Juul is a premium brand of e-cigarette that is often called the iPhone of vaporizers. Unfortunately, the product has become popular among high schoolers, and this is a dangerous trend. The product can be quite addictive. However, many teens have the misconception that premium brands of vaporizers are safe to use. You have to make sure that the vape products you’re trying is safe and legit like the ones at the best delta 8 disposables online!

These are some of the most serious vaping dangerous associated with this product:

1. Additives In The Products Could Be Harmful

Many people have a misconception that the products do not contain additives, but this couldn’t be any further from the truth. In fact, there are numerous artificial additives in the product. Some of the additives may have dangers that have not been discovered yet, such as carcinogenic properties.

2. E-Liquids Often Contain High Doses Of Nicotine

The only difference in the nicotine dosage of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes is that electronic cigarettes give a measured dose of nicotine. However, the nicotine dosage in electronic cigarettes can be as high as conventional cigarettes. This means that they have the same addictive potential as cigarettes. This can e juice expire if not used right away after being bought in the vape shop. However, if someone becomes addicted to nicotine, they often suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to stop consuming it. These are some of the most common nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

Irritability
Headaches
Dizziness
Anxiety
Difficulty concentrating

Each pack of e-liquid contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. This is the equivalent to 200 puffs of a cigarette.

3. Some Teenagers Are Unaware That They Contain Nicotine

An astonishing 37 percent of teenagers are unaware that these products contain nicotine. Some even identify using Juul e-cigarettes as different than vaping. In fact, around 25% of teenagers do not consider using them to be vaping. They even have their own name for using them. They refer to it as Juuling instead of vaping.

4. The Products Have An Appealing Scent

Many teenagers avoid starting a nicotine habit due to an aversion to the smell of cigarettes. However, this is not a concern of teenagers who are considering using these electronic cigarettes. This is because these products have sweet flavors like mango and creme brulee. As a result, teens may be more likely to use them and become addicted to nicotine as a result.

5. Juul Can Be Easily Concealed

The products are extremely small, and they can easily fit in pockets. In fact, they have an appearance that is similar to a thumb drive. Not only does this make teenagers more likely to try them, but it makes it more difficult for adults to know if they are using them.

6. Nicotine May Impede Brain Development

High schoolers have brains that have underdeveloped regions that are responsible for impulse control and risk assessment. If these areas of the brain never fully develop, an individual may continue to make poor decisions as an adult. It also may increase teenagers’ risk of developing a mental illness in adulthood.

7. They Are Bad For The Entire Respiratory System

Electronic cigarettes can cause progressive damage to the tissue in the lungs. Also, they can irritate other regions of the respiratory system, such as the nose. While they might not appear to be as “harsh” as tobacco smoke, the progressive damage to the respiratory system that can occur from using them can be similar.

8. The Risks Have Not Been Thoroughly Studied By The FDA

E-cigarettes are not FDA regulated. Not only does this mean that the risks have not been fully studied, but it also means that the FDA does not consider using them is a safe way to attempt to quit smoking cigarettes. Furthermore, the lack of regulation means that there are no ways to know for sure what is in a vape juice. Therefore, there could be vaping dangers that haven’t even been discovered.

9. It’s Bad For The Cardiovascular System

It is thought that nicotine is damaging to both the heart and blood vessels. This effect is likely to be a particularly serious concern for teenagers who already suffer from heart problems. Nicotine intake has been shown to increase an individual’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Vaping is a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, as it doesn’t involve burning tobacco and producing harmful tar and carcinogens. Find your ideal vaping companion with E-Cigs from E-Zigaretteria. As a Swiss online leader, we prioritize quality and customer satisfaction above all.

10. High Schoolers Who Use Electronic Cigarettes Could Become More Likely To Make Other Poor Decisions

Teenagers who begin using electronic cigarettes might become more inclined to try other substances, such as alcohol or even illegal drugs. This could result in addiction and could even be life-threatening. If you or a loved one is facing legal problems associated with illegal drugs, it’s important to talk to this attorney as soon as possible.

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A New Jersey judge awarded $90.5 million to the families of eleven deceased victims in an asbestos lawsuit. The defendants, Anova Holding AG and Becon AG of Switzerland, are successors of a Swiss mining company that had supplied asbestos to the Johns Manville plant in New Jersey between the 1950s and 1980s.

Asbestos Information

For many years asbestos was prized for its heat resistance and insulating qualities. It eventually became apparent that inhaling dust from asbestos was a severe health hazard. Asbestos has been directly linked to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and the inflammation of the lungs called asbestosis. The most vulnerable were the people who were exposed to it in manufacturing, construction or demolition.

