Latest news with #APEL
21-07-2025
- Health
This lab asks research volunteers to breathe in toxic fumes — and they do it willingly
LISTEN | The Dose: How does poor air quality affect my health? (new window) Ask Dr. Chris Carlsten about the clear booth in his University of British Columbia (UBC) laboratory, and he'll reassure you that it's perfectly safe — even if volunteers spend multiple sessions in the chamber breathing in polluted air. The duration varies, but the standard is two hours in that booth with Wi-Fi, with ability to basically use their computer, books, study, whatever, said Carlsten, head of the Air Pollution Exposure Lab (APEL) at UBC and Canada Research Chair in occupational and environmental lung disease. As wildfire smoke has a worsening effect on air quality in Canada (new window) , the lab is one of the only facilities of its kind in Canada gathering pinpoint data to provide insight into the ways poor air quality is harmful to human health and wellness. Despite the prospect of standing in a polluted chamber, Carlsten and his research team say volunteers have been eager to give their time. They are simply drawn to contribute to science and our attempt to solve a major public health problem, said Carlsten, via email. Air pollution chamber at the heart of lab Established by Carlsten in 2007, APEL runs their tests using devices that produce pollution and pump that dirty air into a polycarbonate testing chamber. We have a diesel engine, we have a furnace for burning wood for wood smoke, we have a device that creates microplastics because microplastic is an emerging concern, he said. Enlarge image (new window) Volunteers spend roughly two hours at a time in the Air Pollution Exposure Lab's exposure chamber and are able to bring in books and even connect to Wi-Fi while breathing in pollutants, like wildfire smoke and diesel exhaust. Photo: Submitted by Brinn Edgington Researchers can even fill the chamber with allergens, like dust mites. The key to maintaining volunteer safety is that researchers dilute pollutants to levels roughly matching those found in major urban centres. [Pollution] will be created by the engine or the furnace and then diluted by filtered air down to a safe level, said Carlsten. The lab's data is published in a range of journals, and highlights how air pollution affects everything from lung performance during physical activity (new window) to the health of people with asthma (new window) and even on cognition (new window) . Carlsten says his team's findings have also influenced policy, including at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Why would anyone want to breathe in polluted air? The program's volunteers range in age from people in their 20s to their 70s, with near gender parity. Carlsten says volunteer demographics are quite broad, adding he believes results are applicable to more general populations. The lab's air quality studies follow strict double-blind research standards (new window) . Volunteers, like Alana Green, say they often can't tell whether they're breathing in polluted air or clean air. Green, an administrator at UBC, signed up for an air quality study when she first started working at the university. I felt like it was a way that I could contribute to science and to society by participating in this, she said. WATCH | Doctor shares advice on staying safe amid air quality warnings: Taking part between January and December 2023, Green, who travels internationally, said air in the chamber didn't compare to the poor quality she's experienced in some of the destinations she's visited, where the smell is in the air. Dalhousie University grad student Brinn Edgington also participated in one of the program's studies. I have done research where I've been reliant on people participating, so I kind of feel like, for me, I need to pay it forward and participate in other people's studies, because it's important, said Edgington, who's lived with asthma and allergies since childhood. Edgington and Green said the only aggravation they experienced were watery eyes after a chamber session. Enlarge image (new window) In addition to multiple rounds in the exposure chamber, Edgington also underwent several bronchoscopies during her time as volunteer. Photo: Submitted by Brinn Edgington Air pollution negatively affects whole-body health Exposure to air pollution can have an effect on the entire human body, exacerbating existing conditions like asthma (new window) and increasing the likelihood of developing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (new window) . Some research has found associations between poor air quality and mental health harms (new window) and heart disease (new window) . You're breathing in toxic chemicals and particles, they get deep into your lungs, your body doesn't like it, it triggers inflammation and then that can lead to all sorts of systemic responses in different people, said Dr. Kerri Johannson, a pulmonologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary. Though Carlsten says indoor air purifiers, closing windows, staying indoors and wearing face masks outdoors during days with poor air quality are options for many Canadians, there are many people — including outdoor labourers — who can't always come inside to recuperate. Those people really need attention and, unfortunately, tend not to get enough, Carlsten told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of The Dose (new window) . Simulations can only provide so much detail, expert says As a working pulmonologist, Johannson says the research out of APEL has been field-changing. What the Air Pollution Exposure Lab provides is an ability to measure cause and effect, the causality of an exposure leading to an outcome, and you can measure that through time, she said. You can't get that type of information from any other type of research. Nonetheless, Johannson says there are limitations of exposure lab research, including that the