Livingston Reporting - page 70

Your City’s Water Supply Could Be Targeted by Hackers

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The following is an excerpt taken from the Wall Street Journal by Dave Weinstein on Feb 26, 2021.

“I first saw the inside of a water-treatment plant in 2015. I was conducting a site visit at a municipal facility in New Jersey, where I was the state’s director of cybersecurity. It wasn’t an inspection; the plant manager had asked me to visit.

Analog machinery had given way to digital systems, and critical water-treatment processes were now automated. The plant required little human intervention in day-to-day operations. Thanks to remote-access technologies, more maintenance and monitoring activities were being performed off-site by a third party.

All of this was great for efficiently, especially for the resource-limited operation, but what about the risk? Optimizing for cost and speed meant connecting more digital and networked technologies to the plant floor. Security was no longer simply a matter of gates, guards, and guns. It had become a matter of bits and bytes.

In early February, someone tried to poison the water supply in the Gulf Coast city of Oldsmar, Fla. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff, a hacker gained remote access to Oldsmar’s water-treatment-plant network and briefly increased the amount of sodium hydroxide in the water by 100 times – enough to cause death or serious injury to anyone who drank or touched it. Thankfully a technician noticed the anomaly and booted the hacker off the network before any damage was done.  

What happened in Oldsmar fell just short of the nightmare scenario. The average person is unaware how dependent the country’s critical infrastructure has become on digital technology. At power plants, waterworks and all manner of public utilities, special-purpose computers known as human-machine interfaces connect to ruggedized-process controllers that regulate actuators to spin turbines, rotate robotic arms, or, in this case, open valves to release sodium hydroxide.

Oldsmar wasn’t the first cyberattack against water infrastructure. In April 2020 Israel’s National Cyber Directorate urged all water-treatment companies to change their passwords on critical systems. In 2016, according to a report by Verizon’s security unit, hackers with ties to Syria gained access to a water utility in an unknown country and managed to ‘handicap water treatment and production capabilities.’

Redundant controls and a bit of good luck shouldn’t diminish the severity of this cyber threat to public health. The plant operator was tipped off by a mouse arrow moving across a screen and making changes to critical water-treatment processes. But what if the operator didn’t have the benefit of a visual aide to observe the hacker in real-time? What if the human-machine interface was manipulated by malware to report ‘all clear’ as the hackers increased concentration of sodium hydroxide to lethal levels? Would the breach have been detected before someone drank or bathed with the corrosive adulterated water?

The answer and the problem are inextricably linked. Detecting toxic water en route to consumers requires sensors in the distribution network. Those sensors must be connected so they can communicate and transmit data for either humans or machines to take preventative actions. Anything that is connected can be manipulated. Should we rip the sensors out lest they be hacked? Of course not. Instead, we must reduce vulnerability by extending security to all parts of the network, even those that seem beyond the reach of malicious actors.

‘I just don’t trust those computers,’ the New Jersey plant manager told me in 2015. We should all be untrusting when it comes to technology, but not at the expense of its embrace. The zero-trust mindset made all the difference for the city of Oldsmar.”

To read more, check out the original opinion article from the Wall Street Journal. To protect yourself and your family from chemical-laden water, contact the water purification experts at Reynolds today.

Reynolds Water Conditioning was established in 1931 and is Michigan’s oldest water conditioning treatment company. Still owned and operated by the Reynolds family, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at a cost-effective price. If your tap water lacks the quality you deserve, contact us today at www.reynoldswater.com or call 800-572-9575.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Reynolds Water

Five Ways to Generate Medicare Leads

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Getting Medicare leads can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Having more than one source for lead generation is best to create a steady stream of clients. Beyond the usual social media advertising, here are five ways to generate Medicare leads:

