MVCAC September 2007

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US Climate Change Science Program
by duane330＠aol.com 21 Sep '07

21 Sep '07

US CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE PROGRAM PANEL GIVES U.S. PROGRAM MIXED GRADES. The National Research Council is pleased that the Bush Administration has advanced the science of climate change, but?has serious concerns about the management, funding, and emphasis of the? $1.7 billion a year Climate Change Science Program.? ? http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11934 ? http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11934 ? http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/ar4/wg1/faq/index.htm ? Chapter from which Questions have been taken [PDF files] Questions [PDF files] Multiple chapters All Questions in Single File? [7Mb] 1. Historical Overview of Climate Change Science 1.1. What Factors Determine Earth's Climate? [392Kb] 1.2. What is the Relationship between Climate Change and Weather? [514Kb] 1.3. What is the Greenhouse Effect? [2.7Mb] 2.Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing 2.1. How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change and How do They Compare with Natural Influences? [298Kb] 3.Observations: Surface and Atmospheric Climate Change 3.1. How are Temperatures on Earth Changing? [3.7Mb] 3.2. How is Precipitation Changing? [296Kb] 3.3. Has there been a Change in Extreme Events like Heat Waves, Droughts, Floods and Hurricanes? [412Kb] 4.Observations: Changes in Snow, Ice and Frozen Ground 4.1. Is the Amount of Snow and Ice on the Earth Decreasing? [254Kb] 5. Observations: Oceanic Climate Change and Sea Level 5.1. Is Sea Level Rising? [139Kb] 6. Palaeoclimate 6.1. What Caused the Ice Ages and Other Important Climate Changes Before the Industrial Era? [549Kb] 6.2. Is the Current Climate Change Unusual Compared to Earlier Changes in Earth's History? [79Kb] 7.Couplings Between Changes in the Climate System?and Biogeochemistry 7.1. Are the Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gases During the Industrial Era Caused by Human Activities? [701Kb] 8.Climate Models and their Evaluation 8.1. How Reliable Are the Models Used to Make Projections of Future Climate Change? [183Kb] 9.?Understanding and Attributing Climate Change 9.1. Can Individual Extreme Events be Explained by Greenhouse Warming? [129Kb] 9.2. Can the Warming of the 20th Century be Explained by Natural Variability? [601Kb] 10.?Global Climate Projections 10.1. Are Extreme Events, Like Heat Waves, Droughts or Floods, Expected to Change as the Earth's Climate Changes? [79Kb] 10.2. How Likely are Major or Abrupt Climate Changes, such as Loss of Ice Sheets or Changes in Global Ocean Circulation? [100Kb] 10.3. If Emissions of Greenhouse Gases are Reduced, How Quickly do Their Concentrations in the Atmosphere Decrease? [211Kb] 11. Regional Climate Projections 11.1. Do Projected Changes in Climate Vary from Region to Region? [1.2 Mb] U.S. Global Change Research Information Office, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Tel: +1 202 223 6262. Fax: +1 202 223 3065. Email: information(a)gcrio.org. Web: www.gcrio.org. Webmaster: webmaster(a)gcrio.org. ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

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Fwd: Health Care Reform Forum Tonite - Valley, 7:00
by Duane330＠aol.com 20 Sep '07

20 Sep '07

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The two-hit model for nano-particles
by duane330＠aol.com 08 Sep '07

08 Sep '07

WVU awarded $2.1M to study effects of air pollution Submitted to The Dominion Post, Page 6-D, September 6, 2007 WVU cardiovascular researcher Dr. Timothy R. Nurkiewicz has received a $2.1 million grant to study the effects of air pollution particles and engineered nanoparticles on the cardiovascular system. The grant, which distributes funds over a five-year period, is awarded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Nurkiewicz is a microvascular specialist who studies tiny blood vessels, called arterioles, capillaries, and venules that are not visible to the naked eye. They govern the parameters of blood flow, nutrient delivery and waste removal in the body. Particulate matter is one of six common pollutants for which the Environmental Protection Agency sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards. “Our hypothesis is that combustion source particulate matter impairs the vascular and immune systems in such a manner that blood flow to tissues is greatly compromised,” Nurkiewicz said. “We’re focusing primarily on diesel particles because they’re environmentally relevant and one of the most prolific components of ambient air pollution.” “Everyone has been stuck behind that ominous large truck spewing out black soot,” he said. “But we are exposed to particulate matter from more sources than exhaust from semi-tractor trailers.” According to Nurkiewicz, school buses and large vehicles associated with construction, city upkeep or road maintenance constantly run, putting particles into the air. “As a community, we frequently breathe in particles from these sources,” he said. “Our population and infrastructure are growing fast; however, we cannot expect the government, on any level, to appropriately regulate air quality and personal exposure if we don’t first have a full understanding of the health effects.” The grant also funds studies of the fairly new area of nanoparticle research. “There used to be a time when everyone thought asbestos was the wave of the future,” Nurkiewicz said. “Years later we know the detrimental health effects of asbestos, and we’re still struggling to deal with it because its toxicity was not properly characterized. We aren’t saying that will be the case with nanoparticles, but if nanotechnology is to reach its full potential, its health effects must be clearly identified, and this grant shows us that the NIH agrees.” The grant funds research to help assess possible risks related to the particles. Major risks include impairing the ability of blood vessels to dilate and immune system activation. If blood vessels cannot get bigger, then blood cannot flow. “The immune system normally activates when bacteria or viruses invade the body,” he said. “But our preliminary findings suggest particle exposure activates our immune system. If you are sick, you want your immune system to be active so the body can heal itself. If you’re not sick, it can be very bad because healthy tissues can be impaired or destroyed in the process.” According to the researcher, the risks associated with the “two-hit” model are much greater. In a twohit model, one’s health is already compromised by a preexisting disease such as hypertension, diabetes or obesity before exposure to particulate matter. Nurkiewicz’s studies will investigate the two-hit model with the intent to identify diseases or conditions that may increase susceptibility to air pollution exposure. “The effects of air pollution on cardiovascular function, including its ability to intensify cardiovascular disease, have become quite clear,” said Dr. Matthew A. Boegehold, director of the WVU Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences (CIRCS). “But we are still a long way from understanding the mechanisms by which these changes arise. Dr. Nurkiewicz’s project, along with similar studies, could serve as an important foundation for developing better clinical treatments for this problem.” Nurkiewicz’s lab will conduct the bulk of the research. Collaborating researchers include Vince Castranova, Ph.D., from NIOSH and WVU’s Dr. Judy Delp and Dr. Jeff Frisbee. “Dr. Nurkiewicz has assembled a creative, highly skilled group of investigators to assist him with this project,” Boegehold said. “The data they collect will not only answer the important questions currently outlined in the grant, but will also lead to new questions and possibly other exciting avenues of investigation in this area.” For more information on the CIRCS visit www.hsc.wvu.edu/circs/. ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

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MVCAC September 2007