CilO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 28, 1992 ‘Researcher Is American Hero’ ELIZABETHTOWN (Lancas ter Co.) “We want to make the American researcher the Ameri can hero,” Susan Paris told the board of directors of Pennsylva nians for the Responsible Use of Animals (PRUA) at its regular meeting. PRUA is a federation of Penn sylvania organizations and indivi duals who encourage humane treatment of animals, while believing it is good for humankind to use animals for food, clothing, biomedical research, entertain ment, and sport. UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) As the days get shorter, farmers are harvesting in earnest to meet nature’s deadlines. But changing weather can create hazards on the farm, said a safety specialist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “As winter approaches, farm buildings will need to be tightly closed to protect farm animals from the cold,” said Sam Steel, extension project associate in agri cultural and biological engineer ing and program director for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Safety Council. “But closing farm buildings tightly also can reduce the air quality by limiting air circula tion,” said Steel. “Dust and fume levels may rise significantly, which can place farmers and farm workers at risk for respiratory illness.” Steel says that recent research has shown that more than 50 per cent of swine confinement work ers in the United States had symp toms of chronic bronchitis, includ ing excessive coughing and chest congestion. “Health specialists also are Paris, executive director for Americans for Medical Progress, explained that the group believes that “research is good for all of us” and is working aggressively to take that message to the American public. “We want to promote and protect biomedical research." She said that most people are not aware of the value and necessity of animal research in bringing cures to the public. Americans for Medical Prog ress is organized as a trade associ ation with the ability to lobby for effective legislation. It is also an Beware Of Dust, Gas Problems In Buildings blaming organic dust toxic syn drome,' or ODTS, for a farm related respiratory illness that has flu-like symptoms such as fever, headcahe, and muscular aches and pains,” said Steel. A less common illness that can afflict farm workers is Farmer’s Lung. “This allergic reaction is caused by inhaling dust from mol dy hay, grain or straw,” Steel said. “This illness can be very serious, since it can cause permanent lung damage.” Toxic gases also may be present in poorly ventilated buildings. “Among these are gases asso ciated with manure storage pits, especially those located immedi ately beneath livestock contain ment buildings,” said Steel. “These dangerous gases generally become a problem during manure agitation. “These gases include hydrogen sulfide, which has a rotten egg smell at low concentrations and is extremely lethal at higher con centrations,” he said. “Ammonia has a very offensive odor that usu ally causes workers to leave the area. Methane is a very explosive gas at higher concentrations, and R MILK. IT DOES A BODY GOOD. 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Headquartered in Arlington, the organization is working primarily to influence public policy and increase public awareness of the contributions made by biomedical research to finding cures for a variety of dead ly diseases. In addition to influencing pub lic opinion and woiking to ensure the future of research, the group wants to recognize the value of the researcher. They have developed a “medical progress prize” which carbon dioxide cuts the oxygen in the air. “Even low levels of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia will produce eye and lung irritations, heada ches, drowsiness, and dizziness.” Steel strongly urges all farmers and farm workers to use personal protective equipment when work ing in dusty buildings or around potentially hazardous gases. “Respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health should be used in dusty environments,” he said. “People who have to enter manure pits during maintenance, repair, or rescue operations must wear self contained breathing apparatus or SCBAs.” More information on respirat ory protection from dusts and hazardous gases is available from the Pennsylvania Agricultural Safely Council, P.O. Box 997, State College, PA 16801/(814) 863-7710. Director Tells PRUA will call attention to a researcher who has been selected by 500 peo ple in the field. The award will be presented at a prominent dinner in New York, featuring former presi • dent Gerald Ford and Mary Fisher, an AIDS victim who spoke at the National Republican convention. The organization has launched a hard-hitting print advertising campaign designed to show spe cific benefits of biomedical research. There are also television spots, both public service announcements and membership commercials, all geared to spread the message of promoting and protecting research. A half-hour documentary has been produced to tell the research story. The trade association is six months old, but has attracted national attention and wants to become involved at all levels throughout the country, to become truly broad-based. The education al foundation already has 1,000 grassroots members and will be launching chapters of Students for Medical Progress on 200 college campuses throughout the country. Paris said her organization will be providing organizational support, political support, and speakers’ bureaus for the campus organiza tion in an effort to raise awareness. A newsletter called “Break through” is designed to make public the latest treatments, medi cal cures, and continuing research on diseases and the animals which help make these successes possi ble. There are also brochures detailing ongoing research efforts, explaining that if animals could not be used many cures would not have been possible. In bringing the message of Patz Gutter Cleaner c Fast Facts: • Durable Patz hook-and-eye link chain allows easy maintenance. Progression forging builds extra strength in hook-and-eye link contact points. Final heat treating increases hardness, strength and wear resistance. • Choice of two link sizes to match gutter length. • Four-tooth sprocket drives every link. 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RD 2 Box 271 Lebanon, PA 17042 East Earl, PA 17519 (717) 270-6600 (717) 354-0584 Americans for Medical Progress to the PRUA board, Paris said, “Our goal is to promote and pro tect biomedical research.” Louis Sallie, administrative secretary for Pennsylvania Far mers Association, welcomed the PRUA board to PFA headquarters and stressed the importance of working together to combat the negative image portrayed by those in the animal rights movement Sallie said, “It is to the benefit of agriculture for us to strive to tell the facts about the use of animals in agriculture and biomedical research." PRUA Executive Vice Presi dent Kenneth Brandt said, “We in agriculture have a responsibility to work together to promote a better understanding of the role of ani mals both in agriculture and in biomedical research. We must tell the public the story of the impor tance of animals.” In other business Brandt told the board that the “Hunters Shar ing the Harvest” project is being widely supported and imple mented this hunting season. Through the program, hunters may donate part of their venison to help feed the hungry through food banks, soup kitchens, and other groups who provide food for needy people. It is a cooperative effort by hunters, PRUA, Pennsyl vania Association of Meat Pack ers, Pennsylvania’s Food Banks, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, with Uni-Marts serving as sponsors this year. Last year Pennsylvania’s hun ters donated 30,000 pounds of venison, and PRUA hopes to have 100,000 pounds donated this year For more information, contact PRUA, P.O. Box 61, Elizabelh town, PA 17022.
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