Respiratory Health and Indoor Air Pollution at High Elevation

In this research, the authors sought to provide experimental data on indoor air quality, and the resulting respiratory impact, for a high-elevation (4550 m), rural community in Ladakh, India. This community is of interest because the primarily nomadic residents burn biomass inside the home for heating and cooking. The concentrations of particulate matter (PM), endotoxin, and carbon monoxide were determined for 6 homes. Lung function data and induced sputum samples were collected for 9 female test-home subjects. In addition, lung function data were collected for 84 additional Ladakhi highlanders at this location. Sputum from 3 visiting scientists (sojourners) was collected and analyzed as well. The average PM concentration ranged from 2 mg/m3 to 7 mg/m3, with 85% of the sampled PM sized as respirable. The average endotoxin concentration ranged from 2.4 ng/m3 to 19 ng/m3, and average carbon monoxide levels ranged from 50 ppm to 120 ppm. Lung function values for the highlander population and the test-home subjects were equal to or greater than predicted, despite the highlanders’ significant exposure to indoor pollutants. An induced sputum analysis revealed a significantly greater total inflammatory cell count (M ± SD, 105 cell/mg) in the Ladakhi natives than in the sojourners (107.5 ± 75.2 vs 7.1 ± 8.1, p .01). Although the high levels of indoor pollutants did not correlate with significant decrements in lung function, the induced sputum analysis revealed marked airway inflammation dominated by macrophages and neutrophils. It appears that augmented lung mechanics of this high-altitude population are adaptive to reduce the work of breathing; thus, decrements in lung function go undetected because the true predicted values are greater than expected

Respiratory Health and Indoor Air Pollution at High Elevation

In this research, the authors sought to provide experimental data on indoor air quality, and the resulting respiratory impact, for a high-elevation (4550 m), rural community in Ladakh, India. This community is of interest because the primarily nomadic residents burn biomass inside the home for heating and cooking. The concentrations of particulate matter (PM), endotoxin, and carbon monoxide were determined for 6 homes. Lung function data and induced sputum samples were collected for 9 female test-home subjects. In addition, lung function data were collected for 84 additional Ladakhi highlanders at this location. Sputum from 3 visiting scientists (sojourners) was collected and analyzed as well. The average PM concentration ranged from 2 mg/m(3) to 7 mg/m(3), with 85% of the sampled PM sized as respirable. The average endotoxin concentration ranged from 2.4 ng/m(3) to 19 ng/m(3), and average carbon monoxide levels ranged from 50 ppm to 120 ppm. Lung function values for the highlander population and the test-home subjects were equal to or greater than predicted, despite the highlanders’ significant exposure to indoor pollutants. An induced sputum analysis revealed a significantly greater total inflammatory cell count (M ± SD, 10(5) cell/mg) in the Ladakhi natives than in the sojourners (107.5 ± 75.2 vs 7.1 ± 8.1, p .01). Although the high levels of indoor pollutants did not correlate with significant decrements in lung function, the induced sputum analysis revealed marked airway inflammation dominated by macrophages and neutrophils. It appears that augmented lung mechanics of this high-altitude population are adaptive to reduce the work of breathing; thus, decrements in lung function go undetected because the true predicted values are greater than expected

Trade network of pulp and paper products from Canada and/or Rest of the World to pulp/paper mills and demand centers respectively.

<p>Trade network of pulp and paper products from Canada and/or Rest of the World to pulp/paper mills and demand centers respectively.</p

Domestic transport of paper products from paper mills to demand centers.

<p>Domestic transport of paper products from paper mills to demand centers.</p

Domestic transport of pulp from pulp mills to paper mills.

<p>Domestic transport of pulp from pulp mills to paper mills.</p

Different cost components used in ISIS model for performing production cost Calculation.

<p>Different cost components used in ISIS model for performing production cost Calculation.</p

Percentages of available data from each source utilized in developing the database.

<p>Percentages of available data from each source utilized in developing the database.</p

Historical pulp and paper trends for the U.S. and China.

<p>Historical pulp and paper trends for the U.S. and China.</p

Algorithm used in ISIS model describing the cost optimization process.

<p>Algorithm used in ISIS model describing the cost optimization process.</p

Summary of production by major product category.

<p>Summary of production by major product category.</p