- Science
BY Dr. Naruki Hiranuma, 806-651-3872, nhiranuma@wtamu.edu
Positive cases of COVID-19 surge in Potter and Randall counties; Dr. Naruki Hiranuma tells how to keep a health environment
Exposure to COVID-19 is inevitable.
Since the outbreak first reached Amarillo mid-March, it has reached more than 1,000 positive cases this week. Potter County’s infection rate is four times the rate of counties in Dallas and Harris, according to the Texas Tribune.
“Slowing the spread,” or diluting the pollution as we say in environmental science, can be achieved with a few daily choices made by each of us. When it comes to contamination – whether it’s from car exhaust or coronavirus particles – the solution is the same. Together, we must weaken its presence.
How can I clean up my environment?
- Clean your indoor air. A recent study found that gas stoves can make indoor air two to five times dirtier than outdoor air. By opening your window on a less windy day, circulating the air you breathe most of the day can help keep your lungs cleansed. Keeping our bodies free of contaminants helps prevent an infection, like COVID-19, from overwhelming the body.
- Sterilize “high touch” surface areas often. Common household cleaning supplies with bleach can be very effective in killing harmful germs that linger on surfaces. Even better, copper surfaces disinfect 24/7 and will kill any bacteria or viruses on surfaces in a few short hours.
- Decrease traffic. This doesn’t mean just on the road. In your home, work and essential errands, you can control your level of exposure by daily choices to lessen your activity, lowering your exposure to more people. Being extra careful will not always be necessary, but the more we are collectively right now, the less time we will spend doing it in the long run.
- Influence your loved ones to do the same. The greatest positive influence for a healthy community is encouraging your friends and family to follow hygienic guidelines by setting a mindful example. This includes keeping a 6-foot social distance to prevent viral infection through inhaling aerosols (tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air).
The collective impact of these measures has a big effect on a community and even the world.
Every year, two gigatons of pollution enters the atmosphere, making it more challenging to keep ourselves healthy. Organizations as well as communities are realizing environmental science is a critical component to be operational, which is why West Texas A&M University is launching a bachelor’s degree in air quality and atmospheric science this fall.
This specialty is to equip professionals with knowledge for best practices in employee and customer health. There will be environmental science electives for those non-majors as well.
But whether you’re pursing an environmental science degree or not, we all play a part in keeping each other well. That’s what’s so great about living in a neighborly community such as Amarillo.
About Dr. Naruki Hiranuma 
Dr. Naruki Hiranuma is an atmospheric and aerosol scientist. He joined West Texas A&M University in 2016 as an assistant professor of environmental sciences after earning a M.S. degree from the same program in 2005.
In his career at WT, Dr. Hiranuma has been the recipient of the 2018 Early Career Research Program Award, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the organization’s most prestigious award that supports early-career faculty.
From Japan, Dr. Hiranuma now lives in Amarillo, where he is involved with the Don Harrington Discovery Center, the Amarillo Zoo and collaborates with local meteorologists.
About WT’s environmental science program
The environmental science program at WT currently hosts 50 students. The program is oriented for training students to resolve and mitigate real-world environmental challenges such as air and water quality as well as human health issues in relation to the atmosphere. Areas of specialization include general environmental science, human and ecological risk assessment, and air quality and atmospheric science. Click here to learn more.
—WTAMU—