Prince+Memo+1

Memo 1: Project Hopping Taylor Prince 1 September 13

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that usually develops at a young age and is aggravated by poor air quality. It causes shortness of breath due to inflammation of the airways and can lead to “attacks” that are frightening to the person. Asthma is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
 * Topical Area**: **Asthma and Air Pollution in East Tennessee**

Interviews with TVA representatives on energy-related air pollution Interviews with allergists in the East Tennessee area Air quality reports and reports of asthma attacks Long term data on asthma rates
 * Data Sets:**

What influence do the energy and industrial processes have on asthma rates? What impact does asthma have on quality of life?
 * Social Theoretical Questions:**

Knoxville, TN consistently has one of the highest asthma rates in the country. It also has a geographical and industrial environment that contributes heavily to air pollution. Understanding the relation will help internalize and hopefully minimize the negative costs of air pollution.
 * Why Now:**

Similar to the biases listed below, I have experience studying respiratory diseases and energy systems that contribute to air pollution. The carbon capture project I worked on consisted heavily of measuring miniscule amounts of pollutants in the waste stream.
 * How Prepared:**

My father is an allergist. I spent one summer working for a “clean coal” engineering firm. I represent two sustainability organizations on campus, both of which take steps to lessen air pollution. I am an male engineer in a upper-middle class white family.
 * Bias:**

Air quality monitor Allergy & Asthma Specialist Anthropologist of science and health
 * Fields of work:**

American Lung Association American Asthma Foundation Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America National Center for Biotechnology Information ([|Possibly]) Southern Atmosphere Study ([|Partner]) [|Tennessee Valley Authority] [|Electric Power Research Institute] [|The Health Effects Institute]
 * Funders:**