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Update on the Arsenic in Groundwater Grant
Project Overview
Arsenic in groundwater is a known issue in Cerro Gordo County. A three year, statewide, arsenic in groundwater study was completed in 2008 where 475 private wells in 91 of Iowa's 99 counties, including Cerro Gordo County, were tested for arsenic. Results determined that Cerro Gordo County had several small public water supplies that had persistent arsenic above the maximum contaminate level for public water supplies. From this study the Cerro Gordo County Board of Health learned that arsenic is a persistent problem throughout the county and has since required arsenic testing for all new and reconstructed wells. The department sought Disease Control and Prevention and the project kicked off in July 2010.
funding opportunities
to research how to avoid arsenic when drilling new wells. Funding for this project was received from the Centers for
Fifty-five wells will be tested twice per year for three years. Twenty-nine different factors, including pH and dissolved oxygen, will be tested to see if one of these factors are something associated with the arsenic in groundwater that well drillers can look for as they are drilling the wells. Results will be analyzed and shared with the public as they become available throughout the project.
Thank you to residents
A huge thank you to all 65 well owners who volunteered to allow us to sample their wells for this project! Without wells to sample, this important study would not be possible. The 60% positive response rate we received is almost unheard-of for a mail request. It is encouraging to know that Cerro Gordo County residents are concerned about their drinking water and excited about helping to improve our knowledge about safe drinking water.
First sampling season begins on July 1st
The project team is currently transitioning from the well recruiting phase to the fieldwork stage. Everyone working on the project is excited to start getting out in the field to take some water samples. If you are a participant in our project, please expect a phone call to set up a time to do the water sampling.
Arsenic in Groundwater Testing Promotion Begins
It is important for everyone to have good and safe drinking water and many people don't know about the threat of arsenic in their drinking water. Municipal water supplies are required to regularly test and treat arsenic if it is found; however, there is no requirement for private wells. Because of this the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health will be putting up billboards and sending postcards to residents to encourage them to get their well water tested for arsenic.
For more information about the Arsenic in Groundwater Project, visit our web site at www.cghealth.com. |
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Department Quick Links...
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Exercise Recommendations for Pregnant Women
Like with every other population group, exercise recommendations for pregnant women seem to constantly evolve. Prior to 1985, it was the norm for physicians and healthcare providers to discourage physical activity among pregnant women. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced that 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise on most days of the week was beneficial to pregnant women who were already active. In 2002, the ACOG updated their recommendations and now encourage even sedentary women to start a moderate exercise program during pregnancy, unless medically contraindicated (high-risk pregnancy). The new recommendation encourages all pregnant women to include regular exercise at least three times per week for 30-40 minutes. The new guidelines reflect the emerging data that highlights the benefits of physical activity for nearly every population group.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Exercises in the supine position (laying on back) should still be avoided by women during pregnancy!
Exercise is not recommended in the cases of :
- preterm labor
- preterm rupture of membrane
- pregnancy induced-high blood pressure
- incompetent cervix
- persistent 2nd or 3rd trimester bleeding
- intrauterine growth restriction
- uncontrolled Type I Diabetes
- Thyroid Disease
- multiple gestations (twins)
- growth-restricted fetus
- and other serious complications
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Happy July!
The 2011-2012 school year is approaching fast. As you send your child back to school, check their immunization records. This month's issue of the Public Health Communicator provides immunization information for all age groups.
July is off to a hot start. Here are a couple of wellness tips if you decide to exercise in the hot and humid weather:
- Limit your caffeine intake if you plan on exercising outdoors in the heat. Caffeine increases your rate of dehydration.
- Remember to rehydrate after exercising...if you were outdoors for nearly an hour, use a low calorie sports drink plus water.
- Take a water bottle with you on your outdoor workouts.
For the latest Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health updates and news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
We welcome new ideas and stories for our newsletter! Please let us know if there is a certain health or safety topic you would like to learn more about by responding to this email.
For more information about Public Health, visit our website,
e-mail webmaster@cghealth.com or call 641-421-9300.
Best wishes,
Nola Aigner
Public Information Officer
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health |
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Back-to-School Immunizations
Before you send your child back to school this year, have you checked to make sure they are
up-to-date on their immunizations? Immunizations have been called the most important public health intervention in history, after safe drinking water. Immunizations have saved millions of lives over the years and prevented hundreds of millions of disease cases.
