After the opportunity to conduct research in Nepal, Justin Lemke discovered the impact of air pollutant exposure on respiratory and lung health.
Presented at the Life Sciences Research Conference on October 25th, Lemke showcased his research and was awarded third place in the Public Health Department.
“What I hope people take away from this research is that there are indeed demographics in places like Nepal who do not have any preventative measures to protect themselves,” Lemke stated. His research illustrates the importance of creating change in these communities.
While studying the health of brick kiln workers in Nepal, Lemke found that 100% of the participants had PM 2.5 exposure levels above the World Health Organization’s recommendation. “They’re all at an exposure level that would put them at considerable risk of health issues,” he said.
Lemke also noted that this wasn’t an anomaly and was observed across a large demographic. The study had an equal ratio of men to women, with 47% of the participants men and 42% women. A wide range of activities were measured, covering each step of brickmaking, including carrying and stacking bricks, working with coal, and baking bricks.
“There wasn’t a specific demographic that was less exposed or more exposed to these outcomes. Men and women of all ages and occupations at the kiln were all at a high risk of PM 2.5 exposure,” Lemke said. There was also a high proportion of workers who were exhibiting respiratory health symptoms.
Lemke plans to return to Nepal to collect additional data to increase the sample size and continue validating the study’s hypothesis. “We hypothesize that if there is an increased level of PM 2.5 exposure, then there will be an increased response to negative respiratory health outcomes,” he said.
Lemke hopes his findings will raise public awareness of the need for interventions and preventative measures. “Currently there are no governmental or national mandates to protect these workers' health,” he said.
“We want to encourage some of these brick kilns to implement better strategies for preventing exposure, such as better masks or air filtration devices in their homes,” Lemke continued. Findings from the study in Nepal could support policy changes that greatly benefit these communities.
“In the world of public health, we just want to expose people to facts and encourage people to get involved where they can,” he said. Through his work in Nepal, Lemke hopes the facts motivate others to make a difference.
One way to get involved is by expanding research in these communities. “In research, you learn about someone doing something, like going to Nepal, and realize it excites and interests you. Then you try to find out how you can get involved,” he said.
Through his involvement, Lemke has created lasting impacts on the communities in Nepal. With his findings, policy changes and health protections may be implemented for brick kiln workers.
Link to Justin's research poster: Indoor and Outdoor PM 2.5 Exposure & Respiratory Complications in Brick Kiln Workers in Nepal
