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AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH EFFECTS (1). ANTHRACOSIS SILICOSIS. Archeological evidence shows air pollutants in the lungs of mummies . PLEUROSY IN ROMAN TIMES. Rib lesions: evidence of indoor pollution from burning vegetable matter lamp oils at Herculaneum. Lancet 356, 1774 (2000) L. Capasso.
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ANTHRACOSISSILICOSIS Archeological evidence shows air pollutants in the lungs of mummies
PLEUROSY IN ROMAN TIMES • Rib lesions: evidence of indoor pollution from burning vegetable matter lamp oils at Herculaneum Lancet 356, 1774 (2000) L. Capasso
SINUSITIS Common in Saxon times Often related to lack of chimneys
DOSE • Exposure to air pollutants has to account for both the concentration and the time of exposure • Dose can loosely be thought as the product of concentration and time…
DOSE RESPONSE RELATIOSNHIP THRESHOLD
The Water-Babies, Charles Kingsley (1862-1863) PERCIVAL POTTS AND THE CLIMBING BOYS • Potts first recognised occupational cancer through exposure to coal tars (1775)… • Scrotal and nasal cancers among chimney sweeps • PAH
BaP • BENZO(a)PYRENE the ultimate carcinogen! • Importance of bay region
BENZO(a)PYRENE (BaP) • Ultimate carcinogen!
REGULATING CARCINOGENS • No thresholds • BaP as an indicator • Risk assessment • Risk 1.5x10-5 per ng(BaP) m-3 (MOE 1997) • What is an acceptable risk? • UK PAH [B(a)P] at 0.25 ng m-3 • Annual mean by 31/12/10
OTHER POLLUTANTS • HCHO – suspect carcinogen but typically unregulated in outdoor environment interior concern via furnishing regulations • PAN –some suspicions about carcinogenicity, but irritant • BENZENE – carcinogen and regulated in EC, UK 5 µg m-3 (Ann. Mean)
CARBON MONOXIDE AT ALTITUDE • Some 480 accidental deaths and 2000 suicides per year in the US • Gas or charcoal barbeque indoors • Poorly ventilated interiors especially cooking fumes on climbing or polar expeditions • Denver, Colorado high CO - high altitude means incomplete combustion of gasoline in motor vehicles, but fuel wood also a significant source
CARBON MONOXIDE IN SUBMARINES • Carbon monoxide levels in. submarines: closed space smoking among crew and equipment • Catalytically converted to CO2 • Smokers have heightened susceptibility
Physical symptoms headache Nausea dizziness vomiting Cognitive Impairments attention problems multi-tasking problems poor time judgement 50 ppm (8 hr) show some symptoms 100 ppm (a few hours) flu-like symptoms 150-300 ppm dizziness, drowsiness and vomiting >400 ppm unconsciousness, brain damage and death. CARBON MONOXIDE EFFECTS Tissue hypoxia and oxidative stress…
CO binds with hemoglobin at 200-300 times the affinity of oxygen CO + HbO2 O2 + HbCO Effects during exercise >2.5-4.0% Smokers as high as 10%, Ambient CO of 100 ppm produces 16% Tent with a kerosene camping stove 21.5% Half-life 3-4 hours. HbCO – aim at <2.5% for non-smokers - time and concentration dependent 10ppm (10hours) 25ppm (1 hour) 50ppm (30 min) CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN (HbCO) http://www.andyrak.com/digital01/hemoglobin.htm
Cilia BRONCHIAL TRACTCILIARY ELEVATOR Bronchial epithelial cells Mucous thicker outside • Synergistic impact of SO2 and smoke
SULFUR DIOXIDE • Despite great improvements still considerable impact on urban epidemiology • Affect on airway function especially among people with pre-existing complaints • Hospital admissions about 2% up for a 50 µgm-3 increase – not especially large • Mortality about 3% up for a 50 µgm-3 , but… • …death bought forward by a days
SULFUR DIOXIDE • Short term exposure 10-15 minutes • 266 µgm-3 (15 min) 35 exceedences per year (UK) • 350 µgm-3 (1 hour) 9 exceedences per year (NZ)
NASA’s Aura satellite 15 July 2006 NITROGEN DIOXIDE Very widespread exposure… in urban areas… Long understanding of indoor exposure especially from gas cooking – wheeze among children
NITROGEN DIOXIDE • Exposure above 2000 µgm-3 required to show bronchial response • Asthmatics not too different • …, but at 800 µgm-3 may sensitize to other allergens • Little confidence on mechanisms or relevant day-to-day effects, but relevance may be the chronic impact. • 200 µgm-3 (1 hour) 9 times per year (NZ)
OZONE Problem of heterogeneity… http://www.cerc.co.uk/YourAir/index.asp
Trees grow better in NY! Nature JWGregg et al 424, p183 10 July 2003
Healthy Inflamed OZONE EFFECTS • Pulmonary system primary target • Biochemical effect from oxidation or peroxidation of biomolecules • Ozone-caused lung damage resembles “sunburn” • Reduces lung function or aggravates existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis • May cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation or congestion http://www.sbcapcd.org/sbc/ozonehealth.htm
OZONE • Background 40-70 µgm-3 • Summer 120-150 µgm-3 • 240 µgm-3exercising – detriments to lung function • Recommendations close to background • 120 µgm-3(8-hour) WHO • NZ Ozone (1-hour) 150 µgm-3
HUMAN HAIR OZONE REACTION • Secondary products • Geranyl acetone • trans-2,6-dimethyl-2,6-undecadien-2-one6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one • Decanal Pandrangi and Morrison (2008)
LEAD • Exposure to lead linked to criminal behaviour Jun 16, 2008: US study finds higher blood lead levels correlated to more arrests.
1,3-BUTADIENE • Some concern in 96/62/EC but never adopted • UK, NZ(?) have set standards • Standards will probably be met Carcinogen
FLUORIDE • Some concern in 96/62/EC but never adopted • Brick making, aluminium production and coal combustion (big source in China) • Indoor contamination of surfaces • In New Zealand largely ecological worries Aluminium smelting
SULFIDES • Hydrogen sulfide from catalytic converters - shifting the oxidation state of sulfur emissions • Regulation based on odour thresholds (7g m-3) • Mercaptans - pulp mills 0.5 ppm (Manitoba) • Thiophenes and benzothiophenes from tyres, combustion etc Odour and carcinogenicity problems...