We all know that getting our children immunized can protect them from some very serious diseases. However, did you know it can also protect their friends, schoolmates, and others from those same diseases? Some children can't receive certain vaccines for medical reasons, or some children are not able to respond to certain vaccines. For these children, the immunity of people around them is their only protection.
Officials with the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health encourage all parents and caregivers to review their child's immunization records to make sure they are up-to-date. "Parents usually make a list of items their children need before school starts such as pencils, paper and notebooks. We would like that list to include immunizations," said Betty Krones, RN, Disease Prevention Specialist with the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. "Immunizations can protect children from many life-threatening diseases, so this is an important issue. Parents need to speak with the local public health agency or their healthcare provider to make sure all immunizations are up-to-date."
What students need:
Kindergarten:
- Varicella (chicken pox) *
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
- IPV (polio)
- Hepatitis B
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Flu vaccine - recommended, but not required.
Middle school:
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - recommended, but not required.
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
- Meningococcal (meningitis)
- Varicella (chicken pox) *
- Flu vaccine - recommended, but not required.
College:
- Meningococcal (meningitis)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Varicella (chicken pox) *
- Flu vaccine - recommended, but not required.
* For those who have had one Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine a second (booster) shot is recommended.
New Meningococcal Recommendation:
It is now recommended that adolescents receive the vaccine around 11-12 years, with an additional booster dose at age 16.
VFC Program Information:
Free vaccine is available through the Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program for children through the age of 18 that meet any of the following criteria:
- Child has no health insurance coverage.
- Child is American Indian or Alaskan Native.
- Child is enrolled in Medicaid.
- Child is under-insured. This means the child's health insurance does not cover the cost of immunizations.
PAP Program Information:
Free vaccine (with a $12 administration fee) is available through the Vaccine Patient Assistance Program (PAP) for eligible adults 19 years of age or older, a resident of the United States and have no health insurance or have insurance that does not cover the cost of vaccine services.
Immunization Clinics Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Late Clinic Hours: First Monday of each month 10:00 AM-6:30 PM
Phone: 641-421-9321
See a complete list of recommended and required immunizations on our web site: www.cghealth.com
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Wellness Corner
Healthy Skin & Sun Safety
UVA or UVB Protection? Sunscreen or sunblock? SPF 15 or 45? Ever asked these questions to yourself? Here are some answers to help you and your family enjoy the summer sun safely.
UVA - Ultra violet A rays are long-wave solar rays that deeply penetrate the skin and cause wrinkling, leathering, and photoaging. Although less likely to cause a sunburn than UVB rays, UVA damage can cause skin cancers such as melanoma.
UVB - Ultra violet B rays are short-wave solar rays producing a much more potent sunburn than UVA rays. UVB rays are considered the main cause of basal and squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma.
SPF - Sun Protection Factor measures the length of time a product protects the skin against the reddening effect produced by UVB rays, compared to the length of time reddening appears with out protection. If an individual starts to redden after 20 minutes without protection, an SPF of 15 would theoretically prevent reddening 15 times longer (20 minutes x 15 = 5 hours).
- SPF's of 15 block 93% of UVB rays, SPF's higher than 30 block 97% of UVB rays.
- SPF is the universal measurement of UVB protection. There currently is no standard measurement of UVA protection.
Sunscreen - chemically absorbs UV rays (new products protect against both UVB and UVA rays).
Sunblock - physically deflects UV rays (new products are less conspicuous when wearing these days). |
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Exercise Recommendations for Pregnant Women
The Institute of Medicine released new guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy:
Pre-pregnancy Weight Suggested Weight Gain
Underweight Women (<19.8BMI) 28 - 40 pounds
Normal Weight (19.8 - 26 BMI) 25 - 35 pounds
Overweight (26.1 - 29 BMI) 15 - 25 pounds
Obese (>30 BMI) 11 - 20 pounds
The new guidelines were designed to combat a variety of health issues that arise from entering pregnancy overweight or gaining excess weight during pregnancy.
See article to the left for further details about exercising when pregnant.
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Help us promote Public Health services. Forward this electronic newsletter to your friends, family, co-workers and associates. Thank you for choosing the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health! Our Mission Statement:
Dedicated to enhancing the health status of our communities through public health initiatives.
Our Vision Statement:
Driving public health system change through strong and directed leadership.
Our Value Statement:
We believe in disease prevention, human dignity, respect for individual choices, promotion for wellness and personal safety, protection of the environment, prevention of disease and access to quality health services.
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