Training Years: 2018-2019
Country: Peru
Mentors: Will Checkley, MD, PhD; Stella Hartinger, PhD
Title: Assessing Air pollution from PM2.5 and Endotoxins in the NIH HAPIN Trial – Puno, Peru
Project Objectives:
Aim 1: Pilot Study for Validation of the Enhanced Children’s MicroPEM (ECM) versus the Ultrasonic Personal Air Sampler (UPAS) by comparing the PM 2.5 measurements.
Significance: The Enhanced Children’s MicroPEM (ECM), the Ultrasonic Personal Air Sampler (UPAS), and the Particle and Temperature Sensor (PATS+) are three recently developed instruments are being evaluated for performance in the field as low cost, easy-to-use PM 2.5 gravimetric and real-time exposure assessment tools for potential large-scale use in the HAPIN trial. To date, three of the four LMIC’s have conducted colocation experiments to compare the PM 2.5 measurements collected from these instruments. In this particular Peru study, we will be using the Triplex Cyclone with SKC AirChek XR5000 Pump as the gold standard tool against which the performance of the other 3 tools will be compared
Aim 2: Assess the endotoxin exposure from biomass fuel usage and resulting health effects in control households.
Significance: Endotoxin exposure (or lipopolysaccharides typically found in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria that induce strong immune responses) as a result of handling organic materials have been shown to have numerous respiratory effects on human health, such as lung cancer, asthma, and other nose symptoms (8-12). While previous studies have assessed endotoxin exposure in occupational work settings in developed countries, this study will attempt to assess the endotoxin exposure in a household setting.
NIH Support: Fogarty scholars doctoral training award