Buildings that contain asbestos are still occupied around the world, including here in the United States. As long as it is sealed within a structure it does not pose a hazard. The danger comes mainly in the removal process or any other time the dust is released. There are Federal standards that have to be observed during demolition and disposal making the process more difficult and expensive.

The greatest part of the tragedy is the human suffering, deaths and bereavement that resulted from unnecessary exposure to this toxic material. It had been known that it was a hazardous material for many years while still being used, but in spite of the risks it took years to change practices that caused the danger. Now it takes years to get justice on behalf of the victims of asbestos, as the long delayed outcome of this court case shows.

Do you suspect asbestos in your home? Due to the potential health risk and dangers of asbestos in your house, asbestos surveying and testing should only be carried out by an asbestos consultant.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Asbestos disease, click here!

Click here to learn more about the side effects of asbestos exposure, as well as the lawsuit settlements victims receive for their injuries.

Americans are still endangered by asbestos. <– Read another article.

To learn about other drug side effects, their subsequent lawsuits and settlements, as well as other personal injury cases, CLICK HERE.

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The unregulated coal industry has polluted the air and contaminated groundwater with radioactive chemicals that are dangerous to human health.

Research shows that radioactive coal ash is prominent in regions where coal-burning power plants are an economic staple.

According to Greenpeace, coal ash is “highly hazardous, often containing arsenic, mercury and lead.” Because coal ash waste is unregulated and understudied, high levels of radioactive contaminants are becoming a major cause for concern.

The organization has issued a warning for residents living near coal burning power plants and waste dumps, asserting that close proximity to toxic chemicals could increase the risk of cancer, heart damage, lung disease, birth defects and other serious illnesses.

The Study

The three main areas in the United States that were included in the study are pictured above.
Image: ACS Publications

The study was conducted by researchers at Duke University and published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology on Sept. 2.

Researchers found that radioactivity levels in coal ash residue were five times higher than in normal soil and almost 10 times higher than in the parent coal itself.

The findings show the highest occurrence of radioactivity in the Illinois basin. The second highest levels of radioactivity were found in the Appalachian and Powder River basins in Montana and Wyoming.

Coal naturally contains radium isotopes and lead-210, which are not harmful until they have experienced a chemical reaction. When coal burns and combusts, radioactive elements are concentrated in coal ash waste. Lead-210 becomes readily vaporized and sticks to ash particles in the air.

“This study raises the possibility that we should also be looking for radioactive elements, such as radium isotopes and lead-210, and including them in our monitoring efforts,” said study co-author Avner Vengosh, professor of geochemistry and water quality at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Lack Of Regulation Leads To Pollution

The coal ash dumps are largely unregulated, which leaves radioactive reside to spread throughout waste ponds and landfills.
Image: NY Times

Coal ash dumps contribute to fossil fuel pollution and continue to add to the effects of climate change. The government does not regulate radioactive coal ash, allowing the waste to be kept in holding ponds and landfills near coal burning power plants.

The holding ponds leak into groundwater, contaminating it with dangerous chemicals such as selenium and arsenic. To make matters worse, these sites are not being tested for radioactivity.

“We don’t know how much of these contaminants are released to the environment, and how they might affect human health in areas where coal ash ponds and landfills are leaking,” said Vengosh.

In an effort to draw the attention to the issue, the study has identified coal ash residue as a significant pollutant. Researchers will continue to measure its presence in the air and evaluate the potential long- and short-term risks.

Is Regulation In The Near Future?

The Environmental Protection Agency will meet in October to discuss different plans to regulate coal ash waste.
Image: Knox News

When the researchers measured the amount of radium and uranium in the parent coal and in the residual coal ash, they found a consistent ratio. The findings could help to measure how dangerous coal ash waste in future studies, which would make cleanup efforts easier.

“This means we can predict how much potential radioactivity will occur in coal ash by measuring the uranium content in the parent coal, which is easily discerned,” Vengosh said.

“This analysis can be applied to all coal ash worldwide, and is useful information for regulators, industries and scientists alike.”

The United States produces 140 million tons of coal ash each year, according to EarthJustice. However, the world’s largest coal user is China. The country generates at least 375 million tons of coal ash every year, which has increased by 2.5 times since 2002.

Now that researchers in the United States have identified coal ash reside as a pollutant and a dangerous contaminant, the Environmental Protection Agency will meet to discuss coal ash disposal regulations in October.

Despite the fact that the American government is orchestrating a cleanup plan, it’s hard to predict if China will help the global community reduce the overall effects of climate change.

