Article: Hypoxia and other environmental factors at high altitude Journal: International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH) 2008 Vol.2 No.1 pp.92 - 106 Abstract: Besides hypoxia, high altitude settings are characterised by other peculiar environmental factors, such as cold and ultraviolet radiation. In addition, there are prevalent environmental changes driven mainly by human activity, including climate change in the highland Andes, and outdoor and indoor pollution. Also, poverty and childhood malnutrition are rampant in high altitude human settlements. The role of these additional environmental factors in the modification of responses to life at high altitudes and the resulting health status of individuals and populations is an area largely neglected in high altitude research. We will review in this paper how high altitude hypoxia and other environmental factors prevailing at high altitude can affect organisms living in highlands, with particular emphasis on human beings. The available evidence on effectiveness of interventions for mitigating or reversing the negative impact of such influences will also be discussed. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Hypoxia and other environmental factors at high altitude

Authors: Maria Rivera-Ch, Adolfo Castillo, Luis Huicho

Addresses: Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas y Fisiologicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, LI 33, Lima, Peru. ' Departamento de Fisica, Informatica y Matematicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. ' Departamento Academico de Pediatria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Instituto de Salud del Nino, Lima, Peru

Abstract: Besides hypoxia, high altitude settings are characterised by other peculiar environmental factors, such as cold and ultraviolet radiation. In addition, there are prevalent environmental changes driven mainly by human activity, including climate change in the highland Andes, and outdoor and indoor pollution. Also, poverty and childhood malnutrition are rampant in high altitude human settlements. The role of these additional environmental factors in the modification of responses to life at high altitudes and the resulting health status of individuals and populations is an area largely neglected in high altitude research. We will review in this paper how high altitude hypoxia and other environmental factors prevailing at high altitude can affect organisms living in highlands, with particular emphasis on human beings. The available evidence on effectiveness of interventions for mitigating or reversing the negative impact of such influences will also be discussed.

Keywords: high altitude life; climatic change; outdoor pollution; indoor pollution; poverty; child malnutrition; hypoxia; environmental factors; cold; ultraviolet radiation; human health.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2008.018675

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.92 - 106

Published online: 05 Jun 2008 *

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Title: Hypoxia and other environmental factors at high altitude

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