We are particularly interested in the hidden adverse costs of air pollution and how environmental factors, such as particles of carbon from exhaust pipes, impact on children's health. Our strategic aim is to understand the mechanism underlying the increased vulnerability to pneumonia in children exposed to air pollution in the developing world. (Indoor smoke is an additional factor here - over two million children a year die as a result of an increased susceptibility to infection). More broadly, we plan to develop a Centre for Children's Environmental Health. There are several in the US and Canada but none in the UK . At its core will be programme of clinical research with the strategic aim of reducing environmental threats to children's health.
Contact Information
Currently laboratory work only - modelling effects of biomass particles on vulnerability to infection
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
We have close links with the University of Leicester/Gondar link.
No input
Our technique of assessing exposure to indoor air partilces has been used in Ethiopia and India.
Relevant Publications or Studies
Bunn HJ, Dinsdale D, Smith T, Grigg J. Ultrafine particles in alveolar macrophages from normal children. Thorax 2001:56:932-934. Grigg J. Environmental toxins; their impact on children's health. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2004;89:244-250 Kulkarni NS, Prudon B, Panditi SL, Abebe Y, Grigg J. Carbon loading of alveolar macrophages in adults and children exposed to biomass smoke particles. Science of the Total Environment. 2005;345:23-30 Mudway IS, Duggan ST,Venkataraman, Kelly FJ, Grigg J. Combustion of the biomass fuel dung cake results in the generation of highly redox active fine particulates. Particle and Fibre Toxicology. 2005;2:6 (1-11) Pierse N, Rushton L, Harris R, Kuehni CE, Silverman M, Grigg J. Locally-generated particulate pollution and respiratory symptoms in young children. Thorax. 2006. 61:216-20. Kulkarni N, Pierse N, Rushton L, Grigg J. Carbon in airway macrophages and lung function in children. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006 Jul 6;355:21-30 Grigg J. Effect of biomass smoke on pulmonary host defense mechanisms. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews 2007;8:287-291. Kulkarni N, Grigg J. Air pollution and children’s health. Paediatrics and Child Health 2008;18:238-243
Our Contribution to the Partnership
We are interested in working with exposure-intervention programmes - using our exposure monitoring technique.
