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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Environmental Education Outreach Program

August 2010

How Lungs Work and more…

Indoor Air Quality

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OutlineOutline Normal anatomy and function of lungsNormal anatomy and function of lungs

Common pollutants can injure lungsCommon pollutants can injure lungs

Special considerations for young Special considerations for young childrenchildren

Ways to protect lungsWays to protect lungs

Some suggested priorities Some suggested priorities

Funding for IAQ activitiesFunding for IAQ activities IAQ QAPPIAQ QAPP ITEP ServicesITEP Services

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LungsLungs

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Lungs (cont.)Lungs (cont.) People breathe a lot, depend on People breathe a lot, depend on

constant gas exchange in lungsconstant gas exchange in lungs Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass

through very thin walls of alveolithrough very thin walls of alveoli ButBut, any gas (poisonous ones, too) , any gas (poisonous ones, too)

can pass through alveoli wallscan pass through alveoli walls AndAnd, very small particles can also , very small particles can also

pass through alveoli wallspass through alveoli walls

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Cardiovascular Cardiovascular ConnectionConnection

Gases distributed Gases distributed widely after entering widely after entering bloodstream bloodstream

If lungs aren’t If lungs aren’t functioning properly, functioning properly, heart must work heart must work harderharder

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Defenses of LungsDefenses of Lungs Air enters body through nose or Air enters body through nose or

mouth, which wets and warms air mouth, which wets and warms air Nose hairs, mucus and saliva filter Nose hairs, mucus and saliva filter

some particles and germssome particles and germs Air travels down windpipe Air travels down windpipe

(trachea) (trachea) Windpipe splits into two bronchi Windpipe splits into two bronchi

that enter lungs that enter lungs

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Defenses (cont.)Defenses (cont.)

Airways have special hairs Airways have special hairs called cilia, coated with called cilia, coated with sticky mucus sticky mucus

Cilia trap germs and other Cilia trap germs and other foreign particles foreign particles

Cilia then sweep particles Cilia then sweep particles up to nose or mouth where up to nose or mouth where they are swallowed, they are swallowed, coughed, or sneezed outcoughed, or sneezed out

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ParticlesParticles PMPM1010 (10 microns and smaller) (10 microns and smaller)

Inhaled into lungsInhaled into lungs Accumulate in respiratory systemAccumulate in respiratory system

PMPM2.52.5 (2.5 microns and smaller) (2.5 microns and smaller) Fine particlesFine particles Can lodge deep in lungsCan lodge deep in lungs Pose greatest health risks Pose greatest health risks

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Poisonous GasesPoisonous Gases Poisonous gases pass through Poisonous gases pass through

lungs easily and quickly, directly lungs easily and quickly, directly to bloodstreamto bloodstream

Common pollutantsCommon pollutants OzoneOzone Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide PesticidesPesticides VOCs (gasoline, other)VOCs (gasoline, other)

Outside air

Blood vessel

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Impacts of Air Impacts of Air PollutionPollution

Increased levels of air pollution Increased levels of air pollution Emergency hospital admissions for heart Emergency hospital admissions for heart

attack, chest pain, congestive heart attack, chest pain, congestive heart failure failure

Potential death from heart disease, Potential death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrestarrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrest

(includes exposure to ETS)(includes exposure to ETS) Elderly, patients with heart Elderly, patients with heart

disease or diabetes particularly disease or diabetes particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular vulnerable to cardiovascular effects of air pollutioneffects of air pollution

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Impacts of Air Pollution Impacts of Air Pollution (cont.)(cont.)

Air pollution has both short- and Air pollution has both short- and long-term toxic effectslong-term toxic effects Injure heart and blood vesselsInjure heart and blood vessels Increase hospitalization rates for Increase hospitalization rates for

cardiac illnesscardiac illness Can cause deathCan cause death

Scientists once thought air Scientists once thought air pollution primarily affected lungspollution primarily affected lungs Also bad for the heartAlso bad for the heart

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Common Diseases of the Common Diseases of the LungsLungs

Asthma Asthma Many triggersMany triggers InflammationInflammation Blocking, narrowing airways, mucusBlocking, narrowing airways, mucus

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Chronic Obstructive Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pulmonary Disease

(COPD) (COPD) Chronic breathing difficultiesChronic breathing difficulties

Airways and air sacs lose Airways and air sacs lose elastic quality elastic quality

Walls between air sacs Walls between air sacs destroyed destroyed

Walls of airways become thick Walls of airways become thick and inflamed and inflamed

Airways make more mucus Airways make more mucus than usualthan usual

Air pollutants damage Air pollutants damage airways and air sacsairways and air sacs

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InfectionsInfections

InfluenzaInfluenza Pneumonia (bacterial, viral, fungal)Pneumonia (bacterial, viral, fungal) TuberculosisTuberculosis Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Pertussis Pertussis DiphtheriaDiphtheria

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Lung CancerLung Cancer

Uncontrolled growth of Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in lungsabnormal cells in lungs SmokingSmoking RadonRadon ETSETS AsbestosAsbestos Occupational exposureOccupational exposure

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Keeping Lungs Keeping Lungs HealthyHealthy

Control exposure to pollutants and Control exposure to pollutants and particulatesparticulates

Control humidity in your environmentControl humidity in your environment Drink water, eat vegetables and fruitsDrink water, eat vegetables and fruits Exercise Exercise Wash handsWash hands

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Protect the Lungs Protect the Lungs of Young Childrenof Young Children

Lungs of young children very Lungs of young children very sensitivesensitive

Air pollution damage can limit Air pollution damage can limit breathing capacity for a breathing capacity for a lifetimelifetime

Exposure to certain pollutants Exposure to certain pollutants can cause asthma, which can last can cause asthma, which can last a a lifetimelifetime

Lung infections can cause Lung infections can cause damage which can last a damage which can last a lifetimelifetime

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Environmental Impact Environmental Impact to Lungsto Lungs

Lungs are our most intimate Lungs are our most intimate connection with the outside connection with the outside environment environment

Anything you breathe can affect your Anything you breathe can affect your lungs lungs

Germs, tobacco smoke, and other Germs, tobacco smoke, and other harmful substances can cause damage harmful substances can cause damage to your airwaysto your airways

Once airways are damaged your Once airways are damaged your natural defenses are weakenednatural defenses are weakened

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Protecting Your Protecting Your LungsLungs

Don’t smokeDon’t smoke Avoid exposure to Avoid exposure to

pollutantspollutants Prevent infectionPrevent infection Get regular heath careGet regular heath care

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Impacts on IAQ Impacts on IAQ (Sources)(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)

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Suggested PrioritiesSuggested 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 (Thanks to Leif Albertson, UAF Fairbanks)

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FundingFunding•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

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IAQ QAPPIAQ 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/www.nau.edu/eeop/air_quality/AirQlty_akiaq.aspAirQlty_akiaq.asp

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ITEP ServicesITEP 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/www.nau.edu/eeop/air_quality/AirQlty_akiaq.aspAirQlty_akiaq.asp

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Mansel A. Nelson Senior Program CoordinatorEnvironmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP)Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

(ITEP)Northern Arizona University (NAU)http://www.nau.edu/eeop/mansel.nelson@nau.eduVoice 928 523 1275FAX 928 523 1280PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011