Latest news with #shielded
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
How clean is New York City's water really? We had it tested
It's been called 'the champagne of tap water.' The H2O coming through New York City's pipes is so clean, in fact, that NYC is one of the only major US cities that doesn't use filtration. If you get your hydration right from the tap, you know it just tastes good — and it's been said it's at least partly responsible for why our bagels are superior. Advertisement So when Culligan gave us the chance to try out their at-home water testing kit — which looks for contaminants like lead, copper and arsenic as well as forever chemicals — we jumped at the chance to find out for ourselves: How healthy is New York City's tap water, really? 5 Culligan tested a sample of New York City's tap water for contaminants like lead — plus PFAS, or 'forever chemicals.' Stephen Yang Testing for forever chemicals Collecting the samples at my Manhattan apartment was was super easy — though it was actually for two tests, one covering contaminants and another that looks for PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals.' Earlier this year, a study found that 97 million Americans are exposed to these forever chemicals through their tap water. Advertisement PFAS have been linked to a bunch of health concerns including reproductive issues, an increased risk of cancer, reduced immunity, higher cholesterol, higher obesity risk and developmental effects in children. And the bad news? New Yorkers aren't totally shielded while sipping our on-tap champagne. 'We identified one compound: PFBA, which stands for Perfluorobutanoic acid,' Culligan's lab manager Maria Mozdzen explained, going over our test results. 'We found that to be at 2.2 parts per trillion.' Advertisement That's higher than EWG [Environmental Working Group]'s health guidelines, which are set at one part per trillion. The EPA doesn't yet set limits on PFAS in water. So how bad are these results, really? 5 It was really easy to colelct the sample, which was then sent back to Culligan to be analyzed. NY Post 5 Between contaminants and PFAS, nearly 100 things were tested for. NY Post It turns out… not that bad at all. Culligan had tested for 55 PFAS compounds. Advertisement 'I think your municipality is doing a great job,' Mozdzen said. Though PFBA was identified, it was 'very lower level' in the sample tested. Mozdzen noted that I may still want to address it — like with a PFAS filtration system — depending on my comfort level. 'If this was me or my household, I would definitely want to protect myself from it,' she said. Forever chemicals can also be found in a load of other products we use, from cookware to makeup. Scientists have been on the hunt for ways to limit our exposure — even if it's bit by bit. It's important to note, though, that this test captured a single point in time — and what's found in the water can change slightly throughout the year. Dr. Eric Roy, Culligan's Head of Science, said that New York City does a 'really good job' of conducting different types of tests, so their results have shown variability. 5 Everything tested for had levels below EPA limits — or so low that they weren't detected at all. NY Post/Jared Larson Advertisement They have found, at times, the presence of another forever chemical that wasn't in my sample, PFOA. (That was also only at about 2.1 parts per trillion — so higher than the EWG recommends, but not particularly high.) If I were to test again in a few months, I might have a different result. What else is in the water? That covers forever chemicals, but what about all of the other stuff that could be dripping out of our faucets? According to Culligan's test, we're doing even better in that department. Of the 42 different things they tested for, not a single one was detected above the national standard limit — including the total amount of minerals, which at 61.89 mg/L was well below the EPA's limit of 500 mg/L. Advertisement Even better, about half weren't even above the minimum detection level. Those include lead, copper, iron, magnesium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, silver, uranium and nitrate. The others all had levels below the national standard limit, including calcium, magnesium, silica, sodium, potassium, aluminum, chloride, fluoride, sulfate and bicarbonate. 'It's actually great water,' Mozdzen said. 'I'm on Lake Michigan, and I like to think we're on good water, but nothing compared to you.' 5 Culligan sells filtration systems, including ones that filter out PFAS. Culligan About that lead measurement… Advertisement Dr. Roy stressed once again that this is just a snapshot — and in fact, a 2023 report by the NYC Coalition to End Lead Poisoning found that about 21% of residents may be drinking water delivered via lead service lines, which could contaminate the water with lead. Even low levels of lead exposure can have a serious health impact. For adults, that could be nerve disorders, high blood pressure, reproductive issues, muscle and joint pain, and memory problems, according to the EPA. For kids, it can slow growth, cause headaches, create hearing problems — and even lead to lower IQ, brain damage, and learning and behavioral issues. Advertisement Unfortunately, lead contamination can enter your water at a lot of different points along its journey. While NYC's source water from the Catskill/Delaware watershed and the Croton watershed doesn't have lead, it can leach in through the service line or even your home's internal plumbing. Older cities, in particular, are more likely to have lead service lines, and older internal plumbing is more likely to have lead, too. If you live in an apartment building, there's not a whole lot you can do. But Mozdzen has one tip that can help you guard more against lead exposure. When you wake up in the morning and pour your first glass of water from the sink — wait a beat. 'Let that water run 30 seconds and then start using it,' she said. 'What I found — and I look at tons of lead results — it's the first draw in the morning that's the problem. It's not necessarily like down the line… It's just when the water stays stagnant in the in the fixture.'
