What is lurking in flood waters following a natural disaster?

                                                       Image credit: LM Otero/Associated Press

The recent Hurricanes [in Florida, Puerto Rico, Houston and other areas] brought many unseen hazards to people affected by flood waters. These waters mix with everything on and under the ground. Industrial solvents and chemicals, animal waste, sewage and pesticides get washed into the flood waters; not to mention sharp objects and unexpected wildlife [snakes, alligators, ants, and rats—to name a few](Brodin, E., 2017).

For those that must wade through and interact in these waters there is potential for spread of diseases and infection. Some of those can be very serious. A few of these potential hazards include leptospirosis, ecoli and vibrio.

Below is a short list of a few resources on the topic. Click on the links to learn more about the dangers lingering in flood waters around the world.

Internet Resources

Brodin, E., 2017. Scientists warn that floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey still pose a lingering threat — here’s what to watch out for. Business insider. Online. Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-harvey-floodwater-dangerous-tetanus-2017-8 [Accessed on 11/1/2017]

Kaplan, S. & Healy, J., 2017. Houston’s Floodwaters Are Tainted, Testing Shows. New York Times, Online. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/health/houston-flood-contamination.html?_r=0 [Accessed on 11/1/2017].

World Health Organization, 2012. Leptospirosis. Online. Available at: http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs_13082012_leptospirosis/en/ [Accessed on 11/1/2017].

Peer reviewed Journal articles:

Ko AI et al., 1999.  Urban epidemic of severe leptospirosis in Brazil. Lancet. Sep 4 354 820 825 
PubMed abstract (Free)  Web of Science

Socolovschi, C., et. al, 2011. Strikes, flooding, rats, and leptospirosis in Marseille, France. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 15 (2011) e710-e715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2011.05.017

Ayral, F., et. al., 2015. Distribution of Leptospira interrogans by Multispacer Sequence Typing in Urban Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus): A Survey in France in 2011-2013. PLos One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139604 [Accessed on 11/2/2017].

The importance of wolves on ecosystem health

While on twitter, I ran across a video short on wolves in Yellowstone National Park. This lead to more research on the importance of large predators related to ecosystem health and balance. 

I thought I would share some of those resources here.

Here is a brief summary on the topic [excerpted from one of the articles listed below].

The extirpation of wolves (Canis lupus) from Yellowstone National Park in the mid-1920s and their reintroduction in 1995 provided the opportunity to examine the cascading effects of carnivore-herbivore interactions on woody browse species, as well as ecological responses involving riparian functions, beaver (Castor canadensis) populations, and general food webs. Our results indicate that predation risk may have profound effects on the structure of ecosystems and is an important constituent of native biodiversity [Ripple and Beschta, 2004, p.755].

Below is the citation for this summary, along with a few other resources for you to explore.

Clearman, T., 2016. Adversity in Social Evolution: Correlating Wolves in Ecosystems With Shadow in the Human Psyche.

Licht, Daniel S., et al. "Using small populations of wolves for ecosystem restoration and stewardship." BioScience, vol. 60, no. 2, 2010, p. 147+. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/bio.2010.60.2.9  Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.

Peterson, Rolf O., et al. "Looking to the past for the future: using wolves to restore ecosystems (response to Belant, Mech, and Trimble)." BioScience, vol. 60, no. 7, 2010, p. 486+. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/bio.2010.60.7.21  Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.

Ripple, William J., and Robert L. Beschta. "Wolves and the ecology of fear: can predation risk structure ecosystems?" BioScience, vol. 54, no. 8, 2004, p. 755+.  http://ucpressjournals.com/journal.asp?j=bio

THE STAND UP! ACTION ART POSTCARD CAMPAIGN 2016

The library will participate in a Collaboration with the 

Climate Action Coalition of South Florida and Artists for Climate Action
 

This action art campaign will inform South Florida elected representatives at County, State and Federal levels about the strong constituent support for their action on these key issues that are part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan. Member organizations are reaching out for signatures, home and email addresses on the cards. After the November general election, CAC representatives will hand deliver the cards to the new representatives. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

This message encourages action on the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan by County and Municipal elected officials, as the 110 SEFLRCAP recommendations are intended to be acted upon locally. Most of these should be inserted in county and municipality comprehensive plans. See: http://tinyurl.com/SEFLRCAP.

Very specific to Palm Beach County. The “Ag Reserve” is the fertile region between Florida’s Turnpike and the Everglades west of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. The area is second to California as the prime supplier of winter vegetables. It was set aside years ago to protect wetlands and encourage small farming. This message encourages Palm Beach County Commissioners to reconsider their recent vote to allow more development in this area. Keeping development out will address food security and clean water needs. See: http://tinyurl.com/SAVEAGRESERVE

Protecting our health as climate related diseases increase with more flooding and heat requires improving the level and diversity of our health infrastructure. The Governor and Legislature must acknowledge that climate change is real by taking ACTION in preparation for mounting health problems. Federal representatives’ active support in seeking funding for this purpose is also crucial. This message will go to State and Federal elected representatives. See CAC member group Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton’s pilot project Rising Together encouraging communities at most risk to organize and identify resources: http://tinyurl.com/FLRISINGTOGETHER

Studies and experience clearly demonstrate the danger of fracking chemicals to groundwater. Despite this evidence, the Governor and majority in the legislature continue to ignore these risks, and recently have threatened to remove the ability of county and municipality elected officials to ban fracking in their local areas. This message goes to State Senators and Representatives

These are the dates we will be out on campus with a table asking people to sign the postcards. Stop by our table.

Make a Difference (MAD) Monday

Event sponsored by SAVI (Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement)

                 Monday, Aug. 29^th 11 am – 1 pm
                  Location: Dining Hall (Check-In) and various locations on-campus (Service)

Clubfest
Event sponsored by COSO (Council of Student Organizations)

                 Thursday, Sept. 8^th 4-6 pm

                 Location: Rec Field or Burrow Student Union (rain location)