  1. Networking
    Try to create a network of people who can recommend you to prospects in need of Medicare. Start building partnerships with your clients to discuss opportunities and build a mutually beneficial relationship. Getting involved in your community is another way to generate leads. Participate in groups, meetings, etc., and try to get your name out as much as possible.
  • Referrals
    One of the oldest tactics in the book, personal referrals make up a large part of business recommendations. Up to 92 percent of consumers trust referrals from people they know. It might be a more challenging path to cross, but it’s worth the effort. Online reviews and social media/website referrals count, too!
  • Direct Mail
    Up to 70 percent of Americans think direct mail is superior to the Internet when it comes to personal relationships. Even in today’s digital world, direct mailers are one of the most effective ways to get Medicare leads. Contact information that will lead consumers to your website, landing page, or blog should be included.
  • Print Advertising
    Still quite relevant in today’s digital world, more than 80 percent of consumers act on direct-print mail advertisements compared to only 45 percent for electronic advertisements. Online ads have a reputation for being misleading, so print remains the most trusted marketing information source. Since they are so straightforward, they give the business more credibility.
  • Webinars
    An excellent way to demonstrate your expertise, webinars also let some of your personality shine through. If you have an e-mail database, send your webinar information to your ideal audience. They have already shown an interest in what your business has to offer. Webinars are ideal for solidifying that trust and closing the deal.

Omega Benefit Strategies provides seniors who are affiliated with credit unions, labor unions, and associations an educational resource for Medicare. Our turnkey marketing package seamlessly integrates with existing market strategies. We can help businesses increase new member acquisitions, bolster retention, cross-sell opportunities via our “scorecard” system, and even earn an ancillary revenue stream. Accommodating any size membership, we maintain exemplary member service and offer top-notch products. Contact us today by going to www.omegabenefit.org or call 888-404-5049.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Omega

Minimize Your Chances of Injuring Your Hand or Wrist While Working from Home

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With the transition to home offices, hand therapists are witnessing an increase in clients with arm, shoulder, and neck pain. Whether musculoskeletal or nerve in origin, people are working from their laptops, tablets, or cell phones. The daily breaks those people were accustomed to, such as a lunch break, interacting with coworkers in the office, stepping away from the desk, walking to-and-from a car, etc., are nonexistent while working from home. We are moving less and hunching over our electronics in home dining rooms or coffee tables to cope with the pandemic. These positions put stress on the upper extremities.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help minimize your chances of experiencing hand, wrist, shoulder, arm, and neck pain.

External Keyboard
Purchase an external keyboard to place on your lap or a desk with a keyboard-roll out tray. Since external keyboards can be moved, this gives your arms a change in position. Muscles can rest and aren’t necessarily in one position. If you experience numbness in the small and ring fingers, it’s recommended that you straighten your elbows while typing. It’s essential to have your wrists below your elbows while typing to avoid pain or future issues.

Raise Your Laptop
Neck pain and headaches can come from a tilted head forward and downward to view a screen. This position also puts tension on the nerves and muscles in your neck, shoulder, and upper back. To avoid this, set your laptop on a stack of big books to raise your laptop to eye level.

Body Position
Are you sitting slumped on your tailbone, leaning forward? Scoot back, so you sit directly on your sit bones and balance your trunk over your hips. This posture aligns the spine and allows muscles to work more efficiently. Ensure your forearms aren’t resting at an angle and hanging over the edge of your desk. If they are, pull your laptop closer to the edge of the desk and move your chair back, so your forearms aren’t touching the desk. This simple gesture relieves unnecessary pressure on your arms while typing.  Relax your shoulders and allow them to glide down if they are elevated and forward or off-balance. Raise your breastbone to open the chest. A computer camera can sometimes be helpful to determine your best posture.

Move More
When we sit in static positions, our bodies become stiff. Stretch your arms, extend your elbows, wrists, and fingers, and roll your neck and shoulders every 20 to 30 minutes. Stand up, jump around, dance, or do some squats. If you lose track of time while working, set a timer to remind yourself to keep moving.

Breathe Better
While under intense work patterns, people tend to take shallow, quick, incomplete breaths. The absence of deep breathing causes us to feel anxious, stiff, and distracted. Pay attention to your breath and take slower, more deep, complete breaths. Breathe in through the nose and pull a steady stream of air through to your stomach and allow the breath to relax before exhaling.

Set Reasonable Expectations
In our frantic world, working in a different environment and taking care of children during your workday can create chaos. Set reasonable expectations and take frequent movement and hydration breaks. Be kind to yourself; practice self-care. Your work is important, but taking care of yourself allows you to perform better in every aspect.

If you are having arm, shoulder, or neck pain and need assistance, contact the specialists at Michigan Hand & Wrist today.