lab typically only measures one exposure factor at a time. That means volunteers aren't being exposed to multiple pollutants at once — which is what happens in the real-world. WATCH | U.S. politicians say Canadian wildfire smoke is ruining their summer: The lab recently submitted a grant proposal to address the issue of multiple exposures, according to Carlsten. And while the UBC lab's studies can last several months, Johannson says people can be exposed to harmful outdoor air pollution for decades at a time. Sometimes people are exposed for 10 years in their workplace, and 20 years later they present with their chronic lung disease or cardiovascular condition, she said. But, if APEL research shows a connection between air pollution and poor health, Johannson said it's safe to assume that real-world consequences of air pollution are likely much worse. Working toward a cleaner future While air quality in Canada (new window) is among the highest in the world, wildfire smoke can greatly reduce air purity — like when Toronto's air quality (new window) was measured among the worst in the world in mid-July. Carlsten says that the lab is now working to translate their data into real-world solutions. It is critical that we provide gold-standard evidence for interventions that can protect those exposed, Carlsten said. We recognize that while understanding mechanisms of adverse effects of exposures remains important, and can support rationale for interventions, it's time now to test interventions that will lead to practical application. Sameer Chhabra (new window) · CBC Radio · Associate Producer Sameer Chhabra is an associate producer with CBC's White Coat, Black Art radio show and The Dose podcast. He was previously an associate producer with CBC News: The National's talk team.
CBC
19-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
This lab asks research volunteers to breathe in toxic fumes — and they do it willingly
Ask Dr. Chris Carlsten about the clear booth in his University of British Columbia (UBC) laboratory, and he'll reassure you that it's perfectly safe — even if volunteers spend multiple sessions in the chamber breathing in polluted air. "The duration varies, but the standard is two hours in that booth with Wi-Fi, with ability to basically use their computer, books, study, whatever," said Carlsten, head of the Air Pollution Exposure Lab (APEL) at UBC and Canada Research Chair in occupational and environmental lung disease. As wildfire smoke has a worsening effect on air quality in Canada, the lab is one of the only facilities of its kind in Canada gathering pinpoint data to provide insight into the ways poor air quality is harmful to human health and wellness. Despite the prospect of standing in a polluted chamber, Carlsten and his research team say volunteers have been eager to give their time. "They are simply drawn to contribute to science and our attempt to solve a major public health problem," said Carlsten, via email. Air pollution chamber at the heart of lab Established by Carlsten in 2007, APEL runs their tests using devices that produce pollution and pump that dirty air into a polycarbonate testing chamber. "We have a diesel engine, we have a furnace for burning wood for wood smoke, we have a device that creates microplastics because microplastic is an emerging concern," he said. Researchers can even fill the chamber with allergens, like dust mites. The key to maintaining volunteer safety is that researchers dilute pollutants to levels roughly matching those found in major urban centres. "[Pollution] will be created by the engine or the furnace and then diluted by filtered air down to a safe level," said Carlsten. The lab's data is published in a range of journals, and highlights how air pollution affects everything from lung performance during physical activity to the health of people with asthma and even on cognition. Carlsten says his team's findings have also influenced policy, including at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Why would anyone want to breathe in polluted air? The program's volunteers range in age from people in their 20s to their 70s, with near gender parity. Carlsten says volunteer demographics are quite broad, adding he believes results are applicable to more general populations. The lab's air quality studies follow strict double-blind research standards. Volunteers, like Alana Green, say they often can't tell whether they're breathing in polluted air or clean air. Green, an administrator at UBC, signed up for an air quality study when she first started working at the university. "I felt like it was a way that I could contribute to science and to society by participating in this," she said. WATCH | Doctor shares advice on staying safe amid air quality warnings: Doctor shares advice on staying safe amid air quality warnings 4 days ago With parts of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec under air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke, Dr. Christopher Carlsten with the Air Pollution Exposure Lab says exposure can cause symptoms even among healthy individuals like brain fog and headaches and shares practical advice on protecting yourself. Taking part between January and December 2023, Green, who travels internationally, said air in the chamber didn't compare to the poor quality she's experienced in some of the destinations she's visited, where "the smell is in the air." Dalhousie University grad student Brinn Edgington also participated in one of the program's studies. "I have done research where I've been reliant on people participating, so I kind of feel like, for me, I need to pay it forward and participate in other people's studies, because it's important," said Edgington, who's lived with asthma and allergies since childhood. Edgington and Green said the only aggravation they experienced were watery eyes after a chamber session. Air pollution negatively affects whole-body health Exposure to