The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 10, 1986 - Page 5 by Berke Breathed Plane air spurs danger BLOOM COUNTY By NAOMI WAX "Poor air circulation in airplanes may be life- threatening to some people," said Harriet Burge, a University researcher. "Most at risk are people with immune systems that are compromised, such as AIDS sufferers and people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy," she said. BURGE WAS among 11 scientists on a committee of the National Academy of Sciences which studied air quality in commercial airplanes. Burge said, "Most of the airlines were reluctant to allow us on the planes." This was largely owing to fear of alarming passengers at a time when the airlines are financially unstable. Burge said her panel had to rely on documentation rather than first hand experience. The University had prepared a laboratory and a procedure to study the bacteria and mold, but their facilities were not used. A specialist in finding, identifying and removing airborne molds, bacterias and viruses, Burge said residue from tobacco smoke accounts for most of the dirt buildup in airplane cabins. "AIR EXCHANGE rates in airplanes are already in the minimum level recommended for other interiors in a presumably smoke-free environment," she said. "With Pthe addition of smoke, there's no way an aircraft can meet the ventilation standards set by the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers." The committee recommended that all smoking be banned on commercial flights. At present there are no ventilation standards set for commercial airplanes. BURGE SAID an investigation of an influenza outbreak among passengers on an airplane in Alaska showed that they were kept in an unventilated plane for four hours. "Seventy-two percent of the people came down with the flu,' she said, adding that just one passenger had the flu at the beginning of the flight. The committee recommended that existing standards for other interiors be implemented on airplanes. I THE COMMITTEE also requested that further research on airplane ventilation be done. They recommended that airliner cabins be ventilated at all times and if an airplane is grounded for more than 30 minutes without ventilation, the passengers should leave the aircraft. The committee's report was recently given to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA will submit it to Congress. BURGE IS optimistic that further research will be funded and says University laboratories will be used if further research is done. A4 Wf 6ew 1116 64KA6/5 OFA? MMA 0M. 1w 607 70 AS15Kfi A1 f 17 -PAqYING P11570/... ( ESA N~Personals ..,. PQePT, a !r ~ SDI F t / ,I NEKE gf 60... 6r' WITH P/6NIT.. g ~1 jr I Ij t 4#YW4KYA tOWtY 5OC(IL PO5IflQN 15 OF NO CONC6IRN . ANYNAW YO !/6 L I Mko'owra l7 d ~4 CA~RcON19T m I i BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed I i K .., <<( r rf .) - ..- XCAvr GOOU U 7116 0C/9 CMPT6R Of 'PE~,p x4-, WTUPK6W MiY fM(beegHRS/P 45AVe d07 rARl g7W 7i RsLE RPERCL7650A/o FPAT sign BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed Research on AIDS increases /INP ThWWAIYFKNP9 BROKEN N h WlgeA'P A4PPEqAANC" CUWC5 IN MIY OFF/C/At -4 s*E,~h Ap ' COvAr.C V K a° IN AN 'Or /~tCT ... IqU 6e&5E YOC MAl ZSHe? ~OT N' 5S eqA17, YOU' INSISTCI?7MAT - 5HlAV6 7N 1E LGS T MISS/65TLL (N' (h , (Continued from Page 1) modifying their sexual behavior. Conversely, the belief that peers were changing their behavior influenced the participants to curb their sexual habits. UNIVERSITY health officials say that research projects such as Joseph's will pick up in popularity in an effort to help educate the public about the danger of AIDS. The University Health Service is one organization on campus that is trying to educate students and faculty alike about the epidemic. Health service representatives are available upon request to speak to campus and faculty groups, as well as dormitory residents. They also distribute a brochure entitled, "What Everyone Ought to Know about AIDS." MARK ERICHSON, student service assisstant in the Department of Health Promotion said, "Education is a big thrust in controlling AIDS, and we expect to increase our programs to educate the community about AIDS." Osborn added, "If we are able to communicate properly with the community, we can control the spread of AIDS." Osborn has no doubt that as the number of AIDS cases rises, which it is expected to do, the amount of money the government spends on AIDS research- currently $200 million-will also rise. These increases, Osborn said, will lead to more research done on the subject. SHE TINKS there is a definite need for research in health care because "an age group that normally doesn't get sick is now dying." She also sees a need for research on drug use and abuse because intravenous drug use is a way to acquire AIDS. Osborn said researchers should examine the psychological aspects of those with AIDS or those who may contract the disease. The number diagnosed cases of AIDS is expected to increase drastically from 16,000 in 1986 to 74,b00 by 1991, according to a report from a national public -health organization. The number of deaths is predicted to increase from 9,000 to 54,000 during that period. "THERE DEFINATELYwill not be a cure for AIDS in the next 10 years, but maybe we can develop treatments in the future that can help slow (AIDS) down. With education, we can avoid (AIDS), which is a much better situation than the Plague," Osborn said. BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed 571OCk15 jq( MW. AMC, uP /,7~ AR6UPl 4I q_ OcrfcrP4XK... PICK CLAR45 5#0/fWIA 15 o A t / sly...