A Symposium Organized by: The Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center
Effects of Air Pollution on the
Health of Older Adults
June 14-15, 2005
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia
(Click on the link for each speaker to view the Powerpoint Presentation)
SESSION I - Overview
Who Are the Older Adults?
Profile of the older adults: demography, lifestyle, numbers, mobility patterns,
disease states, etc., and what is going to happen to this group in 20 years?
Speaker:
Dr. Robert Wallace - University of Iowa
What is the Current State of Air Pollution?
How has the nature of air pollution changed over past years, and what might
we expect in the future? What might be its impact be on the growing older
American population?
Speaker:
Dr.
Roy Smith - US EPA
SESSION II - Part 1 The Aging Process and Environmental Exposures
What is the Nature of Aging?
What are the physiologic and biological mechanisms that underlie aging?
What changes in the pulmonary/immune systems and what metabolic pathways
are affected in the aging process that may increase susceptibility to air
pollutants?
Speaker:
Dr. Nancy Nadon - National Institute on Aging
Can Timing of Exposure Predispose Older Adults to Disease?
What early environmental exposures can predispose one to disorders later in
life?
What acute and subchronic exposures may affect older adults?
What about cumulative exposures?
Speaker:
Dr. Douglas Dockery - Harvard School of Public Health
Chronic Conditions in Older Adults and
Susceptibility to Environmental Exposures.
What is the effect of preexisting disease on the vulnerability of older adults
to environmental insults of air pollutants?
Speaker:
Dr. Mark Frampton – University of Rochester
SESSION II - Part 2 The Aging Process and Environmental Exposures
What Air Pollutants are
Older Adults Being Exposed to and What Are Their Potential Sources?
What are the exposure profiles and potential sources of
environmental exposures in
the older adults: are they different from children and younger adults?
Reporting on the NHANES report card.
Speaker:
Dr. Larry Needham – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Exposure Assessment of Older Adults to Particulate Matter and Related
Co-Pollutants
Are children, younger adults or older adults experiencing adverse health effects
from exposures to air pollution and are their responses different?
Speaker:
Mr. Ronald Williams – US EPA
Environmental Exposure as a Factor in Parkinson’s Disease.
What do we know about the role of the environment in Parkinson’s disease?
What are some of the research areas being investigated?
Speaker:
Dr. Samuel Goldman – The Parkinson’s Institute
Occupational Exposures to Air Pollutants in Older Adults.
Do certain occupations taken by older adults after retirement expose them to
higher levels of air pollutants? What is the impact on their health?
Speaker:
Dr. Robert Wallace - University of Iowa
SESSION III: What Distinguishes Older Adults from Other Age Groups?
Life
Style Patterns of Older Adults.
Factors such as life style choices, time activity patterns, time spent indoors,
smoking
and exercise can affect patterns of aging. What differential activities among
older adults
might affect susceptibility to environmental toxicants?
Speaker:
Dr. Lesa Lorenzen-Huber - Indiana University
Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities Among Older Adults.
Are older adults of some racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups
exposed to
higher levels of air pollutants? How do these factors contribute to health
disparities
among these older adults?
Speaker:
Dr.
Lovell Jones – University of TX-MD Anderson Cancer Center
Patterns of Prescription
Drug Use among Older Adults.
Though beneficial, drugs cause
adverse effects more frequently among older adults What information is available about prescription drug use in older adults?
Speaker:
Dr. Arlene Bierman - University of Toronto
Effects of the Built Environment on the Health of Older Adults.
What is the impact of housing on
health of the older adult? Certain elements of
the physical environment have a direct impact on the behavior,
functional abilities, and health of older adults. What about indoor air quality?
Speaker:
Dr.
Kenneth Dangman – University of Connecticut Health Center
PANEL SESSION - WRAP UP
Key Scientific Questions, Future Directions, and Plans for Publication
Moderator:
Kathy Sykes,
Senior Advisor - EPA Aging Initiative
Panelists: Dr. Nancy Nadon - NIA;
Mr. Jason Lang - CDC;
Dr. J. Patrick Mastin -
NIEHS
● What research, specifically as it relates to air toxics exposure assessment and health effects, should be done to supplement the information already being collected in exposure and epidemiological studies?
● What new strategies can be developed for estimating exposure to air pollutants in older adults?
● What databases are available and how can they be accessed to gather information on the older adult population?
● What new strategies can be developed to lower exposures to air pollutants in older adults?