Michigan Hand & Wrist was founded in 2001 with the mission to provide the highest-quality care for patients seeking surgical or non-surgical hand or upper extremity relief. Our goal is to exhaust all non-operative measures before discussing or moving on to surgical interventions. We offer on-site physical therapy from therapists committed to improving your quality of life. Our individualized treatments are modern, progressive, and exceptional. Contact us today at www.michiganhandandwrist.com or call 248-596-0412.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

MI Hand & Wrist

Electrical Contractor Industry Affected by Labor Shortages

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Now that construction activity is starting to ramp up again following the COVID-19 pandemic, a familiar issue is facing the industry: labor shortages.

Total hires and job openings within the industry as of Dec. 31, 2020 were down slightly from 2019 before the pandemic forced shutdowns and industry layoffs. The 2020 Marcum JOLTS Analysis showed that the number of job openings was equal to 2.6 percent of available construction jobs, meaning there were 195,000 unfilled positions.

The report’s authors wrote, “When the pandemic began, some thought (and hoped) that the massive job losses observed in March and April would mitigate the skilled labor shortages that have frustrated construction firms for years. That simply hasn’t happened to any meaningful degree.”

Thirteen thousand more workers quit their construction jobs than those who were laid off or discharged by their employers as of December 31.

Wages in the employees’ market are also rising; average hourly earnings for construction employees reached their highest level on record: $32.11 in January 2021. Moreover, average weekly hours worked rose to peak level since 2019’s third quarter.

“This is what might be expected from a strong economy operating under normal circumstances, not one facing a lingering pandemic and elevated unemployment,” the report said.

Certain regions are concentrated areas for job openings within the industry. “Parts of the U.S. like the Southeast, Texas, Colorado, and segments of the Mid-Atlantic region have surging residential marketplaces and reasonably stable levels of nonresidential activity. Other areas, like the Northeast and certain parts of the Midwest, where much of the industry’s job losses have occurred and where population has been stagnant or declining for years, are home to an abundance of unemployed construction workers,” the report stated. 

As the pandemic continues to subside, there are three things to watch according to the report:

  1. Whether construction workers who quit/laid off will return
  2. Whether nonresidential construction will rebound like the residential sector
  3. Whether public construction will continue

For all of your electrical construction needs, contact the experts at J&P electrical today.

J&P Electrical is a full-service electrical equipment company. At J&P, we supply contractors, end-users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We also purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers. Call us at 877-844-5514 or visit us at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

J & P Electrical Company

Five Reasons to Sell Your House This Spring

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When selling a house, most homeowners are looking for a speedy and profitable deal. If you are waiting for the most lucrative time as a seller, the market is ready for you this spring! Here are five reasons why it’s the perfect time to sell your house.

  1. Homebuyers are in high demand:

Buyer demand is strong right now, and there are many active buyers in the housing market. Showings are up 51.5 percent compared to 2020, according to ShowingTime, which tracks the average number of buyer showings on residential properties. Daniil Cherkasskiy, Chief Analytics Officer at ShowingTime, said, “As anticipated, demand for real estate remains elevated and continues to be affected by low levels of inventory. On average, each home is getting 50 percent or more requests this year compared to January of last year. As we head into the busy season, it’s likely we’ll push into even more extreme territory until the supply starts catching up with demand.”

  • The housing market is empty:

Purchaser demand is skyrocketing, and the market is running out of available houses for sale.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that home sales are soaring, and the inventory of existing homes for sale is continuing to drop dramatically. Houses are selling as fast as they are hitting the market. NAR revealed insights showing the average house is only on the market for 21 days. Realtor.com reported: “Nationally, the inventory of homes for sale in February decreased by 48.6 percent over the past year, a higher rate of decline compared to the 42.6 percent drop in January. This amounted to 496,000 fewer homes for sale compared to February of last year.”

  • Leverage:

More people are interested in buying than selling right now, creating the ultimate sellers’ market. For this reason, homeowners are in a position to sell with an upper hand in negotiations. Bidding wars are common, according to NAR, and an average of 3.7 offers are being given per house. With houses in such high demand, now is the perfect time to sell for the most favorable terms.

  • Take advantage of your home equity:

CoreLogic published data recently that showed the average homeowner gained $17,000 in equity over the past year. That number continues to grow as home values appreciate. Equity, a forced-savings that grows during homeownership, can be put toward bigger goals such as buying your dream home.

