#STDs

Did you know that while young people represent only 25% of the sexually active population, 50% of STD cases occur in people ages 15 to 24?  The CDC and public health officials believe that in order to decrease this statistic, teenagers need more education on safer sex.  While the traditional sex-ed classes in middle and high school do some good, the CDC is looking into other ways to educate young people.  Today, social media has become the fastest way to spread information through Facebook, blogs, or even Twitter.  With these popular forms of social media being mostly used by the CDC’s target population, Twitter and Facebook could become a major source of advertising for public health purposes.  With this in mind, the CDC has decided to host a Twitter chat this Monday at 1:00pm to talk about STD testing and safety.   I personally think this is a fantastic way to spread information, as teenagers are more likely to read a series of tweets rather than an article on protecting themselves from STDs.   Through retweets and trending topics, Tweeting is a low key way for teenagers to get the needed information and tell their friends about it.  #checkitout

Sit Back and Enjoy the Fire

The CDC cites polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, as “reasonably anticipated” carcinogens as they have been found to create dermal, hepatic, and immunological diseases after exposure.  PAHs represent a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, garbage, or other organic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat.  A study done in 2012 showed that people in the work force who were exposed to PAHs had an increased risk of developing lung cancer than those without exposure, but only very high exposure rates showed a development of cancer.

Maybe my love of grilled meat persuades me, but PAHs do not present enough danger to be number one on the chemicals to be eradicated list because other carcinogens present a higher risk.  Public health programs are already in place to end smoking, and green energy programs are trying to move away from coal, oil, and gasoline.  Grilling usually takes place in warm months, which limits the population’s exposure.  Because the world is already showing a trend of moving away from the causers of PAHs, we should focus on chemicals that present a higher risk.