India Today
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
The Castro grandson who Fidels as Havana plunges into darkness
Cuba, long defined by the Marxist-Leninist and Communist legacy of Fidel Castro's iron-fisted rule and ideals, remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America. With the average monthly wage stuck at around $16.50, everyday life on the island is marked by struggle, scarcity, and sacrifice. But not for everyone, not for the Castro who 'Fidels' while Havana those untouched by Cuba's deepening crisis is Sandro Castro, Fidel Castro's grandson, whose life today is a stark contrast to the austerity preached by his 33, Sandro is a social media figure with over 121,000 Instagram followers. His content doesn't echo political ideology or social concerns; it's a glossy display of wealth, status, and inherited privilege. In one post, he's on a yacht sipping Cristal beer. In another, he races through Havana in a luxury Mercedes-Benz. His nightlife venue, EFE Bar, caters to Cuba's wealthy and well-connected, charging 1,000 Cuban Peso (approximately $42 or Rs 3,600) at the door and demanding a minimum spend of 15,000 CUP (approximately $625 or Rs 54,000) at its tables – figures wildly out of reach for most has posted reels with a soundtrack by Bad Bunny, mocking the long power cuts that have plagued the capital city Havana. In a cheeky jab, he even compared himself to the state electricity company, suggesting he too could hand out his countryside getaway, El Patrn, where nights can cost $100, he lounges and unwinds, while back in the city, fuel, medicine, and food are in short to Fidel's son Alexis Castro, Sandro was raised in Punto Cero, a tightly guarded compound that shielded him from the shortages and stress endured by average Cubans. His life was always that difference plays out online: he wears designer clothes, smokes expensive cigars, and plays reggaeton music from a seat of comfort that symbolises a family that never truly gave up the visibility of his wealth, Sandro's net worth remains a mystery. Analysts believe he profits from his bars – EFE and Fantaxy, as well as from his influencer presence and possibly from access to old family Fidel, who was once estimated by Forbes to be worth hundreds of millions, Sandro's financials are well has occasionally drawn criticism from within the establishment, but largely, there has been no formal a video of him flaunting a Mercedes went viral in 2021 during a period of severe shortages, he tried to walk it back, but the damage was comments about the "toys" he owned didn't sit well with people struggling to find bread and Cuba continues to decline. Its GDP shrank again in 2024, part of a five-year slide that has erased nearly a tenth of the cost of living is on the rise as incomes stagnate. People endure endless blackouts, empty shelves, and increasing hopelessness. And as all this unfolds, Sandro continues to post cocktails, luxury dinners, and Cristal for many Cubans, represents the hypocrisy of a revolution that demanded sacrifice from its people while shielding its own inner circle. His lifestyle, so at odds with the Cuba's reality, has made him a symbol of the very inequality the revolution once promised to abolish.- EndsMust Watch
Chicago Tribune
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Anti-violence advocates: Why not hold gun manufacturers accountable for mass shootings like River North tragedy?
