APSR to address impact of climate change on lung health

By Mardi Chapman

14 Nov 2017

Climate change, the re-emergence of dust diseases and an ageing population are just some of the topics for discussion at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR) Congress in Sydney next week.

The Congress theme Lung heath in a changing world also encompasses the impact of obesity on lung function, air pollution and infectious diseases.

Co-convenor of the meeting Dr Jane Bourke told the limbic change was a compelling theme for APSR given the many societal and environmental effects on respiratory health.

And while delegates can be thankful the Congress isn’t being held in Delhi with its current levels of air pollution, Australians aren’t immune from some devastating lung diseases such as those driven by occupational exposure to fine dusts.

“We’ve seen the re-emergence of black lung in Queensland miners and silicosis from people working with stone. These are occupational diseases that we really thought were gone; something we associated with people working with stone in third world countries not young men working with artificial stone on kitchen benches in Sydney,” Dr Bourke said.

She said ageing was also a significant issue as older smokers reached the age of COPD risk while the increasing mobility of people had implications for the spread of respiratory infections.

Dr Bourke said each symposium featured an international speaker, an Asian Pacific speaker and a local speaker.

International talent includes:

  • Professor Peter Barnes (UK), the most highly cited respiratory researcher in the world over the last 20 years, speaking on COPD & ageing – one way traffic? (Fri, 2.15pm)
  • Dr Mina Gaga (Greece), president of the European Respiratory Society (ERS), speaking on Pulmonary toxicity with PD-1 inhibitors and other novel cancer treatments. (Fri, 8.30am)

Professor Alan James (WA), recipient of the Ann Janet Woolcock Research Award will present the memorial lecture Airway hyperresponsiveness – does it take two to tango? (Fri, 10.35am)

Dr Takahide Nagase (Japan), recipient of the Michiyoshi Harasawa Research Award, will present the second memorial lecture, Respiratory research using cellular, molecular and physiologic approaches. (Sun, 10.35am)

More than 2,000 delegates will attend APSR2017 at the Sydney International Convention Centre from 23 to 26 November.

Follow the limbic’s coverage of the Congress on our website and on Twitter @thelimbicresp. #APSR17

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