According to scientists at Johns Hopkins University, antibiotic-resistant bacteria from open-air poultry trucks can spread to cars on the road behind these trucks.

Their study, published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health last November, found increased levels of pathogenic bacteria in the air and on surfaces in cars that followed trucks carrying broiler chickens. The study found that the bacteria were resistant to three antibiotics used in human medicine and approved as poultry feed additives by the Food and Drug Administration.

One wonders if the same is true following behind a truck carrying a load of cattle from a feedlot to the slaughter house.

The scientists conducted the study in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, a region that has one of the highest densities of poultry CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) in the country.

“Besides aggressive drivers, now we have aggressive bacteria to worry about when we’re behind the wheel,” said Margaret Mellon, UCS’ Food and Environment Program director. “Congress needs to legislate limits on antibiotics use in food animals and get antibiotic-resistant bacteria under control.”

For more on the Johns Hopkins study, go to www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2008/rule_chicken_transport.html.

According to a new study from Colorado State University, media coverage of car crashes may harm rather than help public health.

Colorado State University researcher, Lorann Stallones, director of the Colorado Injury Control Research Center based at Colorado State, said accident coverage often is presented as episodic, human interest stories that tend to obscure the bigger picture of motor-vehicle crashes as a leading cause of injury and death among Americans.

Stallones’ study concludes that this type of media coverage gives the impression that car crashes are random and unpreventable.

“This type of coverage presents inaccurate perceptions by overestimating infrequent causes of crash-deaths and obscuring frequent causes,” Stallones said. “It tends to present complex issues as singular cases and can be counterproductive to public health.”

In crash coverage, Stallones wants the media to mention possible preventable risk factors that contribute to fatalities, such as seat belt use, excessive speed, alcohol or drug use and distracted driving.

The study, “Coverage of Motor Vehicle Crashes with Injuries in U.S. Newspapers, 1999-2002,” included a total of 473 newspaper reports involving major newspapers in six different geographical regions around the U.S. Stollones said a majority of the stories portrayed the crashes as episodic, or presenting the issue in terms of specific instances as isolated events, rather than framing the story thematically, which would provide a broader societal context.

“We determined that media coverage runs counter to public health interests by emphasizing the distinctiveness of each story rather than on detecting trends and identifying risk factors,” said Stallones. The study noted that coverage contained virtually no information that may have predisposed a crash risk, such as weather conditions or speed. It also found little mention of alcohol, drug use or demographic factors such as age that could help communities identify population groups at high risk.

Only six of the 473 reports studied included information about weather conditions or speed limits. Only 11 reports included information about road conditions at the time of the accident, while fewer than 20 percent of the reports had any mention of estimated speed of vehicles. Drunk driving was reported in 11.2 percent of the crashes, no drunk driving was reported in 5.9 percent, and suspected drunk driving was report in 2.5 percent of the crashes; there was no mention of drunk driving in 80.3 percent of the reports. Drug involvement was even less likely to be included in the newspaper reports with 94.3 percent having no mention.

Other factors included in the study were the age, sex and ethnicity of those involved; if the individuals were drivers, passengers or non-motorists; and the use of safety restraints.

“There was a serious underreporting of seat-belt use,” said Stallones. “This is of concern because adhering to this safety behavior has the potential of preventing fatalities in motor-vehicle crashes.”

Age and sex were reported for slightly more than half of individuals represented in the newspaper reports.

Stallones said providing the age of those involved in fatal crashes can be important for regions in which motor-vehicle crashes are prevalent for specific age groups.

“We found, for example, that Texas had the highest number of crashes among individuals under the age of 15 compared to other states.”

The study calls for increased communication between news media and public health professional to improve the accuracy and injury-prevention information of crash coverage.

Stallones said public health professionals should work with editorial boards of local newspapers to inform editors and reporters about the importance of focusing on thematic reporting when addressing motor-vehicle crash information.

“By presenting more factual, contextual information involved in crashes, we hope for more accurate audience impression of the risk factors involved and a greater understanding of driving risks.”

The research was partially funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Centers for Disease Control and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

A new census report show why high diesel gas prices hurt the economy.

In July of 2008, diesel prices in Grand Island, according to the Nebraska AAA, hit a record high of $4.773 per gallon. Six months later, diesel prices in Grand Island are now averaging $2.383 per gallon — a decline of $2.390 per gallon.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. commercial trucks covered 94 billion miles in 2007. Higher diesel costs going those many miles annually hit the drivers and trucking companies and ultimately push the cost of consumer goods sky high weakening the economy and making it vulnerable to the kind of economic collapse we are seeing now.

Trucking is a big industry in Grand Island and the lifeblood of the state’s agricultural industry. The trucking industry a vital component of farm-to-market infrastructure. When the trucking industry hurts, it impacts the state’s agricultural industry.

According to the Census report, truck transportation revenues saw a 3.2 percent increase from 2006, reaching $229 billion in 2007. General freight trucking contributed approximately two-thirds of all trucking revenue: $153 billion in 2007. The remaining $76 billion in revenue was from trucks transporting specialized freight that required equipment such as flatbeds, tankers or refrigerated trailers.

U.S. commercial trucks traveled 94 billion miles in 2007, according to the Census Bureau. Long-distance
general freight revenues increased 2.5 percent to $127 billion, while local general freight trucking revenues grew 2.1 percent to $26 billion.

Other facts and figures about the U.S. trucking industry from the Census report:

—Trucking within U.S. borders accounted for 96 percent, or $205 billion, of motor carrier revenue in 2007. Revenue generated from truck transportation with origins in Canada, Mexico and all other destinations was $5 billion.

—Motor carrier revenues were up 3.1 percent to $214 billion in 2007. Local motor carrier revenue accounted for $73 billion, a 5.0 percent increase. New furniture and other manufactured products experienced a 6.6 percent decrease from 2006.

—Couriers and messengers revenue rose 4.3 percent to $75 billion in 2007. These industries provide intercity and/or local delivery of parcels handled by one person without special equipment and are restricted to small parcels, which distinguishes them from the general transportation industry.

— Warehousing and storage revenues increased 4.9 percent to $22 billion in 2007.

— Farm product warehousing and storage revenue increased to $836 million in 2007, a 9 percent rise in revenue over 2006 figures.

What’s for dinner tonight. More importantly, how about your kid’s lunch.

From melslife.com here are the nine superfoods of 2009.

1. Berries – Blueberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Boysenberries, Elderberries, Raspberries, and Goji berries

2. Pomegranate – Drink 8 oz a day or at least 3 times/week

3. Tropical fruits – Mango, Papaya, Passionfruit, Pineapple

4. Sea Vegetables – Dulse, Hijiki, Kelp, Kombu, Nori, Wakame

5. Teas & Infusions – White, Green, Black, Rooibos, and Yerba Mate

6. Green Foods – Spirulina, Chlorella, Blue Green Algae

7. Green Leafy Veggies – Chard, Spinach, Collard Greens, Lettuce (not iceberg), Turnip, Beet, and Mustard Greens

8. Cruciferous Veggies – Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage

9. Grasses & Sprouts – Barley, Wheat, Oat; Alfalfa, Broccoli, and Radish sprouts