Respiratory disease in the Middle Nile Valley : a bioarchaeological analysis of the impact of environmental and sociocultural change from the Neolithic to medieval periods
Today, poor air quality is a major world-wide health burden, causing 4.2 million premature deaths per year globally, including from respiratory disease. Particulate pollution irritates and inflames the respiratory tract, increasing susceptibility to the development of respiratory conditions. Non-specific bone changes in the sinuses and on the visceral surfaces of the ribs have been linked to inflammation of the respiratory tract, caused by sinusitis and lower respiratory tract diseases. Analysis of these changes in archaeological populations is providing an historical perspective on the impact of environment, activities related to occupation, and associated socio-economic factors, such as poor ventilation in living and work spaces and low levels of hygiene, which potentially can all lead to exposure to poor air quality. This study investigates the prevalence of abnormal bony changes to the sinuses and ribs in human skeletons from twelve Sudanese sites, ranging from the Neolithic to the Medieval periods (5000 BC - AD 1500), with a particular focus on the Fourth Nile Cataract area and comparative sites from other regions of the Nile Valley with differing sociocultural and environmental conditions. A total of
Davies-Barrett, Anna Myfanwy
Respiratory disease in the Middle Nile Valley : a bioarchaeological analysis of the impact of environmental and sociocultural change from the Neolithic to medieval periods. Today, poor air quality is a major world-wide health burden, causing 4.2 million premature deaths per year globally, including from respiratory disease. Particulate pollution irritates and inflames the respiratory tract, increasing susceptibility to the development of respiratory conditions. Non-specific bone changes in the sinuses and on the visceral surfaces of the ribs have been linked to inflammation of the respiratory tract, caused by sinusitis and lower respiratory tract diseases. Analysis of these changes in archaeological populations is providing an historical perspective on the impact of environment, activities related to occupation, and associated socio-economic factors, such as poor ventilation in living and work spaces and low levels of hygiene, which potentially can all lead to exposure to poor air quality. This study investigates the prevalence of abnormal bony changes to the sinuses and ribs in human skeletons from twelve Sudanese sites, ranging from the Neolithic to the Medieval periods (5000 BC - AD 1500), with a particular focus on the Fourth Nile Cataract area and comparative sites from other regions of the Nile Valley with differing sociocultural and environmental conditions. A total of
disease middle nile_valley bioarchaeological analysis impact environmental sociocultural change neolithic medieval_period today poor air quality major world_wide health burden cause premature death per year globally include disease pollution tract increase susceptibility development condition non specific bone change surface rib link tract cause lower tract disease analysis change archaeological_population provide historical_perspective impact environment activity relate occupation associate socio_economic factor poor live_work space low_level hygiene potentially lead exposure poor air quality study_investigate prevalence abnormal change human skeleton twelve sudanese site range neolithic medieval periods particular_focus fourth nile area comparative site_region nile_valley differ sociocultural environmental_condition total