New results from U.S. Medicare study of low-level exposure to air pollution and health

A new article published June 26 in the journal Science Advances —  “Evaluating the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality among the elderly” by Wu and colleagues — reports on results from an HEI-funded study of the health effects of low levels of air pollution in some 68 million Medicare recipients (led by Francesca Dominici of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).

Second part of major ozone study published

HEI has published the Multicenter Ozone Study in oldEr Subjects (MOSES): Part 2. Effects of Personal and Ambient Concentrations of Ozone and Other Pollutants on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function. This second part of Research Report 192 was led by Drs. David Rich and Mark Frampton of the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York.

Study compares statistical models for use in exposure assessment

HEI has published Research Report 202, Enhancing Models and Measurements of Traffic-Related Air Pollutants for Health Studies Using Dispersion Modeling and Bayesian Data Fusion, which describes a study led by Dr. Stuart Batterman at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and colleagues. The investigators evaluated the ability to predict traffic-related air pollution using a variety of methods and models, including a line source air pollution dispersion model and sophisticated spatiotemporal Bayesian data fusion methods.

HEI launches Strategic Plan for 2020-2025

Effective April 2020, HEI has launched its Strategic Plan for Understanding the Health Effects of Air Pollution for the coming five years, guiding HEI’s direction based on extensive input from sponsors, the scientific community, environmental organizations, and others. The Plan seeks to produce and advance timely and credible science to inform key decisions with one overarching theme: informing air quality and health decisions for 2020-2025…and beyond.

Staying in touch during the coronavirus pandemic

We hope this message finds you well during this challenging time. Please read this announcement for various ongoing HEI activities during this emergency period and how you can contact us. [Read more]

Future challenges, diverse expertise at HEI Annual Conference

_{Pictured: Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigators Marie Pedersen (2017 award recipient, left), of the University of Copenhagen, and Mònica Guxens (2016), Barcelona Institute for Global Health. During the conference, HEI presented the 2018 Rosenblith award and three Travel Awards; see sidebar below.}

HEI model highlighted at National Academies symposium

In May, HEI President Dan Greenbaum was invited to address the Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on “The Future of Low-Dose Radiation Research in the United States.”

State of Global Air 2019: Air pollution a significant risk factor worldwide

State of Global Air 2019, the third edition of HEI’s flagship report and website with global data on air quality and its health impact, was released this spring.

New report examines household air pollution and health risk in Ghana

HEI has released Communication 19, which evaluates the contribution of household air pollution to ambient fine particle air pollution in Ghana and the impact on health using analyses conducted in the country. It also identifies strategic opportunities to address air pollution and source apportionment of air pollutants in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries.

Study examines toxicity of aerosol mixtures derived from isoprene

HEI has published Research Report 198, which describes a study by Dr. Jason Surratt and his colleagues to evaluate the toxicity of fine particulate matter formed from the photochemical oxidation of isoprene in smog-chamber facilities.