air pollution can have an effect on the entire human body, exacerbating existing conditions like asthma and increasing the likelihood of developing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some research has found associations between poor air quality and mental health harms and heart disease. "You're breathing in toxic chemicals and particles, they get deep into your lungs, your body doesn't like it, it triggers inflammation and then that can lead to all sorts of systemic responses in different people," said Dr. Kerri Johannson, a pulmonologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary. Though Carlsten says indoor air purifiers, closing windows, staying indoors and wearing face masks outdoors during days with poor air quality are options for many Canadians, there are many people — including outdoor labourers — who can't always come inside to recuperate. "Those people really need attention and, unfortunately, tend not to get enough," Carlsten told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of The Dose. Simulations can only provide so much detail, expert says As a working pulmonologist, Johannson says the research out of APEL has been "field-changing." "What the Air Pollution Exposure Lab provides is an ability to measure cause and effect, the causality of an exposure leading to an outcome, and you can measure that through time," she said. "You can't get that type of information from any other type of research." Nonetheless, Johannson says there are limitations of exposure lab research, including that the lab typically only measures one exposure factor at a time. That means volunteers aren't being exposed to multiple pollutants at once — which is what happens in the real-world. WATCH | U.S. politicians say Canadian wildfire smoke is ruining their summer: U.S. politicians say Canadian wildfire smoke is ruining their summer 8 days ago After declaring another wildfire emergency in his province, Manitoba Premier Was Kinew fired back at six U.S. lawmakers who wrote a letter to Canada's ambassador, blaming the country's lack of forest management for 'suffocating' wildfire smoke. The lab recently submitted a grant proposal to address the issue of multiple exposures, according to Carlsten. And while the UBC lab's studies can last several months, Johannson says people can be exposed to harmful outdoor air pollution for decades at a time. "Sometimes people are exposed for 10 years in their workplace, and 20 years later they present with their chronic lung disease or cardiovascular condition," she said. But, if APEL research shows a connection between air pollution and poor health, Johannson said it's safe to assume that real-world consequences of air pollution are likely much worse. Working toward a cleaner future While air quality in Canada is among the highest in the world, wildfire smoke can greatly reduce air purity — like when Toronto's air quality was measured among the worst in the world in mid-July. Carlsten says that the lab is now working to translate their data into real-world solutions. "It is critical that we provide gold-standard evidence for interventions that can protect those exposed," Carlsten said. "We recognize that while understanding mechanisms of adverse effects of exposures remains important, and can support rationale for interventions, it's time now to test interventions that will lead to practical application."
The Star
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
UPSI developing international water sports facility
UNIVERSITI Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) is charting new territory as an international kayaking hub, developing a state-of-the-art water sports facility worth RM1mil at the UPSI Marina in Perak. Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the initiative, which included enhancement of the lake, acquisition of the latest kayaking equipment, specialised reference materials and the support of sports science expertise, had positioned UPSI as a leading destination for training, research and the management of national water sports events. 'UPSI offers more than just physical infrastructure. We are backed by strong academic capabilities and technical expertise,' he told Bernama. The university currently has four national-level kayaking experts based at the Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching, ready to provide guidance and advisory services to athletes, coaches and sports organisations, he highlighted. With ongoing scientific research, up-to-date reference resources and the application of cutting-edge water sports technology, UPSI is poised to become an integrated training centre for kayaking as well as a platform for organising local and international tournaments, he said. Prof Md Amin said this when opening the 16th UPSI Kayak Regatta at Gerbang Suria on the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus near Tanjong Malim in Perak. 'Our aim is not just to produce excellent athletes but also to develop kayaking through a holistic approach that encompasses training, sports science, management and education,' he said. Prof Md Amin said UPSI was in the process of securing official recognition from the Asian Canoe Confederation as one of the primary venues for canoe and dragon boat sports development and championships in the country. 'Once recognised, UPSI will join the ranks of Malaysian universities with international-class status as a centre for kayaking and dragon boat sports development,' he added. UPSI offers comprehensive educational opportunities for athletes, ranging from diploma to doctorate programme. This includes a special pathway known as Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APEL Q), tailored for coaches. 'We believe sports and education should progress together. 'Through this dedicated pathway, coaches with over 20 years of experience can further their studies through the Master of Education programme in Sports Science,' said Prof Md Amin.