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Hundreds of thousands of American mines were unregulated and left abandoned. Metals like copper and lead leaked out of the rock and into nearby watersheds, creating unstable sites that could contaminate Western American groundwater.

The western region of the United States was untouched before thousands trekked far from home in search of the American dream.

These men wanted to build a life. They began to stretch out, swallow the land and use it for profit. Many were employed as miners, breaking into the earth’s rock day in and out to uncover valuable minerals.

The mines were largely unregulated during the great migration and subsequent industrial boom. Fast forward hundreds of years later and these regional mines are now abandoned, left to contaminate Western water sources with dangerous metals.

The Evidence of Contamination

Drainage from unmaintained mines has affected 40 percent of western watersheds thus far, but the real toll has yet to be calculated.
Via: Reveal News

In 2011, the Government Accountability Office released a report that found at least 161,000 abandoned hardrock mines in 12 western states and Alaska. These mines pose an environmental risk, with at least 33,000 leading to the contamination of surface and groundwater.

Drainage from these unmaintained mines has affected 40 percent of western watersheds. In Colorado, 230 mines have leaked metals into 1,645 miles of rivers and streams, according to The Department of Public Health and Environment.

In addition, 161,000 sites were identified as environmental risk factors, with 332,000 unstable areas that could decay, collapse and cause a toxic waste-water leak.

The contamination stems from a lack of regulation imposed on western mining sites and the site’s owners. When miners struck the rock, they released iron sulfide, which blended with air and pyrite and created sulfuric acid. The acid dissolved the rock and allowed metals like copper and lead to flow into the mine’s wastewater.

Despite the fact that there was knowledge of the worsening situation, no one was required to stop it.

“In the old days, there was very little control, and not much attention paid to control,” Ronald Cohen, an environmental engineer at the Colorado School of Mines, explained to public radio station KUNC.

The Clean Up

Earthworks action is only one environmental organization calling on regulators to clean up the abandoned toxic sites.
Via: Clean Up The Mines

Earthworks Action, an environmental advocacy organization, created a comprehensive list of all the currently identified abandoned mines and the issues that have stemmed from the lack of regulation.

The list includes sites in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Earthworks Action estimates that it would take $72 billion to fix the mess, which was allowed to worsen without restraint. And that’s not including the mines that have yet to be identified and investigated.

These mines not only contaminate the water supply. They also pollute soil, kill wildlife and harm humans. Since no one claims ownership to the mines, taxpayer money would most likely fund the clean up.

If 33,000 abandoned mines could end up to contaminating surface and groundwater and 332,000 unstable areas could collapse and lead to toxic exposure, government agencies have a lot of work to do.

The post Abandoned Mines Leak Metals Into Western American Water Supply appeared first on Citizens Report.

“Fracking” is a method used to retrieve otherwise inaccessible gas from deep in the Earth.

An incredibly detailed study examining groundwater was published this month in the trade journal Environmental Science and Technology. It found some disturbing and potentially dangerous information about the current state of groundwater and its potential future. The test was performed in the Barnett Shale in North Texas over a period of 2 years. This area of Texas is known as one of the most abundant areas of natural gas in the United States.

For a long period of time, the natural gas present in the Barnett Shale area was not accessible. It was locked within enormous rock structures that made it almost impossible to obtain until recently. Gas and oil companies have started to use a system known as hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as “fracking,” to retrieve the natural gas from deep inside these rocks.

Fracking allows natural gas companies to acquire gas from areas that were once thought to be inaccessible. These companies have argued that because of the great economic benefit that fracking presents, it is a useful practice that should be continued. Opponents to fracking believe that it presents many dangers. One such danger is the potential pollution of groundwater around the area that fracking takes place.

Look at the effects fracking can have on water.

The recent groundwater study sought to examine the ways in which fracking may be damaging or changing the groundwater. The study examined water samples from 550 wells throughout 13 counties in Texas around the Barnett Shale. The study found that the groundwater is these counties was contaminated with various volatile organic carbon-based compounds, different types of alcohols, and a range of compounds containing chlorine.

Dr. Zac Hildenbrand of the University of Texas at Arlington was one of the main people involved in the study. Dr. Hildenbrand stated that the chemicals found within the wells were “pretty shocking evidence that there’s been a problem.” The only industries that use all of the chemicals that were found in the groundwater are the oil and natural gas industries.

Would you drink fracking water? This man shamed oil commissioners with that question.

While the study does make it seem as though fracking may have a role in this pollution, those responsible for the study are quick to point out that the results of the study do not allow for any conclusions to be made about whether or not fracking is the culprit. The only thing the study can say without doubt is that where drilling and fracking are occurring, there are more chemical abnormalities found in the groundwater.

