Particulate Matter

This page has a list of publications and news articles related to Air Pollution - Particulate Matter. Find more information about our research on Air Pollution.

Study aims to better understand air pollutant concentrations near busy roads

August 30, 2022

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution, especially at the higher levels occurring in cities, has been associated with adverse health effects such as childhood asthma, impaired lung function, and cardiovascular disease.

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Characterizing Determinants of Near-Road Ambient Air Quality for an Urban Intersection and a Freeway Site

Research Report 207
H Christopher Frey
Andrew P Grieshop
Andrey Khlystov
John J Bang
Nagui Rouphail
Joseph Guinness
et al
2022
Topics: 
Nitrogen Oxides
Particulate Matter
Traffic-related
Exposure Methods

This report presents a study led by H. Christopher Frey of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. The investigators measured six air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, ultrafine particles, black carbon, fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone) near a freeway and in an urban area.

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New Canadian study reports health effects at very low air pollution levels

July 13, 2022

A comprehensive new HEI study examining potential health risks from low levels of air pollution exposure in millions of Canadian citizens reports increased risks of mortality, including at the lowest levels of exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5), levels tha

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Mortality–Air Pollution Associations in Low-Exposure Environments (MAPLE): Phase 2

Research Report 212
Michael Brauer
Jeffrey R. Brook
Tanya Christidis
Yen Chu
Dan Crouse
Anders Erickson
et al
2022
Topics: 
Air Pollution
Multipollutant Mixtures
Particulate Matter

This report presents a comprehensive HEI study examining potential health risks from low levels of air pollution exposure in millions of Canadian citizens. Michael Brauer at The University of British Columbia and his colleagues combined satellite data, air monitor sampling, and atmospheric modeling to estimate outdoor PM2.5 exposures across Canada from 1981 to 2016.

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Associations of Air Pollution on the Brain in Children: A Brain Imaging Study

Research Report 209
Mònica Guxens
Małgorzata J. Lubczyńska
Laura Pérez-Crespo
Ryan L. Muetzel
Hanan El Marroun
Xavier Basagaña
et al
2022
Topics: 
Air Pollution
Nitrogen Oxides
Particulate Matter
Traffic-related

Research Report 209 presents a study by Mònica Guxens of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and colleagues. The team used new neuroimaging technology to assess the possible relationship of air pollution exposure during pregnancy and childhood with brain outcomes in children. 

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New study examines effects of air pollution on children’s brain development

February 1, 2022

A new study published by HEI examines whether early life air pollution exposure affects brain outcomes, focusing on brain structural and functional measures in children in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

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Assessing Adverse Health Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Low Levels of Ambient Air Pollution: Implementation of Causal Inference Methods

Research Report 211
Francesca Dominici
Antonella Zanobetti
Joel Schwartz
Danielle Braun
Ben Sabath
Xiao Wu
2022
Topics: 
Air Pollution
Multipollutant Mixtures
Particulate Matter
Statistical Methods

Research Report 211 presents a major HEI study by Dr. Francesca Dominici of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues. The investigators examined the risk of mortality associated with exposure to low ambient air pollution concentrations in a cohort of 68.5 million older Americans. 

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Update Winter 2022

Newsletter
Health Effects Institute
2022
Topics: 
Particulate Matter
Global Health

In this issue of HEI Update, read about new experts on HEI's scientific committees; a key global health study assessing the burden of disease from major air pollution sources; research funding opportunities, a New Investigator study examining air pollution and brain development in children; and more!

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New low-level air pollution exposure report examines risk of mortality in older Americans

January 19, 2022

A major new HEI report presents a study examining the risk of mortality associated with exposure to low ambient air pollution concentrations in a cohort of 68.5 million older Americans. 

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New HEI report examines major sources of PM and impacts on global health

December 13, 2021

A new report published by HEI brings together for the first time comprehensive global estimates of the most common sources of fine particulate matter (PM) air pollution and its impacts on global health. Key findings in the report, Global Burden of Disease from Major Air Pollution Sources (GBD MAPS), show that PM exposure from the burning of fossil fuels contributed to more than one million deaths globally in 2017, with more than half of those coming from coal combustion. The burning of solid biofuels, such as wood for indoor heating and cooking, accounts for an additional 740,000 deaths.

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