At least 18 were shot, four fatally, in River North after a drive-by shooting last week. Four families will prepare expenses for funeral services and seek mental health support in the wake of their loss. Or they may be so paralyzed by this event that they lose all functionality. The 14 who survived the shooting will fall anywhere along a spectrum of permanent disability to a 'normal' life with bullet wounds as a reminder of their trauma. The shooters will be held accountable. Illinois, its citizens, will pay for it. The firearm industry will profit from it. Fifty-four percent of adults in the United States have reported that they or a family member have experienced a gun-related incident. In other words, over half the country can say they have been personally affected by a gun injury. Meanwhile, gun manufacturers, foreign and domestic, have been shielded from accountability and lawsuits for the outcomes of their products that most Americans have experienced. The state of Illinois pays an estimated $18.6 billion a year toward firearm injury and death. Firearm manufacturers share none of these costs. The River North mass shooting will cost, conservatively — for the victims, their families and Illinois taxpayers — $2.5 million. The family will be held accountable, the storefront owner may be sued and the taxpayers will pay. The manufacturers of the guns that killed four and injured 14 others will watch as Illinois citizens and individuals across this country reflexively purchase more guns. Gun manufacturers will profit off the fear and angst that, tomorrow, we might be next. A federal law passed in 2005 protects the firearm industry from accountability. The Responsibility in Firearm Legislation Act in Illinois will change that. This act, introduced in the 104th General Assembly, creates an injury restitution fund, financed by firearm manufacturers, foreign and domestic, according to how frequently their products are recovered in events such as the River North mass shooting. When the RIFL Act is law, in order for finished firearm manufacturer products to be sold, imported or distributed in the state of Illinois they must contribute financially according to the harm and damage created by their products in our state. The RIFL Act reinstates accountability for firearm manufacturers, providing a powerful financial incentive to innovate safer products, to reduce the harm they cause in Illinois, and to engage in suicide and violence prevention. The technology and the ability to quell firearm injury exists among finished firearm manufacturers, but it will not happen until our state ends the profitability of tragedies like the one in River North on July 2. Now is the time for our state to lead the rest of the country and our federal government. Firearm injury is the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens, the No. 1 cause of death for pregnant women and the No. 1 cause of suicide. What more will it take? For the surgeons in our group, those statistics are not just numbers for us: We see the faces, the bodies, the injuries and the families, every single day. No other industry in the United States is afforded the luxury of turning a blind eye to the public costs and impact their products have on society. Not the tobacco industry, not the automotive industry, not the pharmaceutical industry, not the construction industry, not the insurance industry, not even the chemical and nuclear engineering industry. The Second Amendment does not absolve gun manufacturers of responsibility. The RIFL Act has no bearing or impact on an individual's right to bear arms; it requires the same standard of responsibility that all industries in this country carry. In the process, passing the RIFL Act saves the state of Illinois and taxpayers an estimated $300 million a year in costs to Medicaid and Medicare for firearm injury. In light of 17 million Americans who soon may be stripped of their health care insurance after the $1 trillion tax cut to Medicaid, this bill has never been more necessary for our state. The surviving victims of the River North shooting will be responsible because they were shot. On average, being shot and hospitalized is an $82,000 medical bill. Additionally, the taxpayer, hospitals, and those with private or employer-based health insurance will be responsible for these costs. Gun violence is expensive, and taxpayers of Illinois won't foot the bill any longer for it. Our thoughts and prayers go toward all the victims and those affected by this devastating and unfortunate event.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Gianluigi Donnarumma bursts into tears on pitch after PSG star's challenge causes Jamal Musiala horror injury
