Queen Mary University London

Mission

The Academic Unit of Paediatrics at the Queen Mary University London, has developed a methodology for assessing the exposure of the lungs of individual adults and children in the developed world to pollutant particles. This involves measuring carbon particles in alveolar macrophages: cells that normally patrol the deep airways removing inhaled matter. With our link with the Medical School in Gondar, Ethiopia and with colleagues in India we are developing non-invasive ways of sampling alveolar macrophages from women and children exposed to biomass smoke in order to assess i) the behavioural determinants associated with increased exposure - and ii) the effects of carbon loading of macrophages on their functional ability to act as the sentinel immune cell protecting the lung against bacterial infection.

Organization Type Academia

Contact Information

Primary Contact
 Mr. Jonathan Grigg
 Secondary Contact

Address Academic Unit of Paediatrics
Institute of Cell and Molecular Science
London,
E1 2AT
United Kingdom 		Website www.icms.qmul.ac.uk/Profiles/Paediatrics/Grigg%20Jonathan.htm
Phone 44-202-788-22206
Fax
Calling/Fax Instructions

Our Focus

Primary Initiatives, Target Populations, and Scope of Work:

Ethiopia

Fuels/Technologies: Biogas
Biomass
 Sectors of Experience: Health

Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas

Social/Cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves:

As part of our initiative, we will be asking mothers what they know about the health effects of biomass smoke and whether they take measures to protect themselves against exposure.

Market development for improved cooking technologies:

None noted

Technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation:

None noted

Indoor air pollution exposure and health monitoring:

Our induced sputum technique may be the gold standard for assessing individual exposure - in environments where exposures are intermittent and the variables (sitting vs standing, cooking hut vs cooking outside, dung cake priming vs wood only) are complex.

Relevant Publications or Studies

1. Bunn HJ, Dinsdale D, Smith T, Grigg J., Ultrafine Particles in Alveolar Macrophages from Normal Children, Thorax, 2001:56:932-934. 2. Grigg J., The Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Derived Particles, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2002, 86:79-83. 3. Grigg J, Donaldson K, MacNee W, McGarr C, Hewitt CRA, Homotypic Aggregation of Alveolar Macrophages Induced by Ultrafine Carbon Black is Associated with Upregulation of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2002, 46S:227-230. 4. Birring SS, Brightling CE, Pradding P, Entwisle JJ, Vara DD, Grigg J, Wardlaw AJ, Pavord ID, Clinical, Radiological and Induced Sputum Features of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Non-Smokers: a Descriptive Study, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2002, 166:1078-1083. 5. Grigg J., Environmental Toxins; their Impact on Children's Health, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2004, 89:244-250. 6. 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. 7. 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). 8. 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. 9. 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(1):21-30.

Our Contribution to the Partnership

We can offer training in our individual assessment methodology - and would be keen to develop links with other groups in this field.