26 September 2021 || A day dedicated to our Environment

26^th September this year is a very blessed date where two important events – World Environment Health Day & World Rivers Day coincidentally fall on this day. As a matter of fact, even the daughter’s day is today :); however, we’ll discuss it on some other occasion.

Let’s stay put on our environmental health today.

Scars, that scare!

• Environmental pollution
• Global warming
• Air pollution
• Soil pollution
• Climate change
• Water pollution
• Water contamination
• Chemical discharges
• Risks to personal health

Aren’t these some of the phrases that scare us – yet we find ourselves helpless in doing anything about them!

World Environment Health Day (WEHD)

The day is being celebrated by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) since the year 2011 on September 26. Based on a specific theme every year, this year, the day is themed “Prioritising environmental health for healthier communities in the global recovery.” The word recovery in the theme emphasizes the world’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Rivers Day

The day is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of September month. Indian PM Narendra Modi also spoke about this day today in his Mann ki Baatshow. He mentioned how the rivers selflessly help the people with ample water and how it is required for all of us to value every drop of water and control water pollution.

How to improve Environmental Health?

Our environment is our abode. Our health is directly proportional to our environmental health. Hence, time demands us to be selfish and not ignorant about something so crucial!

We believe in small steps – bringing one lifestyle change at a time! With this intention, we (hopefully) introduced one difference in our lives on June 5 | World Environment Day.

Let’s plan to bring in another very time-demanding and essential transformation for our well-being.

HOCl

The use of sanitizers and disinfectants as lifestyle products has increased exponentially in the last year. While using them is critical, why not adopt a usage plan that would be safe, non-toxic, healthy for the environment, sustainable, and could be adopted in the long run?

Yes, a simple and weak hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is an answer to these questions!

The acid is found in all mammals, including human beings. It is nothing more than electrolyzed water, prepared by electricity, salt, and water.

Known since 1834 and in use since 1841, you may learn more about its history here.

H – Harmless

HOCl is harmless, safe to be used around humans and animals. It is a nontoxic and biodegradable product. Therefore, even its most extensive use would be the least harmful to the environment.

O – Omnipresent

HOCl is found inside the white blood cells (WBCs) of our bodies. Our body’s immune system activates HOCl and uses it to fight against infections and heal wounds.

C – Creatable

It is feasible to artificially create HOCl outside the body through a simple method. While creation is simple, it was earlier challenging to maintain a stable version of the same. However, our scientists have conquered this complexity as well, and a stable HOCl is now being produced and widely used in several industries.

L – Long-lasting

HOCl has found practical use as a disinfectant, deodorizer, wound healer, and skincare product. It is much more efficacious than sodium hypochlorite (commonly known as bleach) and safer. Features like biodegradable, eco-friendly, non-toxic, free from any chemicals, safe, etc., make HOCl an enduring product. Millions of people can use it over millions of years without degrading environmental health and thus human health.  

It would not be wrong to say that HOCl is the most eco-friendly product out there today that can easily make its way into our lives and help us live a hygienic, clean, and healthy life!

While justifying the theme of this year’s WEHD, i.e., using a HOCl-based sanitizer for COVID-19 recovery, it will also fulfill the overall goal of this day.

The time demands from us to use products that are safe for the environment. While one may think the use of a single thing by me, a single individual would bring no big negative impact – it would. One of us makes the many of us. The use of one harmful product pollutes the environment, drains into the rivers and pollutes the water bodies, and ultimately reaches back to us in the form of polluted air, water, and food. These things are gradually degrading our bodies, health, and existence.

Let’s switch to more & more of the products that promote environmental health!

Avani Raj Arora