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA burst into tears on the football pitch after the horror injury suffered by Jamal Musiala at the Club World Cup. The goalkeeper was starring for Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup against Bayern Munich. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Gianluigi Donnarumma burst into tears after the injury to Jamal Musiala Credit: Reuters 2 Musiala's ankle was bent out of shape following a collision with Donnarumma But Musiala was left in a bad way following a collision with Donnarumma, 26, at the end of the first half. As he challenged for a ball at the byline, Musiala was shielded away from it by Willian Pacho and at the same time, Donnarumma dived to jump on the ball. However, as Musiala was caught in the middle of the pair, his left leg got caught under the body of the Italian goalkeeper. And as he tumbled over the PSG star, Musiala's leg was caught under his rival's body. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL MAD WORLD Chelsea star Noni Madueke, 23, agrees personal terms with Arsenal He was then seen immediately screaming in pain as his foot was visibly bent out of shape at the ankle. The 22-year-old's team-mates looked distraught upon seeing the gut-wrenching injury. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN England captain Harry Kane was seen with his hands on his head before gesturing for a stretcher to be brought over. Donnarumma was also visibly upset by the accident and had to be consoled by the team benches as he held his gloves over his face. The Italian was shown on camera in tears having sunk down to one knee before the half-time whistle was blown. Musiala was stretchered off the field of play before being taken to hospital. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens spotted with Chelsea squad after Club World Cup win over Palmeiras... despite not signing yet According to Sky Sports in Germany, it is suspected he has suffered a fibula fracture. Following the game, Donnarumma shared a picture of himself in tears walking off at half-time to Instagram. He paid tribute to Musiala in the caption, saying: "All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10," Despite the horror collision, Donnarumma was in fine form for his club as he helped them win the match 2-0 despite going down to NINE men. PSG fielded the same starting 11 that had won the Champions League seven weeks earlier in Bayern's stadium, with the exception of Bradley Barcola replacing Dembele in the front three. In the final 12 minutes of normal time and 11 minutes added on, PSG scored twice, had two men sent off and then saw a penalty awarded against them at the death overturned on review by English referee Anthony Taylor. Pacho was sent off for a lunge of Leon Goretzka, and PSG substitute Lucas Hernandez soon followed him for a mindless elbow on Raphael Guerrero. But the European champions held on, and Ousmane Dembele sealed victory deep into stoppage time to put them a step closer to being crowned kings of the world as well. It felt harsh all round on Bayern, who were the better team for much of the match and lost Musiala to a sickening ankle injury just before half time. That moment took the shine off what was one of the best games of the tournament. Luis Enrique's side will face one of Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final. The other clash in the last four sees Fluminense take on Chelsea.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
The man who lived battles survivor's guilt
Ahmedabad: On June 12, as London-bound flight AI 171 lifted off from Ahmedabad airport, Viswashkumar Ramesh and his younger brother Ajay exchanged a final wave from seats 11A and 11J. Minutes later, the plane plummeted into the BJ Medical College hostel and mess in Meghaninagar, killing 241 people on board, including Ajay. Only Viswash lived. Now back in his hometown of Bucharwadi in Diu, survival offers him no comfort. The 40-year-old businessman from Leicester reportedly battles sleeplessness. He barely speaks as he drifts through the days, lost in grief, questions and survivor's guilt. Though back with family, Viswash remains haunted by what he lived through, and more so, by who didn't. "He keeps asking: why only me? If I lived, why not my brother and the others?" shares Sunny Ramesh, youngest of the four siblings. The survivor's trauma runs deep. Sunny says Viswash has been "unable to sleep" since the tragedy. "How can anyone sleep if their younger brother dies like this? When Viswash realized that he had survived, he thought that Ajay must have made it too. He was shattered when he found out that he was the sole survivor. He is having a tough time accepting this fact," he adds. Even as his miraculous survival made global headlines, the family has shielded him from visitors and media, avoiding talk of the crash. "We avoid asking questions about the plane crash due to his mental state. He's not ready for questions so we have kept him away from others. Right now, our only goal is to help him heal," Sunny said. When the plane crashed, Viswash was the only person who got thrown from the emergency exit window. And by sheer chance, he landed on a mound of soil deposited near the hostel building for construction work. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad While Viswash's body survived, his mind remained trapped in that moment, says Sunny. "He is unable to forget those harrowing moments in which he lost Ajay. He is also haunted by the deaths of the other passengers," he adds. Meanwhile, police have not yet taken Viswash's statement, and Sunny says his brother will not be in any condition to provide one until he has fully recovered, both mentally and physically.
