May 2025

Volume 21 Issue 5

  Have a fun and safe summer. 

Our next Newsletter will be September 2025.       

Sid Satish, President

2024-2026 Teen Advisory Board

Natalie Do- Teen Board Member

Aditi Vadassery

Teen Board Member

Clements High School – Sugar Land, TX

Teen Board Member 2024 – Present

Be A Clean Air Hero! 

Growing up in Houston can sometimes feel like living in an allergy battleground. The city's warm, humid climate created the perfect conditions for allergens like mold, pollen, and dust mites to thrive year-round. The Houston air wasn’t just heavy with allergens; the pollution from traffic and industry didn’t help either. I noticed how poor air quality disproportionately impacted individuals with asthma and other lung conditions. The lung is a vital organ in the respiratory system that performs essential functions that sustain life. The lungs are responsible for oxygenation of blood, Carbon Dioxide removal, energy production, blood pH regulation and protection and defense from dust, microbes, and other airborne particles. Protecting the lungs is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. Environmental pollutants are a significant risk factor for lung health, as they can cause both immediate and long-term damage to the respiratory system. Exposure to various pollutants can lead to or worsen lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even lung cancer. Ozone pollution, particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are major air pollutants that pose serious risks to lung health. Ground-level ozone, formed by reactions between sunlight and emissions from vehicles or industry, can irritate airways and worsen conditions like asthma. Particulate matter, especially fine particles (PM2.5), can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to inflammation, reduced lung function, and even lung cancer. NO₂ and SO₂—often released from burning fossil fuels—can trigger respiratory symptoms and increase the risk of chronic lung diseases. These pollutants are also linked to climate change, which intensifies air pollution through rising temperatures and extreme weather. To prevent lung damage from poor air quality, it's important to take both personal and community-level actions. On a daily basis, individuals can wear masks in high-pollution areas, avoid outdoor activities during times of heavy traffic or high pollution alerts, and use air purifiers indoors. Keeping windows closed on bad air days and avoiding indoor pollutants like harsh cleaning chemicals and smoke can also help. On a larger scale, supporting clean energy, reducing car use by walking or biking, and advocating for stronger environmental regulations can help reduce overall pollution and protect everyone’s lung health. The air we share is the breath we take—let’s keep it clean for healthier lungs and a stronger future. 

Aditi Vadassery

May 2025

Teen Board Recipe

Matthew Chuan

Co-Event Coordinator

Fruit Flower Cracker 

Springtime is in full bloom! Get outside and enjoy the warm yet refreshing breeze, the lively, green grass and the delicate yet beautiful flowers. However, if you’re getting hungry, you can make your own fruit flowers! These mouth-watering spring treat makes a simplesnack, an appealing appetizer, or a delicious desert. Even better, you can use whatever you have and design them however you like to.  

Ingredients:

Large circle crackers 

Peanut butter 

Grapes 

Raspberries 

Blueberries 

Mandarin oranges 

Pretzel sticks 

Recipe:  

1: Spread the circle crackers with peanut

butter or another filling that can hold the fruits 

2: Start decorating the flowers! Here are some ideas: 

·      Six grapes surrounding a center raspberry 

·      Blueberries surrounding a grape cut in half 

·      Mandarin orange slices facing the same direction (clockwise

or counter clockwise)   

3: Put pretzel sticks on the flowers to act as stems.