICE detention facility, call 1-800-203-7001.
  • If calling from an ICE detention facility, dial 699# on the free call platform.
  • Please note that you will need to provide the child’s full name, date of birth, and country of origin.  It is also helpful to provide the child’s alien registration number, if you know it.
• Email ORR at information@ORRNCC.com.."
  Immigration prosecution

Fact Sheet: Zero Tolerance Immigration Prosecutions - Families

"The risks of crossing the Rio Grande and desert terrain, or hiding in stash houses or tractor trailers, are high for adults and even more deeply concerning for children.  Individuals who seek to enter the United States should do so at ports of entry.

The Attorney General directed United States Attorneys on the Southwest Border to prosecute all amenable adults who illegally enter the country, including those accompanied by their children, for 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a), illegal entry. 

Children whose parents are referred for prosecution will be placed with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

The information below provides information about:

• Care for children
• Family communication processes
• The removal process

Additional Information

• Click here for Frequently Asked Questions regarding Zero Tolerance Immigration Prosecutions
• Click here to view information provided to individuals while in CBP’s custody
• Click here for Information on the location of ICE detainees.."
  Immigration prosecution

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

"Learn how to protect you and your loved ones during a thunderstorm. Being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever.

The weather forecast calls for a slight chance of thunderstorms, but you can only see a few fluffy white clouds overhead. So you and your tennis partner grab your racquets and balls and head for the tennis court. You spend a few minutes warming up and then—wait! Is that thunder you hear? Was that a lightning flash?

What do you do? Keep playing until the thunder and lightning get closer? Go sit on the metal bench under the trees to see what happens? Or get in your car and drive home?

Correct answer: If no substantial, non-concrete shelter is nearby, get in your car and wait out the storm.

Why? Because being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever..."
Lightning

Stay Healthy at Animal Exhibits

"Interacting with animals at fairs, zoos, and aquariums can be educational and fun, but it’s important to remember that animals sometimes carry harmful germs that can make us sick. Learn how to stay healthy when visiting animal exhibits.

There are many ways to explore the animal world, and many people choose to visit animal exhibits to learn about and interact with animals. Animal exhibits like zoos, petting zoos, aquariums, fairs, and farms are popular places for children to experience and learn from animals they may not see in their daily lives. Although animal exhibits can be educational and fun, it’s important to know that even animals at these exhibits can sometimes carry germs that can make people sick, even when the animal appears healthy.

Every year, many people get sick after visiting an animal exhibit. From 2010-2015, about 100 outbreaks of illness in people linked to animals in public settings like zoos, fairs, and educational farms were reported to public health officials. Some of the most common harmful germs people get from animals at exhibits are E. coli O157:H7, Cryptosporodium, and Salmonellainfections, but there are also many other types of germs that can spread between animals and people. If you forget to wash your hands after petting an animal, or bring food or drinks into an area with animals, you increase your chance of getting sick. Even animals that look clean and healthy can carry harmful germs, and areas where animals live or roam can be contaminated – you don’t have to touch an animal to get sick. Adults over 65 years of age, children 5 years of age and younger, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick from the germs animals can carry, and should take extra precautions at animal exhibits..."
Animal exhibits

Sickle Cell: Taking Charge of Your Health and Health Care

"This World Sickle Cell Day (observed every year on June 19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness around sickle cell disease and ‘transition.’

Transition is the process of young people with sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic blood disorder, learning to become more responsible for their health and transferring their health care to an adult healthcare provider. Learn about transitioning care with SCD, read tips to prepare for it, and find more resources to help manage transition.

For teens with sickle cell disease, transition is part of maturing into an adult.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder affecting red blood cells. People with SCD have abnormally shaped red blood cells that block oxygen from reaching the body’s tissues and organs. SCD is present at birth, and mild to severe health problems, such as pain crises, infection, and stroke can affect people with SCD throughout their lifetime.

When a child with SCD is young, parents or other adult caregivers are responsible for managing the child’s health and healthcare needs. Parents or other adult caregivers will schedule doctor’s appointments, manage treatment schedules, and make sure the child is both eating healthy and sleeping well to reduce the severity and occurrence of pain crises and other SCD-related health problems.."
Sickle cell and transition

Protect Your Children: Store & Use Medicines Safely

"Each year, thousands of children are treated in emergency departments after finding and ingesting medicine, or after accidentally being given the wrong amount.  Learn how to keep children safe by practicing safe dosing and storage.

June is National Safety Month and a perfect opportunity for parents and caregivers of young children to remember the importance of safe medication use and storage.

Safe Medicine Use

“Dosing errors (when a parent or other caregiver gives too much or too little medicine) are the type of medication error that most often brings children into the Emergency Department.” says Dr. Shonna Yin, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health at the NYU School of Medicine.

When giving children liquid medicine, confusion about units of measurement can lead to large dosing errors.  For example, giving a child 5 teaspoons (tsp) instead of his/her prescribed dose of 5 milliliters (mL) would result in giving five times more than the prescribed dose!

To prevent dosing errors, medical professional organizations recommend using milliliters (mL) when prescribing oral liquid medicines and that mL units be the only units appearing on dosing instructions, labels, and dosing devices (such as oral syringes and dosing cups).."
Medicine storage

Helping Children with Congenital CMV

"Most people have been infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), but do not have symptoms. If a pregnant woman is infected with CMV, she can pass it to her developing baby. This is called congenital CMV, and it can cause birth defects and other health problems. Learn more about congenital CMV.

For Pregnant Women

You can pass CMV to your baby.

If you are pregnant and have CMV, the virus in your blood can cross through your placenta and infect your developing baby. This is more likely to happen if you have a first-time CMV infection while pregnant but can also happen if you have a subsequent infection during pregnancy.

You are not likely to be tested for CMV.

It is not recommended that doctors routinely test pregnant women for CMV infection. This is because laboratory tests cannot predict which developing babies will become infected with CMV or have long-term health problems.

You may be able to reduce your risk.

You may be able to lessen your risk of getting CMV by reducing contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children. Some ways do this are:

• kissing children on the head rather than the lips, and not sharing food or utensils with them
• washing your hands after changing diapers

These cannot eliminate your risk of getting CMV, but may lessen your chances of getting it.,,"
Congenital CMV