Health Effects Institute 2017 Annual Conference

Chairs: David Eaton, University of Washington–Seattle, and James Merchant, University of Iowa

HEI will present progress of its research programs and publications. Highlights will include a presentation of a recently completed accountability study in the Southeastern United States and plans for new research on the effects of traffic-related air pollution and unconventional oil and gas development. We will also introduce the recipient of the 2016 Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award.

Chairs: Francesca Dominici, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Jennifer Peel, Colorado State University

There is a long-standing interest in evaluating the effectiveness of air quality interventions in reducing air pollution and improving public health. To date, “accountability” studies have had varying degrees of success in relating regulatory actions to outcomes. To encourage potential new research in this area, this session hopes to bring fresh insights for methods and approaches in accountability research, taking into account the challenges encountered.

Chairs: Jana Milford, University of Colorado–Boulder, and Bert Brunekreef, University of Utrecht

The oxidant gas nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a regulated criteria pollutant, is the indicator for the larger group of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) emitted from combustion sources. NO_x react with volatile organic compounds in sunlight to form ozone (O₃). This session will examine two separate scientific debates that have implications for future regulations of NO_x and NO₂: one related to the accuracy of NO_x emission inventories and the challenge in modeling the formation of O₃ in the troposphere, and the other related to the question of whether NO₂ has independent health effects or is more likely an indicator of the broader traffic mixture.