Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Environmental Education Outreach Program

1. Institute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsEnvironmental Education Outreach Program August 2010 How Lungs Work and more… Indoor Air Quality

2. Outline • Normal anatomy and function of lungs • Common pollutants can injure lungs • Special considerations for young children • Ways to protect lungs • Some suggested priorities • Funding for IAQ activities • IAQ QAPP • ITEP Services

3. Lungs

4. Lungs (cont.) • People breathe a lot, depend on constant gas exchange in lungs • Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass through very thin walls of alveoli • But, any gas (poisonous ones, too) can pass through alveoli walls • And, very small particles can also pass through alveoli walls

5. Cardiovascular Connection Gases distributed widely after entering bloodstream If lungs aren’t functioning properly, heart must work harder

6. Defenses of Lungs • Air enters body through nose or mouth, which wets and warms air • Nose hairs, mucus and saliva filter some particles and germs • Air travels down windpipe (trachea) • Windpipe splits into two bronchi that enter lungs

7. Defenses (cont.) • Airways have special hairs called cilia, coated with sticky mucus • Cilia trap germs and other foreign particles • Cilia then sweep particles up to nose or mouth where they are swallowed, coughed, or sneezed out

8. Particles • PM10 (10 microns and smaller) • Inhaled into lungs • Accumulate in respiratory system • PM2.5 (2.5 microns and smaller) • Fine particles • Can lodge deep in lungs • Pose greatest health risks

9. Poisonous Gases • Poisonous gases pass through lungs easily and quickly, directly to bloodstream • Common pollutants • Ozone • Carbon monoxide • Pesticides • VOCs (gasoline, other) Outside air Blood vessel

10. Impacts of Air Pollution • Increased levels of air pollution • Emergency hospital admissions for heart attack, chest pain, congestive heart failure • Potential death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrest (includes exposure to ETS) • Elderly, patients with heart disease or diabetes particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular effects of air pollution

11. Impacts of Air Pollution (cont.) • Air pollution has both short- and long-term toxic effects • Injure heart and blood vessels • Increase hospitalization rates for cardiac illness • Can cause death • Scientists once thought air pollution primarily affected lungs • Also bad for the heart

12. Common Diseases of the Lungs • Asthma • Many triggers • Inflammation • Blocking, narrowing airways, mucus

13. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • Chronic breathing difficulties • Airways and air sacs lose elastic quality • Walls between air sacs destroyed • Walls of airways become thick and inflamed • Airways make more mucus than usual • Air pollutants damage airways and air sacs

14. Infections Influenza Pneumonia (bacterial, viral, fungal) Tuberculosis Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Pertussis Diphtheria

15. Lung Cancer • Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in lungs • Smoking • Radon • ETS • Asbestos • Occupational exposure

16. Keeping Lungs Healthy • Control exposure to pollutants and particulates • Control humidity in your environment • Drink water, eat vegetables and fruits • Exercise • Wash hands

17. Protect the Lungs of Young Children • Lungs of young children very sensitive • Air pollution damage can limit breathing capacity for a lifetime • Exposure to certain pollutants can cause asthma, which can last a lifetime • Lung infections can cause damage which can last a lifetime

18. Environmental Impact to Lungs • Lungs are our most intimate connection with the outside environment • Anything you breathe can affect your lungs • Germs, tobacco smoke, and other harmful substances can cause damage to your airways • Once airways are damaged your natural defenses are weakened

19. Protecting Your Lungs • Don’t smoke • Avoid exposure to pollutants • Prevent infection • Get regular heath care

20. Impacts on IAQ (Sources) • Human metabolism • Human activities (cooking, smoking, hobbies, maintenance, household chemicals) • Off-gassing (Carpets, treated woods, chemicals under sink, etc) • Heating appliances • Co-habitants (roaches, dogs, dust mites) • Bad stuff from outside (smoke, dust, radon)

21. Suggested Priorities • “I am concerned about the air in my home” • Do you have a functional CO detector? • Does anyone in your home smoke? • Is your house too damp or too dry? • Is your house adequately ventilated? • Are your combustion appliances well maintained? • (Thanks to Leif Albertson, UAF Fairbanks)

22. Funding • I-GAP (Coordinate with Project Officer to put in work-plan.) • EPA 103 / 105 (Coordinate with Project Officer to put in work-plan.) • TRIBAL AIR GRANTS FRAMEWORK • EPA IAQ RFPs • HUD (Coordinate with Tribal Housing Office to put in work-plan.) • Other

23. IAQ QAPP • ITEP TAMS Center working with R10 EPA to develop guidelines for IAQ QAPPs • Sample IAQ QAPPs available on web-site • Training session planned for ATCEM • www.nau.edu/eeop/air_quality/AirQlty_akiaq.asp

24. ITEP Services • American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) (Save the date flier) • Indoor Air Quality In Tribal Communities (Fact Sheet) • One day IAQ session at ATCEM • ITEP is looking for partnerships… www.nau.edu/eeop/air_quality/AirQlty_akiaq.asp

25. Mansel A. Nelson Senior Program Coordinator Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Northern Arizona University (NAU) http://www.nau.edu/eeop/ mansel.nelson@nau.edu Voice 928 523 1275 FAX 928 523 1280 PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011