Oil and natural gas companies have responded to the study. They do not believe that fracking can be held responsible for these chemicals in the water. “The authors specifically say that they cannot link contamination to unconventional oil and gas activity. Activist groups and some media are trying to manufacture a fracking link that the data don’t definitively support,” said Dave Quast, a member of a group called Energy in Depth that advocates for large oil and natural gas companies.

Those in the surrounding community have begun to voice their concerns about the potential dangers these chemicals in the water may pose. Earthworks, a North Texas nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the environment, believes that the water in the areas surrounding the Barnett Shale are potentially unsafe for human consumption and use.

While there have been no conclusions made about the whether or not fracking was responsible, those in opposition to the practice will continue to point to this study as a source of evidence that fracking is dangerous. More studies will need to be conducted into the potential long-term dangers that the chemicals found in the water around Barnett Shale present. Regardless, major oil and natural gas companies in the region will no longer be able to deny that in the areas where fracking is prevalent, more groundwater pollution occurs.

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Residents have expressed their concerns over the dangers fracking poses to them.

In April nearly 100 homes in Arlington, Texas were evacuated after fracking fluid leaked from a drilling location nearby. The fluid spread to residential streets and nearby sewers and streams. Nearly two months later, officials in Arlington have determined what happened and what caused it to happen. They have blamed the drilling company for the spill and their actions following the initial leak.

The company, Vantage Energy, has claimed that one of the components on the drill malfunctioned and caused a large amount of the fracking fluid to leak from the site. Officials from Arlington have a few complaints with the way in which Vantage handled the situation. The natural gas company waited over two hours after the leak occurred before calling 911 to report the situation. City council members stated that this was the main concern about how Vantage acted. Arlington officials have communicated with members of Vantage that if a leak occurs it is of the utmost importance to call 911 right away.

The natural gas company waited over two hours after the leak occurred before calling 911 to report the situation

The report regarding the incident lists it as an equipment failure. Vantage Energy will pay a citation of $84,000 to the city of Arlington as a way to reimburse them for damages. A Vantage spokesperson stated that they have worked closely with the Arlington fire department to improve upon the ways in which situations of this nature are handled.

Arlington fire officials believe that throughout the course of the leak nearly 42,000 gallons of fracking fluid spilled into the city’s sewage and water system. Even with such a large amount, city officials do not feel that this spill poses any real danger to the public.

The drilling site could soon open back up and begin operations. No operations have occurred at the site since the leak in April. Arlington officials have stated that the company must pass one more inspection before they can resume normal operations.

One city’s water became flammable due to fracking.

Another alarming fact regarding this case is that less than one month before the large spill, a smaller spill had occurred that went largely unnoticed by the public. Arlington citizens have voiced their concerns about the potential dangers they feel the Vantage Energy drilling site presents to their neighborhood.

“I just assumed this was a residential area and it would be free from industrial hazardous operations. Now we see that it’s not,” said Arlington resident Kim Feli. Even with the conclusion of the investigation determining that the spill did not result in any significant damage to the environment, it is no wonder that citizens still feel concerned about the site.

The post Texans Evacuated Due to Fracking Spill appeared first on Citizens Report.

Memories of the Exxon Valdez oil spill have some worried

Shells’ request to start its drilling action in the Arctic Sea was approved by the Obama administration in May, in spite of strong opposition from numerous groups and organizations.

However, the decision does not guarantee full freedom of action to the company. A number of agencies have to give their approval and issue the relevant permits for the work to begin. These will make sure that Shell’s activity does not endanger the environment, nor the marine wild life.

Shell can now take its business in the Arctic Sea and drill for gas and oil, but with certain limitations. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said that only the Chukchi Sea is open for exploration. Also, rigorous standards are set for the effective protection of the area.

A vulnerable environment

Even with this decision being taken, environmental groups are keeping an eye on the regulations and the permits awarded. The Arctic is known to be a very vulnerable region, most-notably referring to the thinning and melting of the ice cape and the shrinking number of arctic mammals. Also, the worries are connected to previous drilling actions that led to spills and caused harm to the wild life of the affected regions.

Can this be done safely?

Drilling for petrol and gas has been proven as harmful not only to the environment, but also to human life. Explosions like the one near Mexico in 2010 can end many lives and also waste enormous quantities of oil that would otherwise be put to good use.

There is also one more side to this issue: the difficulty of drilling in this region. As Exxon had to admit after their infamous Alaska oil spill, this is no easy job. Thus, it may require different equipment and techniques than previously used. Shell claims it’s got the right priorities, with the first one being that of preventing oil spills. Thus, the giant has hired leading experts with experience in this matter and who also possess a solid scientific background. These experts should be capable of finding ways to ensure a safe, successful drilling.

