Diseases from Airborne Contaminants Program Intiative

Program Description

Transmission of airborne contaminants, whether biological or chemical, is extremely difficult to prevent and control. Exposure is involuntary, since we all have to breathe and disease spreads rapidly throughout populations. There are many examples:

In an outbreak of adenovirus in a military facility, 92% experienced clinically significant symptoms and 17% were hospitalized. Such virulence poses a severe threat to our military and overall national security.

Most assume that tuberculosis has been eradicated. However, close-knit groups with limited health care, such as homeless populations, are at risk. Tuberculosis lives and can easily spread to the general public.

In manufactured metal products, machining to meet fine tolerances generates heat, requiring metal working fluids to keep tools and surfaces cool. These fluids can become aerosolized, making them a growth medium for bacteria. Exposure to high concentrations can be a serious health hazard.

The Institute is interested in supporting studies inside the laboratory to determine the mechanisms of disease manifestation, and outside the laboratory to determine the real-world clinical effectiveness of various technological and pharmaceutical solutions.

The Diseases from Airborne Contaminants Program Initiative promotes research into health conditions that arise from the inhalation of airborne contaminants. Such contaminants could be in the form of chemical toxins, airborne particulates or fluid aerosols, the byproducts of heavy machining, cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, industrial emissions and bioaerosols. Human exposure to contaminants such as these can lead to the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and rhinitis, and other conditions including cancers, mesothelioma, and tuberculosis.

Support for this program has been received from:

• Anonymous Private Donations
• IFSH General Fund

Projects

• Fluid Aerosols (metal containing)
• Mesothelioma
• Tuberculosis

Reports

• None at this time

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