The Immune System A Fighting Machine Against Pathogens and Chemicals

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The Immune System A Fighting Machine Against Pathogens and Chemicals Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction 1.

1 The Immune System A Fighting Machine Against Pathogens and Chemicals Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction 1. How does the environment affect our immune system function? 2. What can we do to boost the function of our immune system clinically proven and homeopathic approaches? 3. What can we do to boost the function of our immune system clinically proven and homeopathic approaches? 4. Plagues, epidemics, pandemics how have these events influenced our knowledge of the immune system? Examples will be the Black Plague, Cholera, Leprosy, Spanish Flu, H1N1, SARS 5. Treating immune disorders - the joys and pitfalls of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

2 Lecture 6 Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction 1. How does the environment affect our immune system function? 2. What can we do to boost the function of our immune system clinically proven and homeopathic approaches? 3. What can we do to boost the function of our immune system clinically proven and homeopathic approaches? 4. Plagues, epidemics, pandemics how have these events influenced our knowledge of the immune system? Examples will be the Black Plague, Cholera, Leprosy, Spanish Flu, H1N1, SARS 5. Treating immune disorders - the joys and pitfalls of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

3 What

4 The developing immune system in the fetus - first environmental pressure

5 Chemicals in our environment...

6 Radiation mpact_of_pesticides

7 Gaseous Chemicals Effect on biological and physical environment Beamish et al, Journal of Crohn's and Colitis (2011) 5,

8 Harmful chemicals at home?

9 Industrial Chemicals

10 Yellow = Areas of oil and gas Blue = Mining

11 Familiar picture in Alberta

How far do air pollutants travel.. Thick, black smoke belching out of the exhaust pipes of vehicles. Swirls of dust picked up by the wind. Ash and soot coming from your campfire.

12 How far do air pollutants travel.. Thick, black smoke belching out of the exhaust pipes of vehicles. Swirls of dust picked up by the wind. Ash and soot coming from your campfire. These are all examples of particulate matter (PM). PM is the term used for solid or liquid particles emitted to the air. Some particles are large enough to be seen, and others are so small they can only be detected with an electron microscope. The width of a paperclip is m.

13 Particulate Matter

14 Particulate matter (PM) in the air.. PM < 2.5 M can pass into our lungs. Particles larger than 10 M generally get caught in the nose and throat, never making it as far as the lungs. PM can alter the body's defense systems against foreign materials PM can damage lung tissues, aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and can lead to cancer Adverse health effects have been associated with exposures to PM over both short periods (such as a day) and longer periods (a year or more) The people who are most at risk are people with asthma, influenza, lung, heart, or cardiovascular disease, the elderly, and children

15 How far do water pollutants travel..

16 Chemicals Beamish et al, Journal of Crohn's and Colitis (2011) 5,

17 Gaseous Chemicals Effect on biological and physical environment Beamish et al, Journal of Crohn's and Colitis (2011) 5,

19 Occupational exposure to benzene causes oxidative stress, immune suppression and alters function of tumor suppressor proteins in gasoline filling worker Canada limits: < 0.5 parts per million (ppm)

20 Others Radon & The Mining Industry Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. Easliy inhaled. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas and therefore not detectable by human senses alone. Studies have shown a clear link between breathing high concentrations of radon and incidence of lung cancer (2 nd leading cause Higher concentrations in mines than most areas Radon concentration at the shores of large oceans is typically 1 Bq/m 3. Concentrations > 1,000,000 Bq/m 3 can be found in unventilated uranium mines.

21 Others Asbestos Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was versatility, heat resistant, high tensile strength and insulating properties, and used for everything from fire-proof vests to home and commercial construction. It was woven into fabric, and mixed with cement Asbestos mining existed more than 4,000 years ago, but large-scale mining began at the end of the 19th century But: became a health issue in the 1980s Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause cancer and other diseases, - asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) - mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity - lung cancer (smoking can greatly increase this risk) Care had to be taken when tearing down old buildings

22 Others Asbestos

23 Radiation

24 Stress

25 Stress

26 Stress

Lecture 8. Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction

Lecture 8. Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction Lecture 8 Section B (Week 2): Environmental and Chemical Triggers of Immune System Function and Dysfunction 6. How does the environment affect our immune system function? 7. Effects of Diet on the immune