In case of system failure

Although there are hardly any details for the public, Shell representatives are trying to be reassuring. The main devices and drilling systems to be used, they say, can be instantly replaced by others in case of failure. This will limit the loss of oil spilled and keep the entire system safe from explosions. Responsive technology is said to be already in use in Alaska and it consists not only of programs, but also of vessels and on-shore teams.

Shell is also forced to stay away from the ice during the cold months. It is allowed to carry on its operations only when the ice is melted (summer and fall). However, all this fails to provide much relief to those concerned with the fate of the Arctic region.

What the opposing voices say

Environmental experts are joining the discussion with a series of strong counter-arguments. First of all, while these positive claims are made, no one can truly guarantee that Shell is doing its best over there in the northernmost seas. Also, the opposing groups have emphasized the lack of proper infrastructure in the area. In case of a disaster, not much can be done and the consequences will be much worse than in other regions. The existing conditions are simply no match no those of Alaska, for example, let alone the Gulf of Mexico.

All in all, the recent events show a stunning inconsistency. Allowing Shell to drill is inconsistent with Obama’s pledge to protect the environment from industrial abuse. Experts are observing the contradictions and are warning of a very likely disaster – if not now, then at least in the coming decades. Some are simply stating that these oil reservoirs can wait until we have the right technology to deal with the harsh conditions of drilling in the Arctic.

The post In Spite of Protests, Shell Allowed to Drill the Arctic appeared first on Citizens Report.

The amount of CO₂ in our atmosphere has increased by 50% since 1980

The last time planet Earth had so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was over one million years ago.

In March of this year, the concentration of global atmospheric carbon dioxide reached an average of 400.83 ppm (parts per million). These stats, courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), say that this is the first time in recorded history that Earth has passed 400 ppm over an entire month’s time.

During the pre-industrial times the average was only about 120 ppm, meaning that in the last two centuries the global carbon dioxide level has increased by 3x. And even worse, half of that rise occurred between the 1980’s and now!

This unprecedented climate change  is cause for alarm. Consider that the last time planet Earth had so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was over one million years ago.

The NOAA’s report couldn’t have been released at a better time than this; a few months before UN’s Climate Change Summit to be held in Paris. Surely, something needs to be done and done quickly.

The post Global CO2 Levels Reach Highest Ever in Recorded History appeared first on Citizens Report.

Air pollution could shrink the brain!

As humans age, the neurons in the brain begin to deteriorate and it shrinks in size. A new study illustrates that constant exposure to air pollution may decrease the volume of the brain just as aging does, leading to issues such as silent strokes and cognitive impairment.

The study, authored by Elissa H. Wilker, a researcher in the cardiovascular epidemiology research unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, attempted to understand the link between air pollution and brain changes in older adults.

The team of researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), just like the MRI in Bucharest to examine the brain structures of 943 healthy adults who were at least 60 years old. The researchers then compared the findings with the amount of  fine-particle air pollution near the participant’s homes.

Fine-particle pollution, caused by car exhaust, industry and other sources, is common in an average city. The study found that 2 micrograms per cubic meter of fine-particle pollution was linked to a 0.32 percent reduction in brain volume. According to Wilker, this is equal to one year of brain aging.

Elephant Journal

When the brain ages, there is an increased risk of silent strokes, or lesions on the brain that indicate damage. In the same study, the researchers also found that 2 micrograms per cubic meter of fine-particle pollution led to a 46 percent increase in silent strokes. The study illustrates that brain shrinkage can also lead to cognitive impairment in the form of impaired mobility, memory problems and dementia.

Because this is the first study that measures the link between air pollution and brain changes in older adults, Wilker asserts that the findings are not yet certain. However, the team believes that the shrinkage is potentially due to inflammation, and will continue to investigate the matter.

For now, residents in areas with high amounts of air pollution should be aware of the potential changes taking place in their brain.

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Duke Energy was fined a North Carolina record $25.1 million for 5 years of polluting coal ash into the state’s groundwater

In February of 2014, Duke Energy spilled 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River. That spill was just one example of the pollution done by the energy company. That mistake, however, was not the main reason for the fine. Over the last five years Duke Energy was found to have contaminated groundwater with thallium, arsenic, boron and selenium. Most of the pollution came from coal ash ponds at their plants; the ponds were leaking ash into the ground.

North Carolina dedicated to environmental protection

Never before had a company been fined so heavily for environmental damages in the state of North Carolina. State officials have pledged to not only hold polluters accountable, but to also clean up pollution as quickly as possible.

Fact: Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity.

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