Impact/Purpose:

Epidemiological evidence suggests that children exposed to air pollution develop impaired lungs. We have observed alterations in lung architecture in monkeys exposed to ozone during development. This project will quantify the amount and time course of pollutants that lead to these architectural abnormalities and their functional implications.

Description:

Children and the elderly are thought to be the most susceptible to particulate air pollutant exposure. The elderly are more likely to have pre-existing impairments that make them more likely to suffer symptoms from inhaling particulates, and children respire much more than adults per unit of body mass due to their higher level of physical activity and greater time spent outdoors. The airways in children grow as their bodies grow, and, when exposed to air pollution, the airways appear to grow in ways that lead to diminished lung function. As a result, children who grow up with increased air pollution may be at higher risk when inhaling pollutants as adults. This project will quantify the amounts and kinds of pollutants that lead to airway impairment, determine when the airways are most easily impaired during their development, and identify which functions are impaired due to this exposure.

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Project Information:

We will use both experimental and modeling approaches to reach the objectives. Rats will be exposed to ozone, particles, and particles with ozone during different stages of development. We will perform lung function tests and measure airway architecture on normal and exposed adults. Comparing normal and exposed architecture and function will elucidate the significant changes that are due to the pollutants. Particle deposition patterns will also be measured and predicted with mathematical models to understand how alterations in architecture might increase particle deposition or change its location.

Cost :$.00

Research Component :Health Effects

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