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

2 Outline Normal anatomy and function of lungs Normal anatomy and function of lungs Common pollutants can injure lungs Common pollutants can injure lungs Special considerations for young children Special considerations for young children Ways to protect lungs Ways to protect lungs Some suggested priorities 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 People breathe a lot, depend on constant gas exchange in lungs Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass through very thin walls of alveoli Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass through very thin walls of alveoli But, any gas (poisonous ones, too) can pass through alveoli walls But, any gas (poisonous ones, too) can pass through alveoli walls And, very small particles can also pass through alveoli walls And, very small particles can also pass through alveoli walls

5 Cardiovascular Connection Gases distributed widely after entering bloodstream Gases distributed widely after entering bloodstream If lungs aren’t functioning properly, heart must work harder 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 Air enters body through nose or mouth, which wets and warms air Nose hairs, mucus and saliva filter some particles and germs Nose hairs, mucus and saliva filter some particles and germs Air travels down windpipe (trachea) Air travels down windpipe (trachea) Windpipe splits into two bronchi that enter lungs Windpipe splits into two bronchi that enter lungs

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

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

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

10 Impacts of Air Pollution Increased levels of air pollution Increased levels of air pollution Emergency hospital admissions for heart attack, chest pain, congestive heart failure Emergency hospital admissions for heart attack, chest pain, congestive heart failure Potential death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrest Potential death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrest (includes exposure to ETS) (includes exposure to ETS) Elderly, patients with heart disease or diabetes particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular effects of air pollution 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 Air pollution has both short- and long-term toxic effects Injure heart and blood vessels Injure heart and blood vessels Increase hospitalization rates for cardiac illness Increase hospitalization rates for cardiac illness Can cause death Can cause death Scientists once thought air pollution primarily affected lungs Scientists once thought air pollution primarily affected lungs Also bad for the heart Also bad for the heart

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

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

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

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

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

17 Protect the Lungs of Young Children Lungs of young children very sensitive Lungs of young children very sensitive Air pollution damage can limit breathing capacity for a lifetime Air pollution damage can limit breathing capacity for a lifetime Exposure to certain pollutants can cause asthma, which can last a lifetime Exposure to certain pollutants can cause asthma, which can last a lifetime Lung infections can cause damage 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 Lungs are our most intimate connection with the outside environment Anything you breathe can affect your lungs Anything you breathe can affect your lungs Germs, tobacco smoke, and other harmful substances can cause damage to your airways Germs, tobacco smoke, and other harmful substances can cause damage to your airways Once airways are damaged your natural defenses are weakened Once airways are damaged your natural defenses are weakened

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

25 Mansel A. Nelson Senior Program Coordinator Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Northern Arizona University (NAU) Voice FAX PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011