  • Find your dream home:

The past year has thrown our world upside-down, including what many of us need in a home. Since people are spending extra time at home, they re-evaluate homeownership and what is most important. Whether you are looking for a house that can easily accommodate working from home, space for virtual schooling, a home gym or theater, or a larger dining area – selling this spring enables people to find the home of their dreams.

Sellers dominate today’s market. If you have considered making a move and have been waiting for the perfect market conditions, now’s the time.

Found your dream home? The experts at EB Mortgage can help give you the boost you need for a new home purchase.

EB Mortgage is a locally-owned mortgage company with experts in new home purchase, refinancing, and commercial loans. Our wholesale rates can’t be beaten. We offer more products, more options, and more solutions. Our “3C” Process is simple: complete our pre-approval request, consider options based on your requirements, and choose the offer that suits your needs best. Call us at 866-246-0516 or e-mail contact@ebwmtg.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

EB Mortgage

CPS Wins the 2021 Best of Brighton Award for Computer Repair Service

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Creative Programs and Systems has won the Best of Brighton Award in the Computer Repair Service category for the tenth year in a row! The award program was created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of businesses and organizations in and around Brighton, Michigan.

The mission is to raise the profile of exemplary companies and entrepreneurs among the press, the business community, and the general public. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

Annually, the Brighton Award Program identifies companies they believe to have best achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business categories. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small businesses through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Brighton area a great place to work, live, and play.

The Brighton Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, and other business advertising and marketing groups. Their goal is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the United States economy.

For all of your computer needs, contact the professionals at Creative Programs & Systems today.                         

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Creative Programs and Systems

Four Ways Radiology Can Reduce Its Climate Change Impact

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Typically, climate change (a.k.a. global warming) is associated with planes, trains, and automobiles using fossil fuels, hazy skies, and radioactive plants pushing clouds into the atmosphere. However, the radiologic industry plays a more significant role than you might imagine, and industry leaders say the time to reduce that impact is now.

Published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, a team of industry experts, including Geraldine McGinty, M.D., MBA, president of the American College of Radiology (ACR), issued a call-to-action statement.

“Radiology is well-positioned to spearhead climate change action in our practices and the healthcare system at large. Addressing climate change provides an opportunity to improve healthcare delivery and increase value of care using a different problem-solving approach,” said the team.

The Yale University School of Medicine released data that shows 10 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions (and nine percent of harmful non-greenhouse air pollutants) originate from the United States healthcare system.

Radiology is a significant contributor to each hospital’s energy use. In Switzerland, as the team pointed out, their three CT and four MRI scanners accounted for four percent of the hospital’s overall energy use. Being more environmentally conscious isn’t specific to the industry; it’s a patent priority as well. In the United Kingdom, a survey conducted showed that 92 percent of patients also consider sustainable healthcare operations vital.

Substantial energy use: Radiology utilizes an enormous amount of energy. In the span of a year, cumulative consumption from one CT scanner can equate to five four-person households. A single MRI uses nearly as much as 26 four-person residences. If at all possible, opt for ultrasound instead. Not only is it cheaper, but it also uses less radiation and has a lower environmental impact. Moreover, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to shorten MRI protocols can lower energy use. To further reduce the carbon footprint, implementing life cycle analyses can quantify the environmental impact of various modalities.

Standby mode: To reduce the amount of energy used by the imaging machines, use standby mode. Even when idle, they are consuming significant amounts of energy, according to the team. Cooling machines take an equal amount of energy to operate. The team recommends a 24-hour operating cycle, as well as exploring energy-efficient HVAC systems and imaging technique improvements.

Power down: Though leaving the PACS on overnight might be more convenient and efficient for workload management, the team suggests turning the machine off overnight. A hospital in Iceland left its systems on overnight and accumulated 25,040 kilowatts of energy, producing 17.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide. These levels are equivalent to the emissions produced by four passenger cars annually. To decrease costs and improve energy efficiency, powering down can be an easy way to accomplish these goals. Additionally, the team suggested reducing excess packaging in your procedures to drive down the environmental costs in production and disposal.

Opt for clean energy: The team said now is the time to shift from fossil fuels and lean toward renewable energy. As prices are dropping, several facilities are already making progress. For example, Kaiser Permanente has achieved carbon-neutrality, and Gundersen Health System is already net carbon positive.

