THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
NINA LEE
News Writer
Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of asthma and other chronic lung disease nationwide.
A group of University of Saskatchewan researchers combined with the Lung Association of Saskatchewan, the Ministry of the Environment and the Airshed Authorities in Estevan to investigate the phenomenon in some communities.
The group found an increased number of chronic lung cases in Estevan, Swift Current and Lloydminster. They plan to research why there are a higher number of cases in these areas and the underlying causes.
“The idea is we could find a number of chemicals that might be associated with those symptoms and by a process of elimination we can probably figure out where they came from,” says Dr. John Gordon, director of the Canadian Centre of Health Safety and Agriculture and co-leader of the Airways Research Group.
“Whether it’s trucks rolling down the roads and kicking up dust, or if it’s coal fire generators or diesel from trucks… it is critical to note here that it is probably not one thing, it is a multifactorial problem,” he explained.
The Airways Research Group is a collection of scientists and clinicians who are interested in disease processes that occur in the lungs or the airways. The diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea and farmer’s lung.
The research group comprises 10 core members including an environmental epidemiologist, an occupational medicine physician, an environmental hygienist and a geographer to name a few.
SaskPower and Husky Oil have taken great interest in the project. They are not partners presently. However, Gordon is optimistic of their future alliance.
“SaskPower and Husky Oil are very responsible corporate citizens,” he said.
“They are spending a lot of time looking to see what by-products of their activities are causing problems and I am certain they would be wide open to changing their refining processes to pull out things that are [problematic].”
Gordon noted the importance of this research.
“Asthma calls for the largest economic input of any chronic respiratory disease in Canada. The medications are extremely costly to treat asthma and this is an important social issue to address.”
Asthma is not only a problem for people in Saskatchewan but affects people worldwide. According to stats gathered by the ARG, asthma kills approximately 180,000 people annually worldwide and affects 10 to 20 per cent of the Canadian population.
It is also the primary cause of pediatric emergency visits and the third leading cause of work loss. The World Health Organization has predicted that COPD will be the leading cause of death on the planet by 2020, according to information gathered by the ARG.
The ARG plans to gather diary entries from groups of 100 people in the cities of Lloydminster, Estevan and Swift Current who currently suffer from a chronic lung disease. They will correlate increased symptom severity with increased pollutant levels from data in the diaries.
“We can look at dust, we can look at pesticides, herbicides, metal,” Gordon listed.
The chemicals found might be associated with those symptoms of COPD or asthma and by a process of elimination the team can figure out where they came from.
The grant runs over three years, but John and his team hope to expand the project and possibly receive federal funds in the future.
The research will clarify the link between atmospheric irritants and chronic symptoms. Gordon added, “In principle, if we can identify precisely what the components involved we can go back and change policy in the province to reduce their presence.”