To make these changes a reality, radiologists need to become activists, according to the team. Lobby local ACR chapters to join national efforts or reach out to specialty societies to further push environmentally sustainable radiology. Publishing carbon footprints can help other medical departments understand the environmental dangers associated with over-utilization.

Radiologists are urged to join the Medical Society Consortium on Climate Health, which includes 29 national medical societies, as suggested by the team.

Acceletronics is an industry leader in delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from CT Scanners and Linear Accelerators across all major brands and models. Call 610-524-3300 or visit our website: https://www.acceletronics.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Acceletronics

Five Edible and Five Non-Edible Wild Berries

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If you are ever in a dire situation and need to eat some berries for whatever reason, it’s a good idea to know the difference between those that are safe and those that are toxic. All kinds of wild berries are delicious, containing essential vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that promote tissue, organ, brain health, and mental function. There are many toxic berries in the wilderness too, so it’s essential to know which ones to avoid. Ill effects include diarrhea, nausea, organ failure, and even death. You should consider purchasing the Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants to add to your arsenal.

The Good Berries

  1. Huckleberry: Native to North America, these resemble blueberries in shape and texture and can be red or black. At peak freshness, they are tart yet sweet and are a great addition to pies, pastries, desserts, and beverages. Other blueberry-look-alike berries are toxic, so be sure you are eating an actual huckleberry.
  2. Mulberry: In both northern and southern hemispheres, mulberries are common. They resemble a large, misshapen raspberry and are a bit darker in color. Mulberries are sweet, juicy, and are delicious in pie fillings, preserves, and syrups. Herbal teas also often contain mulberries, as they are packed with vitamins and minerals.
  3. Muscadine: In North America, these berries sprout from a grapevine species and are black, plum, brown, or bronze. One-fifth of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin B2 and fiber is fulfilled by one serving of muscadines. The flesh is akin to a plum, though they appear more similar to grapes. The flavor is vaguely musky.
  4. Chokeberry: Only the eastern regions of North America see these berries, which might be black, red, or purple. Quite tart, they are sometimes sweet and are used in jams, jellies, and sherbet. They also boast a high antioxidant content.
  5. Elderberry: These small, round, purple, or black berries grow in clusters on vines. They are often used in herbal medicine for immune system remedies. Extremely tart and tangy, people typically use these cooked, and they can cause nausea if ingested in high amounts.

The Bad Berries

  1. Pokeweed: A common food source for birds and animals, this blackish-purple berry is toxic to people, pets, and livestock. The roots are particularly dangerous, and the higher or bigger the plant, the more toxins exist. Death can result from respiratory paralysis, and the berry juice can be absorbed in the skin.
  2. Mistletoe: Actually a parasite that lives on other plants, this berry varies widely in toxicity according to species. Usually not fatal upon ingestion, one can expect to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, or even a heart attack. If a tea or any sort of concentration of these berries is made, death can result.
  3. Holly: These bright red berries contain a host of toxins; a couple of handfuls can be fatal to children and infants. Humans, domesticated, and wild animals usually succumb to intestinal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea upon ingestion.
  4. Yew: Every part of this tree is significantly poisonous, except for the berry’s fleshy part encompassing the seeds. Red in color, they look similar to an olive. Never try to salvage anything from these trees; rapidly absorbed upon ingestion, the toxins will make an adult extremely ill. Even after cooking or drying, the potent toxins in yew are present. Domesticated animals as well as those in the wild commonly succumb to yew.
  5. Virginia Creeper: With attractive flowers and small, hard blackish-purple berries, these vines contain a high amount of oxalic acid that can inflict kidney damage on humans and other mammals. Birds are unaffected; however, it only takes a handful of berries to cause irreversible kidney damage in humans.

There’s no standard rule for determining whether the berry you’re holding in your hand is edible. Dangerous – and edible – berries are available in every color. The only way to determine which berries are edible is to be completely sure and identify them correctly. If you mistakenly eat a toxic berry, significant illness or even death can result.

For survival equipment, contact Wolf Survival Gear today. We supply the goods so you can be prepared.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for all of your prepping and survival needs. We are a trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website or e-mail us today for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Wolf Survival Gear

Gold Nanoparticles in Contacts Help Correct Color Blindness

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Colorblind people see the world in muted shades, sometimes completely grey. Most colorblind people cannot see specific colors such as orange, red, purple, blue, green, brown, or a combination of those. Tinted glasses sometimes help but are not solutions for complete color correction or to eliminate blurry vision. Dyed contact lenses are currently in development to treat color blindness but are (so far) harmful and unstable.

Research published in the American Chemical Society (ACS) Publication Nano shows promising results from infusing contact lenses with gold nanoparticles to correct color blindness.

Daily activities such as choosing a ripe banana, selecting matching clothes, stopping at a red light, or plugging in color-coordinated cords can be difficult for color blind people. With tinted glasses precisely the same color as the person’s deficiency, colors can show up more vividly. However, these lenses are bulky and cannot correct vision in terms of sight or depth.

Specially-tinted contact lenses have been recently invented to improve red-green color perception. They are effective in clinical trials; however, they leaked dye, which has led to safety concerns. Gold nanocomposites are non-toxic and have been used for centuries to produce “cranberry glass” due to the way they scatter light.

Ahmed Salih, Haider Butt, and colleagues incorporated gold nanoparticles into contact lenses to improve the red-green contrast safely and effectively. To make them, they mixed gold nanoparticles into a hydrogel polymer, resulting in rose-tinted gels that filtered light within 520 to 580 nm, the wavelengths where red and green overlap.

The most cost-effective contact lenses were those with 40 nm-wide gold nanoparticles. In tests, these did not clump or filter more color than necessary. Additionally, they had water-retention properties that mimicked commercial lenses and were also non-toxic to cells growing in Petri dishes.

Researchers directly compared the new material with two commercially available pairs of tinted glasses and their dyed contact lenses. The gold nanocomposite lenses were more selective in blocking wavelengths than the glasses. Also, they matched the wavelength range of the dyed contact lenses, which suggests the gold nanocomposites would be suitable for people who suffer from red-green color issues without safety concerns.

Clinical trials with human patients are the next steps to assess comfort.

To learn more, read the full journal article by the American Chemical Society.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Michigan Lasik

Toxic Hexavalent Chromium Released into Tap Water Through Pipes

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The 2000 film “Erin Brockovich,” based on a true story, launched the carcinogen hexavalent chromium into the spotlight. Water supplies in California were tainted with the chemical, which caused a plethora of residents in Hinkley to succumb to cancer and all sorts of other deadly diseases.

A new study is bringing this chemical back to light by analyzing the process in which it infiltrates the drinking water supply, specifically when commonly used chlorine disinfectants corrode cast iron water distribution pipes.

Chromium occurs naturally and is often added to countless products. Its toxicity varies depending on its state. More than 200 million people in the United States drink tap water with chromium concentrations above .02 ppb, according to the Environmental Working Group. The state of California has set this part-per-billion level to ensure that fewer than one out of a million exposed people will get cancer in their lifetimes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate chromium levels in drinking water.

In the past, scientists hypothesized that chromium found in drinking water came from outside the distribution system, emerging from natural sources such as groundwater, surface water, or industrial pollution. However, environmental engineer Haizhou Liu and his team at the University of California, Riverside, noticed that reactions within water pipes might raise chromium levels at the tap.

Sections of cast iron pipes from two drinking water systems were obtained for the study. Cast iron is the most common type of pipe, and it contains significant amounts of added chromium, which acts as an anti-corrosive.

The scientists discovered that scales of flakes from within the pipes produced chromium. “The oxidation of chromium in the scales by chlorine disinfectant accounts for most of the formation of hexavalent chromium released into the solution,” Liu said.

“Now that we know that cast iron pipes are a potential source of hexavalent chromium, utilities need to think proactively to use less reactive disinfectants and limit the amount of chromium allowed in new drinking water pipes,” said Lynn Katz, an environmental engineer at the University of Texas.

To learn more about hexavalent chromium, visit Erin Brockovich’s website. To install a water filter in your home, contact the experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning today.

Reynolds Water Conditioning was established in 1931 and is Michigan’s oldest water conditioning treatment company. Still owned and operated by the Reynolds family, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at a cost-effective price. If your tap water lacks the quality you deserve, contact us today at www.reynoldswater.com or call 800-572-9575.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Reynolds Water